These Runners Made Me Confront My Own Bias Against Skechers

By Danial Martinus  •  04 Jul 2025 in Sneak Peek

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I’m not gonna lie. Up until recently, if you’d asked me what I thought of Skechers, I’d have told you (perhaps a little smugly) that the brand was for old folks and people who’d given up on fashion. Somewhere along the way, I had mentally filed them under “uncool” and just never bothered to look back.

But recently, I was given the chance to test out a pair of Skechers Aero Spark running shoes. And for the first time in a long time, I had to seriously confront my own ignorance. Because I’ll say it upfront: I was wrong about Skechers, and I’m not even ashamed to admit it.

I am now, quite proudly, a Skechers convert.

Killer looks and performance

Let’s start off with the basics: the Aero Spark looks fantastic. I never thought I’d use the word “sleek” in the same sentence as “Skechers,” but here we are. The shoe’s silhouette is bold and fast-looking, and the midsole design alone is pretty eye-catching with those bright hues of red and highlighter green.

Paired with the subtle texture of the engineered mesh upper and just a hint of reflectivity at the toe box, it genuinely looks like a high-performance shoe from one of the “cool” brands. If I’m being honest, I think this might be the best-looking shoe Skechers has ever made.

But looks alone won’t get you through a blistering five kilometres in this tropical Malaysian heat. What surprised me even more was how good it felt to run in them. I was immediately impressed with how easily I could get up to speed in the Aero Spark.

The Hyper Burst Ice midsole delivers a ride that’s soft enough to keep things comfy during recovery runs but with enough bounce to make those quick bursts actually fun. It’s responsive, cushioned, and doesn’t feel bogged down, despite being a slightly heavy running shoe.

Another thing I grew to really appreciate? The Goodyear outsole. I know, it’s not the sexiest part of a running shoe, but the confidence that comes from having solid traction—especially when it just rained and the roads are a little slick—is something many brands overlook.

The Goodyear outsole grips well, it covers the base evenly, and holds up decently well under pressure. Whether you’re pounding out a chill jog or picking up the pace, it stays firmly planted.

With all these nifty features—namely the Hyper Burst Ice foam midsole, the H-shaped carbon plates, the Arch Fit insoles that mould to your feet, and the durable Goodyear outsoles—the Skechers Aero Spark is pretty damned loaded for its price.

The carbon plate isn’t aggressive or too stiff, but it gives you just enough propulsion to make faster runs easier to maintain. Meanwhile, heel and forefoot stack height strike a great balance: enough cushioning to soften impacts, but not so much that you lose ground-feel.

I also appreciate how versatile the shoe feels overall. It doesn’t look or move like a chunky daily trainer. It’s a lighter-weight, lower-stack bouncy companion that feels ready for anything.

The biggest takeaway from my time spent with these shoes is the fact that they don’t look or feel like a Skechers shoe (with regard to my own ignorant bias against them in the past). It’s completely re-written my view on the brand, and it’s thoroughly smashed all my expectations.

If you’re like me and you’ve turned your nose up at Skechers in the past, I’d challenge you to try the Aero Spark with an open mind. You’ll be eating your words.

You can grab your own pair for RM659 at the official Skechers Malaysia website.

For more sneakers, head to JUICE Malaysia.