Travel Products Style Shoes Sneakers The 9 Best Best Slip-on Sneakers for Women of 2023, Tested and Reviewed We loved slip-ons from OluKai, Dr. Scholls, and Cariuma. By Anna Popp Anna Popp Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 2, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Testing Process Other Options We Like Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T + L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Travel + Leisure / Brian Kopinski Because we believe convenience while traveling is key, slip-on shoes are essential footwear to pack for any trip. Making a mad dash from the TSA security line to your gate? You’ll be grateful to have a pair of shoes that slide right on and are plenty comfortable for the sprint ahead. While there are plenty of slip-on shoes on the market, we had our Travel + Leisure editors, writers, and skilled product testers try 20 pairs of slip-on shoes from trusted brands like Cariuma, On Running, and Allbirds. For two weeks, we wore the shoes for activities including air travel, long walks, working in the office, and running errands around the city to gauge the level of comfort and support offered by each. Whether you’re in search of an athletic sneaker or a slip-on fit for the office, we’ve rounded up our winners below to help make shopping easier. Our Top Picks Best Overall: OluKai Pehuea Slip On Sneakers at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Dr. Scholl's Madison Slip-On Sneaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Wide Feet: Allbirds Women's Wool Loungers at Allbirds.com Jump to Review Best Platform: Vince Warren Suede Slip On Platform Sneakers at Zappos Jump to Review Best Breathable: Cariuma IBI Slip On at Cariuma.com Jump to Review Best Business Casual: Rothys The City Slip On at Rothys.com Jump to Review Best Traction: Kizik Lima Slip-On Sneaker at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Running: On Cloud 5 Waterproof Shoes at Zappos Jump to Review Best Sneakers: Avre Infinity Glide Light Sneakers at Avrelife.com Jump to Review Best Overall OluKai Pehuea Slip On Sneakers 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Zappos View On Nordstrom Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The construction of the shoes feels sturdy and supportive, and the style is versatile enough for the office or running errands. What to Consider The mesh upper is a bit stiff at first. From the office to the airport, the OluKai Pehuea slip-ons will take you to any destination in comfort and style. These sneakers have the perfect balance of weight thanks to the thick rubber outsole and lightweight mesh upper. Hands down the best aspect of these stylish kicks is the supportive midsole that boasts just the right amount of arch support to keep your feet cushioned in all the right places. One unique feature of these slip-ons is that the heel has a drop-in seam so the backing is designed to fold down easily to put the shoes on and pop back up to support the foot. When it comes to slick surfaces, these sneakers have plenty of traction on the bottom of their dense rubber soles so we didn't have any issues walking on all types of terrain. While the mesh upper is breathable, it was a little stiff at first and we had to use our hands to step into the shoes. After a few wears, the upper began to loosen up a bit and mold around the foot, meaning the fit will only get more comfortable over time. With 16 different color options in sizes 5 to 12 with half sizes available, there are plenty of combinations to choose from for all style preferences. Price at time of publish: $100 The Details: 5 to 12 | Mesh, rubber Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox Best Value Dr. Scholl's Madison Slip-On Sneaker 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon View On Zappos View On Zappos Our Ratings Fit 4.5/5 Comfort 4.5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The cushioned bumper prevented the heel from slipping up or getting blisters. What to Consider The shoe has a narrow fit but there are wide sizes available, too. The Dr. Scholl’s Madison Sneaker is designed for comfort thanks to the cupped heel, memory foam midsole, and generous arch support in the footbed. We’re big fans of the cushioned bumper in the heel of the shoe that prevented blisters, meaning these slip-ons were ready to be worn right out of the box. The construction of the shoe has a lot of flexibility to aid with movement so whether you're walking on flat or uneven terrain, these shoes have the perfect amount of support and mobility for a variety of adventures. There are options for recycled faux leather, canvas, flannel, and suede upper materials, and size options in both regular and wide, so you can pick from a number of styles and sizes. The regular size had a tighter fit so consider getting a wide size if your feet aren’t narrow. Price at time