Historically speaking, Skechers isn’t exactly what you’d call a “cool” brand. The American shoemaker specializes in the kind of sneakers you buy when your knees start making noise. The kind of sneakers your old man buys after a very long walk. comfortable? Absolutely. Promoted? Not so much. And yet, here we are, in the middle of the World Cup, talking about Skechers football boots selling out. Many thanks to Harry Kane. (And OG Anunoby.)
The England captain first signed with Skechers in 2023, ending a relationship with Nike that lasted more than a decade. At the time, it felt like one of the most unexpected moves in football boot history. After all, it’s not every day that a global superstar breaks up with the Swoosh.
Suddenly, Skechers found itself competing with brands that had spent decades dominating football’s biggest stages. The company opened the SKX line with the Kane, starting with the SKX1.
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“When it comes to Harry Kane’s Skechers boot, the first thing to admire is Skechers itself,” says Francesco Mele, founder of Harry Kane. boots club. “Although the brand has only recently entered the football market, it has made remarkable progress in a very short time. Today, its products can confidently compete with some of the most prestigious football boot brands – companies that have spent decades building their reputations at the top of the game.”
The SKX 1 was quickly followed by the SKX 2, now infused with FitKnit to actually hold your foot in place. The straps are strategically placed so they are more ergonomic. The toebox features a “PSC” texture for added grip. (They also come in hot pinkToo.) Basically, they’ve earned a reputation as one of the most comfortable shoes in the game — a quality that sounds just as good. Very Skechers. Then came the biggest shop window in football.
Every single Harry Kane goal at the World Cup basically doubles as an advertisement. With billions of people watching and England making another (hopefully) deep run into the knockout stages, people have not only taken notice of the shoes, they’ve started looking for them.
During the tournament, demand for Ken’s SKX 2 increased slightly. At the start of the World Cup, many retailers still had full-size runs available. A few weeks later, several of those pairs disappeared.
