Skechers GOwalk 4

8.6
8.6 score
Runnerclick score (8.6)/10

Our overall Runnerclick score is based on 3 different factors: Editor's rating after in-depth testing. User ratings submitted on this page Overall score from the "reviewmeter" based on reviews across the web the weight of each factor is: 40% editor rating 15% user ratings 45% reviewmeter
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Editor rating: 8.3 / 10
User's rating: based on 97 user ratings
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Skechers GOwalk 4 Review Facts

Although they don’t offer the same sense of style and high-level performance as some of the most popular brands of running shoes, Skechers has many running shoes, and has managed to carve out a niche of its own in the world of athletic footwear. Much closer in design and fashion to New Balance than Adidas or Nike, their shoes emphasize comfort and support over speed and style. While this doesn’t do Skechers any favors with younger customers and fashion-oriented hypebeasts, they do have a dedicated following of people who enjoy feeling comfortable while walking or running that don’t really care how they look while they do it. The Skechers GOwalk 4 is a terrific example of the manufacturer’s design philosophy, with its supportive midsole and comfortable flexibility.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Extremely lightweight and breathable
  • Very comfortable cushioning
  • Highly affordable
  • Built to handle long walking sessions
Cons
  • Not designed for running
  • Runs a half size smaller than true size
See How
Reviews were analyzed here:
We read, analyze and sort reviews into positive & negative categories to give you the complete picture.
What are buyers saying?

We have spent 4 hours analyzing a total of 1700 reviews.

These reviews are then categoried into "Positive" and "Negative" feedback.

Below you will read a summary of them:

