2012 Readers' Choice Awards - Walking

For our second annual Walking Readers' Choice Awards, we took nominations from our readers in 14 categories of walking gear, events and tours. Our walking experts chose five finalists from among the nominees for each category. Readers voted from Feb. 22 through March 21, 2012. The polls were audited and validated by our tech team to produce the final results: FAQ on poll validation. You can see more categories across dozens of About.com topics for Readers' Choice Awards in technology, products, services, web sites, blogs and more.

This category included shoes for brisk walking workouts and walking races. Readers nominated several styles of Asics Gel shoes to meet the needs of walkers with different foot mechanics. The Asics Gel Kayano motion-control shoe (Compare Prices) is needed by walkers who over-pronate, and they liked its stability. The Asics GEL-Pace Walker (Compare Prices) received praise as being functional and fashionable.

• All Finalists: Fitness Walking Shoe
• Rate and Review Your Shoes

What shoe can you wear all day to work, school or on errands, or on your walking commute? This should be a shoe that feels great throughout your daily activities and lets you put in more steps per day without pain, fatigue or discomfort. The winner, Joya shoes, are touted as the "softest shoe on Earth." Their patented sole technology gives a soft, light, comfortable feel. The nominators praised them for wearing all day while walking and standing.

• All Finalists: Comfort Walking Shoe

We received so many nominations for toning shoes that we decided to make them their own category. These are shoes designed to work your muscles in new ways. The winner, RYN Shoes, have a rocker bottom sole. But unlike the unstable designs for other rocker-bottom brands, RYN shoes are stable and guide your foot into a better walking stride. I was impressed with their quality construction when I reviewed them in 2011, and nominators said that they last a very long time.

• All Finalists: Best Toning Shoes
• Reader Reviews of Toning Shoes

This category features rugged shoes or boots that keep you stable on natural trails and day hikes. These shoes should protect you from rocks and keep out trail debris. The winner, KURU Chicane, takes the prize for the second year in a row. They aren't just for the trail -- they earned praise as travel shoes and walking tour shoes also. They have a gussetted tongue to keep out trail debris and tread for good traction on the trail.

• All Finalists: Best Trail Walking Shoes
• Last Year: 2011 Winner and Finalists: Best Trail Shoes

YAMAX has been the leader for two decades in making highly accurate pedometers. This new design isn't limited to your waistband, you can carry it in your pocket as the 3D accelerometer mechanism doesn't mind a bit of tilt. Keep track of your daily steps easily with its 30-day memory and a 30-week memory. It displays steps, distance, calories, activity time and fat burned.

• Finalists: best pedometer
• Last Year: 2011 Winner and Finalists: Best Pedometers
• Tell Us About Your Favorite Pedometer

Activity monitor pedometers are coming in more shapes and sizes every year, or may even be built into your phone or other gadgets. The nominees in this category upload your step data to your computer and/or cell phone app. The ActiPed+ has a footpod sensor that clips onto your shoelaces and tracks your steps all day. It then uploads to your computer wirelessly, transmitting to a USB stick. It doesn't have a step display on the footpod, so you can only view your steps online. The ActiPed+ is used by corporate-fitness programs and such health programs as HealthAmerica's Race to the Moon.

• All Finalists: Activity Monitor/Computer-linked Pedometer
• Last Year: 2011 Computer Linked Pedometer Winner and Finalists
• Reader Reviews of Pedometers

Our finalists were all apps that use GPS on your phone to show you the data about your walking workout -- distance, speed, etc. Some have diet tracking and the ability to share your workout data with others. The winner is part of the MapMyFitness suite of online and cell phone apps. You can map and measure your route, see your speed and calories burned, and save and share your routes. The "+" version lets you geotag photos to add to your routes. You can add a heart-rate monitor with an ANT+ dongle. It comes in iPhone, Blackberry and Android versions.

• All Finalists: Best Walking App
• Reader Reviews of Walking Apps

Our finalists are all walking poles that come in pairs to use for pole walking techniques such as Nordic walking or Exerstriding. The winner, Keenfit poles, use their own Keenfit Walking System technique. Pole walking helps tone the upper body and burn more calories per mile. The Keenfit poles are height-adjustable. They have an ergonomic hand strap but don't have the demi-glove used for Nordic walking. They come with a DVD to teach you the Keenfit technique, in addition to their free online video lessons.

• All Finalists: Best Walking Poles
• Tell Us About Your Favorite Walking Poles

The finalists in this category retail for under $1500. The winner is a different sort of treadmill design, meant for slowly strolling as you work on your computer, read, or watch TV or video. It helps you battle the health risks of sitting too much. The display is located on the front of the desk console, leaving a big table surface that can hold your deskwork and electronics. You can burn calories while you work.

• All Finalists: Best Budget Treadmill 2012
• Last Year: 2011 Finalists and Winner: Budget Treadmills