Purchased after abdominal surgery to avoid bending over to tie shoelaces. I continued to use them after the restoration when I found their excellent grip in the snow and mud on my weekday walks between home and work. At one point there's a short, often icy, 45-degree slope where my other shoes can't grip, so I get on all fours or take a stick with me. The approach to this slope is 50 feet of flat, narrow shale that is often slippery from snow, ice, or flowing water. These Skechers have traction