Skechers GOrun Max Road 6: A Different Road Taken
By Bach Pham, Matt Klein and David Salas
Skechers GORun Max Road 6Price: $129.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 11 oz, 312 g (men's size 9), 9.2 oz, 261 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 40 mm / 34 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Classification: Maximal Plated Daily Training Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 is a maximal, heavy duty daily training shoe for long runs and easy mileage. A huge amount of Hyperburst Ice sits underfoot, providing a slightly firm ride that eventually transitions into a mildly soft ride. The fit is slightly wider especially in the heel with a normal width in the forefoot. The Max Road 6 dramatically increases weight and durability while returning the significant midfoot bump Skechers is known for. This drives it further into the maximal realm while bringing back a key Skechers component that has been subtle for a while.
David: The Skechers Max Road 6 is a daily running and long run shoe within the maximum cushioning category. The shoe uses large sidewalls and highly rockered ride throughout. The forefoot plate seems to help stabilize the forefoot a little bit and add a touch of responsiveness. The Max Road 6 is a high stack height training shoe.
Bach: I'm not a maximalist guy at all, but for a portion of every year I've been on the team I've relentlessly annoyed the team with how much I've enjoyed past versions of Skechers Max Road series. I loved the pods. I loved the insane bevel in the heel. I loved the Max Road 4 despite all of its faults, and no matter how much the H-Plate bothered my arch, I poured more miles into the Max Road 5 than any shoe I've ran in the past three years. There's just something special about the funky design of the shoe and its cushioning. The Max Road 6, however, diverges from the quirks that have made the series in favor of something we're seeing a lot of: a less exaggerated bevel with a max height rockered shoe design.
SIMILAR SHOES: Hoka Bondi 8, SC Trainer
PAST MODEL: Skechers Max Road 5
FIT
Matt: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The width is normal to slightly wider throughout and the volume is average to slightly higher especially in the back. The forefoot is normal with with a slight taper at the forefoot. The midfoot is normal to slightly wider with a moderately thick, ungusseted tongue. I had to tighten down the laces a large amount to get a decent lockdown and would highly suggest lace locking the shoe for additional security. The heel fits wider with a mildly flexible heel counter. There is a large amount of heel collar cushioning that compresses easily. I had a difficult time feeling secure thanks to the wider rearfoot feeling and eventually had to lace lock the shoe for security over longer miles due to heel slippage. The engineered mesh does run fairly warm, so sockless miles did cause some foot sweating. I would encourage socks with this shoe as it will also take up some of the additional volume, which those with a higher volume/wider rearfoot may enjoy.
David: The Skechers Max Road 6 fits true to size in my Men's 9.5. The upper material is an engineered mesh that has a little stretch to it without feeling floppy. The tongue is very heavily padded and allows you to tighten the laces down very tightly without irritation. The volume feels a tad snug throughout, though the width is normal through all regions (heel, midfoot, forefoot, toe box). There is a heel counter internally with some mildly rigid external reinforcement through the medial and lateral aspect of the heel and midfoot. Because of how compliant the shoe is and how dramatic the rocker is, it is very important to lace the shoes down to prevent the heel from lifting inside of the shoe. I found the lockdown to pretty good throughout, though I definitely had to make sure I laced the shoe down a little tighter than I normally would to avoid slippage. The material does run a little warm, though the overall feel is a relatively plush upper.
Bach: The Max Road 6 fits true to size in my Men's 9.5 as well. The shoe is very easy to slip on and go. There is a lot of upper that fits around the foot that creates an average volume. I wore thin socks while testing and would not recommend thick socks, both for fit and due to warmth. The flat laces on the shoe are the type that is very stretchy to the pull. I didn't love them because it meant having to pull tightly to lace up and try to get the most dialed in as possible, which still didn't quite feel as secure. It also comes up a touch short when lace-locking. I think the shoe would perform better with slightly longer, less stretchy laces that offers the ability to lace down better throughout. I did not have any heel slip though, or general fit issues with the upper; I do believe there is a lot of room for improvement to feel connected to the midsole in a way that would be more engaging.
The heel counter is lightly flexible at the top, but is otherwise rigid and very padded.
The upper does run warm. Anything under 70 degrees is completely fine, but my last run was in a very humid, hot 75ish degree morning and I was ready to take the pair off after an easy 5k run.
