This will forever be the story of a really solid shoe with an incredibly horrible name, it’s the Skechers GOrun Razor 3 Hyper or the shoe with a giant SPEED on the side. This shoe is a straight competitor that can go head to head with Nike’s new VaporFly Zoom Fly platform and uses much of the same methodologies in its design. They are meant to be fast, an explosive and responsive shoe, all about performance. Of course like always, most people laugh when you say Skechers, but the performance lineup as we’ve said repeatedly is a totally different beast. The Razor 3s are fast and if you put them head to head with others in this area, it’s going to be a tight race.
Construction: Upper
The upper is hard to miss on here given the visual, but the big change comes in their departure from knit in favor of something new. They have gone with a seamless non-stretch ripstop mesh which provides more support and is still super breathable. It is super light and has a secure fit that maintains throughout your run.
Construction: Midsole
The biggest change in the shoe and probably for Skechers in general comes in this new midsole. It is the debut of Hyper Burst, the successor to their UltraFlight cushioning system, but it is 15% lighter and 30% more durable than anything they have had prior. It is super springy underfoot, yet shows very little wear after many many miles so the durability is stellar so far. It also features a molded heel counter and mid-foot strike zone which aids in a better toe off.
Construction: Outsole
As for the outsole, the new Hyper Burst midsole integrates seamlessly with more rubber. The fact they shaved weight in the mid means more rubber and this inevitably means better ground control, contact, and improved durability and longevity.
Style & Aesthetics
The GOrun Razor 3 Hyper makes a super bold statement about its function with the large SPEED on upper. We actually found it a little cheeky and in your face, but a lot of folks are taken aback by it. They do come in 4 different colors with more coming and they truly have something for everyone.
Run Test
I honestly had no idea what to expect from these shoes, but have been running in the Nike Zoom Fly so had experience with a lower weight, hyper responsive mid, so I was excited to try it. It does have the same minimal upper, ultralight, somewhat narrow, and racer body like Nike does, but I find it actually has a bit more room the toebox and throughout, so actually found it to be way more comfortable. The shoe does feel very different from any other Skechers performance shoes you might have seen or tried prior. It features an all new upper material, an entirely new midsole design, and a more minimal lightweight outsole. It is super cushy underfoot and yet remains very bouncy, giving you a ton of rebound. Styling wise, it’s definitely anyone’s opinion, but having speed printed on the side of your shoe is a pretty bold statement. You better be ready to own it.
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In run, these things killed it. They were fast, responsive, and without a lot of thought you could easily drop your pace quickly. They are meant to be a race shoe or a speed day shoe, but I honestly feel that unlike Nike, a larger portion of runners would benefit from them. I had runs when I would just think about accelerating and within a few seconds was knocking time off my pace. They also don’t seem to hit as hard as their Nike rivals, so your legs feel a little less of the stress. They were a real pleasure to test overall. I saw a lot of improvement on my times, I did not find them overly narrow like many racing shoes, and in the end they did exactly what I expected from them.
Overall Conclusion
The new midsole technologies that we are seeing in shoes like the Skechers GOrun Razor 3 Hype are clearly here to stay. The introduction of higher rebound compounds like a carbon membrane into the midsole is providing a new level of responsiveness that we haven’t seen before which is translating directly into performance and is really for everyone. We actually find the Skechers to be a better gateway shoe for those looking to drop time over Nike given they aren’t as demanding on your legs, yet still deliver much of the same from a results perspective. We couldn’t have been happier with the performance and felt this shoe lived up to all its potential and hype. I can’t wait to see who’s wearing please do an upcoming big races and wear Skechers will take it next.
Technical Stats, Pricing & Availability
- Weight: 6.4oz (size 9)
- Drop: 4mm heel/toe
- Type: Neutral (Lightweight)
- Stack Height: 23/19mm (heel/toe)
- MSRP: $135.00
- Available: Now
