We are back again with another footwear review from Deckers – a brand that is likely unknown to many, but is really rooted in running culture.

“Jean-Luc Diard, Global VP of Innovation for Deckers, and his team are responsible for the creation of DeckersXLab. Jean-Luc has a lifetime of experience in the sport industry. For many years, he was the CEO of Salomon, a leading athletic equipment company, where he devised the brand’s design center and redefined its core identity. Shortly after, he founded a start-up called HOKA ONE ONE. It began with his desire as a runner to have better cushioning and stability through an oversized outsole. The company is now owned by Deckers Brands. Through his passion for outdoor sports, drive for innovation, and endless need for improvement, Jean-Luc started DeckersXLab on a path to change the footwear industry.”

So while most runners may not be dialed into the Deckers world, the running technology and planning the utilize in their more casual footwear line is no stranger to us.

The Deckers Lab brings an additional layer into the design mix.  Here’s s description of the idea they are operating from:

Creativity is the act of combining two things that nobody put together before. Craft perfects the seams in-between.  Done right, the combinational result is not addition. THIS+THAT = THISTHAT. THIS+THAT = SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW. New is why Deckers Lab exists. New must have its own place to fail until it succeeds. And to succeed, new must clear a new bar. New must be:

• Engineered for ultimate performance.
• Designed for everyday ultra comfort and timeless elegance.
• Built for a better and cleaner planet.

And most importantly, it must make something new in you when you put it on.

So here we are with one of the newer releases from the Deckers Lab – the X-SCAPE Sport Low.

First and foremost, this isn’t a running shoe. Though the heritage of running is embedded, this is more of a slipper disguised as a classic sneaker. I have actually worn my Deckers slipper out and about on numerous occasions (a little to the chagrin of my wife), but the X-SCAPE Sport Low really makes that a possibility that my wife will actually approve of.

The shoes are constructed from a perforated suede and “Matryx” upper – which is a stretch mesh. Thus, there is a lot of airflow within the shoes and way more flexibility and stretch than in essentially any other non-running sneaker I have owned. Add in an oversized midsole and Meta-Rocker (we have all heard this terminology before), and you have a really solid option for your feet off of the running routes.

I was too eager to wear these so I didn’t get a fully-clean picture of the sole. Sorry, not sorry!

Conclusion:

Once again, I really love this option from Deckers. What even sets it apart from some of the other styles we have reviewed are that it is more “socially acceptable” in public. Now, I am not about to be constricted by societal expectations of footwear (because, let’s be real, wear whatever makes you happy), but the classic styling visual that the X-SCAPE Sport Low provides really makes this more about the fit and feel than a fashion statement. Couple that with the great fit and comfort within, and you have a shoe that I don’t have much bad to say about.

These shoes are made in a factory that supports women in the supply chain with the help of HERproject, a collaborative initiative that creates partnerships with brands to empower and educate women in the workplace.

The X-SCAPE Sport Low comes in three color stylings: Blanc-Light Grey (pictured & reviewed), Black-Fluo, and Grey-Black. Women’s versions are also available in two colorways.

Company:

• Deckers Lab

Shoe & Price:

• X-SCAPE Sport Low ($140)

Features:

• 6mm drop
• 17-23mm stack height
• Anatomic, gender specific medium width performance running last
• Streamlined perforated foam and mesh adjusting fit tongue and vamp
• Perforated EcoTan nubuck leather
• Matryx ® mid-foot panel for strong foothold
• Removable ergonomic Contoura® insole with silky soft textile top sole
• PFC-free durable water repellant treatment
• Ultra-thin, high-abrasion rubber outsole
• Xponent HD midsole: Ultralight PU foam wrapped in protective TPU

Run Oregon sometimes receives running shoes and gear to test. We post our honest impressions with the intention of helping you determine if a product will be right for you. Learn more about how Run Oregon conducts reviews through our transparency page.