Embarking on a daily stroll through your neighborhood can have a positive impact on your physical and mental well-being. Walking is beneficial for both your heart and mind. If you need some encouragement, consider joining the five-week walking series organized by our colleagues at New York Times Well. To help you succeed, here are some expert-approved recommendations from Wirecutter.
Cozy Sneakers
These lightweight running shoes with minimal cushioning are perfect for both casual walkers and marathon runners.
Sometimes, all you need to motivate yourself to take a walk or hop on the treadmill is a supportive pair of shoes that can take you the extra mile without causing blisters or discomfort. The Altra Escalante 3 sneakers, known for their minimal cushioning and lightweight design, offer stability and support ideal for walkers, without feeling bulky. If you prefer more cushioning, you may want to explore shoes with stacked, foam soles like the popular Hokas.
Light Fanny Pack
This small fanny pack can easily accommodate all your essentials for a leisurely stroll in the park.
While you don’t need to carry much, there are essentials you should always have with you. A lightweight fanny pack where you can store your phone, wallet, keys, and sunscreen is a must. The Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack is a sporty and compact bag that won’t weigh you down during a casual walk in the neighborhood. Its soft, padded back ensures comfort, and it comes in various color combinations, including an all-black option, to suit your style.
Stylish Sun Hat
This wide-brimmed hat, available in various fun patterns, offers UPF 50+ sun protection and comes with an adjustable chin strap and a convenient pouch for on-the-go storage.
To add an extra layer of UV protection, don a sun hat during your walks. The Barrière Cherries Print Sun Hat, recognized by theme-park reporter Carlye Wisel for its UPF 50+ rating and wide brim, is a staff favorite. Featuring playful patterns like daisies and convenience in portability, this hat can be folded into a compact pouch, making it easy to carry.
Wireless Earbuds with Ambient Sound
These compact earbuds offer excellent sound quality, long battery life, and a hear-through mode for situational awareness.
A motivating playlist or an engaging podcast can encourage you to take longer walks, but completely blocking out your surroundings has its safety hazards. The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds strike a balance by combining noise-cancelling features with a natural-sounding hear-through mode, ensuring you remain aware of your environment. Lightweight and comfortable, these earbuds can be worn for extended periods with their 10-hour battery life per charge, allowing them to outlast even your lengthiest walks. Additionally, if you enjoy chatting while walking, the Soundcore Space A40s boast a high-quality microphone that minimizes background noise for clear communication.
Audiobook Subscription Supporting Local Bookstores
This audiobook service operates on a similar pricing model to others on the market, but each purchase supports a local bookstore and offers top-notch in-app recommendations.
On your next stroll, immerse yourself in a captivating audiobook. While libraries offer free audiobook rentals, if the title you desire has a long waiting list, an audiobook subscription like Libro.fm can be a great alternative. Libro.fm stands out for its support of independent bookstores, allowing users to choose a local bookstore to benefit from their purchases. For a monthly fee of $15, you gain access to one book per pay cycle, along with a 30% discount on additional titles. Furthermore, if a book you select isn’t to your liking, Libro.fm offers hassle-free returns, ensuring you find a story that resonates with you.
Effective Sunscreen
This chemical sunscreen is formulated for both face and body use, offering easy application without leaving a white residue.
Prioritize your skin’s protection by applying a layer of Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion before heading outdoors, and ensure you have it on hand for reapplication. With a refreshing mint and floral fragrance, Supergoop Play easily absorbs into your skin without leaving a white film. This sunscreen is suitable for your face and body and comes in four sizes, making it convenient to carry, even in the smallest fanny pack.
Compact Water Bottle
This lightweight plastic water bottle is easy to carry on walks and features a wrist strap for convenient portability.
Staying hydrated is essential, but lugging around a heavy water bottle during your walks can be cumbersome. Opt for a lightweight, collapsible water bottle like the Nomader, which can be rolled up and stowed away when empty. With a handy wrist strap, you can wear it on your wrist or attach it to a fanny pack for easy access.
Sleek Sunglasses
These stylish round sunglasses provide UV protection, are comfortable to wear, affordable, and complement various face shapes.
Instead of straining your eyes in the sunlight, shield them with UV-protective, polarized sunglasses like the Sungait Vintage Round style. These affordable shades are suitable for a wide range of face shapes and offer comfort for long walks. They are durable enough to withstand being stored in a fanny pack when not in use, and in the event of damage, they come with a lifetime warranty.
Tracking Your Progress
This user-friendly tracker offers comfortable all-day wear and accurate measurements, with a clutter-free homescreen interface.
Having tangible proof of your efforts can be highly motivating. Wearing a fitness tracker like the Fitbit Inspire 3 during your walks ensures that every step is accounted for. This sleek tracker provides accurate step and distance measurements, with easy access to your stats through Fitbit’s intuitive app. Additionally, you can sync your account with other Fitbit users to stay on track and motivated.
This article has been reviewed by Annemarie Conte and Catherine Kast.