Positive
  • These reduced the pain I was getting after walking a lot of miles on vacation. Shoes tend to collapse on me because I am such a big dude, these did not. I do suggest getting a half size up. These shoes are a dream though. Great cushion and over all design. They fit like a glove. .
  • These have reduced all my pain and they absorb all the walking pressure while hugging my feet perfectly. They do not create any pressure points and have seemed to wear really evenly. They do run a bit small but that isn't a problem for me. Best shoes I have ever bought.
  • The soles in these have allowed me to walk again without pain. I do not know what else to say. I am so in love.
  • I really love these shoes. They did have some sizing issues and that was annoying. I need a bit more toe room. Other than that, it really is a great and standard, cozy shoe.
  • I wore these straight out the box and to work for a 12 hour shift. They not only kept me feeling great all day, they were the best in comfort of any shoe I have tried. I was shocked. They are way lighter than I thought they would be too. Good job Skechers.
  • I wore these right out of the box and got my money's worth on the first run through. I mean, seriously, The foam and comfort have me wanting to go run. I have no blisters or pain in my back. SKetchers are really stepping up their game and not over charging. That’s what I like.
  • I am so excited that I found these. They are so supportive and keep me on my feet all day without any pain. These are my new go to shoe for life.
  • Although these are light they are still super durable. I am so happy with the cushion and how it absorbs and hugs my feet. They support everything I do and have ample enough room in the toe box. I don't even remember that I have neuroma with these on and they have never given me fatigue. Grade A shoe and i recommend
  • I needed a little extra arch support but the padding is great in these. They are a bit heavier than I was expecting but not too much. I wear these a lot and it really shows in the shoe but it is only because they are so freaking comfy!
  • I love the style of these shoes, they look great with everything. I like that I can get that without them failing in comfort. I wish that they had a bit more arch support but they are great walking shoes.
  • It is super supportive without being clunky; it is really light. These shoes really go the distance with solid support and comfort and the price is killer. I am happy with this shoe.
  • I have to walk around 10 miles a day at work and it was suggested that I switch my hoes around. However, these shoes have proven to hold up to it all. I no longer have residual pain from shoes and they are so light. I recommend these to everyone. I am just amazed I found pillows for my feet, I never want t to take them off.
  • These didn't last as long as I would of liked but I am hard on shoes and the price is a bit low. However, I haven't ever worn a more comfortable shoe. There was no break in time and the soles took pressure off my instep. I was happy with them for the most part.
  • I was able to wear these without any pain walking all over europe. THey are extremely comfortable and really shape to your feet after wearing them a bit. I wish the sole was a wee bit thicker but that didn't make them any less comfortable.
  • These shoes impressed me right out of the box. I use these for my 5 mile power walks and , man, have these been great. They are solid waking shoes and have great support and comfort. I am so impressed with Sketchers these days.
  • I got these bigger than my normal size by half. I really like the price on these. I was skeptical because they were priced lower than I imagined a shoe of this stature would be. They have exceeded all my expectations. They are comfortable and suchy. They are extremely light and fit to size. These are better than all my high dollar shoes I bought in the past times 10.
  • I wanted a higher arch support but other than that, these shoes are the bomb. I cannot get over the comfort and the support is that of a high end shoe. I walk a lot in these and have never had one issue. These have helped my back issues tremendously. I really recommend this shoe a lot.
  • This new design is great. They fit like they were supposed to and the toe box is better than the older styles. Someone is reading the reviews. The foam inside is a dream adn really hugs and forms to your feet without bottoming out. The support is more than the other models and I really feel like my ankles and feet are secure in these shoes. I like that they are easy to get into and just irresistible in comfort. These are the best yet from Sketchers.
  • These are a real minimalist shoe without meaning to be, I think. They have what they need, comfort and stability while being light. They do not have a lot of traction so keep that in mind. The sole is one big piece and not layered like some runners The foam just forms to your feet without losing integrity after a day of use. I would stick these to my walking shoes though. They really aren't designed to be a speed runner.
  • Super light ad yet durable. They do not fail in comfort and the foamy inside is like nothing I have ever felt on my feet before. They have a great style hat I can wear to the gym and to the bar if need be. The soles are so durable you would think they would be rough but man are they cozy.
  • If you are looking for a shoe that fits like a sock than I suggest this. It is easier than others to put on. It is also a super comfortable and cushy design/ I am amazed at the product for the price. Skechers really has figured out how to make a great show without robbing people and I am so grateful. I am a huge fan of this shoe.
Negative
  • I was annoyed at the sizing. Otherwise, they are comfortable. I had to exchange them 4 times to get the right size. Maybe I should go to the store next time.
  • These ran wy smaller than any she I have bought. They also word down really quick. Cheap design. I am not a satisfied customer at all. I returned them ASAP.
  • I was so disappointed that they changed the size in these and then the size I had to get did not come in the color I wanted. Boo! Disgruntled to say the least!
  • Why did you guys change your sizing AGAIN? I love sketchers but these were so off. I mean seriously disappointed, never again!
  • After only a couple months of use, the shoe is falling apart and it wore really awkward. I was able to feel every little thing through the bottom of these. I love Sketchers, just not these.
  • There was absolutely no support in these shoes. I am not sure how the are able to sell these as a runner?
  • I couldn't even get my size on my feet. They were like baby shoes for my feet. This is just so disappointing. I will not be buying Skechers again.
  • I barely have worn these and when I do, I am not walking, just standing. They have started to fall apart already and they are not really that comfortable. They really have me in pain.
  • I was really disappointed after these started to come apart a couple months in. I really enjoyed them in comfort and style. I am a disappointed customer for sure.
Reviewmeter
The Reviewmeter shows you an overall score that you can easily refer to. The highest rating is 10 (100% positive feedback)
Of the 1700 reviews we found in total, 13% were negative, and 87% were positive.
8.7
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Outsole

Outsole

The visual appearance of the Skechers GOwalk 4’s outsole is different from most other running shoes, perhaps due to the fact that they aren’t really designed for running at all. Instead, these shoes were made with the intention of being used for walking, with an underfoot design to match the particular needs of this surprisingly intensive physical activity. The mostly flat design helps to evenly spread the weight and energy from each step in order to prevent focused stress on a particular aspect of the wearer’s feet; this carries the tangential benefit of preventing repetitive stress injuries to the wearer’s legs as well. A scale-like pattern provides modest traction without feeling sticky, and small trenches around the outsides of the forefoot and rearfoot enhance this traction without adding weight or disrupting breathability. It’s a well thought out design that provides real benefits for the wearer.

