Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Very comfortable
- Reasonably priced
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Not suited to technical hiking
- Styling is a little dull
Skechers are not a name that we would automatically associate with hiking boots. However, the manufacturer, renowned for its comfortable, casual shoes does indeed offer a couple of models targeted at the trail including the slightly oddly named Relment-Pelmo.
We should say from the outset that these boots are not trying to compete in the regular niches hiking boots seem to fit into: they are not trying to be super-light or rigid or technical. Instead, they’re really just a pair of comfortable walking shoes that have been optimized for the trail. And that’s no bad thing! They are supremely comfortable, well made and very competitively priced and for these reasons we can easily see why they’d be a good choice for trail walking and less intensive hiking.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking boots, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
Compare to Similar Products:
Salewa Men's Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX Boots | Hoka Trail Code GTX | Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid | Asolo Fugitive GTX | Scarpa Rush TRK GTX | Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 | Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry | Skechers Relment-Pelmo | Teva Grandview GORE-TEX | Timberland White Ledge Mid Waterproof | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Ratings | Best Overall Men's | Most Stylish | Best for Long Distance Trails | Most Breathable | Best for Winter/Cold Weather | Best Lightweight | Best for Backpacking | |||
Pros | Excellent comfort. Great combo of breathability and water-resistance. | Excellent Grip. Excellent water resistance | Excellent comfort. Great durability | Tough and durable. Great water resistance. | Excellent durability (including ability to be resoled). Excellent ankle support | Very light. Extremely comfortable | Tough build. Great fit and comfort | Very comfortable. Reasonably priced. | Comfortable. Looks good | Often very inexpensive. Offered in a wide range of sizes. |
Cons | Can be pricey. May be a little tight if you have very wide feet | The styling is not to everybody's taste. Some durability concerns | The loos are a little dated. Are relatively expensive outside of the USA | Some may find the upper too flexible. Can be expensive. | Can be pricey. A little heavy | Long term durability concerns. Not well suited to more technical terrain | A little heavy. Not the most breathable | Not suited to technical hiking. Styling is a little dull. | Some durability concerns. Not suited for more extreme trails | Low water resistance. Less ankle support than others. |
Traction | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Good |
Breathability | Excellent | Good | Very Good | Good | Low | Excellent | Low | Low | Good | Low |
Ankle Support | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Good | Very Good | Good | Good | Average |
Arch support | Regular to good | Regular | Regular | Minimal | Minimal | Regular | Good | Good | Regular | Regular |
Fit | Fits true to size available in a single width | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Fit true to size. Available in normal and wide fit and with a wide range of sizes | Fits true to size. Available in standard and wide fit. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Fit is true ot size. Available ins standard and wide versions. | Available in a wide range of sizes with several width options. sizing may run large. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Runs small. Available in regular and wide fit. |
Materials | Suede leather upper and synthetic | Full synthetic | Leather upper and synthetic | Suede leather and synthetic | Suede leather upper with synthetics | Full synthetic | Leather upper with synthetics | Suede leather upper with synthetics | Leather and synthetic upper | Leather and synthetic upper |
Appearance | Modern hiking boot | Modern sports shoe inspired hiking boot | The design is a little dated | The design is a little dated | Modern hiking boot | Modern sports shoe | The design is a little dated | Regular hiking boot | Retro inspired modern hiking trainer | Traditional hiking boot |
Durability | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Good |
Water Resistance | Gore Tex membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | Keen.Dry' breathable waterproof membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | In-house waterproof membrane | B-Dry Membrane | Water-resistant treatment and possibly a water-resistant membrane | Gore Tex membrane and water resistant treatment | Water resistant treatment and sealed seems |
Weight (pair) | 1.04kg/2lb 05oz | 868g/1lb 14.6oz | 970g/2lb 2oz | 1.39kg/3lb 1oz | 1.19kg/2lb 10oz | 856g/1lb 14oz | 1.08kg/2lb 06oz | 964g/2lb 02oz | ||
Insoles | Modular insole system to fine-tune fit | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Shaped 'O-FIT' insole | Air Cooled Memory Foam Insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole |
Break-in Period | Minimal | Minimal | Very minimal | Minimal | Short break in required | Very minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal |
Lacing system | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces |
Toe Protection | Reinforced rubber rand on toe | Reinforced toe section | Leather reinforced with rubber toecap | Reinforced toe section with rubber rand | Reinforced rubber toe cap | Rubber reinforced toe | Reinforced rubber toe cap | Rubber rand at toe | Reinforced rand and rubber toe cap | Sole extended up to form a small toe cap |
Analysis and Test Results
The Relment-Pelmo hiking boot from Sketchers is an interesting proposition. There are surely many hikers who instantly dismiss it as it doesn’t neatly fit into the niches that most hiking boots seek to occupy: it isn’t trying to be a trainer-inspired lightweight nor is it a more rigid boot suitable for harsh weather and demanding trails.