One unique thing about the shoe that I had issues with past versions
with as a flat foot runner was the H-Plate poking into my arch. There is
a tremendously high stack of insole in the Max Road 6, however, that
helps put some separation between you and the H-Plate. I never felt the
plate in this version which was nice. The insole is removable (tricky to put back in, but there is a neat bonus on the side of the insole that says "Listen to the Athlete" - Skechers often has a fun note inside their footwear). If you remove the insole and want to put in a lower volume one, that does open up the volume greatly, but I did not test this to see how the ride differed.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 is a heavy duty, maximal shoe for slower paces and longer miles. The midsole is made up of a dual density make-up of Hyperburst Ice. Initially it started out as slightly firm but has continued softening with more miles. It is a compliant foam, meaning it compresses, but gives almost nothing back. This makes for a softer but not bouncy ride. Instead the ride is more rolling. The heel transition is a bit awkward despite the bevel thanks to the significant midfoot bump. Those who remember M-strike (now called Hyper Arc) will notice this feeling immediately. Part of this is from Archfit insole, which I have continued to find irritating and not supportive. If you land at the midfoot, the shoe transitions decently thanks to a long forefoot rocker. This makes for a far nicer ride in the front half of the shoe. The forefoot is fairly stiff thanks to the taller stack height and a forefoot H-plate. The plate does not add responsiveness or bounce to the sole, instead stabilizing the ride and facilitating the decent forward role.
The Max Road 6 is best for easy and longer miles. The shoe's high weight is immediately noticeable and made it feel extremely clunky until the rocker broke in. It cannot handle any faster efforts due to this weight and the fact the ride is not responsive or bouncy. For consistent easy paces, the shoe does fine. The trade-off is that a Skechers shoe finally has great durability. I have 25 miles on my pair and only have a tiny bit of abrasion in my normal area. The extensive Goodyear rubber outsole provides a high level of durability and decent traction for a road shoe. I personally would not take this on trails as it is too heavy and becomes too soft for unstable terrain. However, those wanting a sturdy shoe for long miles on road may have an option with the Max Road 6.
David: I am a little split on this. I do enjoy the Max Road 6. I believe this will be a niche model that will be a love it or hate it. The shoe is certainly in the maximum cushioning category and will respond to those that like a rolling sensation while running on a compliant platform. The shoe is not the most stable and definitely takes some getting used to. With that said, as I felt more comfortable with this shoe on the road I could expand it to some runnable dirt conditions as well. The lockdown and traction is good enough to justify some off road running, though this shoe does best on well groomed surfaces. The HyperArc design is essentially a large rocker profile. The shoe is very rounded through the heel and is a little forefoot heavy thanks to the forefoot plate. The shoe does have a forefoot carbon infused plate which gives some rigidity and bounce to the running experience.
The Hyperburst Ice is very compliant and will feel too soft for some. With that said, it actually felt quite nice on my feet when running beyond 15 miles. This will be one of those shoes where the runner will have to make sure their strength and stability are doing well, as I have noticed that areas in my hips are having to work more from a stabilizing standpoint. I do think the overall transition of the shoe could be a little less forefoot heavy, though the transitions are still pretty smooth.
Bach: The whole design of the Max Road 6 is very different from past Max Roads. The unique pod design that was a hallmark of the series is gone. The Max Road is now more traditional with the huge slab of dual density Hyperburst Ice underneath. On step-in there is a sense of great softness thanks to the plush insole. You can roll the shoe around underfoot and feel the sponginess of the midsole that touches the ground as well. As you get into the run though, the H-Plate and density of the shoe comes alive and suddenly firms up the core of the shoe, while remaining soft around the edges. There were times where I felt the firmness under center foot was a little too firm, reducing the enjoyment of the shoe at easy paces. I felt the shoe ran at its best for me when I was slightly uptempo and able to really take advantage of all the cushioning along with that bit of firmness that develops on the run. The Max Road 6, however, is a hefty shoe to take uptempo a long time. There are simply better shoes that do that, and that's where I had some complications about what the best use of the shoe was.
I think a runner who is solid in neutral footwear and has a firmer footstep will get more out of the shoe. At my own easy pace and with my lighter stride, I just didn't get the kind of enjoyment out of this edition that I have in the past. The weight is also a bit of an issue. In the hot summer days, I took the shoe out for a longer effort and found myself wanting a little less shoe towards the later part of my run as I was turning over the heavier Max Road. Despite all of this, there's no doubt that the shoe is very cushioned. There's no ground feel at all and you are quite noticeably high off the ground. Those who want that max cushion feel at a good price point will be interested in this.
The outsole is fairly grippy and a non-issue on rainy wet roads for me.
STABILITY
Matt: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 is a neutral shoe with some mild guidance elements that are offset by the increasingly compliant midsole. The midsole is slightly firmer initially, which combined with the significant sidewalls in the midfoot and slightly in the heel provide mild guidance in those areas. The mild to moderate stiffness in the forefoot from the H-plate provides some torsional rigidity that also provides mild guidance up front. This mild guidance throughout is offset slightly by the relatively normal to slightly narrow sole width for a maximal shoe shoe of this height. The midfoot narrows and there is only mild sole flare throughout the length of the shoe. This makes the Max Road 6 a great shoe if you just need sidewalls and some stiffness but if you need stabilization from geometry and a wider sole with this tall a shoe, it will be more on the neutral side.