of publish: $80 The Details: 5 to 13 (wide sizes available) | Recycled faux leather, canvas, flannel, polyurethane, microfiber Travel + Leisure / Bridget Annear Travel + Leisure / Bridget Annear Travel + Leisure / Bridget Annear Best for Wide Feet Allbirds Women's Wool Loungers 5 Allbirds View On Allbirds.com View On Dick's Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The merino wool upper is flexible enough to gently mold around your foot while keeping it secure in the shoe at the same time. What to Consider The wool upper isn’t super breathable. The Allbirds Wool Loungers have a flexible wool upper with the perfect amount of give to form around the foot without constricting it or causing chafing. There is a solid amount of cushioning in the midsole and the soft lining feels similar to stepping into a pair of slippers. Since the upper is made with thick merino wool, these aren’t the most breathable shoes, but they are super cozy and warm, especially in colder seasons. The shoes feel premium and durable, leading us to believe they have a super long life ahead of them. And since the insoles are removable, you can easily update your sneakers with a new pair to give them a refresh without having to buy a brand new pair. The shoes can also be machine washed on delicate, but be sure to read the cleaning instructions carefully. Price at time of publish: $105 The Details: 5 to 11 | ZQ merino wool, SweetFoam EVA Travel + Leisure / Julia Warren Travel + Leisure / Julia Warren Travel + Leisure / Julia Warren The Best Water Shoes for Women Best Platform Vince Warren Suede Slip On Platform Sneakers 4.7 Nordstrom View On Zappos View On Nordstrom View On Bergdorfgoodman.com Our Ratings Fit 4.5/5 Comfort 4/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The rubber soles are very dense and sturdy and the leather upper is sleek and molds to the foot over time. What to Consider There is a slight break-in period where the leather has to soften up. Platform sneakers are a timeless trend, and we recommend the Vince Warren Platform Sneakers if you’re in search of an elevated look. The rubber outsole gives you an extra 1.5 inches of height, and it feels very sturdy so you won’t have to worry about twisting your ankle or tripping easily. The sneaker comes in several upper materials like suede, textile, and leather, so you have a variety of styles to choose from. At first, the leather material was stiff and slightly irritating, causing some minor blistering. However, the leather quickly softened up after several hours of wearing the shoe. You can expect a minor break-in period, but it'll be well worth it for the comfortable and customized fit that only improves as you wear them. Plus, the midsole has just the right amount of arch support to cushion the ball of the foot and the heel cradles the foot to prevent it from slipping up. Price at time of publish: $343 The Details: 5 to 13 | Leather, textile, rubber Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp Travel + Leisure / Anna Popp Best Breathable Cariuma IBI Slip On 4.9 Cariuma View On Cariuma.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 4.5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It These eco-friendly shoes are made with a cooling bamboo knit and lightweight sugarcane EVA foam. What to Consider We noticed a short break-in period where the shoe rubbed on the heel slightly. When it comes to breathability, Cariuma IBI Slip-ons are the best, especially for spring or summer. If (and likely when) your feet get sweaty, the insoles can be removed and washed separately, or the entire sneaker can go into the washing machine for hassle-free cleaning. Made with vegan and sustainably sourced materials like a bamboo knit upper, sugarcane-based EVA foam outsole, and a Mamona oil and cork insole, you can feel good about your purchase while looking good in these stylish kicks, too. While the insole is plenty comfortable and provides ample arch support, you can easily switch out the insoles for custom ones if desired. There was some slight redness on the foot during the first wear, but that was a one-time occurrence and didn’t happen again. If you're heading on a tropical vacation or sightseeing in the summertime, these sneakers are comfortable and cooling despite a slight break-in period. Price at time of publish: $110 The Details: 5 to 13 | Bamboo knit, memory foam and cork insoles, sugarcane EVA Travel + Leisure / Jamie Hergengrader Best Business Casual Rothys The City Slip On 4.8 Rothy's View On Rothys.