Skechers Women's Summits 12980 Sneaker Review: lightweight slip-ons that feel like soft slippers

I’ve been wearing the Skechers Women’s Summits 12980 in White Mesh Silver Trim for a few weeks now, mainly for walking the dog, quick trips to the shop, and just general everyday use. I’m not a runner, I just wanted something easy to slip on that wouldn’t wreck my feet by the end of the day. I’ve used Skechers before, so I had a rough idea of what to expect, but this specific Summits model surprised me in a couple of ways.

The first thing I noticed is how light they are. When you pick them up, they almost feel a bit cheap because there’s so little weight, but once they’re on your feet that lightness is actually the main benefit. No dragging feeling, no stiff sole to break in. It feels more like a sporty slipper than a traditional trainer. For walking around town or standing in the kitchen for a while, that’s pretty nice.

I used them mostly on pavements and in the supermarket, plus a few longer walks of about 5–6 km on mixed paths. I also tried them for a short gym session on the treadmill and some light strength work, just to see how they behave when you’re moving a bit faster. They handled that fine, but you can tell they’re really built more for walking than proper training.

Overall, my first impression is pretty simple: they’re comfortable and easy to live with, but they’re not magic shoes. If you expect strong support or something that feels very structured, you might find them a bit too soft and basic. If you just want slip-on comfort for everyday walking and don’t mind the very casual look, they do the job well.

On value, these sit in that mid-range zone where you’re not paying premium brand running-shoe prices, but they’re not bargain-basement either. Considering the comfort, the slip-on convenience, and the brand reputation, I’d say the price is fair, especially if you catch them on offer, which happens quite often with Skechers. The Amazon rating around 4.5/5 with a huge number of reviews lines up with my feeling: most people are happy because they’re comfortable and easy to wear.

What you’re paying for here is mainly the Memory Foam comfort, the lightweight build, and the hassle-free slip-on design. You’re not paying for high-tech support, fancy materials, or trendy looks. If your main goal is a shoe that you can put on quickly, walk around in all day without pain, and throw in the washing machine when it gets grubby, then the price makes sense. Compared to some other brands’ slip-on trainers, these are often cheaper and at least as comfortable, sometimes more.

On the downside, the durability question does affect value. If you chew through mesh shoes quickly, you might find yourself replacing these sooner than a more robust leather or hybrid trainer. Also, they’re quite specific: they’re for walking and casual wear, not for everything. If you want one pair to cover running, gym, hiking, and style, you’ll feel limited and might end up buying another pair anyway. In that case, the overall value goes down because they only cover a narrow use case.

For me, as a dedicated walking and everyday pair, the value is pretty solid. They’re not cheap throwaways, but they’re not overpriced for what they offer. If comfort and convenience are at the top of your list and you accept that you’re not getting high-end support or heavy-duty durability, you’ll probably feel you got your money’s worth.

Design-wise, the Summits 12980 is very much a casual walking shoe. The profile is quite slim and low, so it doesn’t look bulky on the foot. I liked that, because some trainers make my feet look like boats. Here the shape is more tapered, which makes them look a bit neater with jeans or leggings. The white mesh with silver trim keeps it neutral enough to wear with pretty much anything, though it definitely leans more "gym" than "streetwear" style.

The upper is a single piece of soft mesh with minimal overlays. That keeps the shoe flexible but also means there’s not a lot of structure around the midfoot or toe. If you like a firm toe box or strong side support, you might find them a bit floppy. The bungee laces are purely elastic; they don’t really tighten like normal laces. They mainly help hold the shoe on your foot rather than lock it down tightly. For walking and day-to-day stuff, that’s fine, but I wouldn’t trust this design for serious lateral movements or sports with quick direction changes.

One thing I did notice is that the heel collar is fairly low and soft. That makes it very easy to slip on without using your hands much, which I liked. On the flip side, because the heel is so flexible, if you’re rough when putting them on you can crush the back. I had to remind myself not to just shove my foot in too fast. There’s a pull tab at the back which helps a bit, but it’s not super rigid.

