Skechers Men's Summits High Range Trainers Review: comfy slip-ons that make life easier

I’ve been wearing the Skechers Men’s Summits High Range Trainers (black, size 8 UK) as my main everyday shoes for a bit now, mostly for walking to work, errands, and general knocking about. I picked them because I wanted something I could just slide into without messing with laces, but that still looked like normal trainers and not house slippers. On paper, these ticked all the boxes: slip-ins, memory foam, lightweight, and that basic black look that goes with everything.

First impression out of the box: they look pretty standard, which for me is a good thing. No flashy colours, just all-black with a small Skechers logo. I could tell straight away they’re built more for comfort and convenience than style, but they don’t scream “orthopaedic shoe” either. I wore them around the house for a day to break them in, but honestly, there wasn’t much breaking-in needed – they felt soft right away.

In day-to-day use, I’ve mainly used them for walking 5–10k steps a day, supermarket runs, and a couple of longer walks around town. No running, no serious hiking, just normal life stuff. They’ve handled that pretty well. The biggest thing that stood out to me from the first few days was how easy they are to put on and how cushioned they feel under the heel, especially when I’ve been on my feet for a while.

They’re not perfect though. There are a couple of things that bug me, like the sizing being a bit off compared to some other brands, and the fact they’re not water resistant at all. Step in a puddle and you’ll feel it. But overall, as everyday slip-on trainers for walking and casual use, they get the job done and are genuinely handy if you hate tying laces or have trouble bending down.

In terms of value, these sit in that middle zone where you’re not paying premium running-shoe prices, but you’re also not in bargain-bin territory. Given the Amazon rating (4.6 out of 5 with a huge number of reviews) and how they feel on foot, I’d say they’re good value if what you care about most is comfort and easy on/off. You’re basically paying for that slip-in design and the cushioned insole, not for fancy materials or long-term ruggedness.

Compared to cheaper slip-on trainers or supermarket brands, the main difference I noticed is the comfort level and the heel structure. A lot of cheap slip-ons collapse at the back after a few weeks, and you end up having to use your hands anyway. Here, the heel is firm enough that you can keep stepping in without destroying the shape, at least in the short to medium term. The memory foam also feels nicer than the flat insoles you usually get on cheaper shoes.

On the other hand, if you compare these to a decent pair of running shoes from brands like Nike, Adidas, or Asics that you find on sale, those might give you better support, better grip, and longer life for a similar price – but you’ll lose the easy slip-on feature. So it really depends what you value more. If you need proper performance and durability, there’s better stuff out there. If you just want something comfy and easy for daily walking, these make sense.

Taking everything into account – comfort, ease of use, materials, and how they’re holding up so far – I’d say the value is solid but not mind-blowing. They do what they promise, they feel good on the feet, and they’re convenient. Just go in knowing they’re casual, comfort-focused trainers, not multi-year work boots or performance running shoes.

Design-wise, these are very straightforward. The pair I have is the all-black "Black Mesh Trim" version. Visually, they’re pretty low-key: black mesh upper, black sole, small Skechers logo on the side and tongue, and fake laces that basically just give them a normal trainer look. If you want something that doesn’t draw attention and goes with jeans, joggers, or shorts, they work well. Nothing flashy, but they don’t look cheap either.

The shape is slightly on the wide side at the front. The toe box feels roomy, which is nice if you’ve got a wide forefoot or your feet tend to swell during the day. One Amazon reviewer mentioned the wide fit, and I agree – it’s not clown-shoe wide, but it’s definitely more relaxed than a narrow running shoe. The heel is reinforced a bit more so it can handle the slip-in design without collapsing. You can feel a firm bit around the back that helps your foot slide in, and that actually works as advertised.

One thing to point out: the laces are there mostly for show. You can’t really tighten them to fix a loose fit. If the shoe is too big, you’ll feel it, especially around the midfoot and heel. That ties into the sizing issue some people mention – if you sit between sizes or like a snug fit, you might find these a bit loose unless you size down half a size. I normally sit between 8 and 8.5; the 8 feels like a relaxed everyday fit, not a locked-in sports fit.

In terms of style, they lean more towards “comfort trainer” than “fashion trainer”. If you’re looking for sharp, slim sneakers to dress up with chinos, these are probably not it. But if you just want something neutral that doesn’t clash with anything and looks fine on a walk or a casual day out, they do the job. The design is practical and a bit boring, but in a good, wearable way.

This is the main reason to buy these: they’re genuinely comfortable for everyday walking and standing. The combination of the Air-Cooled memory foam insole and the soft EVA midsole gives a cushioned feel from the first step. When I first put them on, I noticed the heel and midfoot sink in slightly, in a good way. After a full day of running errands and walking around town, my feet felt less tired than in some flatter, cheaper trainers I’ve used before.

The slip-in feature is honestly the star here. You can literally just slide your foot in without using your hands, thanks to the firm heel structure that doesn’t collapse. This is especially handy in the morning or when you’re going in and out of the house a lot. I can see why one reviewer mentioned buying them for an older relative after knee surgery – if you struggle to bend down or just hate dealing with laces, this design makes life easier. Once your foot is in, the shoe hugs it reasonably well without feeling tight.

That said, the comfort is more “soft and relaxed” rather than “supportive and locked-in”. If you have high arches or need serious support, these might feel a bit too flat or squishy. There’s some basic arch contour, but it’s not like a proper orthotic insole. Also, on longer days, the memory foam does warm up and compress a bit, so the initial plush feel lessens. It’s still fine, but if you’re on your feet for 10+ hours, you’ll start to notice that it’s not a performance shoe.

For normal use – walking the dog, going to the shops, commuting, casual strolls – I’d rate the comfort as very good. They’re easy to wear all day, they don’t rub, and the upper doesn’t dig into the foot anywhere. Just keep in mind: they’re built for comfort and convenience, not for running or serious hiking, despite the “Sport / Hiking” labels you sometimes see online.

The upper is mainly textile mesh with some synthetic overlays. It’s flexible and lets air through fairly well. On warm days my feet didn’t feel trapped or sweaty, which is one of the big plus points. The flip side is that this kind of mesh doesn’t offer much protection. If you brush against something sharp or catch your toe on a rough surface, you can feel it more than with a thicker leather or synthetic upper. It also means water goes in fast – even light rain or wet grass will soak through pretty quickly.

The sole is EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), which is the same kind of foam you see in a lot of running shoes and cheap flip-flops. It’s light and cushioned, but it’s not the hardest-wearing material. After some use on pavements and tarmac, you’ll probably see wear on the outer edges first. It’s fine for daily city use, but I wouldn’t expect it to last years if you’re doing lots of long walks on rough surfaces. There’s no rubber outsole patches like you see on some more robust trainers, so all the grip and durability are coming from that EVA foam.

Inside, you get the Air-Cooled memory foam insole. It’s soft and squishy underfoot, especially at the start. You can press your finger in and see the slow rebound. It feels nice at first step-in, but like most memory foam insoles, it does flatten a bit during the day. It’s still comfortable, just not as bouncy after a few hours. The shoe is basically unlined, which keeps it light but also means there’s not much structure inside beyond the insole and upper.

Overall, the materials feel decent for the price and purpose: lightweight, comfy, and easy to clean, but clearly more geared towards casual use than heavy-duty wear. If you’re careful with your shoes and mainly use them on pavements or indoors, they’ll be fine. If you’re rough on footwear or expect serious grip and toughness, these materials are going to show their limits sooner rather than later.

From a durability point of view, these feel like typical Skechers casual trainers: comfortable and light, but not built like tanks. The mesh upper hasn’t shown any obvious fraying for me so far, but you can tell it’s not the toughest fabric. If you regularly scrape your toes on stairs or ride a bike where the pedal hits the side of the shoe, I could see the mesh wearing or snagging quicker than a leather or thicker synthetic upper.