But all this ignores what these boots are: supremely comfortable walking shoes that have been adapted for the trail. Many hikers simply don’t need – or want to pay for – ultra lightweight or rigid technical footwear. They just want comfortable shoes that can handle long walks and that’s exactly what these boots deliver! The fact that they do so at a very attractive price point is surely a bonus too.
Performance Comparison
Traction
The Relment-Pelmo features Skecher’s in-house sole with its medium deep thread pattern. Some of the other hiking boots we’ve assessed, with their deep, aggressively lugged soles will surely give better traction than these, but for general trail walking and the kind of recreational hiking the Relment-Pelmo is intended for, the grip on their sole is just fine. Remember, though that there are some surface conditions, including wet grass, slick rock and mud and, of course, ice, that will better the soles on any boot if they are worn without traction aids.
Breathability
These boots prioritize insulation over breathability. The upper section is largely unvented, though there are a few small sections around the heel and tongue where ventilated synthetic mesh fabric is visible – so they are not completely unbreathable either. For those hiking in mixed weather, we’d say the insulation these boots offer is actually a plus point over heavy ventilation, though the opposite is true if you tend to hike in warm, dry environments like deserts. Skechers provide these boots with what they call an ‘Air Cooled memory Foam’ insole which helps keep your feet from getting sweaty and, of course, socks made from a moisture wicking fabric like Merino wool can help a lot here too.
Ankle Support
Whilst the Relment-Pelmo is a mid-high boot, the ankle cuff does not extend particularly high relative to some of the other boots we’ve assessed (Like the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX). None the less, the ankle support these boots offer is a notch above what you’ll find on hiking shoes and the ankle cuff can be tensioned to an extent via the laces.
Arch Support
Skechers footwear is renowned for its comfort and these boots are supplied with their ‘Air Cooled Memory Foam’ insoles which mold to the wearer’s foot. In this regard they offer slightly better arch support than average. Whilst this is probably a non-issue to most buyers, extra arch support can make a huge difference to hiking comfort for some, and if that’s you, then the insoles in these boots can easily be switched out for a readily available third-party (or even custom-made) insole that offers better arch support.
See the Sketchers Relment-Pelmo in more detail:
Fit
The Relment-Pelmo is part of Skecher’s ‘Relaxed Fit’ range and features a slightly roomier constructions along with combining many of the comfort technologies that Skechers have built their reputation on. The boots are offered in sizes from US 6.5/UK 5.5/EU 39 to US 16/UK 15/EU 50.5 in both standard and wide versions. Some select sizes are also offered in extra-wide fit too.
It’s great to see such a wide range of sizes and widths catered for by Skechers and, especially if you happen to have very large feet, these boots may be the best choice for you simply for the fact that no other manufacturer will cater for your size! The general consensus is that these boots run a bit large in sizing.
Materials
These boots feature an upper section made largely from water-proofed suede leather combined with synthetic materials. The synthetics that are visible in the outer part of the upper are a vented, mesh covered foam with what appears to be nylon webbing used on the pull-loops. The lacing eyelets are all metal. These are all resilient materials.
Appearance
Looks are one area where don’t think the Relment-Pelmo scores too highly. It’s not a bad looking boot and is offered in a number of colorways (we quite like the pale grey option with orange accents – though this is probably the least practical option for hiking!), but it also isn’t a particularly memorable design either.
