As a fitness editor, I review sneakers for a living I want something that is comfortable, fits well, and provides support when I run, squat, or walk around So when I heard the Skechers slip-in shoes advertised, I decided to give them a try

I had already reviewed the Skechers Go Walk shoes and was impressed with their podiatrist-approved arch-fit insole system However, the immensely popular slip-ons were unknown to me Would they live up to the hype? And how do they compare to the best running shoes and hiking boots on the market? For more information, read my review of the Skechers Slip-On Max Cushion Smooth below

The Skechers Slip-in Max Cushioning Smooth is priced at $110/120 pounds (opens in new tab) and is available in both men's and women's sizes, but for some reason the men's version of the shoe is the Skechers Slip-in Max Cushioning Advantageous, which is the name of the shoe The women's shoes come in three colorways - black, black/white, and black/burgundy (there is a white/black version in the UK), and two for men - black and navy

Shoes come in sizes US 6 to US 11 medium and wide fit for women and US 8 to US 14 for men; half sizes are available for men's and women's shoes

In design, the Sketchers Slip In Max Cushioning Smooth Shoes are slip-on shoes with a thick, comfortable midsole and a breathable mesh upper As a personal preference, slip-on shoes would not be my go-to, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and while these won't make it to the catwalk anytime soon, they didn't look like orthopedic shoes

I opted for the white/black version of the shoes, which probably wasn't the wisest decision heading into winter, but I felt they looked the most like regular workout sneakers I would reach for Plus, unlike the best women's running shoes, these are machine washable, which theoretically makes them easier to care for - great if you're as fanatical as I am about keeping your sneakers clean

One thing to note here is that I really struggled with the fit of these shoes I wear a UK 45 in my everyday sneakers, but a UK 5 in my running shoes When I tried the Skechers Go Walk shoes, I found them to be too big for my UK 5 miles, so I went down one size for these shoes and wore a UK 4 This may be a style issue Slip-on shoes are inherently not as customizable as lace-ups It could also be my feet I have incredibly high arches, so maybe slip-in shoes just don't work for me In any case, if you're in the middle of the size range, I would recommend sizing down or ordering both pairs and trying them on at home (on the carpet)

Upper

The upper of this shoe is what you would expect from a workout sneaker - soft, stretchy, breathable The knit upper is not too snug against the foot, as is common with bootie-like uppers like this one, and I did not struggle with any chafing or rubbing There is also a decent amount of padding around the heel of the shoe, which helped, as even though I experienced the shoe slipping slightly, it did not leave me with blisters

Midsole

The midsole of this shoe is where the magic happens - they really are like walking on clouds Before my Skechers arrived, I had read many reviews, trying to understand where the hype was coming from Many doctors and nurses loved these shoes for long hours on the wards, and several customers said they wore them as slippers These shoes are really comfortable

According to Skechers, this is due to several factors The design of the heel pillow, which wraps and holds the foot in place; the fluffy foam named "Max Cushioning Elite"; the breathable insole; and the shoe's natural rocker shape, which rocks slightly forward with each step Compared to Skechers' Go Walk, the Go Walk is slightly softer It felt softer underfoot, and my feet felt supported while standing at my desk working in these

That said, when I actually went hiking, I was able to walk around in these comfortably all day, but I felt like I needed more support This will be discussed later

Outsole

The outsole of this shoe is definitely ideal for sidewalks, light trails, and treadmills I would not recommend taking these off-road, as there are not a large amount of deep lugs to help with grip or grip If you are going on a long hike, check out the best hiking boots and best trail running shoes here

Right from the start, I found these shoes very comfortable I could wear them all day and not get tired, but I would not recommend them for working out or hiking Probably not possible I've taken these shoes on fast power walks with my unruly cocker spaniel, walking workouts on the treadmill (check out my week of 12-3-30 workouts and the best walking workouts to try), and just running errands I wore them for over 100 miles in the past month The shoes were comfortable, but I personally would have preferred a little more support for longer hikes

Of course, this may be personal preference As mentioned, I had trouble adjusting for size, and although I have high arches, I missed being able to tighten the laces tightly around the top of my foot on long walks That said, they were very comfortable for walking to the store, standing at my desk, or just going about my day

Also, by design, they are wonderfully easy to put on and take off, which is great if you have mobility issues, travel a lot, or are looking for a shoe you can put on in a hurry after yoga class

If you're looking for a super-cushioned, super-comfortable pair of slip-on sneakers, you won't find anything more comfortable than the Sketchers Slip-In Max Cushion Smooth Shoes These sneakers make you feel like you're walking on clouds

However, if you have ambitions to wear these shoes on hikes or long walks, you can buy Skechers Go Walk shoes or something like Nike's Pegasus 39 instead