Walking Shoes for 84 yr old grandma

Question
Hi- I want to buy new walking shoes for my grandma who walks about 3x times week. She's 84 with no serious health concerns except the normal stiffness and arthritis. She has no overpronation that I know of. She might be slightly bowlegged, but not severely like myself. No knock knees or slew foot and she has a pretty defined arch. Her foot is wide though and her size is 8W. Could you recommend the best walking shoe for people her age with arthritis? She walks outside and inside. She lives in VA and it can get pretty cold in the winter and hot in the summer. It also rains moderately there. I was considering New Balance but I'm not an expert. I saw some but they looked way too modern for her (i.e. bright colors, etc)

Answer
Unfortunately, there is no "best" shoe for everyone. It sounds like you have analyzed her foot characteristics, but it might be best to take her to a running specialty store. Call around to find one that carries a good selection of walking shoes and has employees that can analyze her gait and fit her properly.

It has been a couple of years since I worked in a running store, so I'm not current on shoes. But we used to carry several models of walking shoes in subdued colors, like black or white. There were some New Balance models that had the neutral characteristics it seems your grandmother needs. Make sure you stick with top brands if not New Balance, such as Brooks, Saucony, Nike and Adidas. But again, the main thing to strive for is getting a shoe that matches her foot needs, fits correctly, and feels good to her. Also, plan on spending around $100 for good quality shoes.

She sounds like a great role model by maintaining such a regular walking program. Good quality shoes will certainly help her keep going, which will also keep her healthy.