In terms of looks, there’s nothing fancy going on: no big logos, no shiny bits apart from a small silver detail. It’s a clean, basic trainer. If you want something that screams "fashion", this isn’t it. But if you’re after a low-key shoe that doesn’t draw attention and just blends in, the design does that well. For me, it’s decent: simple, practical, but not something I’d wear to dress up an outfit.

Comfort is where these trainers do well. The first time I put them on, there was no break-in at all. The mesh upper flexes with the foot, and the Memory Foam insole gives that "sink-in" feel straight away. If you like a firm, responsive feel underfoot, you probably won’t enjoy this. It’s more like walking on a soft mat. For slow to moderate walking, standing, or wearing them around the house and town, that softness feels pretty good.

I wore them for a few 5–6 km walks. My feet didn’t get hot spots or blisters, and the heel didn’t rub. The cushioning is moderate, as advertised – enough to keep hard pavements from feeling harsh, but not so thick that you feel like you’re wearing platform shoes. That said, the Memory Foam does compress a bit during longer walks. By the end of a longer outing, you feel less bounce and more of the underlying sole. It’s not painful, just less cushy than when you first set off. People with heavier builds or foot issues might notice that more.

The fit is snug but forgiving thanks to the stretch of the mesh and the bungee laces. If you have average-width feet, it’s comfortable. If you have very wide feet or strong bunions, the soft upper will stretch a bit, but there’s a limit. I’d call the fit standard rather than wide. There’s no serious arch support built in – it’s pretty neutral. If you rely on orthotics or need strong support for plantar fasciitis, you’ll probably want to swap in your own insoles. The included Memory Foam is comfy, but it’s not a medical solution.

Ventilation is decent. On cooler days, my feet felt comfortable. On a warmer, slightly humid day, I could feel a bit of warmth build up, but nothing extreme. The mesh helps, but since the shoe hugs the foot, it’s not as airy as something with more open structure. Overall, I’d say comfort is the main selling point here: easy to slip on, soft underfoot, zero break-in, but with the trade-off of less support and a slightly squishy feel over long distances.

The materials are pretty much what you’d expect from a lightweight Skechers walking shoe. The upper is 100% textile mesh, quite thin and very flexible. That’s good for breathability and comfort, but you can feel that it’s not a heavy-duty fabric. If you catch it on something sharp or drag it along rough surfaces, I doubt it would hold up well. For regular urban use, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t take these on rough trails or anywhere with a lot of mud and branches.

Inside, the lining is also textile and feels soft against the foot. There’s no rough stitching rubbing against the heel or toes, at least not in my pair. The insole is the usual Skechers Memory Foam. It’s soft to the touch, slightly squishy when you press down with your fingers. Under that, you’ve got a lightweight, shock-absorbing midsole. It’s not a thick, high-performance foam like in some running shoes, but it does give a bit of cushion. The outsole is rubber with a fairly simple traction pattern. On dry pavements and indoor floors, it grips well enough. On wet tiles, it was okay but I wouldn’t run around corners in them.

Because the shoe is machine washable, it’s clear Skechers didn’t load it with delicate materials. That’s a plus in my book: these are shoes you can throw in the wash after they get grimy without stressing about ruining leather or fancy overlays. Just be realistic – the mesh will eventually show wear, and white mesh will stain if you don’t clean it regularly. I noticed after a couple of rainy walks, some light marks already started to appear around the toe area.

Overall, the materials are functional and lightweight, not premium. They match the price and the intended use: everyday walking and casual wear. If you’re rough on your shoes or expect heavy reinforcement and thick rubber, this won’t be enough. But if you want something soft, breathable, and easy to clean, the material choice makes sense.

On durability, I obviously can’t comment on years of use, but after a few weeks of regular wear I can at least talk about early signs. The outsole rubber shows minimal wear so far, which is normal for this time frame. The tread pattern is still sharp, and there are no chunks peeling off or anything odd. The midsole hasn’t creased too badly yet, though there is a bit of visible compression where I land most heavily. That’s expected with softer foams and Memory Foam insoles.

