As a fitness writer, I’ve reviewed hundreds of pairs of walking shoes over the years, so I know what I’m looking for when I head out for a walk. I want the shoes to be comfortable and supportive for miles on end, without hot spots or blisters, or the need for an extended breaking-in period.
Yet over the past year, a new trend has emerged, and that’s the desire for a lace-free experience. Move over Skechers, there’s more competition than ever before. Often marketed as ‘recovery shoes’, if you find yourself on your feet for most of the day, or you're heading out for a long walk and don’t want to bend down and tie your laces, these shoes tick all the right boxes.
It goes without saying, if you’re heading out for a technical walk over tricky terrains, you’re going to want to pick a pair of the best hiking boots with laces, as they’ll offer more support, especially around the ankle. If, however, you’re walking mainly on sidewalks to keep fit, get in shape, or lose weight this January, these shoes will serve you well.
If you're looking for the best walking workouts, or to find out more about the Japanese walking method the world fell in love with, you're in the right place.
I review walking shoes for a living — here’s the 3 slip-in pairs I’d buy in 2026
These are the three pairs of slip-in shoes that get my seal of approval this January:
1. Hoka Skyward Laceless
If you love the design and feel of your Hoka sneakers, but want something with even more cushioning, the Skyward Laceless is a good place to start. Compared to some of the best Skechers, the Skyward Laceless kept my foot extremely stable in the shoe, and was able to cope with walking workouts and longer hikes.
These don’t come cheap, but you could easily cope with daily wear, rather than just saving them for after your next marathon. They can be tricky to get on, and I wish the upper had a tiny bit more give, but if you don’t have high arches, this probably won’t be an issue for you.
All in all, these feel like wearing slippers while you’re in the supermarket. Hoka has entered the recovery game in a big way, and I’m not wearing any other sneakers for the foreseeable future. You can read my Hoka Skyward laceless full review here.
2. OOFOS OOmg+
The Oofos OOmg+ Club absorbs 37% more impact than regular shoes, making these ideal for people looking to recover from their last race or cope with long hours on their feet. They look like regular sneakers, but have instant sink-in comfort for a plush, comfortable underfoot feel.
As a fitness editor, I spend a lot of time on my feet, and when I’m not testing the best running shoes on the market, I often opt for soft, supportive shoes to help my feet recover. The OOmg+ Club recovery shoes tick all these boxes.
I was able to take them right out of the box and head for a three-mile walk with my unruly cocker spaniel in tow. The shoes don’t feel quite as soft and bouncy as my Oofos sliders, but they still have the soft midsole and rocker I’ve grown accustomed to.
The best part is, these look great, so if you want to disguise the fact you're wearing slip-in shoes for a full day on your feet, you can't go wrong. Read my full Oofos OOmg+ Club review here.
You can buy the OOmg+ Club from Oofos directly, or the similar slip-in OOmy Zen for $99 on Amazon here.
3. Skechers Slip-in Max Cushioning
Of course, Skechers had to make it on to the list, as the brand is famous for it's slip-in shoes. From the get-go, I found these shoes extremely comfortable. I could easily wear them all day, but would I recommend them for workouts or hiking? Probably not. I’ve worn these shoes for over 100 miles over the past month, both on faster power walks with my unruly cocker spaniel in tow, for walking workouts on the treadmill (check out what happened when I did the 12-3-30 workout for a week, and the best walking workouts to try), and just running errands.
One thing to note here is that I really struggled with the fit of these shoes. I wear a UK 4.5 in my everyday sneakers, but a UK 5 in my running shoes (confused? Check out my guide on how to buy running shoes here). When I was testing the Skechers Go Walk shoes, I found the UK 5 miles too big, so I opted to go down a whole size in these, wearing a UK 4. Yet even with thick workout socks, I still struggled, with my foot slipping slightly at the back of the shoe. This might be a style thing — slip-on shoes, by nature, aren’t going to be as customizable as lace-ups, as you’re not able to pull the upper tight against your foot. Yet it might also be my feet — I have incredibly high arches, so it might be that the slip-in shoes just aren’t for me. Either way, if you’re between sizes, I recommend sizing down, or ordering both pairs and trying these on at home (on the carpet).
Read my full Skechers Slip-in Max Cushioning Smooth review here.
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