The Best Slip-On Shoes We Tested: Skechers, Toms, Merrell, Salomon

Even after wearing the Toms Valencia Platform Espadrilles for hours, our tester with narrow feet said they “felt just as good at the end of the day” as they did when she first put them on earlier that morning. They also added a few extra inches to her 4-foot-11 frame and were much better for walking than her usual wedge sandals. Since they were made with canvas, they also had “good airflow” and were comfortable enough for warm California weather. She wore them for everything from brunch to bike rides, and still “never” experienced any foot pain or blisters. 

Size Range: 5–12, half sizes and multiple widths included | Materials: Canvas upper, rubber sole, and rope-wrapping | Colors: 17

Our tester racked up more than 12,000 pain-free steps in a single day in these Salomon sneakers. They have a wide toe box and a well-ventilated mesh material that, at one point, allowed her to even “feel the breeze.” (For that reason, they’re probably more summer than fall-coded!) She didn’t have to adjust them once they were on her feet and also claimed that they were “some of the easiest slip-on shoes to put on that I’ve ever worn.” The soles also had “hiking-level traction” and gripped the ground on all sorts of surfaces, including grass, cement, and tile. 

Size Range: Men’s 4–13; Women’s 5–14, half sizes included | Materials: Mesh upper, EVA midsole | Colors: 4

Although the sparkly design of these shoes (which hail from a Martha Stewart and Skechers collaboration) were not our tester’s favorite, they were impressed by just how wildly comfortable they were. They also confirmed that the brand’s “hands-free” claims were totally legitimate — they slipped on and off without having to be pulled or tugged at. The material was “very soft” and hugged their feet “like a sock,” plus, they had ample heel cushioning, as promised by the brand. Our only tip? Go with a darker color — unless you’re okay with stains showing. 

Size Range: 6–11, half sizes included | Materials: Mesh, plus rubber sole | Colors: 4

The Merrell Clover Sport Mules were, quite literally, made for walking, according to our city-living tester who slid them on for quick trips out the door. They’re “like flip-flops, but with more security and stability,” she described, and they were “more breathable” than other walking shoes she’d tried. They were entirely painless each time she wore them, and despite having an open-back mule design, kept her feet in place the whole time. Styling them was a bit of a challenge, she added, so she often resorted to wearing them as house slippers. 

Size Range: 5–11, half sizes included | Materials: Mesh upper, foam footbed, rubber sole | Colors: 3

Our tester traded wearing her Allbirds Tree Loungers for these Water-Repellent Round-Toe All-Day Sneaker Flats from a celebrity-worn brand, and will likely continue to do so. They were “exceptionally comfortable” and have since become her “go-to shoes for running errands — especially on days when I know I’ll be on my feet a lot.” 

The heel pad and dual arch support, in particular, were two standout features that “significantly” made it more comfortable to walk around. (Although with all that extra cushioning, she did note that they may be too warm for hot days.) The overall silhouette also concealed her Brachymetatarsia, giving her a major confidence boost while looking good on her feet. 

Size Range: 5–11, half sizes included | Materials: Machine-washable knit fabric, rubber sole | Colors: 7

Also created in collaboration with Stewart, these shimmery Skechers shoes were extremely convenient for our tester, who was in her second and third trimester of pregnancy at the time of testing. Thanks to the air-cooled memory foam insole, her feet didn’t hurt even after a full day at work and provided “good support” for her high arches. 

The stretchy upper was able to accommodate her swollen feet throughout the day without causing any major pain. They also never needed to be adjusted, nor did they ever come off accidentally. That said, she noted that these shoes might not be the best for narrow feet. 

Size Range: 5–11, half sizes included | Materials: Knit upper | Colors: 2

Our tester wore these black slip-ons to work, brunch, and even to run after her kids at the playground. They were much “more stylish” than she was used to, and she got “so many compliments” with them on. With each wear, they also got “more and more comfortable” and had enough traction to keep her from slipping on a rainy day. (They also tackled grass, hardwood floors, and more surfaces with ease.) The one major downside? The toe box was a bit narrow for her average-width feet, so she unfortunately experienced some discomfort and blistering.

Size Range: 5–13, half sizes included | Materials: Leather upper, rubber sole | Colors: 2

Sick of sporty sneakers? Our tester recommends these as a “slightly dressier” alternative, which worked well for her very flat and narrow feet. The arch support worked overtime for her almost non-existing arches and prevented her shins and feet from feeling pain, an uncomfortable side effect of footwear that’s too flat. 

She only had to adjust the back of the shoes on the very first wear, but after that, they stayed put. They also weren’t too heavy or hot for her quick-to-overheat-feet, though they did cause her a bit of slight irritation and redness at the very beginning of the testing period, she noted. 

Size Range: 5–12, half sizes included | Materials: Recycled plastic and hemp upper, foam insole, rubber sole | Colors: 2