The upper is where I have a few doubts long-term. The mesh is soft and comfortable, but you can tell it’s not the toughest material. After a couple of weeks, I noticed some very small signs of stretching around the toe box where my big toe pushes. Nothing dramatic, but you can see the fabric shaping to the foot. If you’re someone who is rough on shoes or tends to drag your toes, I’d expect this mesh to wear faster than a leather or thicker synthetic upper. Also, with the white colour, any scuffs or dirt show up right away. You’ll be cleaning these fairly often if you care about looks.

The bungee laces and elastic parts seem okay so far – no fraying or loss of elasticity yet. Usually with this kind of system, the weak point is when the elastic starts to loosen over time and the shoe no longer holds the foot well. I can’t say if that will happen here, but given how soft everything else is, I wouldn’t be shocked if the hold gets a bit looser after heavy use. The stitching looks neat and consistent, no loose threads on my pair.

Overall, I’d rate durability as acceptable for the price and type of shoe, but not outstanding. If you rotate them with other pairs and mainly use them on pavements and indoors, they should last a reasonable amount of time. If you plan to wear them every single day, in all weather, and on rough surfaces, don’t expect miracles. They’re lightweight walking trainers, not work boots.

In terms of performance, I mainly used these for three things: daily walking (pavement and park paths), light gym sessions, and just standing or moving around at home. For walking, they do the job. The lightweight build means your legs don’t feel tired from lifting heavy shoes, and the moderate cushioning smooths out impact on concrete. On dry surfaces, grip was solid – no slipping on pavements or in the supermarket. On slightly wet ground, they were still okay, but I didn’t push it on very smooth wet tiles.

For the gym, I tried them on the treadmill and for some light strength work – squats, lunges, and a bit of upper body stuff. They were fine for treadmill walking and light jogging, but you can feel that the upper doesn’t hold the foot very firmly. When doing side-to-side moves or anything that needs strong stability, the foot can slide a bit inside the shoe because of the soft mesh and bungee laces. So I’d say they’re acceptable for casual gym visits, but not ideal if you do serious training or classes with a lot of quick direction changes.

One thing I paid attention to was how my feet felt after a full day. I wore them from morning to evening on a busy day with a lot of errands. By the end of the day, my feet were a bit tired, but not sore. The softness is nice, but because there’s not a lot of structure or arch support, your feet do more of the work. If you’re used to shoes with strong support, you might feel that difference. On the other hand, if your priority is just not having hard, rigid soles, these feel pretty kind to your joints.

So in practice, performance is good for walking, casual use, and light exercise, but limited for anything more demanding. They’re not running shoes, not cross-trainers, and definitely not built for hiking. If you stick to what they’re marketed for – walking and daily wear – they behave as expected and stay comfortable. Just don’t buy them expecting them to cover every sport and activity.

Out of the box, it’s very straightforward. Standard Skechers cardboard box, tissue paper, no fancy extras or accessories. The shoes come pre-laced with the elastic bungee system, so there’s nothing to adjust in terms of classic laces. You literally pull them out and put them on. For a pair of daily trainers, that’s all I really expect anyway. The packaging is basic but functional, nothing wasteful beyond the usual cardboard and paper.

The pair I tried is the White Mesh with Silver Trim, in UK size 6. The colour is a clean white, more bright than off-white, with a small silver detail that stays quite discreet. It looks sporty but not flashy. This colour will obviously show dirt quickly, so if you’re someone who hates cleaning shoes, keep that in mind. On the plus side, they are machine washable, which is a big help with white mesh. I haven’t thrown them into the machine yet, but I’ve done it with other Skechers models and they survived fine on a gentle cycle.

In terms of fit out of the box, they felt true to size for me. Some reviewers say they size down half a size because Skechers can run a bit large. In my case, my usual size 6 felt snug but not tight, more like a sock fit. If you’re between two sizes or like to wear thick socks, I’d say don’t size down. The bungee closure doesn’t allow for big adjustments, so better to have a bit of room than too little.

Overall presentation is simple: one pair of lightweight slip-on trainers, no extras, no over-complicated stuff. It matches the price point and the use case. You’re clearly buying comfort and convenience here, not a premium unboxing experience or a fancy lifestyle product.