The EVA sole is the part I’d watch most. Foam soles are nice to walk on but tend to wear down faster, especially at the heel and outer edges. After a while, you usually see the shape flatten and the pattern on the bottom smooth out. For now, mine are holding up fine under normal pavement use, but based on past experience with similar shoes, I wouldn’t expect them to last forever if you’re doing heavy mileage every day. Think of them as comfortable daily drivers, not long-term workhorses.

On the plus side, the fact that they’re machine washable is helpful for keeping them looking decent. That said, frequent washing can also speed up wear on the glue and the foam, so I’d probably only machine wash them occasionally and stick to wiping them down most of the time. The black colour hides dirt fairly well anyway, which is a bonus.

Overall, I’d say the durability is acceptable for the price and purpose. If you use them mainly for light walking, commuting, and errands, they should last a reasonable amount of time. If you’re on your feet all day on rough surfaces or expect them to double as work shoes in tough conditions, you’ll probably wear them out faster than you’d like. They’re comfort-first shoes, and you can feel that in how they’re built.

In everyday use, these perform well for what they are: casual walking trainers. On pavements and indoor floors, the grip is perfectly acceptable. I used them in supermarkets, on wet tiles, and on a bit of light gravel. I didn’t have any scary slips, but you can tell the sole isn’t as sticky as a proper running shoe with rubber sections. On wet smooth surfaces, I walk a bit more carefully in these than in some of my other trainers with proper rubber outsoles.

For light walks – say 30–60 minutes around town or in a park on dry paths – they’re comfortable and stable enough. The wide forefoot gives a solid base, and the heel doesn’t feel wobbly. But I wouldn’t call them hiking shoes, even though the listing throws that word around. On uneven paths or anything muddy, they don’t inspire much confidence, mainly because of the smooth-ish EVA sole and the soft upper. There’s no real ankle support, and the toe doesn’t have much protection.

Breathability is actually one of their strengths. On warmer days, my feet stayed relatively cool, and the mesh lets air through quite well. If your feet tend to overheat in leather or synthetic shoes, you’ll probably appreciate this. The downside is zero protection from wind, cold, or water. On a chilly, wet day, my feet felt the weather quickly. So in terms of performance across seasons, I’d say they’re best for spring and summer, maybe mild autumn, but not great for cold, wet winters.

For anything beyond casual walking – like running, gym workouts with lateral movements, or long hikes – I’d pick something else. The slip-on design and soft materials just don’t give enough support or grip for more demanding activities. But if you stay within their comfort zone – daily walking, commuting, general use – they perform well enough and feel easy on the feet.

On the box, these are sold as Skechers Men’s Summits High Range Trainers, but in reality they behave more like slip-on walking shoes than proper sports trainers. The main promises are: hands-free slip-ins, Air-Cooled memory foam insole, and a lightweight mesh upper. There’s no fancy tech beyond that, and honestly, that’s fine. It’s a straightforward product: casual shoes for walking and everyday use.

The structure is simple: low-top design, round toe, no real heel, and a stretchy lace front that’s basically decorative. The laces don’t actually adjust much, so you’re relying on the elastic and the heel structure to keep your foot in place. The sole is EVA, which means it’s light and cushioned, but not the grippiest or toughest material out there. There’s no water resistance, no extra lining, and no serious support features like a stiff heel counter or arch support system.

One nice practical point: they’re machine washable. For a shoe that’s mostly mesh and foam, that’s pretty useful. I haven’t run them through the machine yet, but I have wiped them down a few times after getting them dusty, and the material cleans up easily. They weigh about 454 g for the pair, which feels light in the hand and on the foot. If you’re used to chunky running shoes, these will feel noticeably lighter.

Overall, the presentation matches the price and the Amazon listing: these are casual, slip-on, comfort-first trainers. They’re not pretending to be performance running shoes or hardcore hiking gear, even though Amazon tags them under “hiking”. If you buy them expecting serious outdoor performance, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you buy them expecting comfy everyday slip-ons, you’ll be closer to the truth.