David: This isn't a stability shoe. They do some things to help, though this definitely runs on the unstable side. The Hyperburst Ice midsole makes for a very compliant platform. The high geometry takes away a lot of proprioception and ground feel. There is a lot of give to the foam upon landing and loading the shoe. With that noted above the upper security, sidewalls, and traction are decent. If someone does not have stability needs and are sure footed this shoe will be fine. Though for those that struggle with unstable platforms this may be difficult. I do think the shoe could benefit from making the sole flaring a little wider and perhaps having a small heel plate. This plate could be plastic and disconnected, though it may still help with holding the shape and making for a more stable ride.
Bach: The Max Road 6 is a lot of shoe. It's rounded edges are soft and unstable. There is a wide base that helps, but the sole is soft enough that you really have to be focused and on point while running. The lack of prominent stable elements is very noticeable. Going downhill and taking turns I had to take a bit of extra caution as you feel fairly tall in the shoe. Neutral runners who are efficient should do fine and will get the most out of this shoe. I don't think it's the best shoe for supinators, but I do feel the shoe has some very mild lateral stability with the H-Plate. The shoe felt like it pitched me more inward.
Thoughts as a DPT: MAX Stack Heights
By David Salas
Maximum stack heights are all the rage right now. This will be a benefit for some and a detriment to others. With maximum stack heights come a common challenge. The more foam you place under someone's foot, the harder it will be for them to get feedback from the ground. The stability demands will also increase. If you stand on a balance bad or a soft compliant foam surface you will immediately notice that your foot, ankle, and hips have to work harder. This is happening dynamically in these maximum stack height shoes as well, though a little differently. The new generation foams are much more compliant, meaning there is a lot more deformation of the structure upon loading. They do a great job of bouncing back, though this can increase the range of motion that someone moves through a given joint because the foam has more give. As you land onto the platform of the shoe, gravity is pulling you down and inward.
This essentially boils down to internal rotation of the hip and pronation of the subtalar joint. This is great for shock absorption, but is detrimental if we can't control this motion and resupinate in the toe off phase of gait. The increased range of motion requires larger amounts of stability through the foot, ankle, and hip musculature to make sure everything runs smoothly going forward. The Max Road 6 did a decent job of stabilizing the forefoot with the foot and providing some slight guidance, though I do feel they could clean up how the heel and midfoot integrate. This would make for a more stable platform and differentiate it from a rounded piece of foam.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have honestly had a difficulty time with the Skechers Max Road 6. This shoe is now so heavy that it is uncomfortable. It took a while for the Hyperburst Ice midsole to break in making it weirdly firm initially despite how much midsole there is. I still don't understand the point of putting an H-plate in every shoe and I would like to remind Skechers that far more efficiency and bounce comes from special foams than from plates. The 11 oz weight, stiffer ride both cushioning wise and front to back does not make this shoe unique outside of the M-strike/aggressive midfoot bump. To me, the Max Road 6 feels like a major deviation from the lighter shoes Skechers used to be known for. The durability has been greatly improved which has been an issue for a long time. However, my biggest suggestion is to drop the weight to make this a competitive maximal shoe again. The previously flexible ride also made this shoe unique, which may also help this shoe stand out.
My other suggestion is fixing the heel fit. Right now it is sloppy and loose, requiring additional work to secure. Skechers should consider moving back to their anatomic fit (which they have strayed from) with the wider forefoot and more secure heel. In a shoe this tall with this much heel collar cushioning, increasing the stiffness of the counter (yes, I am recommending this) may help secure things better. That or lightening up the upper and using more strategic overlays to lock down the heel and midfoot may be helpful. Skechers has been able to do with extremely well with many of their racing shoes (Speed Elite, etc) so I have faith they can create a secure and light upper.
David: I enjoyed my time in the Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 though I do have some recommendations. I feel the platform could have more sole flaring through the heel and forefoot. I think the heel could have a small plate or shank to stabilize the foam, even if it is not connected with the forefoot plate. My other recommendation would be to make the shoe less forefoot heavy and make the overall profile a tad more balanced.
Bach: Ultimately as a Max Road fan, I'm not really interested in making the shoe significantly stable. Historically a unique design, I believe it's been a good series for neutral runners who want a soft, one-of-a-kind ride that is more mid-to-forefoot forward. The main changes are for Skechers to think of ways to bring it's identity back. The Max Road has been known for being a highly neutral, cushioned, bouncy, and light option for tackling a lot of miles. The Max Road 5 I felt was a platonic ideal for the series in achieving that, and the latest adds a bit too much weight and density underfoot.
