The Best Walking Shoes For Women

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Last Updated on September 4, 2024 by Paul Clayton

The Best Walking Shoes For Women

Walking shoes for women are an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe, designed to provide the utmost comfort and support during long walks or day-to-day activities. They are meticulously engineered with advanced technologies to ensure optimal cushioning, breathability, and durability.

• Cushioned Insoles: Absorb impact and prevent foot fatigue.
• Lightweight: Avoid strain, ideal for long walks.
• Arch Support: Maintain balance, and reduce foot pain.
• Breathable Material: Prevent sweating, and enhance comfort.
• Good Traction: Prevent slipping, even on wet surfaces.
• Proper Fit: Ensures maximum comfort and support.

When most of us made our New Year’s Resolution to get back in shape, we weren’t entirely thinking of everything that would accompany it. We took our oath to eat clean and exercise every day.

We promised ourselves we would get our bikini bodies back in time for summer and that we could fit into our favorite dresses again. Read on for the rest of our Best Walking Shoes For Women article.

Like many things in life, this was far easier said than done. Two weeks of grueling elliptical sessions and expensive spinning classes will teach you one thing: working out isn’t anywhere near as fun as the girls on TV make it seem.

However, that’s no reason to give up.

Best Walking Shoes For Women

As the saying goes, “work smarter, not harder.” This solution has helped women achieve a great many things over the years. Most of us might not be able to beat a full-grown man in a weightlifting competition, but we can sure beat him in a walking competition.

Stop letting your friend drag you along to her high-intensity CrossFit class. While she may mean well in doing so, it’s certainly not doing you any favors. Instead, join the ladies walking around the block.

You’ll get all the great mental and physical benefits of exercising, you’ll be happy, and you won’t feel like you just got beat up every time you walk in the door.

While your friend walks in the door every evening and crashes on her sofa, barely able to stand up, you’ll sing a song, sipping a glass of wine, and cooking your favorite meal.

Today, we’re going to be talking about good old-fashioned walking. We’re going to give you our recommendations for some of the best walking shoes for women, but first, let’s take a brief look at what the benefits of walking are and why you should start.

The Benefits of Everyday Walking

We try to walk From the moment we first come into this world. First, we crawl, then we stand (wobbling the whole time), and then the day comes when we take our first step. Our family applauds us, and we’re walking almost everywhere we can.

Have you ever wondered why little children are so happy and energetic? It’s likely because they spend most of their waking hours walking around and chasing the next adventure.

While we can’t exactly go back to those carefree days, we can capture the child-like freedom and energy through daily walking.

You Can Do It Anywhere

Most people can’t stick to a scheduled workout routine because it involves a lot of extra work.

After you’re done with your workday, you have to get in your car, drive to the gym, change into your unique workout clothes, and then waste time waiting for Sally Supergirl to share the squat machine or elliptical with you.

Once you calculate the extra time, going to the gym can take hours out of your day.

Walking, on the other hand, you can do anywhere. You can slide right out of bed, into your favorite walking shoes, and go around the block. You can walk up the stairs to work, walk around in your backyard, and walk on the beach.

You don’t need an expensive gym membership, and you don’t have to spend time sitting around in sweaty locker rooms. Walking gives you the freedom to exercise anywhere and everywhere, on your terms.

Walking Makes You Creative

Have you ever stayed up late at night trying to find the answer to a problem? Have you ever experienced writer’s block or couldn’t decide where you wanted to put your new furniture?

You’re probably suffering from a lack of creativity. After a long day of solving problems, sometimes the brain gets tired, and you seem to lose that creative spark.

However, taking a 20-minute walk could fix that. In a recent study performed at Stanford University, participants were tested for “divergent thinking” (aka creativity) while sitting, and after taking a walk.

After taking a brisk walk, the participants were almost twice as creative as before walking.

This seems to prove that there is a positive correlation between walking and creative power. It opens up your brain to think about things new ways and increases your problem-solving skills.

So, the next time you feel groggy and uncreative, walk around the block.

Walking Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Humans weren’t designed to be sedentary. As television and video game usage has gone up over the decades, so have the instances of heart attacks, stroke, and cancer.

Walking can help prevent this, and the American Heart Association recommends that every person, regardless of age or weight, get 30 minutes of aerobic activity daily.

