-(3).png?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
In the early hours of Monday morning, a Harry Kane goal sent millions of sleep-deprived Brits into rapture. The England striker’s 60th minute penalty put the Three Lions in the driving seat against World Cup co-hosts Mexico, and ultimately earned the side a 3-2 win.
But what Kane wore on his feet for the occasion might surprise you. He didn’t plump for Nike, Adidas, Puma or any of the other big-name brands that dominate the sport. He was wearing a pair of Skechers.
The Bayern Munich star signed a lifetime deal with the company in August 2023, shortly after moving to the German side, and has worn them ever since. Given his goalscoring record this season – 73 and counting for club and country, including six so far at this year’s World Cup – it’s safe to assign his boots Midas status.
But what makes them so special? I managed to get hold of a pair to find out.
Read more: Where to buy England’s 2026 World Cup kit
Skechers SKX_2 elite
Sizes: 6-12
Fit: True to size, narrow
Studs: Firm ground
Weight: 253g (UK10.5)
Why we love it
- Textured upper for better close control
- Added cushioning around the heel for comfort
- Minimal laces for a clean area for striking the ball
Take note
- Expensive
I started playing football when I was six, knocking about at a semi-respectable Saturday league level for 20-odd years before making the inevitable transition to small-sided midweek games. In that time, I almost exclusively wore understated black boots like the Adidas Copa Mundial, Nike tiempo and Adidas predator at a push.
The Skechers SKX_2 elites that arrived at my door were a violent departure from this. The patriotic red, white and blue colourway comes complete with glitter-imbued laces and a chrome sole plate. Wearers won’t be hard to spot.
But the more I wore them, the more the performance impressed me. There are a few innovative features that go beyond gimmicks to deliver noticeable performance perks. I’ve run through the main ones, and the brand’s claims around them, below.
“The next-generation FitKnit upper’s refined structure comfortably locks down the midfoot for a secure feel as you move, while the laces are strategically placed for an ergonomic, adaptive fit.”
I wear a UK10 in most shoes, a 10.5 in Nike football boots and an 11 in Adidas boots. I ordered the Skechers SKX_2 elite in a UK10.5, and I could have gone down to a 10 as they fit true to size.
The FitKnit upper felt a bit inflexible at first, fitting fairly narrow and pressuring the sides of my feet. But after just 20 minutes of kicking a ball around, the shoes settled in and felt comfortable. The boots might not be the best fit for those with wider feet, however.
I’m also a big fan of the lace design, and how they’re built into the boots. Rather than usual bulky long laces and cumbersome tongue found on football boots, the Skechers SKX_2 elite have short laces built into the shape of the boot. This left a large, clean area for striking the ball.
“When you’re on the ball, enhanced PSC texturing ensures a confident touch and accurate striking thanks to new precision-mapped detailing.”
Across the midfoot and forefoot, the outside of the upper is covered in a light, dimpled texture. I found this offered similar friction on the ball to a classic leather boot, which was handy for keeping the ball under close control when dribbling.
Touches with the inside, outside and laces all felt natural. I even threw a few rusty elasticos in as the ultimate test of the Skechers’s touch, and the boots performed well.
“For cushioning, the trademark Hyper Burst Pro sockliner provides effective impact absorption as you land and change direction, returning energy over time so you’re still fresh when opponents are flagging.”
The boots have a thin insole, with a little bit of cushioning. When you’re already wearing the boots on semi-soft grass, I don’t think this really does anything noticeable on the impact absorption front. But they did stay put and hold my foot securely through sprinting and change of direction drills.
I think it’s a stretch to say the insole is going to give me any sort of advantage when I start blowing in the second half of a game, but it did the basics well and I had no complaints.
“At the heel, improved padding around the Achilles combines with silicone grip elements on the sockliner and collar lining to ensure your foot’s always perfectly positioned within the boot.”
This might be my favourite innovation in the Skechers SKX_2 elite, and it’s something I haven’t seen before in a football boot.
An additional thin layer of cushioning around the heel offers an impressively comfortable, locked-in fit. It also made the boots incredibly easy to slip on and off, meaning teammates needn’t wait for you in the changing room as you wrestle your way into an uncompromising leather boot.
In the hours I’ve spent in these boots, my feet remained comfortable, and thanks to the cushioned heel there was no threat of rubbing – even when wearing the firm ground version on sun-baked pitches.
“On the soleplate, an internal chassis provides balance and stability for fast cuts and turns, then multidirectional traction lets you push off and exploit the space.”
Football boots have done all sorts with their soles over the years. The Nike mercurial superfly 2 and 3 stand out for their carbon-fibre undersides and wild stud design that resembled a camping stove (seriously, Google it).
As someone who likes using the sole of their boot to roll over the ball during a game, these left-field designs simply didn’t work. The Skechers’s firm ground studs are a bit more traditional, and I found these worked well for controlling the ball.
My firm ground pair also delivered excellent grip for sharp cutting movements and sprints on a hard, heatwave-baked pitch. Chrome plating along the base of the shoe offered bonus rigidity and responsiveness, helping me feel nimble when quickly changing direction.
Buy now £195, Skechers.co.uk
Will the Skechers SKX_2 elite make you a better footballer?
There’s a cult football film from 2000 called There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble in which a young football-mad lad is given a pair of “magic” boots by a mysterious figure. Immediately, everything he touches turns to goals.
However, come the end of the film, he discovers the boots were never magic at all – he had the skill all along, he just needed some confidence and a nudge in the right direction.
This is the case with all football boots. No boot is going to transform your footballing ability – Harry Kane could probably make a pair of Crocs look good. But if it fits well, feels comfortable and offers a faithful first touch, you’re on to a winner.
That’s exactly what I found with the Skechers SKX_2 elite. They are comfortable boots with minimal break-in time and a textured finish that offers excellent ball-feel. My pair have no signs of wear and tear after a fair bit of use, both doing drills and playing in some small-sided games, and I only copped a little bit of flack from teammates for the extravagant colourway.
One downside is that they will set you back £195 and this is no small fee. However, alternative colourways are available, and I managed to find some of these for as little as £120 via trusted third-party retailers (was £195, now £120, Prodirectsport.com).
How I tested the the Skechers SKX_2 elite
I tested the Skechers SKX_2 elite for two weeks. Obviously, at this time of the year, no 11-a-side action was available, but I was able to try them out during small-sided games, sprinting drills and kickabouts at the park.
I tested them against the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Harry Bullmore is IndyBest’s senior fitness writer, having spent the last 14 years training in gyms, gardens, parks, garages and of course, on the football pitch. This has given him the opportunity to test many of the best, and worst, fitness products you can buy, from the best gym trainers to the race shoes, so he is perfectly placed to help you find what you need.
These are the surprising items that helped me finish my first ultramarathon in comfort
