Skechers Women's Squad SR Work Shoe Review: comfy all-day work trainers that are great but not perfect

I’ve been using the Skechers Women’s Squad SR Work Shoe (black flat knit, size 9 UK) as my main work shoes for a few weeks now. I’m on my feet a lot, walking between offices and standing around in corridors, so I wanted something that felt like trainers but still looked plain enough for a work environment. These kept popping up with a high rating and loads of reviews, so I gave in and ordered them.

First thing: they really do feel like normal Skechers trainers rather than stiff “work shoes”. The memory foam insole is thick, the upper is soft, and there was zero break-in period for me. I wore them straight out of the box for a full day and didn’t get any rubbing on the heel or toes, which is rare for me. If you’re used to hard safety shoes, these will feel like a big step up in comfort.

On the flip side, they are sold as slip-resistant work shoes, and in real life that claim is kind of mixed. On normal floors and pavements they grip fine, but on really smooth or wet surfaces they’re not magic. I’d say they are better than a normal casual trainer, but you still need to be careful if you work around spills, greasy floors or polished tiles. If you’re expecting them to fix bad flooring, that’s not how it goes.

Overall, my first impression was: very comfy, easy to live with, look neutral enough for most uniforms, but there are a few trade-offs. They run more like a relaxed/wide fit, they pick up dust easily because of the black textile, and the outsole grabs little stones. So they’re good, but not flawless, and whether they’re worth it depends a lot on how slippery your workplace actually is and how wide your feet are.

In terms of value, these sit in that mid-range zone: not cheap like supermarket trainers, but not premium leather clogs either. One reviewer mentioned finding them about £16 cheaper on Amazon than on the official Skechers site, and that matches my experience – the online discounts make them feel more reasonable. For what you get – branded work shoe, memory foam insole, slip-resistant sole, and a design that passes as both work and casual – I’d say the price is fair but not a crazy bargain.

The big value point is comfort. If you’re on your feet for 8–12 hours, the difference between a basic flat shoe and something like this is noticeable. I’ve had cheaper work shoes that destroyed my heels and arches after a few weeks. With these, I didn’t have that problem. So if you measure value by how your feet feel at the end of a shift, they score well. If you measure purely by how long they’ll last in harsh conditions, there might be tougher options for a similar price, especially in the safety shoe world.

Another plus is their versatility. You can wear them to work, then keep them on with jeans to run errands without looking out of place. That saves you from buying a separate pair just for commuting or casual use. Also, the slip-on design saves time and hassle if you’re constantly taking shoes on and off, which is a small thing but adds up over months of daily use.

On the downside, the slip-resistance is good but not perfect, and the wide/relaxed fit won’t suit everyone. If you have narrow feet or work in extremely slippery environments, you may feel you didn’t fully get your money’s worth. Also, the memory foam insole will likely compress over time, so part of what you’re paying for is the initial comfort, not a long-term, unchanging feel. Overall, I’d rate the value as solid: they’re not a steal, but they justify their price if you care more about all-day comfort and a simple, work-appropriate look than about maximum durability or hardcore safety features.

Design-wise, these are basically black trainers trying to pass as work shoes, and they mostly pull it off. The shape is a standard low-top sneaker with a closed toe and a knit-style upper. The colour is fully black – upper, sole, and laces – so they blend in nicely with black trousers or a uniform. I’ve worn them with both work trousers and jeans, and they don’t scream “work shoe”, which I liked. If your workplace wants plain black footwear with no bright logos, these fit that requirement easily.

One important point: the laces are mostly cosmetic. The shoe is a bungee slip-on, which means it’s built like a pull-on trainer with elastic, and the “laces” don’t really adjust much. You can tug them a little, but you can’t properly tighten the shoe like a normal lace-up. In practice, this makes them very fast to pull on and off, which is great if you’re in a rush or constantly changing shoes at work. But if you have very narrow feet or you like your shoes locked down tight, you may find them a bit too loose around the midfoot.

The upper is a synthetic textile/flat knit. It looks neat, but being black, it shows dust, flour, and light-coloured dirt quickly. After a couple of shifts, mine had visible greyish marks just from walking on dusty floors and brushing against things. The good thing is that a quick wipe with a damp cloth or a soft brush cleans them up pretty well. They’re “wipe clean” rather than fully washable, so don’t treat them like sports running shoes you can just throw in the machine.

