By Aaron Kok - published
Earlier this year at fashion week, while waiting for a show to start, I found myself doing what any editor with too much time and too little phone battery might do: people watching. And in the exercise of surveying the room, I began counting shoes. More specifically, counting slim sneakers. Within my line of sight alone, there were nine pairs in the front row.
It was not exactly a scientific study, but it did confirm what the runways and street style circuit had already been telling us. The slim sneaker is back. After years of chunky soles and aggressively technical trainers, footwear has started moving closer to the ground again. At Dries Van Noten, Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton, slim sneakers appeared as part of a wider shift towards sleeker, easier, more streamlined dressing. They looked cool, yes, but the question I kept hearing was more practical: are they actually comfortable?
A colleague mentioned in passing a few weeks later that slim sneakers always made her worry about sore feet. They were too flat, too thin, too close to the pavement. That stuck with me, mostly because I had the same suspicion. So I decided to test the category properly, not just by slipping them on for a mirror selfie, but by wearing them through shoots, errands, wet floors and long hours on my feet.
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How I Tested Them...
Before getting into the pairs, here’s how I ranked them.
Comfort: The immediate feel once worn, including abrasiveness, stiffness and pressure points.
Support: Whether the shoe actually holds the foot, or feels like a flat piece of rubber with laces.
Protection: Slim sneakers should feel light, but not flimsy. This looks at how well the shoe shields the foot.
Traction: How well the outsole grips, especially on smooth mall floors, wet pavements or tiled surfaces.
Aesthetic: Shape, proportions, colourway, and whether it nails the sleek, low-profile look.
Value-for-money: Whether the design, comfort and quality justify the price.
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1. Best for: Long days on your feet
Ribbon sneaker, $1,390, Dior
Rating: Fit: 10/10 | Comfort: 10/10 | Support: 8.5/10 | Protection: 9/10 | Traction: 10/10 | Aesthetic: 9/10 | Value-for-money: 7.5/10
Final score: 9/10
Of all the slim sneakers I tested, this was the pair that most convincingly answered the comfort question. The Dior Ribbon Sneaker looks sleek and delicate, but it does not wear like a precious shoe you have to tiptoe around in. The upper is soft from the start, and I had no issues with rubbing or blisters, which is always the first real test for any sneaker (slim or otherwise).
What impressed me most was the sole. It is slim, but not punishingly thin. You do not get that unpleasant “I can feel every texture of the floor” sensation that sometimes comes with shoes in this category. I wore these through an eight-hour shoot where I was mostly on my feet, and they held up far better than expected.
Traction was another surprise. Even on wet floors, the grip felt secure, which made the shoe feel more practical than its polished appearance might suggest. The only thing to keep in mind is the suede. In Singapore’s humidity and sudden rain, it may need a little more care than a canvas or leather pair. Still, as a fashion sneaker that can handle an actual full day, this was easily one of the strongest performers.
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2. Best for: Weekend dressing and tropical holidays
Crochet & suede flower sneakers, $109, Charles & Keith
Rating: Fit: 9/10 | Comfort: 9/10 | Support: 7.5/10 | Protection: 9/10 | Traction: 9/10 | Aesthetic: 9/10 | Value-for-money: 10/10
Final score: 8.9/10
This was the pair that surprised me most, especially when you consider the price point. The crochet weave gives it an immediate sense of lightness, but more importantly, it makes the shoe feel properly breathable. For Singapore weekends, resort dressing or the kind of tropical holiday where you still want to look put together, this makes a lot of sense. And how cute is the crochet flower dangling off the laces!
The heel has more padding than I expected, which helped with comfort while walking. The sole is also soft without feeling flimsy, so you get the ease of a slim sneaker without feeling too exposed to the ground. I also liked that the top part of the shoe felt protective. Some slim sneakers can feel almost too bare, but this had enough structure to make it feel secure.
Aesthetically, the flower detail and crochet texture give it more personality than a plain low-profile sneaker, but it still feels easy to style. I wore them with everything from scrunched up socks and shorts to wide-legged jeans, and they went beautifully with everything. For what it offers in terms of comfort, ventilation and design, the value-for-money score was the easiest 10 I scored out within the test. It is proof that the slim sneaker trend does not have to come with a hefty price tag to feel considered.
