I was reading that many folks like the Skechers Go Walk shoes for all day walking/sightseeing. There are so many versions of the Go Walk! Which ones have you tried and have you noticed any differences? Specific recommendations and why? Thank you!
Sometimes my feet are fine, other times I tend to get plantar fasciitis and some pain along the bottom of the arch area. I want to avoid any of that during our next big trip. I’ve notice that my Kenkoh sandals I wear at home help make the pain go away. They have a decent arch support.
I wear imitations of Go Walk slip-ins (Go Walk includes both laced and slip-ins) nearly every day. I find they are extremely comfortable, have thick enough soles to support rocky terrain, can be used for >95% of my activities, and the “slip in” without laces makes things more simple. I use them for more than just walking – 20+ mile hikes on varied terrain, workouts, running, etc.
I choose imitations over the Skechers brand because there seems to be steep premium for the Skechers name. For example, ~2 years ago I bought 3 pairs of Avia Hightail Slip-on Walking Sneakers for $20 – making price ~$7 per pair – a small fraction of Skechers cost , without what I perceive of as a loss of quality.
More important to me is the fit. This is particularly important with slip-ons. Minor differences in fit can change from a comfortable shoe to a source of pain. Best fit is often a matter of trial and error, and varies from one person to the next. If you have unique medical/foot shape needs, then you will likely favor particular shoes that address than specific need. There are some guides online, with more specific information.
I tried a new imitation, with Prime Day discounts last week – AllSwift Slip On Walking Shoes Laceless Comfortable Tennis Sneakers. The fit was a bit narrower than I am used to. When using them for my HIIT workout yesterday, I developed a small friction blister on my big toe, which has never happened with the Avias mentioned above. I plan to return them, rather than see if it gets better with more time breaking in.
I’ll bow out of this conversation, I like them. Not enough to walk through Europe in them. Not sure which ones I have, I have 2. Neither are supportive enough for me
I fitness walk around 30-35 miles a week. This is my opinion.
I’d take the insoles out and replace them with more supportive ones.
My husband loves the step in slip on version - the ones that just slide onto the foot. I did replace the insoles with Superfeet for him. He wears his shoes around town but for longer distances he now wears his Hoka Bondis. He developed PF in one foot and the Bondis were super helpful.
BTW, the Bondi was recommended to him by a very knowledgeable friend who said they were the best shoes for folks with PF.
I have these. They were comfortable for all day wear the first year, but they must have broken down, because my ankles now hurt after wearing them for a full day. I have two friends who have fallen while wearing Sketchers, both slipping on wet surfaces.
My experience is that slipping is primarily a function of ground surface and tread. Different Go Walks (and imitators) have different treads. Some start with more tread depth than others, and the longer you wear the shoe, the more the tread wears down. I average 250-300 miles per month including a lot of force on hard surfaces, so tread wear becomes significant after a few months. If I wear the shoe for enough months, the tread becomes almost completely flat, result in slipping if not careful.
Even with new treads, muddy type surfaces can be challenging, even more so ice. If you are planning to walk through a good amount of mud/muck/ice, I’d choose another type of footware. In addition to slipping, the water gets through the mesh holes, making socks damp.
I have Skechers Virtue showrunner slipons (just checked the box) in a wide width. They are not youthful looking in any way but very comfortable. Not enough ankle support for an actual hike but plenty of support for city wearing. If I were traveling I would take them plus my all birds black ballet flats and be done(also 99 cent flipflops for the shower).
Again, not a very attractive option but they are less conspicuous than brightly colored Hokas and about a third of the price. I bought mine on the sale rack at DSW plus extra 25 percent off…
I just recently retired my Skechers to the “garden shoe rack.” Great shoes, but if I had PF issues, I would not wear them for a long period of time. They were these: Ultra Flex 3.0 Slip-In® Sneaker.
It really depends on your foot issues. My podiatrist told me not to wear the very soft and comfy sketchers as they were too soft. I use regular sneakers with an insert and can walk for miles. My foot issue is bunions which are causing some toe malformations. Not fun!!
I love the slip in Skechers that I bought on sale at Costco. However, I only use them for non-long-walking purposes … that is, if I will be doing a purposeful walk (thanks, @deb922, for that term) or walking around for more than a short time, I will only wear the shoes I chose after working with a fit specialist at a running store. My body needs to be properly supported to keep away hip, knee and lower back issues.
