Editor rating:
8/10 on
SEAN FELTY
User's rating:

PROS

  • Comfortable Upper
  • Flexibility
  • Ground feel

CONS

  • Firmer ride

OUR VERDICT

If you’re looking for a lower heel to toe drop shoe that is lightweight and comfortable I think the Go Run 4 is definitely worth checking out.
SHOE INFO
Brand
Go Run 4
Model
Type
6.8 oz. (193 gr.)
Weight
100 US$
MSRP
WHO IS IT FOR
This shoe is for minimalist style runners looking for an ultra lightweight trainer or racer

Skechers Go Run 4 General Info

The go run 4 is skechers fourth edition of the Go Run series. It is impossible not to notice the lightweight nature of this shoe. The upper is also extremely comfortable. It provides a sock like fit and has a nice wide toe box.

The upper pretty much hugs your foot everywhere and the material is pliable and has enough elasticity that it basically molds to the contours of your foot. This is all immediately noticeable and impressive.

Just by putting the shoe on one time I can tell that the upper of this shoe is top notch. I also can’t help but notice the similarities it has to the Nike free running shoe. It is a minimalist style shoe. 6.8 oz and 4.0 mm drop.

Skechers Go Run 4 Sole Info

Being a minimalist type shoe, it does not have an overly soft midsole. The foam materials are cushioned enough to keep your foot happy and firm enough to maintain ground feel.

One thing I really like about this shoe is its flexibility. It feels like it is molded to your foot even when striking the ground. This is also one of the many reasons I cant help but compare it to the Nike free.

I am a big fan of the free and it’s flexibility, and this shoe is no different. The midsole features something called M-strike.

It is an area right in the middle of the midsole/outsole that is made of a slightly firmer Eva foam than the rest of the shoe.

The M stands for midfoot and this area basically provides a landing pad for the middle of your foot to strike the ground. The idea is that it keeps your foot moving forward and promotes a midfoot strike.

I think the goal was to create a little bit of a rockered feel in the shoe. The effect of the M-strike area is not drastic but it is somewhat noticeable. It is more of a subtle addition to the overall smoothness of the shoes ride.

Another feature of the outsole is the go impulse sensors. These are strategically place round “pods” that are independent from the rest of the outsole.

They are also flexible and designed to give your foot more feedback and flexibility. This creates nice ground feel when running in the shoe.

Once again just like the M-strike area the effect is not drastic and it was hard for me to pinpoint what exactly these “pods” were doing (if anything).

That being said, one of the standout areas of this shoe for me was its flexibility and ground feel. So if the go impulse sensors are what’s creating that, they are a welcomed addition.

Skechers Go Run 4 Upper Info

The upper of this shoe is one of the most comfortable I have run in this year. As mentioned previously, it is a sock like fit on the foot.

The inside is made of a smooth mesh material. It is not a seamless upper but there are no areas of irritation. The tongue is wide and thin and wraps around the top of your foot.

Skechers advertises that you can run in this shoe without socks and I would agree with them.

I promised myself that I would never attempt to run without socks after I had a really bad experience a year or so ago involving giant blisters on the bottom of both of my feet.

If I were to pick any shoe I’ve run in this year to try running in without socks it would be this one. I really don’t think it would cause any problems. It is very soft and comfortable.

The upper also features what Skechers calls quick-fit. This is basically a hole in the back heel area of the upper that makes the shoe easier to put on.

I was concerned that this hole would compromise the shoes ability to hold my heel in place but I actually found that it does the opposite and really keeps my heel stable.

The top of my heel fits nicely into the opening and keeps my foot from sliding around inside the shoe when running.

It also has a nice wide toe box allowing plenty of room for your toes to spread out when you run. Overall I am a huge fan of the go run 4’s upper.

Skechers Go Run 4 Conclusions

I have to admit that seeing the “S” symbol on the side of this shoe was a little hard to get used to. When I think of Skechers I think of light up shoes and kids shoes from department stores, not performance running shoes.

These shoes have definitely changed my mind and I think they have really done a great job. I enjoyed running in the shoe but didn’t really like it passed 10 miles.

There’s just not enough cushion for me for runs much longer than that, but that’s really personal preference. It is so light that I think it could act as a great trainer and racer for people racing half marathons and below.

It really makes for a great racing shoe. This shoe is really as comfortable as it gets when it comes to the upper. It provides a nice smooth ride with great ground feel, that could be a tad bit softer.

If you’re looking for a lower heel to toe drop shoe that is lightweight and comfortable I think the Go Run 4 is definitely worth checking out.

We thank the nice people at Skechers for sending us a pair of Go Run 4 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Skechers Go Run 4 Price Comparison

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