Our verdict

In the realm of walking shoes, we consider the skechers running GOwalk series a godsend. With comfort woven into every aspect of these shoes, we found the women's Boys skechers running Black. As a skechers running DLites 4.0 Sport Shoes that is super easy to put on and take off, it is an attractive option for those on the go. Despite its low price point, this skechers running shoe exceeded our expectations with its comfort. It truly felt like an extension of our foot even on the longest walks.

trainers skechers running love brights 314061l wmlt white multi Pros

  • Very easy to put on and off
  • skechers running Hillcrest Pure Escapade Trail Trainers
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Sneakers skechers running Vendox 403695L BBK Black
  • Trainers skechers running Lighted Thinks 406002N BLBK Blue Black
  • Highly flexible
  • Comfortable from the box
  • Minimal design

trainers skechers running love brights 314061l wmlt white multi Cons

  • Кроссовки skechers running ultra light air cooled memory foam
  • Footwear skechers running Gentle Stride 149413 GYBL Gray Blue
  • Not supportive
  • Skechers® Go Walk 5 Trainers to your favourites

Audience verdict

90
Great!

Who should buy

We think that this cosy slip-on can be a worthy addition to your shoe rotation if:

  • you prefer hassle-free slip-ons to the traditional laced trainers
  • Чорні жіночі босоніжки skechers
  • you like shoes to be so light that you forget about having them on
  • you want a simple yet elegant design from Skechers

skechers running GOwalk Joy review

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.

trainers skechers running love brights 314061l wmlt white multi skechers running Arch Fit instead.

skechers running GOwalk Joy lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Believe it or not this seemingly minimal skechers running 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy heel cushioning

Using a calliper, we measured the shoe's heel stack at 32.7 mm. This is a typical stack height for the brand's GOwalk shoes.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Heel stack
Test results
GO WALK Joy 32.7 mm
Average 32.1 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
14.3 mm
Heel stack
45.7 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Forefoot stack
Test results
GO WALK Joy 23.2 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
14.0 mm
Forefoot stack
31.2 mm

Drop

skechers running max cushioning running shoes.

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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Drop
Test results
GO WALK Joy 9.5 mm
Average 10.5 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
0.3 mm
Drop
21.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

skechers running and plushness have long become synonyms to us. The brand uses its popular 5GEN foam as the primary cushioning for the GOwalk Joy.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Midsole softness

We measured its softness with a durometer and it returned 19.4 HA. Turquoise 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.

Test results
GO WALK Joy 19.4 HA
Average 26.1 HA
The skechers running Equalizer Double Play sneaker is machine-washable.
Turquoise to 36 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
7.8 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.4 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.

mens skechers running go run razor trl.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Insole thickness
Test results
GO WALK Joy 4.5 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
3.5 mm
Insole thickness
10.3 mm

trainers skechers running love brights 314061l wmlt white multi | Size and fit

Size

Scarpe da trekking skechers running Renfrow 204484 CDB Dark Brown 1 true to size (1910 votes).

Оригинальные детские кроссовки skechers running dynamic tread 98151l bblm?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Сяйте витонченістю в дитячих кричах skechers® bow and bling

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.

Test results
GO WALK Joy 97.9 mm
Average 99.2 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
89.5 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.6 mm

Shoes skechers running Matera 2.0-Ximino 232011 BBK Black 1

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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Кроссовки skechers running solei 38
Test results
GO WALK Joy 77.9 mm
Average 78.6 mm
Turquoise to 32 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
73.7 mm
Shoes skechers running Matera 2.0-Ximino 232011 BBK Black 1
90.7 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The skechers running GOwalk Joy is designed as a neutral shoe through and through. That means no arch support and no stabilisers 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 running Arch Fit series instead.

Torsional rigidity

Twisting this skechers running 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 Fit score for torsional rigidity - only 1 out of 5.

Test results
GO WALK Joy 1
Average 2.8
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1
Torsional rigidity
5

skechers running to Sponsor Los Angeles Marathon

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 running 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!

Test results
GO WALK Joy 1
Average 2.3
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1
skechers running to Sponsor Los Angeles Marathon
5

New Balance and

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 running shoe is adequately wide. Measuring the widest part of the forefoot with a calliper, we got a reading of 104 mm. But if you need a slightly wider platform, have a look at the skechers running GOwalk 6 which is about a centimetre wider at 114.5 mm.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
GO WALK Joy 104.0 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
98.8 mm
New Balance and
124.1 mm

Tênis skechers running Infantil Dreamy Dancer Gi

In the widest part of the heel, we got a calliper measurement of 89.1 mm. That's a pretty standard heel width for our lab-tested walking shoes.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Midsole width in the heel
Test results
GO WALK Joy 89.1 mm
Average 90.3 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
75.6 mm
Tênis skechers running Infantil Dreamy Dancer Gi
104.0 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 catalogue!

Using a force gauge, we measured how much force it takes to bend this skechers running 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!

Test results
GO WALK Joy 7.5N
Average 20.3N
skechers running Slip Resistant Felton Albie Black Womens Relaxed.
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1.1N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
35.8N

Weight

Imagine holding a 200ml cup of coffee in your hand. Now imagine that the skechers running 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 Turquoise to the average of walking shoes!

skechers running GOwalk Joy Weight
Test results
GO WALK Joy 6.17 oz (175g)
Average 9.98 oz (283g)
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
6.17 oz (175g)
Weight
14.25 oz (404g)

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 running 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy microscope 2

Test results
GO WALK Joy 2
Average 2.9
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1
Breathability
5

Durability

trainers skechers running love brights 314061l wmlt white multi | 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 running shoe a well-deserved 3 out of 5 score for toebox durability.

Test results
GO WALK Joy 3
Average 3.2
Turquoise to 31 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1
Toebox durability
5

skechers running Blazing Star City Spy

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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy heel padding durability test

Test results
GO WALK Joy 2
Average 2.3
Turquoise to 30 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
1
skechers running Blazing Star City Spy
5

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 Turquoise 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Outsole hardness
Test results
GO WALK Joy 51.4 HC
Average 77.6 HC
The skechers running Equalizer Double Play sneaker is machine-washable.
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
50.1 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 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!

skechers running GOwalk Joy outsole durability test

skechers running dlites 30 air marathon running shoessneakers 149085 pkgy 149085 pkgy.

Test results
GO WALK Joy 3.7 mm
Average 1.4 mm
Turquoise to 30 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Having zero rubber to cover up the shoe's foam midsole is a huge red flag for durability (or lack thereof).

Test results
GO WALK Joy 0.0 mm
Average 3.0 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
7.0 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

We strongly recommend staying away from slick and wet surfaces while wearing this skechers running GOwalk shoe. It has no rubber to create traction on slippery ground and the exposed foam certainly does an awful job with that.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Lug depth

Tongue padding

Because there is no tongue in the GOwalk Joy, we measured the thickness of the upper material instead.

The calliper returned 2.5 mm which is an average thickness for a skechers running slip-on shoe. It feels amazingly light against the instep.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Tongue padding
Test results
GO WALK Joy 2.5 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Turquoise to 37 walking shoes
skechers running Squad Air Ld31
0.3 mm
Tongue padding
13.4 mm

Tongue: gusset type

As a skechers running DLites 4.0 Sport Shoes, the skechers running GOwalk Joy has a one-piece upper that wraps around the foot like a sock.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Tongue: gusset type
Test results
GO WALK Joy Sock like

Heel tab

It was pretty Walk and easy for us to slip in and out of the skechers running 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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Heel tab
Test results
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.

skechers running GOwalk Joy Removable insole
Test results
GO WALK Joy Yes