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 4.5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It These have a more professional look than laced sneakers. What to Consider They were a little tight at first. These polished and ultra-comfortable Rothy sneakers are an officewear staple to add to your closet. The recycled knit upper hugs the top of the foot and provides enough breathability that you won't have sweaty feet at the end of a workday. While the upper material isn’t designed to stretch too much, the tighter fit did loosen up a bit after wearing the shoes a few times. The algae-based foam midsole adds extra cushioning and arch support that is super helpful for being on your feet for long periods of time, especially while commuting and walking around the city. Plus, the rubber outsole is thick enough that the shoe is sturdy without feeling heavy, so we’re confident these slip-ons can withstand a lot of miles. Price at time of publish: $139 The Details: 5 to 17.5 | Recycled knit, algae-based foam, rubber Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price The Best Waterproof Walking Shoes for Women Best Traction Kizik Women's Lima Slip-On Sneaker 4.8 Kizik View On Amazon View On Kizik.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It The rubber traction pods in the toe and heel of the shoe help with stability in all types of terrain. What to Consider These have a casual, athleisure style that is best for everyday wear. The Kizik Women’s Lima sneakers scored highly in all of our testing categories, including traction. Thanks to the rubber traction pods designed to stabilize the heel and toe of the foot, these shoes provided plenty of stability on slick surfaces. Made with Kizik’s cushioned RabbitFoam material, the outsole feels extremely sturdy and supportive after wearing the sneakers all day. The no-tie laces give the sneakers an athletic style, making them the perfect everyday footwear for running errands and going for long walks, but they may not be the best slip-ons for anything fancier. However, if you’re looking for a pair of sneakers that will support and stabilize you all day long, these are an excellent pick. Price at time of publish: $109 The Details: 6 to 13 (wide sizes available) | Knit, rubber, RabbitFoam Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Best for Running On Women's Cloud 5 Waterproof Shoes 5 Nordstrom View On Zappos View On Nordstrom View On REI Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It These performance sneakers are supportive and flexible for running, weight training, and playing sports. What to Consider It’s a performance sneaker designed for activities like running and walking, not for dressier occasions. Designed for running, weight training, playing tennis, and dashing through an airport to catch a flight, the On Cloud 5 running shoes are the best performance slip-ons we tried. The cooling recycled polyester upper combined with the supportive CloudTec cushioning make these sneakers impressively lightweight without sacrificing stability and durability. The CloudTec cushioning is designed to absorb impact and cushion the foot as it lands, making running feel like "running on clouds," as the brand correctly claims. Plus, all of the materials are breathable and waterproof so no matter where your runs take you, you won’t have to worry about coming home with wet or sweaty feet. While the built-in insole is plenty comfortable, it can be removed to easily replace with a new insole or a customized one to best fit your workout preferences. Price at time of publish: $170 The Details: 5 to 11 | Recycled polyester, Zero-Gravity foam, rubber Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford Travel + Leisure / Ivy Ford The 18 Best Sneakers for Women of 2023 Best Sneakers Avre Infinity Glide Light Sneakers 5 Avre View On Avrelife.com View On Verishop.com View On Zerowastestore.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The no-tie laced sneakers are extremely comfortable for walking long distances. What to Consider The brand recommends ordering up a half size, which we found to be helpful for getting the right fit. If you’re in search of a pair of athletic slip-ons, you can’t go wrong with the Avre Infinity Glide Light shoes. Avre is a sister-run shoe company that prioritizes sustainability by using recycled plastic water bottles to source the breathable knit upper material of each pair of sneakers. While these certainly look like a pair of traditional athletic shoes, they’re even easier to slip on thanks to the infinity or no-tie laces wrapped around the upper. The recycled knit upper is breathable yet compressing, so there isn’t a need for laces as the feet rest between the flexible upper and arch-supported midsole. Thanks to the recommendation from the brand, we ordered a pair a half size larger and the shoes fit perfectly without requiring a break-in period or adjustments. Price at time of publish: $145 The Details: 5 to 10 | Recycled knit, algae foam Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Our Testing Process After wearing 20 pairs of slip-on sneakers from trusted brands like Allbirds, Dr. Scholls, and Cariuma, our team of expert product testers, editors, and writers evaluated the