Skechers Men’s Cottonwood Elks Slip Resistant Shoe
The Skechers Cottonwood shoe is an excellent choice for pilots that are often faced with slippery floors, grease, hydraulic fluid, and environmental obstacles such as snow, ice, and rain. Regularly listed for $75.00, the shoe can often be found on sale for as little as $50.
The leather shoe, with a synthetic sole, is of a relaxed fit with comfortable memory foam bedding. They aren’t the most durable shoe in the world, and will likely only last you a few years, but for the money they are a good value. I have an IPD of 68 wear a size 12 US, and have a fairly standard foot width, and feel the shoes are roomy. They are not light, and perhaps might feel a bit clunky to everyone but the Dutch, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.
The fantastic thing about these shoes is the heel height. Though I am an ace pilot like Tom Cruise, I don’t suffer from his vertical challenges - at 6’ 2", I don’t really need the additional 1" or more that the heel lift kit provides, but this shoe excels at getting me out of the massive puddles that I often have to ford on the backwater ramps of the Carolinas (I’m looking at you New Bern!).
Traipsing about a full inch off the tarmac is a great way to keep your feet dry, because there is nothing worse than having wet socks when you climb into a Citation for a three hour flight at FL430. Your upper torso will roast in the greenhouse that is the Citation cockpit, while your feet will freeze as if there is some DMZ between hot and cold that sits right about at the bottom of the instrument panel. Like the Fast Erect button I’ve often seen in aircraft, I’m convinced the Citation Foot Warmers are not actually hooked up to anything.
The aggressive soles are great for the occasional foray through hydraulic fluids (and as an air ambulance pilot…other…ahem…fluids) but one does have to be mindful of the small gaps in the sub-texturing. The tiny crevasses were designed specifically to pick up the sand and salt mixture that airports spread on their ramps during inclement weather. As you climb into the cockpit, if you have not taken care to kick the door a few times prior to entry, you may find the little devil nuggets dropping onto the keypad of the Universal UNS-1 FMS - which was also designed with keys that have the same gap diameter as the salt/sand nuggets. Needless to say, that crunching sound you hear as you try to depress the keys after they have been liberally sprinkled with salt and sand is the one that avionics technicians hear in their nightmares.
The footbed is very comfortable. I blame it on making me sleepy in the cockpit. I don’t quite feel like I’m floating on air or anything mind you, but they are supremely comfortable. After a few weeks, I shoot mine with a blast of Odor Eaters spray prior to donning and that seems to keep any foot funk at bay forever.
In summary - I highly recommend these shoes.
8.7 / 10