When you go for a walk, a lot of good things start happening in your body. Your heart starts pumping, your blood starts circulating, and oxygen starts flowing into your muscles.

When your blood starts flowing like this, it expands your blood vessels and mitigates the risk of blood clotting.

Your heart is a muscle just like anything else and needs to be exercised. The healthiest way to do this is by daily walking. It raises your heart rate enough to keep it in good shape without over-straining it.

Lose Weight… Without Injury

While walking won’t necessarily turn you into a Hungarian bodybuilder, it will help you burn fat. If you’re walking on a flat surface, you’ll burn between 100 and 150 calories per mile (depending on your weight).

If you walk up a few hills along the way, you’ll burn even more calories. It’s great for your legs and will keep your thighs, calves, and buns tight and toned, whether young or old.

Unlike your friend’s Crossfit class, which involves climbing ropes, swinging on monkey bars, and bench-pressing free weights, walking is very safe.

With a workout program like CrossFit, you must worry about breaking bones, spraining ankles, and pulling a muscle.

The only thing that can happen while you’re walking is that you might slip and fall, which rarely happens as long as you have a good pair of shoes.

Boost Your Mood

Walking is one of the best natural ways to reduce stress and depression. When you go for a walk, you temporarily leave all your problems behind.

This is the “you time” that you deserve. You won’t have to respond to emails, deal with stressful phone calls, and sit in a dark room with your thoughts.

Walking will give you fresh air and sunshine and get your blood flowing. Once you’re 5 minutes into your walk, you’ll start feeling energetic, rejuvenated, happy, and confident about your body.

It’s scientifically proven that aerobic exercise also triggers the release of hormones called endorphins. These endorphins are your “happy chemicals” and are similar to morphine.

Some people who start walking develop an “addiction” to it. You may find yourself walking every day.

Meditate While You Walk

Meditation is one of the healthiest things you can do for your mind and body. It allows your mind to focus, triggers the release of hormones associated with pleasure and contentedness, and gives you a peaceful outlook.

However, many people find traditional mediation boring. Sitting in a dimly lit room and cross-legged on the floor doesn’t sound very appealing.

However, the truth is that you can meditate just fine while doing light aerobic activity. Shaolin monks incorporate meditation into almost all of their physical training.

While walking, running, doing backflips, and performing other extraordinary feats, they meditate. Most monks attribute their abilities not to their bodies but to the extreme focus and control the meditative process gives them.

Although you may not be able to do a double backflip after a few meditation sessions, you’ll certainly have improved focus and peace of mind. So put on your favorite meditation tones, slip into your walking shoes, and get outside in the sunshine.

Why Women Need To Choose The Right Shoes

If you’re going to start a walking routine, you need to pick the right pair of shoes. While you can walk in flip-flops or your fashion boots, it’s not going to be very comfortable or safe.

The women who hate walking spend their days walking through the office in uncomfortable heels. Who can blame them? Nobody likes to deal with wobbly ankles, rugged soles, and stiff muscles.

However, going for a walk with the right pair of shoes is a life-changing experience. The right walking shoes will make you feel like you were meant to walk.

They’ll make you want to walk every hour of every day. A good pair of walking shoes will turn your daily exercise into an experience instead of a chore. They’ll support your weight, take pressure off your heels, reduce muscle pain, and put a spring into your step.

A common mistake many women make is that they keep on walking in their old, worn-out shoes. This isn’t good for several reasons:

• Over time, the soles become worn down
• The supportive gel becomes weakened
• The outer structure of the shoe becomes weak

Wearing shoes past their recommended use is a little better than walking in a pair of heels. They lose their support over time, and the soles wear down, causing each step to have a greater impact on your body and increasing the risk of ankle and leg pain.

What To Look For In Your New Walking Shoes

With the advent of the internet and the increasing popularity of imported shoes, you’re going to have many options when trying to find the best pair of walking shoes for women.

However, you shouldn’t just choose the pair of shoes that look good. There are thousands of counterfeits and cheap knockoffs for sale. They may look good, but many of them aren’t made with your comfort in mind.

When choosing your next pair of walking shoes, consider features such as comfort, arch support, the firmness of the sole, the size, and the style.