I think the first place that can be worked on is the upper, which can be shed back a bit and laces redone to help achieve a more connected lockdown. The second area would be exploring some cutouts into the midsole to help bring back some of the wildness of past versions and also lighten things up underneath. I sort of missed the pods that were iconic to the model and believe if the Max Road is to continue, adding some more eccentricity to help separate it from the GORun Ride 11 is important.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 is a maximal, highly cushioned, slightly firmer that transitions to slightly softer, heavy duty daily training and mileage shoe for those who want a significant midfoot bump and don't mind extra weight. The ride is fairly rockered and stiff, slightly offsetting the heavier ride. The midfoot bump creates a ton of pressure into the bottom of the foot, returning what many may have liked while others will need to ease into this model to avoid irritation. The Max Road 6 is a shoe meant to stomp the road with and is significantly different than the highly cushioned and light models for the past. The trade off is improved durability and toughness, which for those who want that will enjoy this shoe.
David: The Skechers GOrun Max Road 6 is a maximal cushioned daily training and long run shoe for those wanting a highly rockered ride and don't mind some instability. The dual density foam is very compliant and lends itself to those who like softer experiences. The shoe is also very rockered and transitions forward very quickly. This shoe shines most on road, but for those that respond well to it they can also take it in well groomed off road conditions as well.
Bach: For me, the Max Road 6 is for runners who are interested in shoes like the SC Trainer, but want a more budget-friendly version of it. The Max Road 6 is a very neutral, very cushioned and very mid-to-forefoot friendly trainer that can do some easy-to-uptempo training at a extremely good price point ($130!). This runner would be one that doesn't a mind taking on a little extra weight for the price or live somewhere that is particularly hot for a long extended season as the upper will run you warm. If you want the best in category, I feel there are a good amount of shoes that out performs the Max Road, but at a much steeper cost in the $160 territory. For what you get, you do take home a shoe with good grip and a lot of midsole that should last a decent amount of miles.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B/B- (Slightly wider, slightly higher volume fit with warm upper and loose heel)
Performance: B-/C+ (Extremely heavy with mildly irritating midfoot bump. Rockered ride helps only slightly)
Stability: B [Neutral] (Midfoot/heel sidewalls and H-plate add stiffness, offset by increasingly softer ride and relatively narrow sole width for stack height)
DPT/Footwear Science: C (Dramatic increase in weight with inappropriate narrowing of sole and loose heel. Unnecessary use of forefoot plate for a shoe that doesn't need it)
Personal: C (A shoe I did not enjoy putting miles on. Super heavy with an odd fit and loose heel. Plenty of higher stack height shoes for longer mileage that are far lighter and more stable. )
Overall: B-/C+
David
Fit: B (Pretty neutral fit overall, though volume a tad low, upper runs a little warm)
Performance: B (Nuanced here. Decent performance as a high mileage road running shoe with max cushioning and rockered design, though unstable and dependent on mechanics. Traction good.)
Stability: C (Sidewalls and traction help, though this midsole is very compliant and can be difficult to run in if someone is sensitive to softer platforms.)
DPT/Footwear Science: C+ (This isn't a knock on the company. They took a high stack design and played around with it and innovated. I think there is still some clean up, though nothing major here at this time. As a PT this could be a hard sell based on some of the unstable components of the shoe.)
Personal: B (For me this is a pretty nice shoe for longer road mileage and easy paces if you can look past some of the unstable elements.)
Overall: B-
Bach
Fit: B- (The fit is average, but the shoe doesn't quite achieve a sound lockdown that satisfies. Warm upper)
Performance: B (A slightly uptempo mileage shoe for those who want a high stack height, mid-to-forefoot oriented shoe.)
Stability: C+ (Skechers offsets some of the instability with width and the H-plate, but overall it still rolls very neutral everywhere and takes some focus)
DPT/Footwear Science: B- (While Hyperburst Ice itself is interesting, they lost a lot of the magic that made v5 so special. Kudos for price though)
Personal: C+ (I just have a hard time seeing a situation where I want to grab the Max Road due to stability and how it doesn't quite match my own mechanics.The upper is also a big problem in South Carolina summer weather It's best scenario for me is fulfilled by other shoes.)
Overall: B-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSkechers GORun Max Road 6Price: $129.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING: Max Cushion Shoes
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Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 [Supermax Trainer] - Now a super maximal stacked shoe over 40mm!
Brooks Aurora BL - Brooks experimental project offers a look into the future
Nike Invincible 3 - Updated to improve stability, this max cushion trainer evolves for v3
Salomon Aero Glide - Salomon brings max stack to their lineup with this new offering
Saucony Triumph 21- The excellent Triumph from last year gets a new upper that dials in the fit for an excellent overall ride
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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