Revision as of 12:32, 19 June 2015

The Skechers GO Bionic 2 is a lightweight, nearly zero-drop shoe with a nicely flexible sole. Its 15/18mm sole doesn't provide much cushioning, but it's enough for good Running Economy. Like many shoes in the Skechers' range, the GO Bionic is cheaper than many comparable shoes and is well worth considering. You can think of the GO Bionic as the shoe that Nike should have produced as part of their "Nike Free" range. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Sketchers Go Bionic top

Sketchers Go Bionic bottom

Sketchers Go Bionic inside

Sketchers Go Bionic outside

1 Characteristics

• Why you’d buy it. The GO Bionic is great value for money, and is lighter than many of the similar shoes such as Altra One² or Saucony Virrata.
• Cushioning . The Bionic is only 15mm/18mm thick, so it's a little firmer than a typical non running shoe, though it provide enough that I would not classify it as minimalist. One concern with cushioning is that the gaps in the midsole can get packed with stones. If that happens, it is quite uncomfortable, as there is only the thin insole between your foot and stone.
• Drop. This has 3mm of drop, and the midsole is actually fairly flat. There is no taper between the ball of the foot and the very front, nor is there much of rise under the arch. Like most shoes, the midsole cups of the heel for stability, and there is a small taper at the very rear (not enough to be considered a rocker.)
• Structure. This shoe uses single density of foam, with cutouts to increase flexibility.
• Flexibility. The bionic is remarkably flexible, as it has holes in the midsole, as well as grooves. One issue is that stones can get into the holes, causing pain.
• Outsole. There is almost no outsole, with some small patches under the big toe and midfoot area. The bionic is one of the few shoes I've come across that has the additional abrasion resistance under the midfoot rather than the heel. Most of the bottom of the shoe is exposed foam, which reduces weight at the expense of longevity, but the bionic seemed to have much better where resistance than other shoes I've come across.
• