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Saturday, August 21, 2021

Skechers GOrun MaxRoad 5 Multiple Tester Review

Skechers GOrun MaxRoad 5 Multiple Tester Review
By
Chief Editor/Founder Matthew Klein, Contributor David Salas, and Guest Reviewer Megan Flynn


The Skechers GOrun Maxroad series has been one of the lighter max cushioned training shoes on the market for some time. A great option for those wanting a ton of cushioning without the weight, this has been a popular shoe for those not needing a stable ride and wanting something highly flexible. The challenge with having a tall stack height, a high level of flexibility and very soft cushioning meant that version 4 was inherently unstable. Skechers returned with drastic changes for Version 5. These include an H plate in the forefoot/midfoot and a redesigned upper for comfort, width and security. The changes go a long way, making for a versatile lightweight / performance trainer on the road. 

Baby blue pair of Skechers Maxroad 5 on the road
Baby blue pair of Skechers Maxroad 5 on the road

Specifications for the Skechers Maxroad 5 (per Running Warehouse -Price:  $129.95)
Weight:  8.7 oz / 247 g (men's size 9)  6.8 oz / 192 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 39 mm heel, 33 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Classification: Max Cushion Neutral Daily Trainer

Rear portion of the Skechers Maxroad 5. S on heel. Bright blue.
Rear portion of the Skechers Maxroad 5. S on heel. Bright blue upper with a red midline on top of foam.

RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY

Matt: The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 returns with a new carbon infused H-plate and a completely redone upper. Featuring a far more stable and snappy ride compared to previous, this Maxroad 5 should be accessible for a larger group of people. The maximal HYPERBURST stack height combined with the new plate provide a solid level of responsiveness that works for daily training and long workouts. The upper fits more typical to a Skechers shoe with a wider forefoot, more volume and a stretchy but secure mono mesh. The Maxroad 5 evolves into combination lightweight / performance trainer that can now handle daily training, workouts and will excel at long races including the marathon and beyond on the road. 

David: The Skechers MaxRoad 5 takes the design of the prior version and reimagines it to improve forefoot stability and responsiveness along with improved lockdown of the upper. The shoe features a carbon infused H plate in the forefoot that does seem to help with stability from the previous version and give it a more responsive toe off. The shoe definitely can be used for more than just recovery days now and the shoe can handle a little bit of uptempo paces as well.

Megan: The MaxRoad 5 is a great option as a neutral daily trainer for regular runs and could even be a good option for some tempo workouts and pick-ups. The hyperburst cushioning provides a combination of high-cushioning and responsiveness while maintaining its light-weight feature. The combination of the newly added H-plate and the HYPER ARC technology serves to increase efficiency throughout each stride, especially when transitioning from midfoot to push-off. Thanks to the Goodyear rubber technology in the outsole, this shoe has impeccable traction and durability, making it an excellent choice for almost all weather conditions.

Padded heel of the Maxroad 5
Looking down at moderately padded heel of the Maxroad 5. Skechers Run seen on tongue.
FIT (LENGTH / WIDTH / COMFORT)

Matt: The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The width through the length of the Maxroad 5 is slightly on the performance side. The heel and midfoot are a hair snug with a little extra room in the forefoot/toebox. There is more volume in the shoe than the previous version and overall has a more trainer like fit. Despite that, the laces work very well with the upper if you want to tighten them down more.

The upper is a mono mesh with perforations that provide some degree of breathability. Upon this mono mesh sits soft overlays from the heel into the forefoot that provide a surprising amount of structure to the medial and lateral aspects of the upper. This dramatically changes the upper from previous by locking down the entire upper far better. Turning is not a problem here despite no rigid reinforcements. I also did not have to lace lock this shoe at all, even when I used them for uptempo work. There is a flexible heel counter in the rearfoot that I can barely feel. Those with sensitive heel bones will have no trouble here. There is a very light toe guard that I almost didn't notice.

I have worn this shoe sockless for a third of my mileage and have had no problems. The inner liner is extremely comfortable and I have had no blister issues even running in the heat. Overall the upper has some unique elements that make it comfortable and secure, with a trainer like design with performance elements. 

David: The Skechers GOrun MaxRoad 5 fits true to size in my normal 9.5. The width through the heel and midfoot is narrow and the toe box is normal to slightly wide. The upper has a similar construction of that in the GOrun Ride 9 and significantly improves the hold and reinforcement in the midfoot. There is a really small heel counter present but only in the bottom third of the heel. The rest is reinforced with a plush material in the heel. The engineered mesh is relatively lightweight and breathable and does have some overlays sprinkled throughout along the medial and lateral side that help give a little more structure. Overall the fit is quite nice throughout and feels like a nice construction for a daily trainer. The tongue is lightly padded but leans more towards a performance type tongue. There is a toe guard and an inner lining that also wrap medially and laterally that gives the foot a nice hold throughout with using a sidewall in the midsole.

Megan: The Skechers MaxRoad 5 fits true to size in terms of length and width. Upon putting them on and even just walking around, the cushioning was noticeable immediately throughout the whole shoe – rearfoot to forefoot. Another noticeable quality when just walking around in them was the added structure to the midsole. I attributed this to the presence of the carbon-infused, nylon H-plate which adds stability to an otherwise very cushioned shoe. After running ~80 miles in them prior to writing this review, I can say that they have maintained their comfort and responsiveness. I was also surprised how well the hyperburst foam held up as I added miles on the shoes – at nearly 100 miles, the shoes felt just as cushioned as the first few runs and only showed minor breakdown on the outsole.

The toebox was very spacious allowing for plenty of motion in the forefoot. The heel cup is moderately rigid, however has a substantial amount of cushioning on the interior of the heel, allowing for a comfortable fit at the heel/Achilles. The midfoot was snug, but thanks to the flexible mesh upper and elastic laces, it did not limit the natural movement in the midfoot during the landing and loading phases. Skechers nailed the upper on these shoes. With very light and breathable qualities, it is also flexible enough to move with the foot throughout gait which improves the overall comfort of the shoe. With very mild padding closest to the ankle, the tongue was very thin, not noticeable, and transitioned well into the rest of the upper.

Direct rear of the Skechers Maxroad 5
Direct rear of the Skechers Maxroad 5. Stripes seen going diagonally into the center where the pull tab is.

PERFORMANCE (RIDE / SPEED)

Matt: The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 continues to use a high amount of HYPERBURST foam on top of a highly flexible, popular sole. The biggest change is the addition of an carbon infused H-plate in the forefoot. Despite the large amount of HYPERBURST, the ride is firmer than previous, but still on the soft side. This is particularly noticeable in the forefoot, while the heel still continues to be soft. The addition of a little more firmness allows the GOrun Maxroad 5 to continue to be used as a daily trainer, albeit one that is more stable and will work for more people. However, the additional firmness in forefoot makes the ride far more snappy and suitable for uptempo running. There is a significant heel bevel in the rearfoot that transitions the runner forward quickly. Despite the deep flex grooves, the forefoot is somewhat stiff and rolls you forward through the mild toe spring. As the shoe breaks in, it is easy to find a rhythm, but the ride does not feel artificially rockered.

I have used the GOrun Maxroad 5 primarily for longer runs, daily miles and longer uptempo runs. While it can handle fartleks, tempos and some intervals, it functions far better holding a steady pace for a long time. My initial impression of the Maxroad 5 was that it would be an excellent choice as a road ultramarathon racing or training shoe. That thought has continued as I have put almost 50 miles on my pair. The plate is not the most aggressive, but adds stability and snappiness to the sole. The amount of cushion underfoot and rockered heel keep the feet decently cushioned and protected over high mileage. These really shine at longer distances and those interested running these unique events may want to check this shoe out for both longer racing and training needs.

Durability has been far better than any Skechers shoe I have tried recently. The outsole has thick Goodyear pods on them, which are holding up very well as they continue to protect the HYPERBURST midsole. I expect a high number of miles out of these for a lightweight trainer, although time will tell how durable the pods on the outsole are. 

David: The Skechers GOrun MaxRoad 5 definitely comes more alive in the new model. The midsole remains the same using the supercritical EVA hyperburst foam and the pod design to the outsole. The new feature is the H plate in the forefoot. This firms up the platform through the midline of the shoe and then through the medial and lateral aspect through the forefoot. This is noticeable throughout the ride. Even though there is the H plate there is still some flexibility through the forefoot that helps give some snappiness at the toe off. The shoe still rides better at easy paces and at daily paces for me, but can handle a little bit of uptempo work in the new model. The ride is still pretty soft throughout but gives a little bit more ground feel and stability thanks to the plate.

Those that a hard time with this model in the past because of the instability in that region might do better with the new model for it rides a tad firmer and more stable throughout. The shoe does have a pretty sharp heel bevel to it that transitions into the midfoot really quickly so for those that like to a have a solid heel contact may have a little bit of hard time with the initial contact of this shoe as well. Otherwise the shoe actually transitions pretty nicely and has a balance of flexibility and rigidity throughout where I found the older models to be overly flexible upon impact.