You will be rewarded for your research with shoes that make you want to walk in them daily.

Comfort

You need to pick a pair of shoes that you can be comfortable in. Nobody wants to put on a pair of stiff shoes every time they go for a walk. Comfort is a combination of things and can be different for different people.

Some women might want a shoe with softer soles; others prefer a firmer feel. Some may wish to arch support, and some may want a minor heel.

You’ll know whether a new pair of shoes is right for you within a few minutes of walking around in them. Of course, it’s worth noting that a new pair of shoes may take a couple of days to break in, especially if they’re made from genuine leather.

This may result in some initial stiffness. As you walk in them more, the leather will soften up and mold to your foot’s natural shape.

Soles

After establishing that your shoes are comfortable and you enjoy walking in them, you need to look at a few other features. The most important of these features is the sole. The sole has two sides: the ground side and the foot side.

Ground-Side

The ground side is the bottom of the shoe, which makes contact with the surface you’ll be walking on. This part of the sole is usually harder and more durable.

It will have patterns cut into it to give you better traction in different environments and be made of unique anti-slip materials.

Soles meant for running on harder surfaces such as cement and asphalt will be narrower to give you more power and grip in your step.

Other soles will have a broad base and deeper grooves for walking over less stable terrain such as sand, grass, or a forest trail.

Depending on the shoe, the sole may be more or less durable. If the shoe was meant for walking on a regulation track (which contains a lot of clay) or a rubber treadmill, the rubber will tend to be soft and supple.

This will give you more grip on the surface and a more cushioned walking experience. Softer soles also tend to be more slip-resistant.

A shoe meant for the outdoors, however, will be more durable. Its soles need to withstand rough, abrasive surfaces, and a soft-soled shoe would get torn up and wear down quickly.

Foot-Side

The foot-side of the sole is the part that will be cradling your foot. This is going to have the most significant effect on your comfort. Some shoes have pockets of air or gel in the heels, making for a more bouncy walking experience.

Others are firm and allow you to feel the ground slightly more. If you opt for an orthopedic shoe, they might have built-in memory foam to help support your back and give you a more comfortable stride.

You can often do so if you have your inserts and would prefer to use them. The shoemakers usually design the soles to be easily removable.

Arch Support

Arch support is another important aspect of comfort. Most people are born with a different amount of natural arch in their feet, and some are born flat-footed.

Most foot doctors agree that arch support is important. A lack of arch support can lead to back problems and put additional strain on the knees.

If you already have a healthy arch, you may not need as much support. However, if you have a weaker foot or are naturally flat-footed, you should get a shoe with firmer, more pronounced arch support.

Style

In the old days, you usually had to choose between style and comfort. The comfortable shoes wouldn’t look very appealing, and the nice shoes would be stiff and cause you to have blisters.

However, most shoes today try to mix looks with style. You can often find a shoe that is both stylish and comfortable.

There are many different styles of walking shoes. Some are designed to look and feel more athletic and are designed for treadmills and Olympic-style tracks. Others are made for the outdoors and are designed for walking on muddy trails and wet leaves.

Some women’s walking shoes are even fashionable and practical. You can look professional in the office and walk around in comfort.

Another style-related feature to consider is whether you want a traditional lace-up shoe or a slip-on.

While shoes with laces offer a better fit, it can often be a pain to sit down and lace them up whenever you want to walk. Slip-on walking shoes are usually made with elastic materials that can stretch while you slip your foot in.

Size

Last but not least, you need to ensure that you’re getting the right shoe size. This means not only getting the shoe that has the right length but also accounting for the width of your foot. While many shoes are universal, some make shoes, especially for women with wide or narrow feet.

Many shoe manufacturers size their shoes slightly smaller or slightly larger than the status quo. They may also offer the shoes in international sizes, which are different from the American size scale.

As long as you double-check your order before confirming payment, you’ll usually be fine.

Where You Should Buy Your Walking Shoes From

In days past, you would visit your local shopping mall to buy shoes. If you lived in a small town, you might also have one or two local shoe distributors.

You could go in, get a great deal, and maybe even take advantage of a buy one, get one half-off sale.

However, in-store sales have become far less common in recent years, and prices have risen exponentially. This is due to inflation, rising rent prices, and the ever-rising minimum wage the stores pay employees.