The outsole design is a bit of a double-edged sword. The tread pattern gives you grip and meets the SRC slip-resistant standard, but the deep grooves also collect tiny stones and bits of gravel. If you walk outside over small stones and then go onto wooden or smooth floors, you’ll notice bits stuck in the sole. I had to pick them out a few times to avoid scratching indoor floors. So from a design point of view: looks: clean and discreet; function: decent grip but slightly annoying gravel collector.

Comfort is where these shoes do well. The first thing I noticed when I put them on was how soft and forgiving they felt. No rubbing at the heel, no pressure on the toes, and no need to “break them in”. I wore them for a full workday – about 9 hours, with a mix of standing, walking, and a bit of stair-climbing – and at the end of the day my feet felt tired in a normal way, but not sore or beaten up. Compared to harder work shoes I’ve worn before, these are a clear upgrade in terms of pure comfort.

The memory foam insole really helps when you’re standing still for long periods. It spreads the pressure nicely, especially under the heel and ball of the foot. If you work in a shop, hospital, restaurant, or office where you’re mostly on your feet but not doing high-impact movements, this kind of cushioning feels good. One of the user reviews mentions 12-hour days on their feet and still finding them comfortable, and I can see how that’s possible. I did a couple of 10-hour days in them and didn’t get that burning feeling under the forefoot that I sometimes get in flatter shoes.

There are, however, a few caveats. The shoe is more like a relaxed/wide fit. I don’t have super wide feet, just slightly wider than average, and for me they felt nicely roomy. Someone with genuinely narrow feet might find them too loose, especially since you can’t really tighten the laces. On fast turns or when going down stairs quickly, I could feel my foot moving a bit inside the shoe. It wasn’t dangerous, but it’s not as locked-in as a proper lace-up. If you like a snug, secure fit, this could annoy you.

The arch support is fairly flat. These are not orthopedic shoes with strong arch structure. If you need serious support, you’ll probably want to swap the insole for your own orthotics. The depth of the shoe seems enough to handle a custom insole, but you will lose some of that soft memory foam feeling if you change it. Also, because the cushioning is so soft, after several hours I sometimes felt like my feet were working a bit harder to stay stable. Not a huge issue, but something to note if you have unstable ankles or prefer firmer shoes. Overall, though, for long, steady shifts where comfort is the priority, they do the job very well.

The materials on the Squad SR are very much in line with what you’d expect from Skechers: a textile/knit upper, rubber outsole, and a thick memory foam insole. The upper is synthetic textile, not leather, so it feels soft and flexible right away. There’s no stiff break-in phase where the shoe cuts into your ankle or toes. That’s one of the main reasons I could wear them for a long shift from day one without hot spots or blisters.

The insole is memory foam with maximum cushioning. You really feel that when you first step in – it’s squishy and forgiving, especially under the heel. If you’re used to firm, supportive insoles, this might feel too soft at first. Personally, after a few days, I got used to it. It’s great for standing, but if you walk very fast or do a lot of side-to-side movement, it can feel a bit like you’re sinking in rather than being held. For pure walking and standing, though, it’s pretty pleasant. Under the insole, the midsole feels like standard EVA foam, which gives some bounce but not as much structure as a running shoe.

The outsole is rubber, which is what helps with slip resistance and durability. On wet pavements and regular indoor floors, I had no issues. On greasy or very smooth surfaces, it’s better than a cheap trainer but not miracle-level. The rubber itself feels fairly sturdy; after a couple of weeks of daily use, I saw some light wear on the heel edges but nothing dramatic. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to wear through quickly unless you drag your feet or walk huge distances daily.

One thing to note: there is no real adjustability – no straps, no real lacing system – so the fit is mostly dictated by the elastic and the shape of the upper. Also, there’s no waterproof membrane. They’re listed as water resistant, which in practice means they handle light splashes and a bit of rain, but if you stand in a puddle or get soaked, your feet will get wet. For indoor work or quick walks between buildings, they’re fine. For proper outdoor, all-weather work, I’d want something more sealed and robust.

Durability is always tricky to judge early, but after a few weeks of almost daily use, I can at least give a first impression. The upper, even though it’s a textile knit, has held up fine so far. No fraying, no loose stitching, and no obvious stretching out of shape. The topstitching looks neat and hasn’t come undone anywhere. I’ve bumped them into doors and trolleys a couple of times and only got minor scuff marks that wiped off. So for light to medium work use, the upper seems solid enough.