Megan: As someone who has never run in a pair of Skechers prior to the MaxRoad 5’s, I was thoroughly impressed with the comfort, responsiveness, and durability of these shoes. This is also my first pair of trainers with an H plate in the midsole, in general. Upon trying them on and just walking around, the HYPER ARC and H plate felt noticeable which led to some concerns prior to running in them. However, during the first run I noticed that the combination of these two features led to an extremely comfortable and bouncy ride. The Hyper Arc technology forced me to land more toward the midfoot (as opposed to my natural rearfoot strike) which was clear by the wear on the outsole toward the end of testing.

Adding some stability/structure to the shoe, the H plate also promoted a quick transition from midfoot to push-off, adding to the overall responsiveness. The combination of the H-plate with the hyperburst foam was an excellent balance of cushioning and stability/structure. Throwing in a few pick-ups during my runs, these shoes proved to be able to handle some speed and could even be a good option for tempos/longer workouts. A key feature to the outsole of the MaxRoad 5’s is the Goodyear rubber pods, allowing for high levels of traction and durability. The outsole of the MaxRoad 5s makes this shoe a great choice in most conditions (rain or shine) on the roads.

Lateral view of the bright blue Skechers Maxroad 5. S logo on heel.
Lateral view of the bright blue Skechers Maxroad 5. S logo on heel. Large Hyperburst foam seen, with indents showing pods udner.

STABILITY 

Matt: The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 is a neutral shoe. While version 4 was one of the more unstable shoes I have tried, version 5 remedies this somewhat with the addition of a plate. The stack height is extremely high (39mm/33mm), while featuring a wider heel and forefoot. The heel features a significant bevel and outsole flare. However, the midfoot narrows and the amount of HYPERBURST creates such a soft ride that both the stable and unstable features really neutralize each other. The upper provides great subtle stability through the overlays on the medial and lateral sides of the foot. This provide subtle guidance on top, but the bottom sits in the middle. So it is certainly more stable that version 4, but sits squarely in the neutral category due to some competing features. 

David: Being a neutral shoe the MaxRoad 5 doesn't focus on stability measures but it is a step up from the previous model. Before the high stack and softer midsole would feel pretty unstable due to the pod design and increased flexibility throughout... but this is much less noticeable in the new version. The H plate does a good job of stabilizing the latter midfoot and forefoot transitions and helps provide some snappiness to the shoe. The upper also provides a better fit throughout and the lockdown helps keep the foot on the platform nicer through the transition points. Don't get me wrong the stability still isn't great and those that have problems with softer shoes and high stack heights may still have a little bit of a hard time, but it is still better than the previous models and provides decent stability for a shoe with this design.

Megan: For the amount of cushioning and flexibility the MaxRoad 5s have, the shoe felt relatively stable; however I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for anyone looking for stability in a shoe. The sole reason it feels stable in any way is probably all thanks to the H plate which provides some added stability through the midsole of the shoe, specifically in the forefoot. Conversely, the midfoot of the shoe is on the narrow side, taking away from the level of overall stability. That being said, the shoe places a bit more of a demand on the midfoot stabilizing structures. The outsole of the shoe was fairly flexible and compliant. The midsole was flexible, with some rigidity closer to the forefoot where the H plate crosses/meets.

One of my main concerns was how quickly the foam would break down. After putting ~80 miles on the shoes, I was pleasantly surprised to notice only minimal wear & tear on the foam and barely noticed any breakdown. Overall, considering this is a max cushioned shoe, Skechers did a good job adding some stability components to the MaxRoad 5 without taking away from the lightweight quality of the shoe.

Pod outsole of the Maxroad 5 with Goodyear rubber
Pod outsole (blue on forefoot and heel, red on midfoot) of the Maxroad 5 with Goodyear rubber

H PLATE DISCUSSION

Megan: The Skechers Maxroad 5s had some big changes from the MaxRoad 4/4+ including a more breathable mesh upper and the addition of an H plate to the midsole. An impressive part about these additions is that the designers managed to make the shoe slightly lighter. The efficiency that the hyperarc technology and the H plate combination created brings this shoe to a different level of comfort and responsiveness.

