Skechers entered the elite football boot market at the beginning of the 2023/24 season with the SKX_01, before then introducing the Razor as its 'speed' boot.
The American brand's original Razor has been well received, with Anthony Elanga, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Kudus all players who now wear - and perform at the highest level - in them. Lightweight, responsive and featuring a soleplate with aggressive traction, the original Skechers Razor offered many the features that you would want and expect from a boot in the speed category, but with the added comfort that Skechers is so famous for.
A little under a year on, the brand has made the decision to subtly update the boot with relatively small tweaks to a few areas. I tried a pair in FG to see whether these changes improve what was already a very good football boot.
Skechers Razor Elite review
The launch version of Skechers Razor was one of the most comfortable football boots on the market that also provided a lightweight feel, with the brand clearly leaning into this massive part of its reputation and putting it at the centre of its boot range.
Comprised of a wonderfully soft material, the main component of this comfort came from the forefoot, which required no break in time to feel plush and flexible. Unsurprisingly, the feel of this part of the boot remains largely unchanged but has been made even softer out of the box.
Other areas have also been improved. There's a little less cushioning in the heel area, which will be music to some people's ears. While that sounds counterproductive, some people did suffer from blisters in the launch version of the Razor due to the extra material. I personally had no problems, but did notice there being a slightly bulky feel.
The knit collar at the opening of the boot has also been updated. This is now slightly flatter, making putting the boots on easier and allowing for the knit to better hug your foot. Aside from this, the boot remains the same as with the launch - which is by no means a bad thing.
However, Skechers still do not offer an AG or SG option for the boot – the former being the most disappointing given most casual players play primarily on artificial surfaces. Looking for the best football boots for astro turf can often be difficult, so the lack of adaptability Skechers has in producing a suitable version for artificial grass is a concern.
That's because the soleplate on the Razor is very aggressive, making them completely unsuitable for anything other than firm ground due to the increased risk of injury. For me, that's a major shame, because the Skechers Razor is not only one of the best lightweight football boots, but also one of the best football boots in general.
I find them more comfortable, accomodating and a slightly cheaper alternative to the best football boots for speed from the bigger brands, so the lack of an AG option is something that Skechers will undoubtedly address at some point. It's worth noting that this negative does not necessarily take away from the boots themselves, either.
It's clear, though, that Skechers are here to stay in the football boot market, and if models like the Razor are anything to go by then that is a very good thing. I am a big fan of when brands build on pairs that do the right things rather than constantly overhauling and the subtle changes made to the launch version of the Razor serve to make a good boot even better.
Comfort in a football boot is one of the few aspects that is demanded by everyone and being able to marry this level of it with the demands of the highest tech category in boots (speed) makes the Skechers Razor one of the best boots of its type currently available.