Midsole

Midsole

Although the outsole and upper portion of the Skechers GOwalk 4 are designed around walking instead of running, the midsole of these shoes is perfectly capable of accommodating both forms of exercise. Built from the manufacturer’s proprietary 5GEN material, this instrumental middle cushion is built in much the same way as a running shoe’s midsole would be: with considerable emphasis on providing responsiveness and stability. However, the design has been tweaked so that the midsole provides some benefits for walkers as well, such as increased support and the ability to provide protection for extremely long distances. What is most impressive out of all the features provided by the GOwalk 4’s midsole is that they offer all of these benefits at a surprisingly low weight.
Upper

Upper

While there are several subcategory variants of this shoe that are slip-on, the original GOwalk 4 is a lace-up sneaker. Despite being lace up, these shoes are still built solely for walking, and therefore they do not have the upper stability needed for fast running speeds. Regardless as to whether the customer is choosing the male or female variant, or one of the many subcategories under the GOwalk 4 umbrella, the upper will provide the same limitations, with these issues being even more prominent in the slip-on variations. On the bright side, the material used to construct this portion of these comfortable walking shoes is very lightweight and provides exceptional breathability due to its copious perforations.
Weight

Weight

The weight for a standard size Skechers GOwalk 4, according to the manufacturer’s website, is just over 7 ounces per shoe. This is far and away one of the lightest forms of footwear available, and certainly among the top ten lightest shoes reviewed on this site. The only other category of shoes that offer a similarly lightweight design would be minimalist barefoot-style running shoes, but these manage to provide a significantly more comfortable and supportive experience than wearing a pair of foot coverings made by Vivobarefoot. Because of this lightweight, it may be tempting for the wearer to try running in them and see how fast of a speed they can reach. However, attempting this will result in a very disappointing experience because of the aforementioned lack of upper stability.
Breathability

Breathability

The soft mesh material that was synthetically created for the upper portion of the Skechers GOwalk 4 is designed for two purposes: comfort and breathability. In many ways, these two design elements are one and the same, since having a more breathable shoe will result in a more comfortable experience and vice versa. Because of this compromise-based design philosophy, wearers of these shoes can expect a comfortable degree of airflow throughout their foot. However, the fact that these shoes are lightweight enough to prevent much heat generation in the first place, means this feature might be considered moot.

Comfort

Comfort

As previously stated, the upper portion of the Skechers GOwalk 4 plays a large role in its overall comfort. The ventilated mesh material that makes up its construction is soft on the wearer’s foot to the point where they may be tempted to wear them without socks. However, this isn’t recommended by the manufacturer. In addition to this comfortable portion of these shoes, the supportive midsole and stable outsole provide further benefits to the fluffy feeling of wearing the GOwalk 4. The only major downside when considering this shoe’s comfort is the fact that it comes in about a half size smaller than many customers expected, meaning that individuals with wide feet should consider ordering a half or full size larger than usual.
Style

Style

Skechers isn’t really considered a stylish brand of footwear. Their name mostly conjures up images of children with light-up soles and those hideous butt-shaping shoes that led them to pay a substantial settlement for false advertising. With that in mind, Skechers has a steep hill to climb if they want to define themselves as a hip and trendy footwear option for the modern era. Fortunately, the GOwalk 4 is a step in the right direction. With a focus on simplistic design and a muted color palette, these shoes manage to avoid any sort of fashion faux pas. However, they also manage to look very plain with little to help them stand out from the rest of the pack. In a word, the style of the Skechers GOwalk 4 is inoffensive.
Durability

Durability

As a pair of walking shoes, durability wasn’t a primary concern in its design. While this comes with the benefit of ensuring that the entire shoe weighs little, the unfortunate consequence to this is that the Skechers GOwalk 4 isn’t very resistant to damage. This is most evident on the upper half, where the thin and light mesh material can very easily become torn if the wearer isn’t careful. Because of this, it is important that wearers of these shoes stay on appropriate walking terrain and avoid moving too quickly, as failing to do either of these things can easily result in accelerated degradation.
Protection

