| Quick Answer: Is the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Good for Walking? The Dr. Scholl’s Time Off is a comfortable casual walking shoe that works especially well for travel, sightseeing, errands and everyday wear. It combines a flexible platform-style design with anatomical cushioning and moderate arch support, and selected women’s versions come in Wide. It is more supportive than the average fashion sneaker but is not a technical fitness walking or stability shoe. Choose the Time Off if you want walking comfort without an athletic-shoe look. Choose a dedicated walking shoe if you regularly cover several miles, need strong stability or spend long work shifts on hard floors. Check latest price & size availability |
The Dr. Scholl’s Time Off fills an interesting gap. Plenty of walking shoes are comfortable, but most look like running shoes. Plenty of casual sneakers look good, but many have flat insoles, stiff soles and very little support. The Time Off tries to give you both.
It has the clean, slightly chunky look of a fashion sneaker but adds anatomical cushioning, built-in arch support, a padded heel and a lightweight, flexible construction. That combination makes it particularly appealing for travel and everyday walking.
The important distinction is that this is still a casual walking sneaker rather than a performance walking shoe. If you are walking primarily for exercise, covering long distances or need more support, start with our walking shoe guide instead.
Note: This review focuses mainly on the women’s Dr. Scholl’s Time Off because it has the widest selection of colors, materials and widths. Dr. Scholl’s also makes a men’s Time Off with somewhat different specifications and availability. You will find separate men’s and women’s shopping links at the end.
Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Specs
| Type | Casual lifestyle and walking sneaker |
| Best for | Travel, sightseeing, errands and everyday walking |
| Upper | Faux leather, fabric, organic cotton or microfiber, depending on colorway |
| Insole | Removable anatomical cushioning insole with arch support |
| Cushioning | Includes 15% plant-based BLOOM foam in the women’s model |
| Arch support | Moderate for most wearers |
| Closure | Lace-up |
| Women’s widths | Medium and Wide in selected colors |
| Men’s widths | Current Time Off Lace Up listed in Medium |
| Sole | Lightweight, flexible construction; Dr. Scholl’s describes the women’s version as having a sporty 2-inch sole |
| Heel-to-toe drop | Not published |
| Women’s list price | Typically around $75, with prices varying by color and promotions |
How Comfortable Is the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off?
Comfort is the strongest reason to buy the Time Off instead of a typical casual sneaker.
Dr. Scholl’s uses an anatomical insole that provides cushioning and contour beneath the foot rather than leaving you standing on a thin, flat layer of foam. The women’s version also incorporates 15% plant-based BLOOM foam, which uses algae-derived material as part of the foam formulation.
The padded heel helps secure the rear of the foot, while the shoe’s flexible construction allows it to move more easily than many rigid platform sneakers.
That matters for walking. A sneaker can feel soft when you first put it on but become tiring if the sole fights your foot every time you take a step. The Time Off is designed to bend more naturally as you walk.
The cushioning is still different from what you get in an athletic walking or running shoe. You do not get a thick layer of modern performance foam or a strong rocker that actively helps roll the foot forward.
For shopping, travel, casual walks and everyday wear, the Time Off strikes a useful balance. For repeated high-mileage walking, there are better choices.
How Much Arch Support Does the Time Off Have?
The Time Off has built-in anatomical arch support, but it is best described as moderate.
That is not just our assessment. In a Zappos customer fit survey covering 660 Time Off reviews, 77% of respondents described the arch support as moderate. Another 91% said the shoe felt true to size and 94% said it felt true to width.
Moderate support should work well for many people with neutral feet who find completely flat fashion sneakers uncomfortable. It gives the arch some contour without creating the more noticeable pressure you may feel from a strong orthotic-style footbed.
However, moderate arch support and stability are not the same thing. Someone whose feet roll significantly inward, called overpronation, may need a broader platform or a shoe specifically designed to guide the foot.
If support is a priority, see our best arch support shoes. The Skechers Arch Fit 2.0 is also worth considering if you want a more noticeable contoured arch at a reasonable price.
How Does the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Fit?
The Time Off fits true to size for most shoppers, but the exact material and colorway matter.
In Zappos’ larger Time Off customer survey, 91% of respondents described the shoe as true to size and 94% said it felt true to width. Those numbers make the shoe a relatively safe starting point at your usual size.
However, Dr. Scholl’s has issued specific sizing advice for individual versions. For example, the company says its Light Sand Faux Leather version runs small and recommends ordering a half-size larger.
That is why we would not make a blanket recommendation to size up or down across the entire Time Off range. Check the sizing information for the exact color and material you are buying.
Selected women’s versions are offered in both Medium and Wide widths. Availability depends on the colorway, so a style offered in Wide in one color may only be available in Medium in another.
If you regularly need more room throughout the shoe, compare the Time Off with our best wide walking shoes. A labeled Wide shoe also should not be confused with an anatomical wide toe box. Those are two different fit characteristics.
Can You Use Orthotics in the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off?
Yes, the Time Off can work with many aftermarket or custom orthotics because the anatomical insole is removable.
That does not mean every orthotic will fit correctly. A thick insert can raise your foot inside the shoe, which may make the upper feel tight or cause the heel to sit too high against the collar.
If you use an orthotic, remove the original insole rather than stacking the orthotic on top of it unless your foot-care professional has told you otherwise. Then check that your toes still have enough vertical room and your heel remains securely seated.
This flexibility is useful because it lets you keep the Time Off’s casual appearance while replacing its moderate built-in support with something more specific to your foot.
Is the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Good for Travel?
Travel is probably the Time Off’s strongest use case.
The shoe works well for travelers who want more walking comfort than a standard fashion sneaker but do not want to wear a running shoe with every outfit. Its simple design can move from airports and museums to restaurants and casual evenings without looking out of place.
The cushioning and moderate arch support should be sufficient for many normal sightseeing days, while the flexible construction makes the shoe easier to walk in than a rigid platform sneaker.
Light-colored outsole versions also receive Dr. Scholl’s Easy Clean Repellant. There is an important limitation: the treatment is applied to the sidewall of the sole. It does not make the upper waterproof, and it does not mean the entire shoe is stain-proof.
If your trip involves extremely high mileage, hiking or walking over rough terrain, move to a more performance-oriented shoe. The Time Off is at its best when you need one versatile casual sneaker rather than maximum athletic performance.
Is the Time Off Good for Standing All Day?
The Time Off can work for days that combine standing, walking and sitting, but it would not be our first recommendation for everyone who spends an entire work shift on their feet.
The anatomical footbed and cushioning provide more underfoot comfort than a flat fashion sneaker. That makes the shoe reasonable for teachers, office workers, retail shoppers and other situations where you are moving throughout the day but are not standing continuously on hard floors.
Eight- to 12-hour work shifts are more demanding. A purpose-built walking, work or running shoe can provide a broader base, more cushioning and greater long-term support.
Workers around wet, greasy or slippery surfaces should also choose footwear specifically designed for workplace slip resistance. The standard Time Off should not be treated as a certified slip-resistant work shoe.
If long shifts are your main concern, see our current guide to the best shoes for standing all day.
How Does the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Perform for Walking?
The Time Off performs best at normal everyday walking speeds.
The flexible construction allows the foot to move without fighting a particularly stiff platform, while the cushioned insole softens contact with sidewalks, store floors and other hard everyday surfaces.
This makes it a good sneaker for errands, commuting, airports, shopping and neighborhood walks.
Fitness walking changes the equation. Once you start walking quickly or covering several miles at a time, shoe weight, cushioning response, heel-to-toe transition and long-term outsole durability become more important.
For women who primarily walk for exercise, the Ryka Devotion X 2 is a better fit. It is designed specifically as a women’s walking shoe and provides a more athletic ride.
If you want more pronounced arch contour and a rolling sole for longer walks, the Vionic Walk Max is another stronger performance option.
What About Traction?
Dr. Scholl’s markets the Time Off for walking, travel and everyday use, but the women’s model is not positioned as a technical trail shoe or certified slip-resistant work shoe.
That means we would keep its use to the environments it was designed for: sidewalks, shopping areas, airports, indoor public spaces and similar everyday surfaces.
Do not assume that a sneaker has workplace-grade slip resistance simply because the outsole feels grippy under normal conditions. Jobs involving wet restaurant floors, hospitals, commercial kitchens or similar environments may require footwear specifically designed and tested for those surfaces.
Likewise, the Time Off is not intended to replace a trail walking or hiking shoe on mud, loose gravel or technical terrain.
How Durable Is the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off?
Durability is harder to judge because the Time Off is sold in many materials and has accumulated a very large number of owner reviews over several years.
Most feedback is positive, but there are also individual reports of premature wear, scuffing and separation between parts of the shoe. Those reports do not establish a defect rate, so we would not describe the Time Off as having a widespread durability problem.
They do reinforce one point: this is primarily a casual lifestyle and travel sneaker. Someone putting serious daily mileage on a shoe will generally get a more robust construction from a dedicated athletic walking shoe.
