Skechers Aero Razor Review
By Matthew Klein
Skechers Aero RazorPrice: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 6.9 oz, 196 g (men's size 9), 5.6oz, 159g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot
Drop: 4 mm
Shoe Purpose: Racer / Workout / Speed Shoe
Pros: Fast responsive ride, rockered smooth ride, great price
Cons: Narrow fit, less versatility at slower paces, overly aggressive toe spring
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Skechers Aero Razor is a massive upgrade for the Razor series that brings it to into the workout / racing shoe category. A forefoot nylon plate, a supercritical APTU midsole, a racing flat level weight and an aggressive forefoot geometry make the newest Razor a fast shoe meant for workouts and racing. A bouncy and fast midsole sits underfoot that feels better the faster you go and excels on tempo runs, longer intervals and uptempo runs. A snug, racing-style fit sits up top that fits unusually narrow for Skechers but locks the foot down well. The Aero Razor is a clear turning that shows Skechers renewed commitment to performance at a fantastic price of $140.
SIMILAR SHOES: Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro
PAST MODEL: Skechers GOrun Razor 5
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Skechers Aero Razor fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The fit is snug throughout the length of the shoe and feels far more like a racing/speed shoe than a trainer. The upper is a full-length engineered mesh that is breathable thanks to plenty of ventilation holes. This provides solid ventilation that is great in warmer weather and less optimal in colder temperatures. The forefoot is snug with a slight taper in the toe box. This continues into a slightly snug midfoot with a thin but strategically padded and gusseted tongue. The laces can be tightened, but the upper is already snug and secure enough that I did not have to mess with them. The instep is on the lower side, so those with a high instep may have to loosen the laces. The heel is also slightly snug with plenty of heel collar padding and a mildly flexible heel counter. Surprisingly, the heel counter did not bother me too much, although those with heel sensitivities may not do well here. Overall, the upper is narrow/snug and will work best for those with narrow feet or those wanting a close/racing style fit.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild to Moderately Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Somewhat but not recommended
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Moderate to Above Average Durability for a Lightweight Shoe
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Skechers Aero Razor is a faster workout race shoe for those who want a lightweight, responsive ride without a full-length plate. The midsole is full-length ATPU, which is mildly soft and highly responsive. The weight is also low, coming in at 7 oz for my men's size 10. Combined with the lower volume compared to many other racing shoes, the Aero Razor is nimble and fast. The lower, 4mm drop is noticeable but is offset by the large forefoot rocker. The heel features a decent size bevel, which combined with the non-plated, ATPU midsole provides a softer and responsive landing. This rolls forward quickly thanks to the early and large forefoot rocker. The forefoot is firmer and snappier thanks to the nylon H-plate. The large forefoot rocker and aggressive toe spring makes for a ride that tips forward and rolls quickly as soon as you get up front. While snappy, there is still some flexibility to the plate, so those with toe mobility issues will not do well in this shoe.
Pace-wise, the Aero Razor does best at uptempo and faster efforts. The aggressive forefoot geometry makes easy running feel awkward, although shorter warm-ups and cool downs are fine. The ride comes to life most when the pace picks up. My first workout was a two-mile tempo, during which this shoe performed like a much stiffer super shoe when the pace picked up. I easily hit a mid 5:30 and mid 5:20 mile in this shoe. I have also used this during longer tempo runs, which this shoe also excels at. During really fast intervals, the extremely large forefoot rocker gets in the way of sprinting. So for longer intervals, tempo runs, fartleks and uptempo efforts, the Aero Razor does best.
During my testing of this shoe, my wife "borrowed" them. I should clarify that Regina was a professional runner who was sponsored by Skechers in the past (She was wearing the GOmeb Speed 4 when she qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials). When she saw this pair, she grabbed them after I had about 20 miles on them. I also clarify that my wife is a women's size 9.5 / men's size 8, while I am a size 10. Somehow, despite having feet two full sizes small, she can still run in my shoes. It is for this reason that there are an additional 50 miles on this pair. I managed to get them back and ran another 10 miles for this review, bringing the total to 80 miles. Despite this mileage, the Goodyear outsole has held up really well with only a little bit of abrasion and the exposed Hyper Burst Pro is cut up but intact. The midsole itself has easily retained its responsiveness, and for those reasons, I would expect an above-average number of miles out of these for a lighter workout/racing shoe. The traction is great in these thanks to the design of the outsole, which grips well on dry/wet road and track. I would not take these on trail due to the exposed midsole, although smooth dirt would probably be fine.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Skechers Aero Razor is a neutral shoe with some guidance elements. There are no traditional methods of stability but the forefoot H-plate and rearfoot sidewalls do provide mild guidance. The forefoot is the most stable part of the shoe as the H-plate forefoot and small forefoot sidewalls keep the foot centered on the platform. While the rearfoot features sidewalls and mild sole flare that combined with the heel bevel provide a mildly centered ride, the narrow midfoot offsets this. This makes for a mostly neutral heel, a neutral midfoot and a stable, mild guidance forefoot.