Protection

Since these shoes are designed for walking, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their upper portion has little to offer in terms of protection. The outsole of the Skechers GOwalk 4 also provides less than average protective capabilities since it isn't designed for faster movement. However, the 5GEN midsole that can be found in every pair of these shoes does offer decent protection that is roughly on par with other running shoes. The most significant effect this protective midsole provides for the wearer is that it allows them to wear these shoes comfortably and free from injury even when walking for extended lengths of time.
Responsiveness

Responsiveness

Due to the impressive design work that went into the Skechers GOwalk 4’s midsole, these shoes are surprisingly responsive. The material used to comprise this integral middle cushion is known as 5GEN, and Skechers designed it themselves to provide the exact level of energy distribution and dispersal most optimal for walking. As a result, wearers of these shoes can walk and even jog for long periods of time over impressive distances without sustaining injuries or becoming fatigued. Something worth noting is that because the upper portion of these shoes is designed without lacing or full foot coverage, these shoes aren’t very responsive when it comes to running.
Support

Support

In order to ensure the best possible support in such a limited package, the Skechers GOwalk 4 has a design that provides support in a few key ways. The first method can be seen in the overall layout of the shoe; due to a tapering midfoot design, the arches of the wearer’s feet are better supported. The midsole obviously plays a significant role in this process as well, although the 5GEN material found within focuses less on one particular area, instead of spreading its supportive capabilities evenly across the entirety of the wearer’s underfoot. To supplement this aspect, Skechers also added a Goga Max insole to the GOwalk 4, which functions as an enhancement of the midsole.
Terrain

Terrain

As the inevitable tradeoff for these shoes having such a low weight and a comfortable design, the Skechers GOwalk 4 is limited in terms of viable training environments. For the most part, wearers of these shoes will want to stay on the sidewalk or a similarly manmade path. Although adequate for walking, the traction that can be found on this shoe’s outsole simply won’t provide enough control and injury prevention to be used effectively on any natural terrain, such as a grassy field or dirt path. Finally, it should go without saying that these shoes are completely inappropriate for trail running of any kind.
Price

Price

The initial price for these shoes, as determined by their manufacturer at the time they were released, was extremely affordable. They were far below $100, making them a terrific fit for anyone interested in a decent pair of walking shoes that wouldn’t break the bank. Since then, the Skechers GOwalk 4 have been released in several different variations, which follow this same trend of affordability.
Traction

Traction

Although not a major focus in these shoes’ design, traction is present in the Skechers GOwalk 4. This can be found on the underfoot, with their outsoles featuring a design supplemented by the manufacturer’s proprietary Goga Pillars. This design style is meant to provide an even grip without much focus on a particular area of the wearer’s foot, instead of meaning to spread this traction evenly along its entirety.
Flexibility

Flexibility

While they may not provide much stability, the Skechers GOwalk 4 has a great deal of flexibility. This can be attributed to the use of extremely lightweight material for most of its construction, such as the 5GEN midsole and synthetic mesh upper.
Stability

Stability

Simply put, these are not a good pair of shoes for anyone in need of underfoot stability. With a focus on providing a convenient and comfortable walking experience, little to no effort has been made to endow the Skechers GOwalk 4 with any significant degree of stability. The closest thing to a stability feature is the fact that these shoes tend to fit fairly tightly on the wearer’s foot, offering a modicum of control as a consequence.
Drop

Drop

No specific information can be found regarding this shoe’s drop. However, a visual estimate would place it between 4 to 9 millimeters, making it lower than the average running shoe’s heel elevation.
Key Features

Key Features


  • Highly ventilated synthetic mesh upper

  • 5GEN midsole emphasizes comfort and support

  • Mostly flat outsole evenly spreads weight and energy

  • Extremely lightweight design

  • Minimalistic style with a subdued color palette


Bottom Line

Bottom Line

For people who just want a reliable pair of walking shoes that don’t hurt their feet, the Skechers GOwalk 4 is a fantastic choice at a fantastic price. However, individuals who are interested in serious running or cross-training should keep looking, because they won’t find what they’re looking for in these shoes.