The Skechers Performance team has been knocking it out of the park lately with shoes like the Razor 3, the Speed 6, and the Speed Elite. When the new GOrun Horizon Vanish showed up, we weren’t sure what to make of it or where it fit. No question they have debatable looks, we think they are killer, but the real question is how different are they and where do they fit in the lineup. Also, where did the Hyperburst midsole go? So many questions and only one way to figure it out, to the roads!
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Ultra-light performance-oriented trainer
- No Hyperburst, what?!?!?
- Weighs in at 5.2oz or 147g for a US Men’s 9
- Has 19mm of cushion and a 4mm heel/toe drop
- Retails at $100.00 USD and comes in 1 color for Men and Women
Run Test
The Horizon Vanish just looks bonkers out of the box as it is so different from what you have seen before in a running shoe. The black, blue, red, white swatches and lines along with the checkerboard pattern make it feel more like something out of Nascar more than running, but it honestly works… at least for us. The shoe is obviously a performance shoe, it is super light, way more than we have ever seen before and the profile and fit skews track flat more than an everyday runner. The fit of the upper is incredibly snug but oddly feels a lot more comfortable than the Speed 6 or Razor 3. The mono mesh is the same for the most part, but the rear of the foot has so much better cushioning around the heel and the tongue that it just feels better against your foot. It does breathe well and once it is on your foot, they aren’t going anywhere. We had two separate reviewers take these out, each coming it at from a different performance perspective. Our first, is much quicker (sub 90 minute half marathon, trains at 6-7 minutes per mile regularly) and our second is more the everyday recreational runner (10+ minute per mile pace) and the results are pretty uniquely different from one another.
Our faster tester immediately commented on the light weight and likened the shoe to racing flats he had worn before. It is unlike the new carbon plated shoes we are seeing hit the market, but still provided a decent level of under foot comfort and then a nice wrapped upper that really holds you well. It is definitely only for narrower feet, much like a racing shoe, and it runs on rails. High points for him were definitely the weight and the ability to turn these over quickly. The challenge he found was why he would want to use them over the more performance oriented Skechers like the Speed Elites which have all their new technology wrapped into it.
The slower tester thought the shoes were amazing looking and super light, but definitely wasn’t his first choice when it came to running. He did comment on how easy it was to run faster in them, but for a more recreational runner, they can be harder on the legs and are definitely really narrow with limited toe splay. His Skechers choices tend to be more in the area of the 7+ Hyper or the Ride 8 where you get a wider and more comfortable upper and then a much higher stack and level of cushioning. In the end, he thought they were cool looking shoes, but would never recommend them for recreational runners like himself.
Construction: Upper
The midsole uses their all new Ultra Flight midsole tech which is a bit different from the Hyperburst we see everywhere else. It lacks the air filled translucent foam found elsewhere, but still remains both cushioned and light. It doesn’t necessarily have the responsiveness found in Hyperburst, but honestly still feels really good. They maintain their mid-foot strike zone which helps with foot transition as well as the addition of flex grooves in the forefoot to help with air flow and performance. There is a lot of flex in these in the toe and heel, but then maintains a solid platform at that midfoot.
Very simple heel cup with a bit of padding below achilles to hold you. Mesh is reminiscent from the Razor, Speed Elite, etc Skechers GOrun Horzion Vanish from the back Skechers GOrun Horzion Vanish from the front
Construction: Midsole
The midsole uses their all-new Ultra Flight midsole tech which is a bit different from the Hyperburst we see everywhere else. It lacks the air-filled translucent foam found elsewhere, but still remains both cushioned and light. It doesn’t necessarily have the responsiveness found in Hyperburst, but honestly still feels really good. They maintain their mid-foot strike zone which helps with foot transition as well as the addition of flex grooves in the forefoot to help with airflow and performance. There is a lot of flex in these in the toe and heel, but then maintains a solid platform at that midfoot.
Lateral midsole – rear Lateral midsole – front Medial midsole – front Medial midsole – rear
Construction: Outsole
The outsole continues to use their Goodyear rubber in a pod design at various touchpoints and then an additional swath of rubber on the toe and heel for durability. Tracking is solid and durability is decent, you can see the little nubs wear down, but it doesn’t affect performance at all.
Skechers GOrun Horzion Vanish outsole, we have seen this pattern before on the Ride models
Style & Aesthetics
Probably the biggest place of contention with the shoe and some will love and some will hate it, but honestly we kind of bug it. It is so far outside of normal from what you find out there that it is kind of nice to have something new out there. It is only available in this single color and it is a unisex design.
Overall Conclusion
The Skechers GOrun Horizon Vanish is a bit of quandary for us. They have so many solid shoes out right now and we loved the 7+ Hyper and prior to that the Razor 3, Speed 6, and Speed Elite were all really solid so we weren’t sure what to expect. What we got was a hot looking, ultra light, race day/performance shoe that is a super fun run. We are still a bit confused as to where our loyalties lie in the Skechers world and it will be interesting to see which midsole technologies they carry forward and for which purpose. The Horizon Vanish is a fun shoe though and if you are just looking for something a bit different and need another shoe in your arsenal with a focus on speed, then give these a look.
Learn more on the Skechers website
Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
