Skechers’ Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey Review: Rugged Footwear That Handles Any Terrain (At User’s Expense)

Out of all the shoe brands in the market, Skechers has been known to be the leading name when it comes to absolute comfort and style. Able to balance a footwear’s weight to the point that it is light as air, while also creating a pillowy cushion that feels as if you’re stepping on clouds, the footwear brand seems to be able to create wonders. In recent years, if not months, the brand has been taking this pillowy concept and applying it to a wider and far more diverse range of sneakers, creating a wide selection to the point that the brand can say it has it all. From the streets to the court, the iconic shoemaker has now turned its attention to the mountain trail.

Enter the Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey, an outdoor trail shoe designed to tackle the unbeaten path in absolute style and comfort. Created for those looking to dip their toes into hiking, or for those in need of rugged outdoor footwear, this variation is meant to weather the elements without any strain on your feet.

Design

When you first glimpse the Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey, nothing in particular jumps out to you; it shares an almost standard silhouette amongst Skechers’ catalogue – there are no signature designs or the like to speak of, nothing. That is, until you take a closer look at it. The Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey is available in three colours: black and yellow, navy blue and orange, and neon and multi.

It features several leather straps coming from the sides of the sneaker, heading towards where it then forms the eyelets for the laces. Underneath that, and throughout its body, you’d notice a large synthetic net-like portion that is quite thin yet surprisingly impermeable. Beneath this all, a supportive platform midsole and two-inch heel serve as the very foundation of the shoe, which features some speckling that is reminiscent of concrete. Overall, it’s not a design that calls attention to itself nor does it want to; it is a perfect mix of subtle streetwear-ready design and a well-constructed body for any terrain.

Comfort

The Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey features a far stiffer body compared to other shoes the brand offers, such as the SKX Nexus. As a hiking shoe, this is to be expected, as it needs to protect your feet from falling rocks, exposed nails, splintered pathways, and more. However, as a result, this causes a not insignificant amount of discomfort, particularly when you’re stationary.

Everything about this shoe is quite rigid, from the collar all the way to the toebox. Getting into the footwear is a challenge (and a pain), and staying in it for a prolonged period is another. Knitted synthetic and upper chokes the bridge of your feet and your toes, respectively, to the point that we had to redo the lacing for a more comfortable fit. Furthermore, the shoe’s toebox collapses with every other step, which inadvertently crushes the pinky toe. We are unsure if this is intentional or a design oversight, but we cannot overstate how awkward our feet feel with every step. Perhaps one of the saving graces of this shoe is its Air-Cooled Memory Foam Insole, which allows for some cushioning and contrast to the upper. 

Performance

Despite our complaints, the shoe, when put on the hiking trial, performs admirably. Its two-inch heels provide ample padding and protection to the point you hardly feel the uneven path poking away at your feet. Honestly, the real MVPs of this shoe are the outsoles. Though we’ve stressed how stiff the shoes are at rest, the outsole has a surprisingly springy feel that cushions the blow from every step you take, which is a total relief.

Another surprising feature is the flexible traction outsole. This seemingly benign outsole saved us several times when we were going up and down trails, as it was able to lock down our feet. From loose gravel, coarse rocks, and even wet mud, these kicks performed admirably and were able to shrug off most of what the trail had to offer.

Of course, the upper portion of the shoe held up pretty nicely as well. Its leather upper and the collar work in tandem to make sure the footwear does not slip off your feet, holding on for dear life as you traverse the concrete jungle or the actual one. Simultaneously, while taking hikes, you’ll learn to forgive the mesh upper, as it is extremely breathable while also preventing a reasonable amount of water from entering the shoe.

Overall, the Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey does a good job of being robust footwear meant for hiking. It has a lot of things going for it, such as its solid construction, breathable mesh upper, and superb grip. However, it does all of this at the expense of comfort. Its stiff body and tight upper choke out our feet, to the point where we uncomfortably squirm in them to ease the pain. And they aren’t anymore comfortable when walking, as the inelastic mesh upper crumples with every step, crushing our toes. At the end of the day, the Skechers Relaxed Fit D’Lux Journey does its job well, but should it do so at the cost of comfort?