shoes based on comfort, support, durability, and fit. For two weeks, we took thorough notes and paid close attention to the break-in period (if there was one), the level of arch support provided, and the durability and traction of the shoes after wearing them in various conditions. To get a feel for the arch support, we tried to bend the shoes to see how sturdy they were. Travel + Leisure / Maria Bouselli Other Slip-on Sneakers We Liked There were several pairs of slip-on shoes from brands like Naturalizer and Skechers that slightly trailed behind our top picks. However, we did like some aspects of these shoes so they still earned an honorable mention. UGG Women's Sammy Sneaker: These lightweight sneakers are easy to pack in a carry-on and slip on and off at the airport. While they were slightly lacking in arch support, we love that they didn’t have a break-in period and were comfortable from the start. Naturalizer Women's Marianne Loafer: Rivaling our top pick for the best business casual slip-ons, we think these are a great option for wearing to the office as well. The materials and construction of the shoe feel sturdy and supportive but we like the slightly more elevated look of the Rothy’s more for office wear. Skechers Slip-ins: Ultra Flex 3.0 - Brilliant: Compared to the other athletic sneakers we tested, these Skechers had a similarly supportive and breathable design for being on your feet all day. However, the upper material scuffed on the first wear so we knocked off points for durability with these ones. APL Women’s TechLoom Breeze: These sleek athletic sneakers were extremely comfortable and the materials felt very high-end, but we deemed the price a bit high compared to the similarly high performance and lower prices of other athletic shoes on our list. Travel + Leisure / Karen Chen Tips for Buying Slip-on Sneakers Comfort is key There are a few things you want to look for in a comfortable slip-on shoe, including arch support, cushioning, and soft materials. The midsole should have plenty of cushioning for shock absorption and the footbed should have a ramp-like shape for arch support. When it comes to the upper and lining materials, knit, leather, and suede will be softer on the top of the foot and help prevent chafing. Make sure the fit is snug Slip-on shoes are super convenient since you can easily put them on hands-free. On the flip side, that means if the fit is loose, your heel will lift up which could cause blisters. You’ll want to look for a snug fit at the top of your foot while still having room in the front to wiggle your toes. If you’re wearing no-show socks it will make the fit a bit tighter, so be sure to consider that when you’re shopping for slip-on shoes. Consider where you’ll be wearing them If you’re planning on wearing slip-on shoes in the summer or spring, opt for a pair with a cooling knit upper. For the colder months, a pair of sneakers with a wool or leather upper will be much warmer. You’ll also want to factor in the weather conditions and look for slip-ons with water-resistant or breathable materials for rain or sun. Frequently Asked Questions How do I wash slip-on shoes? As always, we recommend you defer to the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning a pair of shoes to avoid damaging them. Some slip-ons can be machine washed and others require delicate spot cleaning, so you’ll want to double check beforehand. Are slip-on shoes good for walking? Slip-on shoes are ideal for a variety of activities, including walking. However, it’s important to get a slip-on that prioritizes comfort for the feet with generous arch support and cushioning. While it depends on the shoe, sometimes the more you wear them, the more the footbed and upper will form to your foot for an even more comfortable fit. Should I wear socks with slip-on shoes? It’s ultimately a personal choice, but wearing a pair of socks or no-show socks can be super beneficial, especially if you’re breaking in your pair of slip-on shoes. Wearing socks can help absorb moisture from the feet and prevent chafing on the sides or heel of your foot, so wearing them may be helpful. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Commerce Writer Anna Popp writes most of the team’s tested roundups and participates in almost every travel test in our lab and in real-world settings. She has been travel writing since 2018 and product testing since 2021. Anna tried a pair of shoes in this test and worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best women’s slip-on shoes. Related: The 10 Most Comfortable Walking Shoes for Women of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Updated by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Instagram Taylor Fox is a Commerce Updates Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over seven years. learn more Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit