Our verdict
- Our top pick in best slip-on walking shoes
- Our top pick in best Skechers walking shoes
Pros
- Very easy to put on and off
- Fits the foot closely
- Extremely lightweight
- Well-cushioned for all-day wear
- Marshmallowy plush sole
- Highly flexible
- Comfortable from the box
- Minimal design
Cons
- Less breathable than seems
- Poor sole durability
- Not supportive
- Slippery on wet
Audience verdict
- Top 28% in walking shoes
- Top 28% in shoes for nurses
Comparison
The most similar walking shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 90 Great! | 89 Great! | 91 Superb! | 91 Superb! | |
Price | $60 | $75 | $65 | $65 | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 6.2 oz / 175g ‐ | 7.7 oz / 219g ‐ | 6.9 oz / 197g 8.1 oz / 230g | 8.5 oz / 240g ‐ | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Breathability | Warm | Warm | Warm | Moderate | |
Use | For standing all dayTravelCityDisneyEuropeFor nurses | For standing all dayTravelCityDisneyEuropeFor nurses | For standing all dayTravelCityDisneyEuropeFor nurses | For standing all dayTravelCityDisneyEuropeFor nurses | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Soft | Balanced | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Big | Big | Normal | Big | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Thin | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Big | Big | Normal | |
Torsional rigidity | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | |
Heel tab | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | |
Drop lab | 9.5 mm | 9.0 mm | 15.8 mm | 8.3 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 32.7 mm | 33.0 mm | 36.4 mm | 32.7 mm | |
Forefoot | 23.2 mm | 24.0 mm | 20.6 mm | 24.4 mm | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | - | |
Closure | Slip-on | Slip-on | Slip-on | Slip-on | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Good | Decent | - | |
Heel padding durability | Decent | Decent | Good | - | |
Outsole durability | Bad | Bad | Bad | - | |
Midsole width in the forefoot | Narrow | Average | Average | Narrow | |
Midsole width in the heel | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole hardness | Very soft | Soft | Very soft | Soft | |
Outsole thickness | |||||
Tongue padding | Thin | Thin | Average | Average | |
Tongue: gusset type | Sock like | Sock like | Bootie | Both sides (full) | |
Memory foam | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Material | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | |
Ranking | #8 Top 28% | #15 Bottom 48% | #3 Top 11% | #4 Top 14% | |
Popularity | #14 Top 49% | #18 Bottom 37% | #16 Bottom 44% | #27 Bottom 6% |
Who should buy
We think that this cozy slip-on can be a worthy addition to your shoe rotation if:
- you prefer hassle-free slip-ons to the traditional laced sneakers
- you need a comfortable walking shoe for long walks and traveling
- you like shoes to be so light that you forget about having them on
- you want a simple yet elegant design from Skechers
Who should NOT buy
The GOwalk Joy doesn't offer any arch support or additional stability components. Its plush midsole can be a problem for people with flat feet and/or overpronation.
If you are someone who needs that kind of support for your foot arches and ankles, consider Skechers Arch Fit instead.
Breathability
The GOwalk Joy has a fairly thin mesh upper with wide ventilation pores. A perfect formula for breathability, right?
Well, apparently not in this case. We were quite surprised when this Skechers shoe failed to meet our expectations. In our smoke-pumping machine test, we saw that the shoe's fabric didn't let the smoke pass so easily. The reason for that is the tightly woven inner lining which feels more like an extra sock.
Thus, on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we only rated the GOwalk Joy's breathability as 2.
However, this doesn't mean that the shoe is toasty. We could still feel a cooling breeze on warm summer days. But it just wasn't as ventilated as we thought it would be given how breathable it looks.
It is also evident from our transparency test that the inner lining below the mesh holds back the airflow.
You can also see from our microscope shot below that there is a thicker fabric layer underneath the mesh.
GO WALK Joy | 2 |
Average | 2.7 |
Durability
Toebox durability
Judging by the shoe's dainty construction, we wouldn't expect it to last longer than the average walking shoe. And yet, the GOwalk Joy held up to our demanding Dremel test pretty well!
