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For those of us in our 60s, especially former fashionistas and athletes no longer willing to suffer for style or sport, today’s footwear trends (a blending of comfort, usefulness and
handsome design) bring welcome relief. Slip-ons! Supersoft cushioning! Arch support! AARP executive editor Bill Horne and I (both longtime runners ruled by walk-loving canines) checked out a
bunch of brands known for comfort and approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. We picked styles we thought would work for many people for a variety of purposes, and kept the
price range in the middle of the spectrum, with a couple of splurges (listed prices are full retail, but sales or discounts can be found for many). We wore them around our houses, on runs,
out shopping and, of course, walking our bossy dogs. Though this list is not comprehensive, we narrowed the field to 18* that our feet liked and that your certain someone might appreciate in
this gift-giving season. (From top to bottom) Ecco Soft 7; Allbirds Tree Runner; Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins Ultra Flex 3.0 AARP; Skechers ALL-AROUND: It’s hard to find one pair that does
it all, but ALLBIRDS TREE RUNNER ($98, allbirds.com) comes close — comfy, light for easy travel packing, hip enough to make the grandkids jealous — made of breathable, machine-washable,
eco-friendly eucalyptus fiber. Similarly vegan, but without the need to tie and untie, are SKECHERS HANDS FREE SLIP-INS ULTRA FLEX 3.0 ($90, skechers.com). A more upscale choice: the ECCO
SOFT 7 ($170, us.ecco.com) sleek leather sneaker. Dress it up, down and walk all around. (From left to right) Dansko Kane; Teva ReEmber; Naot Martos Dansko; AARP INSIDE/OUTSIDE: Dash from
the couch to the garden to the coffee shop in DANSKO KANE ($90, dansko.com), a low clog made from easy-to-clean material, or the suede NAOT MARTOS ($180, naot.com) slide with faux-fur
footbed. A puffer jacket for your feet? Try TEVA REEMBER ($80, teva.com) in rip-stop recycled nylon. (Clockwise from left) Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid-Height; Hoka Arahi 6; Brooks
Cascadia 17; Merrell Jungle Mocs; Hoka Ora Recovery Slide 3 AARP; Deckers Brands; Merrell; Brooks WALKING THE DOGS: Protect your piggies on trails with the KEEN TARGHEE III WATERPROOF, which
come in low- and mid-height versions ($155 and $165, respectively, keen.com). Faster pace? Smooshy HOKA ARAHI 6 ($140, hoka.com) feel like running barefoot on a plush carpet. BROOKS
CASCADIA 17 ($140, brooksrunning.com) provide grippy support on trails. Perfect for tromping with no laces are the MERRELL JUNGLE MOC ($100, merrell.com). Recover from outings in Hoka’s
sublimely light but arch-supporting ORA RECOVERY SLIDE 3 ($60, hoka.com).