A Surprising Boot

Skechers have decided to throw their weight around in the football market and signing Harry Kane is a massive statement of intent. Following from that, creating a headline boot for the man could be seen as a monumental task but Skechers have seem to have done their homework when it comes to boot design, as well as the designers needed to create such boots, to bring out maybe one of the more interesting boots on the market. The Skechers SKX 01 does follow other, slightly older boot models but there are some things that separate the boot from others and like the Skechers Razor, it makes for an intriguing and foundational line up for the brand.

Fit and Feel

The most noticeable thing when pulling the boots out of the box for the first time is how wild the upper is. The Precise Strike Control technology covers the entire upper with a series of raised ribs and raised dashes to create an interesting pattern. One would expect the upper to be slightly softer given how most synthetic boots are these days, but any disappointment goes away once the boots are on feet.

This is because the Skechers SKX 01 are comfortable on feet. It is one thing a brand to promise comfort and performance, but another to actually pull it off. The boot has this leather-like liner to feels very nice around the foot and the heel is lined with a softer suede-like liner. The relative stiffness of the upper seems to dissipate once the boot is on feet. The insole is thicker than the market average and gives the foot a nice ride with no stud pressure, even on harder surfaces.

Unfortunately, not everything fits so well on the upper. While the fit is mostly good, there is sole bunching towards the front of the midfoot and there is a bit too much volume in the forefoot for my foot type, at least. This does start to go away a little bit after the boots are broken in, but it is still there a little bit. The flipside of this is that the toes do not feel squeezed as the toe of the boot is taller than others. This also means that if your foot has more volume than average the SKX 01 should fit you better.

Another slight drawback is the heel. It is comfortable and seems to hold the heel well. However, once running and cutting and turning, the heel does not hold on to the back of the foot that well and seems like the heel cup itself is too wide overall. This could also be partially down to the lacing system, which is good but could go a bit further back to help with that heel issue.

Speaking of the lacing system on the SKX 01, outside of the heel issue, it does a great job of locking the rest of the foot in place. There is an argument that if the lacing system went further down the forefoot, it could probably help with some of the issues when it comes to the volume found in the forefoot.

As far as sizing goes, I went true to size and found the fit in the length to be pretty good. There was a little space in the toe, but not enough to half a size down. So, if you want to grab a pair, go true to size.

Touch

This is another aspect of the Skechers SKX 01 that is surprising. The upper does not feel super grippy or anything like that, yet the touch on the ball is very good. Obviously, you will not get a barefoot feeling because of all of the texturing on the upper. However, what you do get is a very unique sensation that makes you feel like you have full control of the ball. The upper still offers plenty of grip without making you feel like you will stumble over the ball and there is not really an adjustment period needed as there is with other boots that have grippy uppers.

Dribbling is not a seamless sensation but especially in wet or snowy conditions, that texturing on the upper is appreciated as the ball always feels under your control. This does not change when running at speed with the ball either and I find that dribbling in the SKX 01 is enjoyable.

If one was to be hyper critical of the touch, the studs could do with some texturing in order to manipulate the ball with the bottom of the foot easier, but this is more of my personal preference rather than something everyone will care about.

Passing and Shooting

As one would expect, the Precise Strike Control really stands out here. Passing with any part of foot feels controlled and exact. The boot responds well to what is demanded of it and in particular, long range passes feel enjoyable to hit. There has never been a point where the SKX 01 tries to do something I do not want it to do.

Of course, the real fun comes when shooting. The upper responds well when the ball is hit with power. Knuckleballs, curled free kicks, power volleys and the like are all very enjoyable in the Skechers SKX 01. The boot really encourages you to hit the ball whenever there is a chance and that the boots never really feel awkward, no matter the angle the ball is hit.

It also needs to be noted that there is a noticeable and enjoyable pingy feeling when hitting the ball. However, because of the design of the upper it does a good job of making sure there is not too much of that stinging feel taken by the foot when putting power into a shot or long ball.

Grip

Skechers have not gone too crazy with the soleplate of the SKX 01. While some people may have preferred them to go more adventurous with the design, it is not the worst thing to play it safer as that means the boot is accessible to more people. The grip is good and performs well on multiple surfaces and multiple conditions with no issues.

What is interesting about the soleplate is that there is some really good snapback in the forefoot, even moreso than what is found on the Razor. This means that boot propels you forward when running at speed and shape of the studs means you get good grip while doing so.

Conclusion

Skechers may not have the fanciest name when it comes to football boots but between the SKX 01 and Razor, they have built a good lineup that should provide a good foundation to launch future products from. While there are a few things about the SKX that could be improved, the overall performance is surprising because the boot performs above expectations and maintains a good amount of comfort while doing so. Between the two Skechers boots, I personally prefer the Razor, but others may find the SKX more to their liking.

What do you think of the Skechers SKX 01? Please share this with your friends and make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

じゃあね！