After 4 seconds of drilling its toebox with a Dremel, we only scratched the upper mesh layer but never got through the inner padding. For that reason, we gave this Skechers shoe a well-deserved 3 out of 5 score for toebox durability.
GO WALK Joy | 3 |
Average | 3.2 |
Heel padding durability
Back in the heel, the shoe's padding and lining didn't do so well in the same Dremel test.
The damage here was much more detrimental than that in the toebox. Thus, the heel padding got a lower durability score of 2.
GO WALK Joy | 2 |
Average | 2.3 |
Outsole hardness
The exposed foam is SO soft on the GOwalk Joy that it showed a reading of 51.4 HC on our durometer. For reference, that's a whopping 45% softer compared to the average of walking shoes!
Unfortunately, in a duel between concrete pavement and soft foam, the latter is less likely to be the winner.
GO WALK Joy | 51.4 HC |
Average | 76.3 HC |
Outsole durability
Of course, it was no surprise to see our Dremel get through the GOwalk Joy's sole like it was a piece of butter.
The depth of the dent created by our Dremel was insanely large. Using a tread gauge, we measured it at 3.72 mm, more than 2 mm deeper than average!
If you wear this pair of Skechers daily, we anticipate that it will only last one summer.
GO WALK Joy | 3.7 mm |
Average | 1.5 mm |
Outsole thickness
Having zero rubber to cover up the shoe's foam midsole is a huge red flag for durability (or lack thereof).
GO WALK Joy | 0.0 mm |
Average | 2.8 mm |
Weight
Imagine holding a 200ml cup of coffee in your hand. Now imagine that the Skechers GOwalk Joy is even lighter than that!
Weighing the shoe in a women's US size 11, we got as little as 6.8 oz (193g). This is practically weightless compared to the average of walking shoes!
GO WALK Joy | 6.17 oz (175g) |
Average | 9.77 oz (277g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
Believe it or not this seemingly minimal Skechers shoe has the same amount of cushioning as many other walking shoes. It was even enough to keep us comfortable for the entire 10-hour wear test.
Using a caliper, we measured the shoe's heel stack at 32.7 mm. This is a typical stack height for the brand's GOwalk shoes.
GO WALK Joy | 32.7 mm |
Average | 32.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe also has a good amount of cushioning in the forefoot. We got a measurement of 23.2 mm under the toes.
GO WALK Joy | 23.2 mm |
Average | 21.9 mm |
Drop
Given the difference in stack heights, the shoe has a moderate drop of 9.5 mm.
This means that your heel sits a little higher than the toes inside the shoe and, consequently, gets more cushioning. That way, when you take a step and land on the heel, it feels very well-cushioned and protected from the impact.
GO WALK Joy | 9.5 mm |
Average | 10.4 mm |
Midsole softness
Skechers and plushness have long become synonyms to us. The brand uses its popular 5GEN foam as the primary cushioning for the GOwalk Joy.
We measured its softness with a durometer and it returned 19.4 HA. Compared to the average of walking shoes, this is a whole 30% softer! If you can imagine walking on a huge marshmallow, that's probably the most accurate description of this shoe's cushioning.
GO WALK Joy | 19.4 HA |
Average | 24.6 HA |
Insole thickness
Additionally, the cushioning is enhanced with the Goga Max insole. This insert felt ultra plush and adapted to the shape of our feet from the start.
We measured its thickness at 4.5 mm in the heel.
GO WALK Joy | 4.5 mm |
Average | 6.0 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
The Skechers GOwalk Joy is designed as a neutral shoe through and through. That means no arch support and no stabilizers whatsoever!
This shoe follows the natural movement of your foot, bending and adjusting to your foot's gait as you go. It was a very pleasant experience for us, making it feel like we stepped out the door in a pair of bedroom slippers.
However, for people with flat feet/overpronation, wearing this shoe can turn into an ankle-rolling disaster, and to them, we recommend the more supportive Skechers Arch Fit series instead.