Thoughts as a DPT: The Impact of Toe Spring on Foot Pathokinesiology
By Matthew Klein
The Aero Razor has one of the more aggressive toe spring designs I have seen recently. While a forefoot rocker refers to the upward curve of the midsole under the forefoot, toe spring refers to the upward curve right under the toes. This design element keeps the toes in an extended position, which creates additional tension on the plantar fascia and toe flexors. This has some unique biomechanical impacts that may be good or bad depending on the person. Runners need at least 60-90 degrees of toe extension (toe joints going upward) to normally progress forward. Limited motion of those joints can cause excessive load at the plantarflexors and foot muscles and difficulty progressing forward during gait. A forefoot rocker in a shoe can replace this mechanism, but optimally, the toes should be able to extend from 0 to 60-90 degrees to allow the body to pass over the front of the foot. This is one of the mechanisms of the human foot that makes use efficient at running and walking.
Toe spring keeps the toes in extension, so they do not and cannot go through that range of motion. This may be helpful for some people as it tightens up the plantar fascia, which locks up the arch and creates a more rigid foot that is easier to push off from. It also keeps the toes in extension, so they do not have to actively move through that range, which may reduce the amount of eccentric force through the toe flexors. This may be negative for those who do not have the mobility to go into that extension, so their toes will be jammed into a range they are not comfortable in. Holding joints at end range can cause pinching of the two ends of the bones in some people, leading to irritation. It also changes where forces are applied. Keeping the toe joints extended forces the metatarsals downward into plantarflexion, which increases the pressure into the forefoot during toe off. Keeping constant tension on structures like the plantar fascia or toe flexors may also be irritating as tendons, muscles and fascia work best when they can return to their neutral, middle position. So those with a history of plantar fasciitis or toe flexor tendinopathies may not do well being held in a constant stretch.
Whether or not toe spring is appropriate biomechanically for someone will depend on factors unique to them. While it is my opinion that the human body should not be forced and held in end-range motions, there will always be a small population that benefits from extremes. Most people without sensitivities will be fine using these shoes for short periods, but any shoe that keeps the body in extremes should not be used all the time.
Neumann, D. A. (2016). Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System-E-Book: Kinesiology of the musculoskeletal system-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: This is one of the fastest Razors I have run in and the switch to a full-length ATPU midsole really progresses this shoe forward. I have been surprised with how fast this shoe feels and have enjoyed miles I got in it when my wife wasn't taking them. That said, I have several suggestions. My first is to reduce the toe spring while maintaining the forefoot rocker. Skechers used to have wider toe boxes and more natural forefoot designs. This has strayed from this extensively. While the forefoot rocker is fine, the aggressive toe spring is a bit much and is definitely noticeable over long miles. I would reduce this while keeping the forefoot rocker so the toes can be in a neutral position. I would also like to see a little more room in the forefoot. This is definitely a racing shoe and will work well for those who don't want a full-length plate but still want a responsive super foam midsole.
A little extra toe room goes a long way and is one of the reasons many people loved the original Skechers Performance shoes. Other than those things, this is a pretty big leap forward for Skechers and I hope the rest of their shoes continue on this pathway.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Skechers Aero Razor is for those who want a faster, lighter shoe for uptempo efforts, workouts and racing. The fit will work best for those wanting a snug and secure fit with a lighter, breathable upper. The midsole will work best for those who want a mild to moderately softer and highly responsive midsole with a snappy but not overly stiff nylon plate only in the forefoot. Those who want a super-type shoe without the aggressive carbon plate will really enjoy this shoe especially for racing. Those who can tolerate toe spring and want a highly rockered forefoot will do best in the Aero Razor. While the toe spring is a bit much for me, the ride has surprised me with its ability to pick up the pace. Much of this comes from the supercritical ATPU midsole, which at $140 is a crazy good deal (particularly with the durability).
The Aero Razor brings something new to market, proving that not all super type shoes have to hit the 40 mm stack height ranges, have a full-length stiffening agent to be fast, or be over $200. Hopefully, other companies listen or Skechers continues to debut shoes in a similar performance vein. It is definitely one of the best shoes from them since the Razor 3, and they have managed to grab my attention again.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B (Snug, secure fit best for narrow feet or those wanting a close fit)
Performance: A- (Fast, bouncy, rockered ride that feels better the faster you go. Less versatile at slower speeds but a great workout/racing shoe for those who don't want a full length stiffening agent)
Stability: B [Neutral] (Neutral Heel/Midfoot with mildly guided forefoot thanks to H-plate and small sidewalls)
Value: A ($140 for a forefoot plated, ATPU foamed workout shoe/racer with solid durability is an awesome deal)
Personal: B+ (A bit snug with too much toe spring for my liking but it is fast and I appreciate it)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSkechers Aero RazorPrice: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
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