Material choice can matter too. Faux leather may be easier to wipe clean, while fabric versions can feel softer and more breathable. Pick the material that best matches how you plan to use the shoe rather than choosing by color alone.
Dr. Scholl’s Time Off vs. Other Walking Shoes
The easiest way to decide whether the Time Off is right for you is to compare it with shoes designed around different priorities.
Shoe | Best for | Choose it when | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Scholl’s Time Off | Travel and casual walking | You want a stylish casual sneaker with useful cushioning and moderate arch support | |
Women’s fitness walking | You walk primarily for exercise and want a dedicated walking shoe | ||
More noticeable arch support | You care more about arch contour than fashion-sneaker styling | ||
Longer fitness walks | You want stronger arch contour, performance cushioning and a rocker-style transition |
The trade-off is straightforward. The Time Off wins on versatility and casual styling. The alternatives become more attractive as walking performance, stronger support or higher mileage becomes the priority.
Who Should Buy the Dr. Scholl’s Time Off?
The Time Off makes the most sense for people who like the appearance of lifestyle sneakers but want more underfoot comfort than a typical flat fashion shoe provides.
- Travelers who expect to do plenty of city sightseeing
- People who want a sneaker that works with casual clothes rather than looking like a running shoe
- Walkers who prefer moderate arch support
- Women who benefit from a Wide option in selected colors
- People who want a removable insole for an aftermarket or custom orthotic
- Anyone looking for a comfortable shoe for errands, shopping and everyday walking
If you are unsure whether the Time Off matches your feet and walking habits, use our free Shoe Finder. It compares activity, support needs, cushioning, width, toe-box preference and common foot concerns to narrow your choices.
Who Should Choose Something Else?
A more specialized shoe is likely to be a better choice if walking performance or foot support matters more than casual styling.
- Fitness walkers regularly covering several miles
- People who need stronger stability for significant overpronation
- Workers who stand continuously on hard floors for long shifts
- People who require certified slip-resistant footwear
- Trail walkers and hikers
- People who prefer maximum cushioning
- Men who need a Wide Time Off, since the current men’s model is listed in Medium
Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons for this shoe.
Pros
- More supportive than most fashion sneakers
- Anatomical cushioning and moderate arch support
- Flexible construction works well for casual walking
- Strong choice for travel and sightseeing
- Selected women’s styles available in Wide
- Removable insole can accommodate many orthotics
- Large selection of colors and materials
- Casual styling works with more outfits than a typical athletic walking shoe
Cons
- Not a dedicated fitness walking shoe
- No technical stability system for significant overpronation
- Not designed for trail walking
- Standard Time Off is not a certified slip-resistant work shoe
- Fit can vary somewhat between materials and colorways
- Heel-to-toe drop and weight are not published
- Men’s version currently has fewer width choices
- Some owners report premature wear or material separation
Dr. Scholl’s Time Off FAQs
Yes. The Time Off is a good casual walking shoe for travel, sightseeing, errands and everyday use. It has anatomical cushioning, built-in arch support and flexible construction. Dedicated fitness walkers covering higher mileage will usually be better served by an athletic walking shoe.
Yes. The Time Off has anatomical arch support built into its cushioned insole. We would describe the support as moderate rather than aggressive. In a Zappos customer fit survey, 77% of Time Off respondents also classified the arch support as moderate.
For most people, yes. In a Zappos survey of Time Off customers, 91% said the shoe felt true to size and 94% said it felt true to width. However, fit can differ between materials and colors. Dr. Scholl’s specifically recommends going up half a size in the Light Sand Faux Leather version.
Yes. Selected women’s Time Off colorways are offered in Medium and Wide widths. Width availability varies by material, color, size and retailer. The current men’s Time Off Lace Up is listed by Dr. Scholl’s in Medium.
Yes. Retailer specifications list the Time Off’s anatomical insole as removable, so many custom or aftermarket orthotics should fit once the original liner is removed. Check that the replacement insert does not raise your heel excessively or reduce toe room.
The Time Off offers cushioning and moderate arch support that some people with plantar fasciitis may find comfortable, but it is not a medical treatment or a high-support stability shoe. People with persistent plantar fascia pain may need stronger arch support, heel stability or a different fit. Our arch support shoe guide and Shoe Finder can help narrow the options.
It can work for days that combine walking, standing and sitting. For an eight- to 12-hour work shift spent mostly standing on hard floors, we would choose a more supportive walking or work shoe. See our best shoes for standing all day for stronger options.
Do not treat the standard Time Off as a certified slip-resistant work shoe. It is intended primarily for casual walking, travel and lifestyle use. Workers who require slip resistance should choose footwear specifically designed for their work env