Prior to testing these shoes, I had never run in a shoe with an H plate – only the full-fledged carbon-fiber plate in the Nike Next% and Saucony Endorphin Pros. I wanted to dive deeper into what the H plate actually is, the purpose of an H plate, and its effects on the biomechanics of the foot during running. To paint a picture of the H-plate in the MaxRoad 5s: the plate is made up of two separate L-shaped plates (picture one of them being a mirror-image of the other) which run along the medial and lateral side of the shoe from the midfoot to the forefoot. The plates cross at the forefoot and overlap in the middle. The crossing of the plates at the forefoot provides some stability and structure which helps to speed the transition from midfoot to push-off. The wings of the plate travel along the first and 5th metatarsal which is where most of the forefoot motion occurs. Essentially, the “transition” I’m referring to is going from a pronated position (midstance) to a supinated position (at push-off). By being able to have a bit more rigidity in the forefoot, it allows for a quicker transition to a supinated position and therefore a quicker propulsion/push-off. In combination with the arc of the outsole, this results in the responsiveness and snappier feel of the shoe.

Women's version of the Maxroad 5 in hand
Women's purple upper version of the Maxroad 5 in hand

THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE


Matt: This is a clear example of how plates can create stability. While their impact on performance is debated, they certainly can stiffen the midsole (Healey & Hoogkamer, 2021; Mcleod et al., 2020). The previous version was so unstable that I had an incredibly difficult time getting miles on them. The more traditional last (shape) combined with deep flex grooves (high level of flexibility) and the soft HYPERBURST created a highly flexible and unstable platform. Normally, when you have a shoe that has this much stack height and a foam this soft, ie a maximal shoe design, it would be designed with a wide platform with medial and lateral sole flare and the sole will be heavily rockered. The Maxroad is rockered, but it still has a high level of flexibility because there are such deep flex grooves cut into the midsole. The deep flex grooves are so deep that they actually negated the need for toe spring in the last model. In the current v5, the Maxroad needs the toe spring as the plate stiffens up the forefoot significantly. This is almost to the point that those forward flex grooves are not necessary.

Forefoot of the men's Maxroad 5
Standard size forefoot of the men's Maxroad 5

Designing maximal stack height shoes can be challenging if you deviate from the norms. The extremely high stack height is inherently unstable. The higher you are off the ground with a similar base, the less stable you are. This is compensated for with the extremely wide platforms seen in most maximal shoes. The more surface area, ground contact and midsole width, the more inherently stable a shoe is (which is why we always reprimand people for narrow midfoot designs). Maximal stack height shoes are also sometimes softer than more traditional shoes. The excessive amount of foam leads to a high level of compression, creating the potential for increased softness underfoot. This varies of course on the midsole compound used and a few other factors. One way to compensate for this in most maximal shoes is to have the foot sit down in the midsole. This means that the midsole comes up around the foot and cups it usually in the heel to the midfoot. The foot sitting down in the platform improves lockdown and create inherent guidance as the foot will face resistance trying to roll into these walls. This, along with the wider platform, creates more natural stability that offsets what would normally happy running in shoes with this much foam underfoot.

Maxroad 4+ and 5 side by side. More padding on Maxroad 5
Skechers delivers a more robust upper compared to the prior model seen here

The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 4 and 5 deviate from the norms of this design as the midsole shape is very traditional and the foot does not sit down into the midsole. There is still some midsole flare at the heel and forefoot, but the midfoot is fairly narrow for such a high stack shoe. The addition of a plate greatly improves the stability by stiffening the sole of an otherwise very soft and flexible shoe. This simple addition creates a drastically different ride from version 4. Whether or not the plate makes the Maxroad 5 "faster" is up for debate. Some people, like myself, will do better with the stiffer sole. Others will not like this and will do better in version 4. We know that different people respond best to different levels of stiffness, with some seeing efficiency improvements with more stiff rides and others seeing improvements with more flexible rides (Mcleod et al., 2020). The opposite can also occur, with those who do better in stiff rides seeing decreased efficiency with more flexible rides and vice versa. In this case however, the plate greatly adds stability, creating a more balanced platform despite some non-traditional designs for a maximal shoe.

References

Healey, L. A., & Hoogkamer, W. (2021). Longitudinal bending stiffness does not affect running economy in Nike Vaporfly Shoes. 
Journal of Sport and Health Science, S2095-2546(21)00073-9. Advance online publication.


McLeod, A. R., Bruening, D., Johnson, A. W.,
Ward, J., & Hunter, I. (2020). Improving running economy through altered shoe bending stiffness across speeds. Footwear Science12(2), 79-89.

