I have to wear black shoes for work, but also need something that is comfortable, easy to take on and off... and also reasonably priced. With most shoes I looked at being very expensive, I decided to order a pair of Vans Slip Ons. I purchased my pair from Amazon for £28, although prices vary from other retailers.

The shoes are flat, with a rubber 'waffle' sole, a canvas-like outer material and textile inner material. I tend to vary between shoe sizes (4-5) depending on style and opted for a half size (4.5) as these shoes have no way of tightening or fastening around your foot any more than their design, and this size fitted me perfectly. The shoes came in a very snazzy box, with a free Vans 'Off the wall' sticker. They had tissue paper inserted into the shoe and around them in the box (cardboard, so recyclable).

The shoes are very comfortable to wear. I was concerned that after being on my feet in them for a while I would start to find them uncomfortable or not as supportive as a more expensive shoe, but that hasn't been the case at all. I wear these shoes for 5/6 hours most days, if not more, and have never had any problems with the comfort or fit.

The canvas material on outside of the shoes isn't the most hardwearing. If it gets wet then so will your feet! It will also mark/stain quite easily, this wasn't a problem too much for me as I had a black pair, but a lighter colour would need more attention to keep them looking clean and tidy. The rubber soles however are much easier to keep clean, I even managed to get dried paint off mine with just a quick wipe.

One issue I do have with the shoes is that the soles don't provide as much grip as some other shoes may. They have a waffle type pattern on the bottom, which doesn't have any smaller tred to grip with, so whilst they are fine or walking around doing day to day tasks I wouldn't feel safe 100% walking in them in icy or slippery weather conditions. I also found that they were very easy to slide on things when I wore them to walk the dog, I had to watch my footing going down small slopes to ensure I had a good enough grip. They are however very comfortable for driving, and do not slip on the pedals or whilst out walking in normal weather conditions.

Between the rubber sole and the canvas material is a rubber 'tape' like section which connects the two. Whilst this looks very neat, over time I have found it can start to split or come away from the shoes in areas that flex with your foot - for example at the bottom of you toes, as it bents with each step. This can make them less water tight if you plan on walking through any puddles, but it's not something I have had any huge problems with - it just makes them look a little worn and tatty after time. Previous pairs have lasted me around 2 year before becoming a little too worn to carry on using.

Overall, these are a study and reliable pair of shoes. I wouldn't wear them for heavy-duty walking or activities, but for day to day tasks they are comfortable and very good value for money, not to mention they seem to go with everything. I would definitely recommend them, but do check the sizing guides as some retailers use American sizes when selling them!