Skechers Solver Casual SlipOns for Men

I got to admit I have plenty of dress shoes (for office work and formal occasions) and a lot of sports shoes (for running and gym) but only very few brands of casual shoes one of which is the Skechers Solver casual mens slip on. 

Purchase
It first caught my eye about 7 years ago while walking past the Skechers store in midtown Manhattan. Thats the first time I stepped into a Skechers store and most of the shoes looked pretty similarly designed! Talk about trying to choose a pair when everything looks pretty identical. There are at least a minimum 6 to 10 varieties of this shoe in fractionally different designs. Although I vaguely remember, there was a crazy deal of buy a 2nd pair at 50% off deal at that time. So I ended up buying a black and brown pair of the Skechers Solver. That was in 2006. Then again after wearing them off after everyday use for a good 6 years I bought another 2 pairs, black and brown in 2012. This time I got it online since I knew the exact size I wanted. 

Usage
These go well with jeans or casual trousers and that means I wear these quite often and change black and brown depending on what colored trouser or denim Im wearing.

Fit
Why these Skechers Solver is a favorite is due to its rugged look and rugged construction without compromising on comfort. The tongue area of the shoe is held by elastic like flexible material and provides an easy flexible opening to slip in your feet. While the inside sole is firm, the inside walls have a thin yet comfortable padding. Overall a comfortable shoe with a flexible toe area. 

Outer appearance
As mentioned before the shoe looks to be made for rough use. In fact the manufacturer also specifies its from the Urban track range which is a fitting description. Except for the mid sole the entire out sole has hard rubberized  cleats. This provides a firm grip to most surfaces the shoe is used on. Also on gravel tracks you will not find stones getting embedded between the cleats. So overall for me a great outsole. 

The standout design of the shoe is without a doubt the dual stitched seams with the S logo embroided on a small canvas panel on the side. This is what gives the shoe its rugged urban look. 

I have worn these shoes for long periods of time and have not had any issue with ventilation although there are only very few tiny holes made near the toe area and the front sides.  

Wear and tear
It's surprising the shoe is made in China because overall the shoe looks very solid. Seriously if it did not mention it was made in China I would have thought this shoe came from America. 

Ok so I dont expect a shoe to last many years without any wear and tear specially with frequent use. My brown Skechers Solver pair has worn out cleats at one side of the heel end. I figure that may be the place I land heavily since everywhere else the cleats remain intact. My black pair which have gone through comparatively lesser usage has all cleats intact. 

Here's the funny part and what I would feel the most important thing to note. The outer scuff resistant leather of the brown shoe is pretty decent looking even after almost 2 years with slight lines appearing where the shoe bends. Mind you this brown pair is the one I wear the most. However the black pair which I wear less has the leather upper cracking and peeling off! It is so bad Im embarrassed to wear it anymore.  In fact the cracking and peeling is all around and not only confined to the bending area of the shoe. This started happening just about 1 year of use. Something is horribly wrong with the leather in the black shoe. 

Final thoughts
If I had to describe the shoe in one word it would be 'Comfortable'. Apart from the black pair of shoes I would definitely say Skechers are built to last shoes. 
 

Recommend this product? Yes