Medial view of women's purple Maxroad 5
Front medial view of women's purple Maxroad 5

RECOMMENDATIONS

Matt: My major recommendations for the Maxroad 5 focuses on the sole and the flex grooves. To further improve stability, I would encourage Skechers Performance to get rid of the flex grooves and go with a more traditional maximal shoe design. The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 3 Ultra is still my absolute favorite of this entire series. It was a large shoe, but actually weighed less (8.2 oz) than the current version 5. The HYPERBURST foam is light enough that if combined with a similar design, would create some inherent stability due to the wide base. Combine that with a plate and you may have a fantastic road ultramarathon shoe. So my suggestion is, design the Maxroad 6 with a more traditional maximal midsole shape. 

David: The MaxRoad 5 is definitely a step in the right direction. I really like what they did with the upper and would like for them to reconsider the sole design specifically in the rearfoot. With how soft the foam is it will naturally have a good amount of compression on impact. The shoe however has a very large heel bevel and the transition to the midfoot is very quick. Because of the decompression of the foam and large bevel the midfoot can actually feel a little bit like a speed bump when landing harder on the heel. If you naturally have a lighter on foot heel strike or midfoot/forefoot the transition will feel much nicer.

Megan: The MaxRoad 5s were quite possibly one of the most unique shoes I have ever run in, being comfortable, responsive, and lightweight. I was able to test them out on various types of runs including short easy miles, long progressive runs, and even on some strides/pickups. The only area of improvement for the next model of this shoe could be increasing the midfoot width. This could open up this shoe as an option for many more runners who need just a little bit more stability than the MaxRoad 5s offer.

Medial view of Men's maxroad 5
Medial view of Men's maxroad 5. Stripes weaving up and down from heel, tapering into the midfoot.

WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)

Matt: The Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 is a high stack height, soft, somewhat flexible plated neutral training / performance shoe for long road miles. The H plate addition adds some rigidity in the forefoot, improving stability and allowing the shoe to handle more uptempo paces. The upper is extremely comfortable, fitting more like a trainer and providing plenty of room to accommodate any swelling occurring during longer road races. The durability was also dramatically improved, despite the sole remaining soft. For those who want a softer, snappier shoe for recovery runs and daily training with the option to pick up the pace for lighter workouts or ultramarathon events, the Skechers GOrun Maxroad 5 should be on your try on list. 

David: The MaxRoad 5 is a high stack neutral training shoe for those that like a large amount of cushion with decent flexibility throughout the midsole. The H plate does add a skosh of responsiveness in the forefoot along with some rigidity and makes the shoe a little more versatile at different paces. The shoe certainly does better on road conditions so those looking to log long miles on the road at recovery and daily paces this could be a shoe worth looking into.

Megan: This shoe is an excellent choice for someone looking for a lightweight, cushioned trainer. It can be used to log easy recovery miles, on longer runs, and even on some tempo workouts. Because of the responsiveness and comfort over longer distances, I could see this shoe being a good option for a marathon for someone who is looking for a less aggressive shoe than a full carbon-plated shoe. I would not recommend this shoe for someone who needs some extra midfoot stability as the Maxroad 5s have a relatively narrow midfoot. Also, as mentioned above, I would not recommend wearing this shoe for any duration of walking due to the hyperarc technology and the H- plate.


pair of maxroad 5 on the road. heel seen of the initial pair
Pair of maxroad 5 on the road. Heel seen of the initial pair with pull tab sticking out. Background pair seen from lateral side.

GRADING (SHOE CATEGORY)

Matt
Fit: A (Comfortable, well fitting upper that is somewhat stretchy while being slightly structured from soft overlays. )
Performance: B+
(Great shoe for daily training and long uptempo runs. Snappy forefoot, but very soft heel prevents it from going as fast as it could. Heel bevel is extreme and can be clunky during warm up)
Stability: B (Better stability than previous, particularly with plate and soft overlays in upper. However, the overly soft sole, overly flexible sole and narrowed midfoot take away from the shoe being as stable as it could be.)
DPT/Footwear Science: B- (Great adding stability with the plate, however the midfoot narrowing in such a high stack  height and soft shoe is counterproductive. Offset slightly also by plate design. No point however to have flex grooves that deep in the heel and midfoot as joints don't exist like that in the foot. )
Personal: B- (This is a good shoe, but the design and stability are not optimal for me. I would prefer either something like the Razor Excess or the older Maxroad 3 Ultra as both tend to be more stable or firmer)
Overall: B (A snappy and soft shoe for long miles, daily training and longer uptempo runs)