To account for this overhead, store owners have to upcharge the price of their shoes to make a profit and afford to keep their doors open. However, sometimes this upcharge is up to 40% more than factory costs.

Many people can’t afford that, so they opt for cheaper knock-off brands they can find at their local Walmart.

They may save money at Walmart, but the quality of the shoes they buy is usually sub-par and can cause injury and discomfort.

Thankfully, we live in the age of online shopping! All of the shoes we recommend are sold on Amazon for a fraction of the price you expect in your local shoe store.

Not only will you save up to 40% on name-brand shoes, but you’ll save yourself the time and gas of having to drive to the store.

You can order these shoes from the comfort of your home while sipping your morning coffee or watching the news. Quite a few of these are even eligible for Amazon Prime, meaning you’ll get free two-day shipping directly to your doorstep.

Our Recommendations

Amazon offers thousands of choices. While this gives you plenty of options, it can sometimes be overwhelming.

Scrolling through hundreds of pages with shoes priced differently reviews rated differently, and shipping policies arranged differently can be exhausting and aggravating.

That’s where we come in.

To make your hunt to find the best pair of women’s walking shoes easier, we put together an inclusive list of some of our favorite pairs. We decided on five major categories of walking shoes: lightweight, orthopedic, athletic, trail walking, and fashion.

We then set out to find the best shoe in those five categories, tested them, and took care of all the complex parts for you. We even included five great alternatives if these five aren’t quite what you’re looking for.

So, without further ado, let’s go shoe shopping!

Best Lightweight Walking Shoe: New Balance Women’s 411 V1 Training Shoe

Features:

• Cush + foam technology
• Soft rubber sole
• Removable insole
• Lightweight
• Low-profile design
• Great arch support

 

Overview:

If you’re looking for a stylish, lightweight shoe, you can’t go wrong with the New Balance 365 line of shoes.

The New Balance Women’s 411 V1 Training Shoes were designed especially for active walkers and were built with their patented Cush + foam technology.

These shoes were designed by athletes who wanted a soft pair of shoes they could throw on at the end of the evening and go for a relaxing walk in.

Great Arch Support

When New Balance was founded in 1906, it was called the “New Balance Arch Support Company.” It was one of the first companies to introduce arch support in shoes, and it has been innovating ever since.

These shoes provide excellent support for those with little to no natural arch in their foot and are also an excellent option for flat-footed women.

Cush + Technology

A layer of New Balance’s patented Cush + technology is just under the sturdy rubber sole.

This high-density foam was designed to absorb impact no matter what surface you’re walking on and provides superior comfort. Despite the shoe’s humble design, they make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud.

Best Orthopedic Walking Shoe: Orthofeet Women’s Comfort

Features:

• Anatomical arch support
• Cushioned heel
• Non-binding design
• Patented Ortho-Cushion insole
• Breathable mesh fabric

 

Overview:

If you have diabetes, joint pain in your ankles, or hammer toe, then the Women’s Comfort shoes by Orthofeet should be at the top of your list. These conditions can often cause pain and swelling in the feet, making walking a painful experience in most traditional walking shoes.

However, these were made specifically for people like you. You’ll still find these shoes incredibly comfortable even if you don’t suffer from a chronic foot condition.

Non-Binding Design

This is a unique feature of these shoes and is especially important if you suffer from nerve or swelling problems in your feet. Traditional walking shoes tend to have a tight fit, which can worsen your existing swelling and cut off circulation to the foot.

Orthofeet designed these shoes with a flexible upper that will automatically expand and give your foot room if it begins to swell. The upper is also made of breathable mesh, which will give your feet plenty of airflow.

Gel-Cushioned Heel

If you have pain in your heel or suffer from plantar, these shoes will provide maximum comfort. Underneath the heel support are several gel pockets that absorb all the impacts and prevent it from putting extra pressure on these tender spots.

In combination with the superior arch support, you’re guaranteed to have great support while you walk.

Best Athletic Walking Shoe: RYKA Women’s Devotion

Features:

• Breathable mesh upper
• Versatile synthetic sole
• RE-ZORB midsole
• Three colorful options (black/purple/blue, orange/blue/grey, or grey/green/pink)
• Made for women’s feet

 

Overview:

Ryka is a women’s-only shoe company. Its shoes are designed specifically for women’s feet. Many other shoe companies just rebrand traditional men’s shoes and put them in colorful boxes.

