By Amber Sayer
Deciding whether to buy skechers shoes for walking or running can be challenging simply due to the abundance of choices of brands and models. Comparing different running shoe brands can help you narrow down your search by identifying key differences in features, fit, and feel.
As a competitive runner for over 24 years at this point, I have had the opportunity to run and walk in nearly every brand of shoes.
One thing I love about Skechers is the memory foam cushioning used in most of the Skechers walking shoes.
Memory foam was originally created by NASA to provide maximal shock absorption for the seats in spacecraft. Much like a memory foam mattress, shoes with memory foam insoles help absorb and dissipate pressure, which can alleviate stress and discomfort on your feet and legs when walking and standing.
Memory foam also helps absorb shock, which reduces stress on the bones and joints of your feet.
Below, I’ve rounded up my picks for the best Skechers shoes for those with different needs.
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What Are the Best Skechers Shoes for Walking?
Here are my recommendations for the best Skechers walking shoes for various needs such as the Skechers walking shoes, Skechers walking shoes for flat feet, Skechers walking shoes for standing all day, and the best Skechers shoes for work:
1. SKECHERS Ultra Flex 3.0 Smooth Step Slip-Ins : Best Hands Free Slip in Walking Shoe
Men's
Women's
The brand new Ultra Flex 3.0 Smooth Step is a great option for anyone looking for an ultra plush, super light, comfortable slip-in walking shoe.
I think this is a great walking shoe for seniors because there is an effortless hands-free entry; not only do you not have to fuss with tying laces, but you can basically stay standing or seated and slip your foot right in without the back portion of the heel folding over and requiring you to bend down and untuck it.
As such, I’ve actually personally recommended these Skechers walking shoes to my grandmother who still likes to get out and take a little walk or go shopping but really doesn’t have the mobility to struggle with putting on shoes (even most slip-on shoes!).
The SKECHERS Ultra Flex 3.0 also have the Heel Pillow to both provide cushioning as well as a more secure and supportive fit while you walk. The lightweight mesh upper has a Stretch Fit® knit upper with a jersey trim, so it fits much more like a sock than a shoe and hugs your foot without squeezing it.
The conformability of the stretch-fit knit upper also helps keep the shoe securely on your foot, no matter what type of foot shape or deformities you might have (again, this is great for seniors or anyone with swollen feet, diabetic neuropathy, hammertoes, bunions, etc.).
Finally, these shoes have a cushioned Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam® insole to provide a soft yet springy platform for your foot to reduce joint pain while molting to the specific contours of your individual foot for optimal comfort.
2. Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 : Best Shoe for Running or for Walkers With Joint Pain
Women's
For runners, walkers, or people who stand on their feet all day, I highly recommend the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0 running shoes. These are truly the best Skechers walking shoes for anyone with joint pain, extra body weight, or who just needs additional cushioning for their workouts and/or daily life.
In particular, the design feature that earns this particular shoe the accolade of the best Skechers running shoes for anyone with knee pain, joint pain, or who has a heavier body is the fact that this maximalist Skechers running shoe employs the brand’s premium cushioning and thickest cushioning to date through the combination of the Skechers Air-Cooled Goga Mat™ breathable insole with high-rebound cushioning and the Skechers ULTRA GO® cushioned platform underneath that helps provide rebound while keeping the shoe nice and lightweight.
The end result is a super plush shoe that helps attenuate impact forces when you are running, walking, or even just relieving pressure when you stand on your feet all day.
As someone who needs extra cushioning when I run, I have truly fallen in love with the bounciness and plushness of this cushioned shoe, and think that the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite is the ideal Skechers shoe for distance runners, runners with plantar fasciitis, walkers or runners with knee pain or arthritis, or healthcare workers or food service industry workers who are on their feet all day.
There is also a copper-infused footbed lining to help regulate temperature and reduce odors and the Skechers Ortholite® comfort foam insole layer adds long-term cushioning and breathability.