The outsole shows some light wear on the heel and ball of the foot, which is normal. The rubber compound doesn’t feel super hard, which is good for grip but means it will wear quicker than a very hard sole. That said, I don’t see bald spots or anything worrying after a few weeks. The main annoyance is still the grooves picking up tiny stones and debris. If you walk on gravel or rough outdoor surfaces frequently, expect to spend a bit of time flicking out bits from the sole now and then, otherwise you could scratch indoor floors.

Inside the shoe, the memory foam insole is where I expect the first signs of aging. After long days, you can feel that the foam compresses a bit under your usual pressure points. That’s normal for this type of insole. Over months of heavy use, it will probably flatten out, especially if you’re on the heavier side or on your feet all day. The good news is you can always replace the insole with a third-party one if it gets too flat, but that’s an extra cost and you lose some of the original feel.

Overall, I’d call the durability good enough for the price and purpose, but don’t expect them to last like leather safety shoes. If you’re using them in a typical retail, office, or healthcare setting, I can see them lasting a year or more with normal wear, maybe longer if you rotate them with another pair. If you’re very hard on your shoes, work outdoors a lot, or drag your feet, you may see faster wear on the soles and upper. They’re work trainers, not indestructible boots, and they behave like that.

Out of the box, the Skechers Squad SR feel like a straightforward product. Standard Skechers cardboard box, some paper stuffing, and the shoes themselves – no extra insoles, no fancy bag, nothing special. For a work shoe, that’s fine. I’d rather they put the money into the shoe than into packaging. The pair I got weighed in around the advertised 0.88–1 kg for the box, but on foot they feel pretty light, especially compared to typical work or safety shoes with steel toes.

The model I tested is the black flat knit version, size 9 UK, which seems to match their “relaxed fit” style. That basically means it’s closer to a wide fit. If you normally have to hunt for wide shoes, you’ll probably be happy. If you have narrow feet, you may find some extra room on the sides. There are no half sizes in the data provided, but based on my experience, I’d say most people with regular feet can stick to their usual size; if you’re between sizes and narrow-footed, you might consider going down half a size if that option exists.

The shoes are classed as work shoes (EN ISO 20347:2012 OB FO SRC), which means they’re designed for occupational use with slip resistance and some basic safety standards, but note: no toe cap, no metal reinforcement. They are work trainers, not safety boots. That matters if you’re in construction or warehouse environments where you need actual protection at the toes. For restaurant, hospitality, care, retail, front-of-house, reception work, they’re more in line with what you need: plain black, closed toe, non-slip sole, and easy to clean.

In terms of overall presentation, I’d call them very functional and low-key. No bright logos, no shiny bits, just a simple black trainer that blends in with most dress codes. If you want something flashy, this is not it. If you just want a shoe that doesn’t draw attention and feels like a trainer, they tick that box pretty well.

On paper, these are sold as slip-resistant work shoes with an SRC rating, which sounds quite serious. In real life, they’re pretty solid but not magic. On dry indoor floors, tiles, and standard office corridors, I had zero slipping issues. On slightly wet pavements and normal outdoor surfaces, grip was also fine. I tried them deliberately on a wet supermarket-style tile floor (no visible grease, just water) and they held up reasonably well – not skates, but I wouldn’t start sprinting either. They feel safer than normal fashion trainers, for sure.

Where they struggle a bit is on very smooth or oily surfaces. One of the Amazon reviewers mentioned still slipping on decking, and I had a similar experience on a polished stone entrance when it was drizzling. The sole didn’t completely give way, but I did feel it slide more than I’d like. So if you work in a professional kitchen with oil on the floor, or somewhere with constantly wet and polished tiles, I wouldn’t rely solely on these. They’re a good step up from casual trainers, but they don’t turn dangerous floors into safe ones.

For day-to-day work, they perform well. I used them for walking between buildings, standing in meetings, running errands, and doing a fair amount of stair work. The cushioning and slip resistance together make them comfortable and reasonably safe. The cold lining means they’re better suited to autumn/winter or cooler environments; they’re not super breathable like mesh running shoes, but my feet didn’t overheat badly either. After a long day, my socks were a bit warm but not soaked in sweat.

If we talk about effectiveness in the broader sense – comfort + grip + practicality – I’d say they hit a good balance for most service jobs, retail, healthcare, and general work where you need black, grippy, comfortable shoes. They are not safety shoes, so don’t expect toe protection or puncture-resistant soles. They’re also not ideal for serious sports or running despite the “athletic” label; they’re more like comfy walking shoes with a work focus. For their intended use (walking and standing at work, moderate slip resistance, simple look), they get the job done well, but they’re not perfect for extreme conditions.