When Skechers released their new proprietary Hyper Burst foam, we knew we had to try it. It’s touted as thin enough to offer ground feel while still maintaining a cloud-like cushion. So, Skechers sent us a pair of GoRun 7s, their newest shoe with the foam-based midsole. The GoRun, with its sock-like upper, is built specifically for tempo-style run workouts. We took them out for 30-plus miles on gravel, dirt, road and the track to see how they’d perform.
The Good: From the first mile to the thirtieth, the Skechers GoRun 7 had a cushion that felt plush and light underfoot. I took it everywhere from track practice to easy runs up and down NYC’s West Side Highway to test out its cushioning, traction and knit upper. I liked how it handled track workouts, was extremely light and never bothered my feet at all. Credit Skecher’s new Hyper Burst foam, featured here in the midsole, which sets the shoe apart from its competitors and makes it so lightweight. Hyper Burst is durable yet plush — a hard combination to tackle — and made my training runs for an upcoming half marathon feel easier.
At just 7.8-ounces, the GoRun 7 is in line with a racing shoe like the Hoka One One Rincon (7.5-ounces) or the New Balance 1400 v6 (7.2-ounces), so there’s less weight to move with every step, meaning you have more energy over a longer run. The foam goes all the way from the midsole to the outsole and is bolstered by strategically-placed rubber pillars on the bottom that grip wet and uneven surfaces instead of one long plate, as a way to save weight. Hyper Burst foam first debuted in the Skechers Razor 3 (one of Best New Running Shoes of 2018) and in the GoRun 7, there’s just more of it so you feel more support underfoot, compared to the GoRun Razor 3, which is a shoe built for speed and race days.
Who It’s For: Runners who are looking for some cushion and like bounce, but don’t want any added heft will enjoy this shoe. If you’re logging roughly 30-plus miles a week for an upcoming half marathon and need a sneaker to wear for your tempo or long run days, the GoRun 7 is a plush option at a low price.
Watch Out For: The knit upper felt a bit stretchy and not as locked in as I’d like. I’ve read that the high ankle fabric can cause issues with chafing or rubbing along the Achilles or at the front of my ankle, but I didn’t experience this. It was nearly impossible to get a really secure feel, even after tightening the laces. If you need an upper with enough structure for arch support or pronation, this shoe (and its flexible engineered mesh) isn’t for you.
Alternatives: The past model of the GoRun 7 is the GoRun 6 ($60+), which has a similar knit upper, but with a totally redesigned and more supportive midsole. Other running shoes that are built for long runs include the Fresh Foam Beacon ($120), Hoka One One Mach 2 ($140) and the Nike Epic React 2 ($150). All of the above have a plethora of cushioning underfoot, yet deliver solid ground feel. They’re also all around the same price, so it’s worth trying them on to see which upper you prefer.
Verdict: This is an ideal sneaker if you enjoy logging 5- to 6-mile runs in a neutral yet bouncy shoe, or if you want a lightweight sneaker that will perform on the track just as well as it does on the road. If you’re comfortable with a stretchy knit upper that doesn’t provide a ton of support, this is the shoe for you.
What Others Are Saying:
• “Launched right after the recently unveiled GOrun Razor 3, the GOrun 7 is the next shoe in the Skechers Performance line built with the company’s Hyper Burst foam. This new midsole is EVA-based, but Skechers uses a different molding process. Instead of blowing it into shape with chemicals, the foam is made when CO2 is heated under pressure and becomes a supercritical fluid. There’s a load of science behind it, but the process creates foam with a unique cellular structure that is more durable and springy than the stuff you find in many running shoes. It’s also lighter than standard EVA. When you run in it, the GOrun 7 feels firm yet protective. The outsole has pods on the bottom of the foot—you might remember them from the original GOrun, along with the noticeable midfoot bump. Skechers brought all that back to boost the shoe’s cushioning power and seamless transition. When you land, the pods compress individually as they get loaded with weight, making the shoe feel smooth and soft.” — Jeff Dengate, Runner’s World
• “Skechers’ new midsole material, called “Hyper Burst,” is going to shake up the running shoe universe the same way that thermoplastic polyurethane materials like Adidas’ Boost and Saucony’s Everun impacted the market. Using nitrogen and a dough- like expansion process, the Hyper Burst is lighter than TPU and seemingly compression proof, unlike EVA, so it has incredible energy return without the weight or sacrifice in durability. The GoRun 7 Hyper’s knit upper provides security without overlays for a sock-like hold and breathability, and the midfoot strike-dynamic makes it an ideal shoe for running off the bike.” — Adam Chase, Triathlete
• “It is a tale of two shoes. On one hand you have one of the best midsole/outsole pairings I’ve ever run in, mated to a problematic upper in a variety of ways. Runners with narrow feet have to McGuyver all kinds of ways to keep the shoe on, and runners with wide feet will experience issues up front. And with all that said, it is still a good, if not great, shoe that has tons of promise for the future.” — Jeff Beck, RoadTrailRun
Key Specs
Weight: 7.8oz
Stack Height: 15mm (forefoot), 19mm (heel)
Offset: 4mm
Upper: Engineered mesh
Skechers provided this product for review.
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