Finally, these Skechers running shoe has a rocker bottom sole that uses “Natural Rocker Technology” for a smooth heel-to-toe transition while walking or running.
3. Skechers Go Max-Athletic Air Mesh Slip on - Best Goga Mat Walking Sneaker for Men
The Skechers Go Max Walking Sneaker is my pick for the best Skechers walking shoe for seniors or everyday casual wear.
The easy slip-on design makes the shoes supremely comfortable and low fuss, but not necessarily geared towards performance or fitness walking or running. That said, the SKECHERS® Performance Go Max shoe features the Goga Max® technology insole for maximum support and cushioning and a great springy rebound with every step.
To aid traction as well as help absorb impact, this Skechers shoe for walking has a 5GEN® rubber outsole, which offers a proprietary injection-molded compound with memory retention.
Other little design features made this particular model earn a spot on my list of the best Skechers shoes such as the fact that the shoe comes in multiple widths to accommodate different foot shapes, it has a high rebound heel to aid cushioning and shock for anyone with joint pain, the toe is reinforced with a guard to protect the ends of your toes in case you bump into anything, and there is a nice little pull tab at the back of the shoe for easy donning and doffing if you have dexterity issues.
4. Skechers Go Walk Joy Sneaker - Best Vegan Goga Mat Walking Sneaker for Women
The Skechers Women's Go Walk Joy Sneaker is my choice for the best women’s Skechers walking shoe for seniors or everyday casual wear.
Like the Skechers Men's Go Max-Athletic Air Mesh Slip on Walking Shoe, the Skechers GO WALK JOY shoe for women is one of the favorite Skechers shoes for knee pain because it has the premium Goga Max cushioning insole for maximum support and shock absorption with good rebound to help you feel light yet comfortable on your feet.
There is also the grippy 5GEN® rubber outsole, which has the memory retention to also help absorb impact and provide cushioning while protecting against slips by gripping the surface of the ground.
This shoe is 100% vegan, very lightweight, and has a cute style so that you can feel fashionable while supporting your feet with quality shoes.
5. Skechers Arch Fit Sneaker - Best Walking Shoes for Flat Feet
Men's
Women's
When you need a little bit of arch support while still wanting a casual and lightweight shoe for everyday wear, I highly recommend the Skechers Arch Fit-Athletic Slip-on for flat feet.
The Skechers Arch Fit is a very breathable, mesh slip-on walking shoe that seems too light and airy to be all that supportive, but the shoe actually features a podiatrist-certified arch support insole that not only provides cushioning but helps hold your foot in the proper position.
This particular type of Skechers arch-fit insole was developed by amassing over 120,000 different foot scans and 20 years of data from different foot shapes to provide optimal arch support while cushioning, cooling, and wicking away sweat from the foot.
In addition to having the removable Skechers Arch Fit insole support, there is also Air-Cooled Memory Foam on the insole to help cradle your foot and provide maximum surface area that contacts your foot by molding to your foot shape as you walk.
This helps provide additional support and makes this a great shoe for plantar fasciitis because the adaptable memory foam insole helps distribute pressure across a wider surface area, reducing any pinpoint areas of pain where you may have a heel spur or load your foot with excessive weight.
Other cushioning features that I appreciate about this particular shoe that earns it a spot as the best Skechers shoe for plantar fasciitis or flat feet is the fact that there are other high-end cushioning elements such as a ULTRA GO® cushioned midsole.
6. Skechers Women's Uno-Stand on Air Sneaker - Best Shoes for Standing All Day
If you’re on your feet most of the day, you’ll appreciate the Skechers Women's Uno-Stand on Air Sneaker.
Like Nike Air shoes, the Skechers Street Uno - Stand on Air walking shoe has a visible air-cushioned midsole with air-injected pods to help absorb shock and take pressure off of your joints as you stand or walk.
There is also an Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole, excellent traction from the rubber outsole, a little bit of a heel to help provide some extra cushioning at heel strike, and a lace-up design so that you can get a good fit for longer fitness walks or more support for standing long hours on your feet.
7. Skechers Afterburn Memory Fit - Best Memory Foam Walking Shoes for Men
In addition to being known for making some of the first and best rocker bottom shoes for walking, Skechers has distinguished itself as a brand for the memory foam insoles used in many of the premium Skechers running shoes for walking.
The Skechers Afterburn Memory Fit walking shoe is a classic memory foam walking shoe with a lace up design, a durable upper made from leather and mesh, and the Articu-Lyte shock-absorbing supportive flexible midsole.
I love the memory foam insole and the particular materials used in the flexible midsole of this shoe, which together provide excellent cushioning for men with knee pain or other joint pain.
Whether you are doing long fitness walks, gym workouts, or wearing this as your everyday shoe, this updated memory foam shoe is still one of the best Skechers walking shoes for those who want good cushioning at an affordable price point.
8. Skechers Summits Fun Flare Sneaker - Best Memory Foam Walking Shoes for Women
My vote for the best Women's Skechers memory foam shoe would be the Summits Fun Flare Sneaker. This is a supremely lightweight shoe with an easy slip-on design.
While there is the memory foam insole to help cradle your foot by warming and adapting to the shape of the contours of your particular anatomy, this isn’t an overly supportive shoe, so it is best for lightweight wear, standing on your feet for long hours, or an upgrade to cute, casual shoes that are actually good for your feet.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for long fitness walks because there is limited ability to secure your foot in place because of the slip-on design and not a ton of arch support.
However, I find that the shoe is great for wearing around the house or around town or if you are on your feet for numerous hours. It is also 100% vegan, machine washable, and has bungee or stretchy laces for a little bit of customization with the fit of the breathable upper.
9. Skechers Women's On-The-go 600-Brilliancy Sport Sandal - Best Skechers Sandal
Let’s face it: we don’t always want to wear close-toed shoes or lace-up shoes for walking. My pick for the best Skechers walking sandals is the On the GO 600 - Brilliancy sandal.
These women’s sandals have a sporty design yet the sandal is fashionable while being functional. There is an instep strap with adjustable hook-and-loop closure, and a bunch of padded straps to hold your foot in place without causing friction or blisters.
I love the fact that this Skechers sandal features high-rebound cushioning with responsive feedback due to the premium GOga Max footbed technology plus the 5GEN midsole. This midsole has a lightweight injection-molded compound that offers memory retention to help absorb impact.
Another great feature that makes these sandals comfortable for walking is the GOimpulse and integrated Goga Pillars sensors, which are proprietary technology from the brand that help offer more flexibility and responsiveness of the shoe to give you just the right cushioning and rebound based on your actual loading or landing patterns and pressure points on the midsole and outsole as you walk.
The rubber outsole provides multi-directional traction so that you can feel secure whether you are walking on roads, trails, sandy beaches, or rugs around your house.
10. Skechers Cessnock Food Service Shoe - Best Work Shoes for Men
The Skechers Cessnock is the best Skechers shoe for food industry workers such as chefs, cooks, dishwashers, or anyone who works in the service industry.
This occupational Skechers shoe has a full-length memory foam cushion footbed. This Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole helps keep your feet cool yet comfortable when you are in hot kitchens for long hours.
Even though there is an easy slip-on design, the stretch bungee laces help keep your foot comfortable and secure in the shoe.
What ultimately makes this shoe a favorite with the food industry workers or for standing on the job are the various occupational compliance features such as protection against electrical hazards and slipping.
11. Skechers Squad Sr Food Service Shoe - Best Work Shoes for Women
For women who work in the food industry, my top choice for the best womens Skechers work shoe is the Squad SR.
This sporty utility design offers the luxury Skechers Memory Foam insole for cushioning, a stretch lace front for a secure fit, slip-resistant traction in the outsole, and a 3M Scotchgard-treated soft mesh and synthetic upper.
These features have been tested and meet the standards for providing traction against slipping in wet or oily surfaces such as kitchen areas or hospital hallways, and the upper has an Electrical Hazard (EH) safe design tested by the ASTM-F2892 standards.
How Do Skechers Fit?
In general, Skechers shoes fit true to size which means that if you typically wear a men’s size 10, you would feel comfortable in a Skechers men’s size 10, and if you wear a women’s size 8.5, a Skechers women's shoe in size 8.5 should fit.
One of the benefits of Skechers walking shoes is that they come in multiple widths (sometimes wide and extra wide in addition to “regular”).
Wide Skechers shoes are a good option for anyone who has a wide foot, bunion, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, or who stands on their feet all day and tends to find that the feet swell and feel confined in shoes by the day’s end.
Skechers walking shoes with stretchy uppers are also more compliant or compatible with wider feet or different foot shapes. On the other hand, the best Skechers shoes for narrow feet are ones that have a lace-up design so that you can tighten the laces as much as possible to get a secure fit. The proprietary Skechers Heel Pillow can also help cradle your foot and lock the rear foot in place as you walk, giving you a more secure fit if you have a narrow foot, flat foot, or overpronate.
You can also access information about the Skechers shoe fit finder here.
If you are interested in maximal cushioning with walking shoes, check out our guide to the best HOKA walking shoes here.
I’m type 2 diabetic. I have worn and loved only sketchers shoes. price is not a problem. I need a pair of slip on diabetic womens shoe. Can you help me. ?
Hi, I have not come across Skechers shoes that are recommended for diabetics, But you can have a look at some of the shoe characteristics diabetic footwear should have, listed on the page below findmyfootwear.com/characteristics-of-diabetic-shoes/
Hey ladies, I have flat feet as well and had bought $100 arch supports. The foot Dr added some gauze to the arches and taped them in. Felt like heaven. I had a pedicure done at Wal-Mart and was telling the guy how bad my feet hurt all the time. He rubbed my feet, bent my toes backwards and pushed real hard on the tendon rubbing it back and forth. It hurt like he’ll when he was doing it, but afterwards I walked through Wal-Mart in absolutely no pain. I started rubbing my own feet like that every morning. It has made a huge difference.
Memory foam is awful for flat feet!! When you have flat feet as you put your foot down your arch collapses and your ankle rolls inward, the memory foam in skechers allows this to happen even more! I have a pair of go walk and they have made my feet worse, I now have a knee condition where I can’t climb stairs and my ankles are collapsing and swollen!! AVOID!!!!
I agree Lucy!
I work long hours on my feet and have been in tears since wearing memory foam shoes for a couple of days 🙁
GREAT AND i JUST BOUGHT THEM AND i HAVE VERY FLAT FEET, GUESS i WILL BE GETTING SOME ARCH INSERTS. FIRST DAY WEARING THEM SO THANKS LADIES BEFORE i DID MORE DAMAGE.
yes I already had a bit of a knee problem, the shoes were comfy for standing but as soon as I walked, within 10 minutes I had knee pain. these soles are flat no arch support so foot rolls and hence knee pain. I would not recommend these for walking.
Thanks for the info, I have flat feet and arthritis made worse as I grow older and I cannot find a walking shoe that I can comfortably walk in. I either experience pain & d while walking or I suffer pain in my feet and knees after my walk. Sketchers and New Balance tout their shoes for fallen arches, but my feet say no. Both brands sink my heel to either a lower level than my toe or put them both at same level. At the advice of a med. pro, I once bought and wore a pair of boy’s sneakers when I broke 2 “little” toes & they put my heel lower and the wide toe box eased my pain, but these were only temporary until I healed and not for long walks. Sketchers and New Balance put me in mind of those shoes and I am a woman. New Balance chafes and Sketchers feel like I’m wearing slightly elevated ballet shoes. And what’s this “pronation” bs? If my feet are comfortably seated in a shoe that has arch support, I can walk & who cares about pronation? Would love to find a shoe that works with flat feet, weak ankles and short heels. I’ve had so much luck with Clarks’ sandals, I think I’ll investigate their walking shoes.