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3. Best for: Errands days with a bit of polish
Plabala sneakers, $280, Onitsuka Tiger
Rating: Fit: 7/10 | Comfort: 7/10 | Support: 8.5/10 | Protection: 10/10 | Traction: 10/10 | Aesthetic: 9/10 | Value-for-money: 8/10
Final score: 8.8/10
The Onitsuka Tiger Plabala sits in an interesting middle ground. It has the sleekness you want from a slim sneaker, but it does not feel bare or overly flat. Even though the upper has a satin finish, the shoe itself feels more padded than it looks, which gives it a reassuring sense of protection. In other words, it is slim, but not thin.
I wore these through a day of running errands and had no major issues, which is usually where an uncomfortable sneaker starts to reveal itself. The cushioning was better than I expected, and the outsole performed very well on traction. It felt secure underfoot, which is especially important when you are moving between waxy mall floors and wet pavements brought on by the recent monsoon season.
The fit does run a little tight, so this is one I would definitely try on before committing to your regular size, especially if you prefer a bit more room around the toes. There was also a slight squeak when walking, which may not bother everyone, but that aside, the Plabala is a strong option if you want something refined, distinctive and sturdy enough for a busy day. It looks dressier than your average sneaker, but still carries enough function to be genuinely wearable.
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4. Best for: An office-to-gym sneaker
Speedcat OG sneakers (unisex), $169, Puma
Rating: Fit: 8/10 | Comfort: 8/10 | Support: 7.5/10 | Protection: 10/10 | Traction: 8/10 | Aesthetic: 8/10 | Value-for-money: 10/10
Final score: 8.6/10
There is a reason the Puma Speedcat has returned so strongly. It has that very specific low-profile, motorsport-inspired shape that feels right for the moment, but it also has enough practicality to work beyond trend value. This is a great everyday shoe: lightweight, versatile and easy to style with denim, trousers or even a more casual skirt.
The soft upper was a plus. My toes did not feel crammed in, which can happen with slim sneakers that lean too narrow. The outsole was also surprisingly grippy in the gym with its high-shine wood floors, which gave it more real-life credibility than I expected. It feels like a shoe you can actually run around in, not just wear for the silhouette. From lifting weights to lifting the responsibilities of your entire team at the office, this one has your back.
Because the sole is relatively flat, it may not be the best choice for someone who needs stronger arch support. Then again, that’s something that a good insole can fix easily. The suede also requires some care in tropical weather, but younger colleagues tell me that they like their Speedcats looking weathered, so to each their own. And for its price, style and overall versatility, the Speedcat is hard to argue with. It captures the slim sneaker trend without feeling overly precious, which is exactly why it works so well as an everyday pair.
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5. Best for: The fashion girlie
Collapse Re-Nylon and suede elasticized sneakers, $1,460, Prada
Rating: Fit: 8/10 | Comfort: 8/10 | Support: 7/10 | Protection: 7/10 | Traction: 8/10 | Aesthetic: 7.5/10 | Value-for-money: 7/10
Final score: 7.4/10
The Prada Collapse sneaker is probably the most fashion-forward pair in this test. It has a sharp, streamlined shape and a soft construction that feels very much in line with the current appetite for sneakers that look closer to ballet flats, driving shoes or slipper-like trainers. The double-layer Re-Nylon upper also gives it a bit more resistance than it appears to have at first glance, which is useful in unpredictable weather.
The sole is thin, though interestingly, a few female colleagues compared the sensation to wearing ballet flats and felt it was not necessarily thinner than what they were already used to. That helped me understand the shoe differently and I began to understand its appeal as a soft, flexible city shoe with a sportier edge. On wet floors, it performed well and did not feel slippery, and rain drops didn’t wet my socks (again, thanks to the layered nylon) which was a welcome surprise.
The elasticated opening is something to note, as it may be more prone to rubbing depending on your foot shape. Personally, I was also less drawn to the sharper toe, though that is very much a matter of taste. If your priority is a polished, directional sneaker that feels light and stylish, this delivers.