In many ways, this should be a non-issue as aesthetics ought to be the last thing you consider when choosing a pair of functional hiking boots. However, there’s no escaping the fact that the worlds of hiking and fashion footwear are intersecting now more than ever before and, if you want good-looking gear that doesn’t compromise function, well, to be blunt, there are better options out there!
Durability
These boots are made from tough materials that inspire confidence in their durability. Whilst these boots don’t feel as absolutely solidly made as some of the – admittedly much more expensive – alternatives we’ve assessed, we still had no reason to doubt that they would give many long years of service.
Sustainability
Skechers are an enormous company and they are, as you would expect, committed to reducing their carbon footprint, use of water and minimizing the waste the generate in manufacturing. Whilst they state they now use 100% recyclable packaging, there is no information on what, if any, recycled materials they use in their manufacturing.
The company is also committed to maintaining high welfare standards for its workers and contract manufacturers they work with must follow a code of conduct for welfare of their staff.
Water Resistance
The Skechers Relment-Pelmo is marketed as waterproof, though how they achieve this is difficult to pin down. The suede leather in the boot’s upper has a water-resistant treatment and the boots also likely use some sort of breathable water-resistant membrane – we say ‘likely’ because the boots are not labelled as using Gore Tex or any other proprietary water-resistant membrane.
Manufacturers tend to like to make a big deal about using water-resistant membranes in their products if they are present (we’ve seen hiking footwear where the Gore Tex logo is more prominent than the manufacturer’s logo!), but even though Skechers don’t with these boots (unless the little metal badge on the side that says ‘Waterproof’ counts!), we suspect there is one present as the level of water resistance they offer is better than you’d expect from treated leather alone.
Weight
Weighing in at 1.23kg/2lb 11oz for a pair, these are certainly at the heavier end of the boots we’ve assessed – indeed, they are in the same weight range as the Zamberlan 996 Vioz GTX. Whilst the Zamberlans can justify their weight with their exceptional foot support, rigidity and water resistance, these boots can’t.
Weight carried on your feet is disproportionately fatiguing relative to the same weight carried elsewhere – so saving weight on your boots is more beneficial than saving the same amount of weight on, say, a lighter backpack. Unless a pair of heavier boots have features that justify their weight – like the Zamberlans we previously mentioned do – then it’s worth considering lighter alternatives.
Insoles
The Relment-Pelmo boot come with Skechers ‘Air Cooled memory foam’ insoles. Theses are cushioned insoles that shape themselves to the wearer’s feet and which are a notch above the fairly generic insoles most other manufacturers provide. Should you want to fine-tune the fit of your boots or add extra cushioning to the footbed or more arch support, then swapping out the supplied insoles for one of the many widely and inexpensively available third-party alternatives out there is a great option.
Break-in Period
Skechers footwear is renowned for its comfort and these boots are no exception. They are comfortable to wear straight from the box and whilst we’d always advise wearing any new hiking footwear on a few shorter local walks or even just around your home for a while before you head out for a long hike, we think that many buyers would be happy to wear these straight out on a big adventure.
Lacing System
These boots use regular laces. Laces may seem like a fairly uninteresting subject, but they are actually a great way to fine-tune the fit of your boots and you can also experiment with different lacing patterns to take the custom-fit experience further.
Toe Protection
The Relment-Pelmo features a reinforced rubber rand around the toe and the sole also extends up slightly to form a small toe cap. This isn’t the same level of protection you’d get from a pair of heavier duty mountaineering boots but is still more than enough to absorb many of the knocks and bashes you can expect your toes to meet on the trail.
Conclusion
The manufacturers of more specialized hiking footwear have little to worry about from the Skechers Relment-Pelmo. But then, we wouldn’t say these boots are trying to compete with more specialized products. If you want something that’s ultra-light, or more rigid, then you’ll almost certainly look elsewhere. However, if you’re after a pair of comfortable, durable boots for nature walking and non-technical hiking, then these fit the bill perfectly and the fact that they are very attractively priced makes them an even better option and well worth considering.
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