Thanks Wanda, This is what I thought.. Have bought so many pairs of shoes that my best friend inherits.
What do you wear Wands? I am in so much pain.after wearing these shoes.
Got Sktchers couldn’t figure out why the bottom of my feet were hurting her I developed big corns on the bottoms. So darn painful. Won’t buy another Sketchers. They are junk and overly priced.
I don’t know what type of sketchers you tried but obviously ones not for you. I have severe neuropathy in my legs to feet and I roll my ankles and don’t know it. So I easily break them. I have to know where special braces on my ankles for the rest of my life. If I don’t what little waking I can do with an aid ( walker, cane. Mobility scooter) without my braces I will just keep breaking my ankles. I also have flat deformed feet too, this all side affects from chemo. Sketchers are about the only shoes that 1. Can fit with or over my braces and 2 stable and SO comfortable for my feet. Sketchers has many types of shoes, widths, an insole for everyone. I would not judge a shoe from one bad experience and the shoe obviously was not right for you but there are tons out there and they help many people. So watch what you say. Believe me they are a little pricey for me but if they work with my feet and keep me from falling, I will pay the price.
I bought skechers reflaxed fit air cooled memory foam & then tried skechers go walk 3 I cant find skechers blue or gray canvas shoes with gray botton since they felt more comfort at my friends house I have plantar fascitits & bursitis help choose the best shoe for my feet
I wore Skechers knit fit for about a month, i developed sore, swollen ankles and couldn’t figure out why until i went on vacation and didn’t wear them for a week. As soon as i got home and did my 1st walk in them i knew it was the skechers. Never again will i wear them. I am very active and in my 50s.
Have never had problems with my feet. Bought memory foam air cooled skechers for a city break and decided to wear them for a while before I went. Didnt wear them every day but over a month or so experienced foot pain. Top of foot towards the outside. Wore them last three days ago for the whole day and the next day the pain was excruciating to the point that I could barely put my foot down. It felt like the sorest bruising like someone had stomped on the top of my foot. Wore old shoes for the next few days and foot is now back to normal, thank goodness.
obvious to put in orthos UNDER .. DUHHHHH
the shoes work great once you insert orthos
Duhhh yourself lj-Who needs your taunting advice. Not me. The symptoms caused by lack of arch support described and experienced are painful… not everyone knows automatically to use “orthos” or even what they are for that matter. Grow up and quit being so unkind.
Hi,
I bought a pair of Skechers relaxed fit. When I tried them on they were so comfortable. I have worn them several times in the house to get used to them. Everytime I wear them they hurt my toes. I don’t understand this as there is lots of room at the toe? The only thing I can think of us maybe they are too wide and there is no way to tighten the lace.
Any thoughts on this problem?
Thanks
Mae
If you have flat feet or high arches then Skechers shoes won’t be the ideal fit for you. Skechers are designed more for neutral feet. Having said that, all feet are different so it would be better to try a different style or shoe brand.
Bought my first pair of sketchers (air cooled, memory foam trainers) just over a month ago & have never worn a more comfortable shoe! Made days of too much walking in Vegas a breeze (unlike every other trip there where no matter how comfortable my shoe, my feet would wind up in agony). Sad to hear they don’t work for everyone like they have for me.
