Taylor Swift has a whole song about choosing sneakers over high heels, but I can’t remember the last time that Fearless sentiment rang true. Nowadays, you’re far more likely to catch the 35-year-old pop star in a pleated miniskirt and knee-high boots than in a T-shirt and her once-beloved Keds.
Still, if anyone needs a supportive pair of sneakers, it’s a showgirl preparing to perform in Louboutins for hours on tour, practicing Mandy Moore choreography for an extravagant music video, or, you know, just sitting at the piano while recording a brand-new album. On October 6, Swift shared behind-the-scenes photos from the making of The Life of a Showgirl, and we couldn’t help but zoom in on slide number two of her Instagram post for a better look at her sneakers.
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It turns out, Taylor Swift trusts the same walking sneaker beloved by nurses, podiatrists, and professional shoppers. In one photo, she could be seen wearing the Hoka Clifton 9, an earlier version of the sneaker ranked best overall on Glamour’s list of 15 Best Walking Shoes for Women.
Though they’re far from a slim design, the Hoka Clifton is a lightweight sneaker featuring a thick, plushy sole with the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance. “The Clifton has all three features a walking shoe should have: arch support, a shock-absorbing heel, and a flexible forefoot,” Mohammad Rimawi, DMP, a board-certified podiatrist with Manhattan Foot Specialists in New York City, once told Glamour.
While Hoka’s latest Clifton model, the Clifton 10, retails for $155, Swift’s Clifton 9s are currently on sale for $116 in various color combinations (they were originally $140). Unfortunately, Swift’s exact white pair with blue, red, and yellow details are no longer available.
The Clifton 9 was specifically dubbed the “best cushioned shoe” for nurses by Glamour in 2024, with one registered nurse praising their effect on her lower back pain after spraining her spine at work. “The shoes I wear truly make a difference in how much that pain comes back, and these shoes have proved to minimize that discomfort the most,” Alexis Paules, RN, told us at the time.
Honestly, if they’re good enough for nurses and pop stars, they’re good enough for me.
Only Tay would rehearse in a denim dress.…
