text: BACKGROUND:  I know Skechers is capable of making good shoes.  My significant other absolutely loves her Skechers Go-Walks.  I used to buy Skechers for my son growing up.  Skechers is supposed to be Nike's latest main competition.  My beloved New Balance 475 shoes were wearing out.  The replacement New Balance did not have the color or price that I wanted.  I tried finding an equivalent, ordered these.    They run larger and half-step sizes are not offered at the top of the size range (normally a 13 works for me, these are oversized even for that) and I couldn't get a half-size in my size. ( Ideally what I needed from them, if they offered it, was Size 12.5.)   Worse is they seem to have no arch support.  Me adding inserts to take up slack and add additional support do not seem to help.  These shoes are extremely well padded on the heel but so much that it almost pushes my whole body posture into a lean forward type position - even if I'm just walking or standing still.  I have to compensate, it's awkward, not comfortable.     SUMMARY:   I hate to say this but for my purposes, these are sloppy shoes, lacking support and agility.   Cosmetically they look &#34;OK&#34; but don't seem to have the quality of construction I have gotten used to with the New Balance shoes.  I will probably grudgingly wear these or obtain some better fitting / looking /construction shoes from another brand.  These Skechers will probably be relegated to gardening / dump run / painting type shoes.  I certainly wanted to like them.     SAVING GRACE?  I could say that the only saving grace for these shoes is, IF you are a &#34;heel striker&#34; with wide feet and you have an extreme sensitivity to impact, these ** might ** be your ticket?  But as far as &#34;steering&#34; your feet and agility - forget it.  They are sloppy boats in that regard.   They are not mega expensive compared to what's out there in Nike, New Balance, etc.    I notice that lately the New Balance shoes that I would be interested in are around $80 - $85.00.    As usual, you get what you pay for.   It's possible there are other models of Skechers in a higher class of shoe design but this purchase has left me ambivalent about trying anything else from this manufacturer.