We are back again with one of our favorite running unsung heroes, Skechers, but this time they are taking their amazing Hyperburst midsole onto the trails. The Skechers GOrun Razor TRL is a premium trail shoe that makes use of everything great Skechers has been doing on the streets but brings it off-road. They have tried this before with the Speed TRL, but the new Razor TRL is a much-improved iteration with more stack and more room up top. So don’t let that first version deter you, this is a really fun shoe and its weight makes it nimble and fast even on the narrowest single track.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Fast, nimble, and comfortable trail performer with solid grip and control.
- Weighs in at 8oz or 227g for a US Men’s 9, 6.3oz or 179g for a US Women’s 7.
- Features 32mm of cushion and has a 4mm heel/toe drop.
- Retails at $135.00 USD and comes in 1 color for Men and Women.
Run Test
The first thing about the Razor TRL is that it’s pretty much unlike any trail shoe that you’ve ever run in prior. Its design is more like a road shoe from the upper through the midsole. This makes it lighter, nimbler, and faster than most trail shoes you will have ever tried. It definitely does sacrifice some level of durability because of this and sure, that upper will wear faster and that midsole will start to show its age quickly, but the shoe remains insanely fun.
On the foot, the upper is snug when you slip it on and then the toebox opens up quite a bit. The midfoot and heel hold is nice and snug and when you cinch it down, these things are locked in. Underfoot, it feels like the Razor road shoe in really every way. The only thing you might notice is the lugs under your foot, but other than that it is almost identical. Bouncy, cushioned, and with a perfect level of drop.
In the run, the Razor TRL is super fun. The low weight makes the shoe extremely maneuverable and nimble even on the most technical trails. The 32mm of cushion eats up most of the debris you may come across as that extra foam absorbs anything underfoot you might run into. They are also one of the fastest trail shoes out there so these are not for the faint of heart. You are going to need solid legs as well as strong ankles and feet. They are simply not going to be for everyone.
The Razor TRL is a super fun shoe but is truly not meant for every runner. They are going to work best for everyday shorter distance runs and typically for most experienced runners who are looking for faster times and are willing to sacrifice a bit of durability and stability to achieve it. For longer runs or races under 50k, they will be a great pick and sure you could wear them further, but the lack of comfort in the upper will start to rear its head.
Construction: Upper
The upper uses a lightweight mono mesh/polyester reminiscent of other shoes in their Razor lineup, but with a little more grit. There is then a rubberized overlay applied to the toe cap for increased durability and then from the mid-foot back as well to provide stability and protection. The tongue is non-gusseted and ultra-thin but stays in place well due to the location of the lace lock on the lace cage. It is super lightweight and breathable and again, designed to be fast, but this will be the first area to go on the shoe.
Mono mesh polyester upper with rubberized toe overlays 
Lace cage is super simple 
Nicely structured heel with the overlay wrapping
Construction: Midsole
The midsole on the Razor TRL is almost a mirror image of their road counterparts. This uses 32mm of nitrogen-infused Hyperburst, they feature a 4mm drop and use their M-strike technology. This all is designed to increase turnover performance and delivers a very uptempo experience. This midsole can actually tackle any level of distance given how much cushion they are providing.
Midsole – lateral view 
Midsole – medial view
Construction: Outsole
The outsole makes use of a bit thicker layer of rubber designed in collaboration with Goodyear. The lugs are triangular and switch from forward to backward-facing at about mid-foot. This is designed specifically to deal with uphill/downhill traction. There are some areas of exposed Hyperburst which does wear a bit the more you run in them, so another potential durability issue.
Goodyear rubber outsole and MStrike clearly visibile.
Style & Aesthetics
The Razor TRL looks like a road shoe with a bit of a grittier outsole and this might throw some folks at first. They also look light and quick, which they are, so don’t let their innocent/road shoe look deter you.
Overall Conclusion
Skechers has delivered on a really solid trail runner in the GOrun Razor TRL. They will face some durability issues over time, but for most folks, they will provide a fun and nimble run. We see them as a great shoe for racing especially at the lower distance levels probably all the up to 50K levels. They’ve got some great lines, breath well, and can really move when you want them to… plus that Hyperburst delivers just as well on the trail.
Note that Skechers provided these shoes for review without compensation and this in no way affected our judgement as it relates to the construction or performance of the shoe.
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.