Ryka shoes have a narrower heel and more room in the forefoot area, which are the two biggest differences between a man’s and a woman’s feet.

RE-ZORB Midsole

Ryka’s patented RE-ZORB midsole supports your feet and helps absorb impact when walking on a more rigid surface.

The impact of each step will be evenly distributed across the surface of the sole, so you won’t have to worry about sore ankles.

Versatile Synthetic Sole

Unlike rubber soles, Ryka’s synthetic outer soles are incredibly durable. They were meant to walk on rougher outdoor surfaces and last longer than a typical soft rubber or foam sole.

They also have a surprising amount of grip for their hardness and durability. You’ll be able to walk on wet floors and oil without worrying about tripping or falling.

Best Walking Shoe For Trails: ASICS Women’s Gel-Venture 6

Features:

• 11 Different color options
• Hard, grooved sole
• Removable sockliner
• Gel-cushioned heel
• Multi-directional lugs

 

Overview:

If you prefer a walk in the woods or up a mountain path to a walk around the block, these shoes are for you. They’re made for durability and longevity and provide superior cushioning and ankle support.

ASICS designs every shoe to the highest quality standards and for maximum performance, and the Women’s Gel-Venture 6 is no different.

Multi-Directional Lugs

The sole on these shoes is built for the outdoors and walking over rocky, muddy, and often unstable terrain. To better aid you in this type of environment, ASICS added multidirectional lugs on the front and sides of the sole.

That means that your shoe’s front, back, and sides have just as much grip as the bottom, which is perfect for uneven terrain.

Gel-Venture Heel

You can’t wear these shoes without noticing the superior heel support. Underneath the removable insoles are small gel pockets that absorb impact while walking and give you an excellent springy feel.

Every step you take in the Gel-Venture 6’s feels like a step in the right direction.

Best Fashion Walking Shoe: Clarks Women’s Wave Andes

Features:

• Clarks Wave design
• Waterproof
• Ortholite insole
• Nubuck leather
• Non-slip rubber sole

 

Overview:

Clarks has had a long record of creating high-quality fashion and walking shoes. They combined their expertise in both areas to make the Wave Andes shoe for women.

It features their patented Wave design, is made from durable nubuck leather, and has a non-slip rubber sole with medium firmness.

Clarks Wave

Clarks Wave describes the shape of their sole. This is the natural shape of your foot when you are walking. Your toes are pointed up, your arch is pronounced, and your heel is low.

The design of these shoes not only accentuates your natural position but also provides excellent arch support.

Ortholite Insole

These shoes feature ultra-comfortable and supportive Ortholite insoles. The manufacturer specializes in engineering high-quality, eco-friendly soles for all athletes.

The soles in the Clarks Wave Andes provide soft cushioning and eventually conform to the natural shape of your foot.

Alternatives

We reviewed thousands and tested hundreds of pairs of women’s walking shoes, so it was difficult to narrow it down to five.

So we decided to list a few alternatives in case our top picks didn’t quite match what you had in mind. These five fall into various categories, but their overall quality is quite comparable to the top five that you just read about.

New Balance Women’s 1165v1 Fresh Foam

Features:

• Fresh Foam midsole
• Removable insole
• Lightweight
• Non-slip honeycomb design on the sole
• Raised heel

 

Overview:

If you’re looking for a simple, high-quality shoe without all the extra bells and whistles, the New Balance 1165v1 Fresh Foams are for you.

These have a soft, non-slip rubber sole for indoor walking on tracks or treadmills. They feature New Balance’s patented Fresh Foam midsole, which is excellent at absorbing shock and provides a bouncy, cloud-like walking experience.

These shoes also have slightly raised heels, which puts a little bit more spring in your step.

Saucony Originals Women’s DXN Trainer

Features:

• Genuine leather
• 16 different colors
• Patented Grid stability system
• Midway arch support
• Soft rubber sole

 

Overview:

Saucony has engineered some of the world’s best walking and running shoes. The stylish DXN Trainer combines top-of-the-line athletic performance while you walk with a great deal of comfort and support.

