Would you pay $200 for a pair of athletic shoes because some star athlete endorses them? Well, maybe not you, but there are many people that obviously will and do.

Athletic shoes have become a huge business in the last couple of decades, with superstar athletes getting multi-million dollar contracts to add their name to the shoe. In my opinion, oftentimes the price paid is not worthy of the quality of shoe. In order words, quite often you're just paying for the fact that the current superstar pro basketball player says he wears Nike, or some other brand.

For me, I'm just looking for an economical pair of walking shoes. That's why I find New Balance 575 Model a real bargain and my best walking shoes. It's a lightweight shoe, with substantial cushioning especially suited for frequent moderate paced walking. Personally, I don't like a heavy shoe. If the shoe is too heavy, it almost seems as if you're walking in mud all the time. With this shoe, the weight is not a burden, in fact in almost seems as if you're walking on a superbly cushioned mattress.

The price is great too at less than $60.I'm sure that each one has their own preference and reasons for buying a certain brand of shoe. Price is just one factor. Style is important, and of course, whatever shoe happens to be 'cool' at the moment because some company is spending millions of dollars in advertising so that you'll be willing to fork over a couple hundred dollars for the same thing that another pair does for a quarter of that.

For me, I'm looking for a good pair of walking shoes at an affordable price, not because Carmelo Anthony is wearing them.