David
Fit: A (Really well done. Comfortable mesh that is reinforced well and still breathable enough for daily or long efforts)
Performance: B
(Still best for daily and recovery days but the H plate does help give some life to the toe off. Heel bevel and rearfoot geometry could be reworked.)
Stability: B (Stability is much better in this model, but the high stack and flexibility can still make it difficult in off road conditions, upper lockdown much better and H plate do help significantly though)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (I like that they used a dynamic plate to help stabilizing the shoe through the midfoot and forefoot, I do think they could rework the sole geometry though the heel however to smoothen out initial contact and heel to midfoot transition)
Personal: B (This is the best MaxRoad model that I have run in, but it still can be a little clunky at the heel due to the bevel. I do like that daily paces feel a little bit better thanks to the H plate now.)
Overall: B (This is definitely an upgrade for the MaxRoad. The improved upper and H plate in the forefoot make this shoe worth considering for long road miles. The shoe does still have some instability due to design or off road conditions.)

Megan
Fit: A-
(fits true to size, extra room in the toe box allowing for toe splay/movement)
Performance: A-
(a true lightweight, everyday trainer that combines comfort and responsiveness; possibly the springiest trainers I have ever run in)
Stability: B+
(The H plate adds some stability, but lost points due to a relatively narrow midfoot. This limits these shoes from being a possibility for runners requiring more midfoot stability)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+
(the addition of the H plate was successful in promoting a quicker transition from midstance to push off. I was also impressed with how the shoe held up as I accumulated more miles on them as well.)
Personal: A
(I found these shoes to be extremely comfortable and fun to run in. They may give my favorites a run for their money…)
Overall: A-
(Excellent choice as a lightweight daily trainer. Could improve the stability in the midfoot in the next model)

MAXROAD 5 OVERVIEW AND H-PLATE DISCUSSION



Chief Editor Matt Klein goes over the new updates and his thoughts on the daily trainer.

SHOP | SUPPORT DOR


Find the Skechers Maxroad 5 at Running Warehouse here. Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!

Shop Gear We Love
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Rabbit Running Clothes: Incredibly soft, high quality clothing for your next run
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Spring Energy Gel: Smooth and goes down easy. Great flavors
UltraAspire Fitted Race Belt: Fantastic fitting belt that's durable, quick-drying, and comfortable
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Coros Pace 2 Watch: Excellent watch for various running goals and a massive battery life
Theragun Massager: This small version is great on the go for working tired legs

FURTHER READING

Compare Lightweight, High Cushion Trainers
Hoka One One Mach 4 -
Similar weight and stack, with more ground contact
Skechers Razor Excess - A new addition to the line, featuring a smooth, stacked ride
Asics Novablast 2 - Softer, heavier but still lightweight trainer for the cushioning

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Stability Resource Page - Find all you need to know about stability shoes here

Thanks for reading!

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TESTER PROFILES:


Matthew Klein, PT DPT OCS FAAOMPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists

Dr. Matthew Klein is a 150 lb male with notable PRs of 14:45 for 5k and 2:32:44 for the full marathon.  He typically runs 70-100 miles per week and trains at a variety of paces from 8min per mile recovery runs to 4:40 per mile 1k repeats.  He prefers firmer and responsive shoes with snug heels and medium to wide toe boxes.  The stability guy of the group, he also prefers a little stability in his footwear. However, as a researcher, clinician and running shoe aficionado, he will run in anything. 

David Salas PT DPT CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes.  He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing,

Megan Flynn, PT, DPT, MS
Doctor of Physical therapy

Megan began running competitively as a freshman in high school (2006) and it has been a major component of her life since then. She was a member of the cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field teams for TCNJ and one season for UD while a first-year PT student. In college, she focused on the 3k/5k for TCNJ and the 10k at UD. Megan continues to train at a competitive level putting in ~70 miles/week and is a member of Leonia Track Club based in Leonia, NJ. She recently completed a track season in spring 2021 and will be transitioning to marathon training for the fall with California International Marathon being the goal race. Outside of running, Megan enjoys hiking, traveling, going to the beach, reading, and playing with her two adorable cats!

Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review.  We thank the  people at Skechers for sending us a pair.  This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from 20-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady state run run as well as a warm up and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

Please feel free to reach out, comment and ask questions!
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com

NEXT: 2021 SUMMER SPLIT SHORTS REVIEW
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