These shoes are guaranteed to match any outfit. They’re offered in 16 different colors, ranging from mild to colorful.

These shoes also feature Saucony’s patented Grid stability system. This helps to give the shoes a natural bounce while you walk and ensures that they can grip almost any surface, whether you’re walking on loose sand or hard pavement.

Lamincoa Women’s Air Running Shoes

Features:

• 15 color options to choose from
• Breathing Upper Vamp
• Platform measures approximately .50
• Trampoline heel
• Reinforced toe and heel guards

 

Overview:

If you’re looking for an all-purpose, athletic-style walking shoe, these are great for you. They feature a special “trampoline heel,” which will put some spring into your step.

These springs are built into the flexible rubber sole and also provide a good deal of shock absorption. Their Shock sole provides excellent grip on hard surfaces and is pretty good at distributing weight.

Aside from the technology, these shoes are also built to last. The toes and heels are reinforced to prevent scuffing, and the upper is made from a durable mesh that doesn’t easily tear.

One of the greatest features of these shoes is how much airflow they get. Aside from the mesh, the insoles are lined with little tunnels that allow a constant flow of air to reach the bottom of your feet, keeping them cool and comfortable.

Dansko Women’s Paisley Walking Shoe

Features:

• 1.5-inch high heel
• Waterproof, stain-resistant suede upper
• Vibram sole
• Moisture-wicking Dupont Sorona fiber
• Dansko Natural Arch technology
• Slip-resistant

 

Overview:

While these shoes are expensive, you can be sure you are getting your money’s worth. They are made out of high-quality Vibram soles, some of the best in the world, and almost entirely slip-resistant (even in oil and ice).

The upper is hand-crafted from genuine suede leather and is treated with 3M’s Scotchguard protectant, making them waterproof and stain-resistant.

Inside these shoes lies Dansko’s premium Natural Arch technology, which provides superior arch support and makes them a great choice for flat-footed people or those with a very slight arch.

These shoes are very common among restaurant and hotel workers who often spend 8 to 12 hours at a time walking around for their shifts.

Brooks Women’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes

Features:

• Patented Cushsole technology
• Durable leather/synthetic design
• Recommended by podiatrists
• Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar
• HydroFlow midsole
• Skid-resistant outer sole

 

Overview:

If you’re addicted to walking, Brook’s Addiction Walkers are a great choice. They are designed from sole to lace to be some of the most comfortable walking shoes.

Their main drawback is that they don’t look that fancy. Despite their plain look, they are loaded with Brooks’ walking technology.

In the midsole resides their Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar, which gives the shoe’s middle a natural roll. Your heel will easily roll to the toe while walking, reducing strain on your arch and Achilles tendon.

Brooks’s patented HydroFlow technology, essentially a layer of adaptive gel that molds to your feet and provides superior cushioning when you’re walking, is throughout the midsole.

How often should you change your Walking Shoes?

The frequency of changing your walking shoes significantly depends on your usage. For individuals who walk for about 60 minutes daily or an average of 7 hours per week, it is highly recommended that they replace their walking shoes every three months.

Walking shoes typically last three to six months. Beyond this period, they lose their supportive and shock-absorbing features, increasing the likelihood of injury.

Therefore, maintaining a regular schedule for replacing your walking shoes is crucial to ensure optimum foot health and prevent potential injuries.

Final Words

Walking shoes for women are essential gear for any active woman. One of the critical features of these shoes is their cushioned insoles, designed to absorb impact and prevent foot fatigue, making them ideal for long walks or runs.

The lightweight design of these shoes helps to avoid strain on the foot and leg muscles, contributing to a more comfortable walking experience.

Furthermore, these shoes are equipped with arch support, a vital feature that helps to maintain balance and reduce foot pain. This can particularly benefit women with conditions like plantar fasciitis or flat feet.

The breathable material used in constructing these shoes helps prevent sweating, thereby enhancing comfort throughout the day.

Another important aspect of walking shoes for women is their good traction. This feature helps to prevent slipping, even on wet surfaces, thus providing a safe and secure walking experience.

Last but not least, the proper fit of these shoes ensures maximum comfort and support for the wearer. A well-fitted shoe can make all the difference in comfort and performance, making Walking Shoes For Women an excellent investment for any active woman.

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