I have a foot condition called Metatarsalgia wherein I have lost all the normal foot padding in the balls of my feet. I have already had two surgeries to break some bones in my feet and lift the bone up and off the balls of my feet. I cannot find a pair of shoes that DO NOT have massage pods in the foot bed. These pods create the feeling of walking on rocks barefooted and causes great pain. Does Skechers make any shoe without these pods? I am sure I am not alone in having this condition and there are many women who would love to find a shoe w/o these pods which would allow us to become more active, especially in walking. It would be much welcomed and appreciated to find a shoe I could actually wear. I have tried so many different brands including orthopedic shoes and can find NONE that do not have these pods. Please help! Thank you.
Skechers memory foam and GoGo mat shoes shoes do not have massage pods. But not sure if these type of shoes would be suitable for your condition. You could try them on at a store to check out the comfort level before purchasing a pair. Good Luck!
memory foam shoes are very comfortable to me, I don’t have any problems with them.
Should Orthotics be put on top of the memory form or under?
Thank you
Orthotics go on top. But as per my experience the memory foam shoes don’t accommodate orthotics due to the thickness of the memory foam. But you could experiment, by trying the orthotics in a size bigger than your usual shoe size, in a store and see if it works for you. Good luck!
That’s exactly what I have run into. Thanks for sharing.
I love my new Skechers memory foam shoe, don’t know why people are complaining about, if you don’t like them, don’t wear them, if you just bought them, and they started to hurt within a couple of days, take them back.
I bought sketchers memory foam a little over a year and a half ago and loved them so much, have about worn them out! So recently purchased replacements (exact same shoe) however the “memory foam” does NOT “spring back” and is obviously harder and less ‘bouncy” than my original pair. Clearly “Sketchers” is using far cheaper/undesirable materials now that they have made a name for themselves?? But whatever is in their new shoes, it is NOT the same quality “memory foam” that made their original shoes “above average” comfortable!
I’m finding this too. Everytime there is an ‘upgrade’ or new model released, they are becoming more uncomfortable and cheaper quality.
I have got 2 pairs of Skechers Skech-Knit walking Shoes From QVC They are best shoes I have got very comfortable and have good memory foam have been trying to fine them again been having no luck told they don’t make them anymore I also a diabetic these best shoes for me can Skechers make these again for people need extra memory foam
WHY do so many people misspell Skechers? Bugs me to death! It isn’t spelled Sketchers!
I bought a pair years ago and had to dump them, within 2 months they nearly ruined my feet, absolutely no arch or hell support, ok to use as bedroom slippers, very disappointed because they literally like walking on air, I thought by now they would be making a proper walking or running shoe with good Support, but now I’ve changed my mind, think I’ll look for a good walking trainers from Nike or some other good brand,
So despite all the post re issues with Skechers, all Randi Holbrook can do is criticise the spelling. Get a life. This subject is about far more than spelling, people are in pain and swapping tips and information to help each other.
Maryanne Ruff, I also had a fab pair of Skechers and can no longer find them which is very frustrating. I have since purchased a different pair as close to the comfort of my original ones as possible, but they are not the same.
I have my fourth pair of Sketchers Go walk, size 9 1/2. This pair has given me much pain in both my heels due to something inside the heel part that feels like staples.
My husband has attempted to pound out this sharp piece to no avail. I do not have a receipt to take them back to store. What can I do…..I need them to be comfortable on my heels.
I have high arches any info on the arch fit sketchers good ir bad
Despite you dont have your receipt you should still be able to change then if their damaged,they can’t be selling foot wear that going to cause damage to your very
Do you make “SHAPE UPS” for Men?
Looking for 52812W size 12.best walking shoes I ever had for me ,anyway, I am 82
I bought a pair from Avon about three years ago. I love them and would love to buy another pair but have not seen anything like them. They are dressier than most Skechers. They have a suede like top and two stripes with buckles on them. They have a wedge heel and are so comfortable I wore them on my trip to Mexico and enjoyed the whole trip.
I keep wearing through the mesh upper of skechers with my big toe. I have nail cut all the way back to the quick and can’t cut any shorter. Is one of the mesh uppers, like athletic knit, more robust? Other than that, I like Skechers. I would like to have them for more than three months.