Torsional rigidity
Twisting this Skechers shoe in our hands made it feel like it had absolutely no "spine." With its high degree of softness and flexibility, the GOwalk Joy gets the lowest score for torsional rigidity - only 1 out of 5.
GO WALK Joy | 1 |
Average | 2.8 |
Heel counter stiffness
What's more, the shoe has absolutely no structure in the heel counter. If you are used to having a firm heel hold at the back of the foot, this Skechers shoe is the complete opposite of that.
On a scale from 1 to 5 where 5 is the stiffest, we obviously rated it as 1. The GOwalk Joy proves its similarity to a house slipper once again!
GO WALK Joy | 1 |
Average | 2.3 |
Midsole width in the forefoot
Even if you have a neutral gait and no issues with pronation, you still need a wide enough landing surface to feel surefooted as you go through your day.
We found that the sole of this Skechers shoe is adequately wide. Measuring the widest part of the forefoot with a caliper, we got a reading of 104 mm. But if you need a slightly wider platform, have a look at the Skechers GOwalk 6 which is about a centimeter wider at 114.5 mm.
GO WALK Joy | 104.0 mm |
Average | 111.8 mm |
Midsole width in the heel
In the widest part of the heel, we got a caliper measurement of 89.1 mm. That's a pretty standard heel width for our lab-tested walking shoes.
GO WALK Joy | 89.1 mm |
Average | 90.2 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
At this point of the review, you probably wouldn't be very surprised if we told you that the GOwalk Joy is in the top 15% of most flexible walking shoes in our catalog!
Using a force gauge, we measured how much force it takes to bend this Skechers shoe to a 90-degree angle. Turns out, it only takes 7.5N! That's a whopping 140% less than it takes a walking shoe on average!
GO WALK Joy | 7.5N |
Average | 20.6N |
Grip / Traction
We strongly recommend staying away from slick and wet surfaces while wearing this Skechers GOwalk shoe. It has no rubber to create traction on slippery ground and the exposed foam certainly does an awful job with that.
Size and fit
Toebox width at the widest part
In our experience, the GOwalk Joy fits exactly as expected and true to size.
Measuring the widest part of the toebox, we got 97.9 mm. This is an average walking shoe width in a women's US size 11.
What's also great about the shoe's upper is that it stretches. As the temperatures rose around noon and our feet began to swell, the fabric expanded just enough to accommodate our swollen feet.
GO WALK Joy | 97.9 mm |
Average | 99.2 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
Another thing that makes the shoe's toebox quite comfy and accommodating is the fact that it's not tapered. Measuring the upper width around the big toe, we got 77.9 mm, which is the same as the average.
GO WALK Joy | 77.9 mm |
Average | 78.6 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
As a slip-on walking shoe, the Skechers GOwalk Joy has a one-piece upper that wraps around the foot like a sock.
GO WALK Joy | Sock like |
Comfort
In-shoe comfort
You should not worry about a break-in period with this GOwalk shoe at all. As long as the size is right, the Joy feels incredibly comfortable straight from the box.
Tongue padding
Because there is no tongue in the GOwalk Joy, we measured the thickness of the upper material instead.
The caliper returned 2.5 mm which is an average thickness for a Skechers slip-on shoe. It feels amazingly light against the instep.
GO WALK Joy | 2.5 mm |
Average | 5.2 mm |
Heel tab
It was pretty quick and easy for us to slip in and out of the Skechers GOwalk Joy in the first place. But there’s also a handy pull tab on the back of the collar which makes it even easier.
That's one of the reasons why we recommend the GOwalk Joy as a travel shoe. It is super convenient to slip off at the TSA security gate or while you are on a plane/train/bus. It is also light and flexible enough to be packed into a carry-on.
GO WALK Joy | Finger loop |
Removable insole
IF you need to level up the comfort with a custom insole, you can easily do that by removing the default insert.
GO WALK Joy | Yes |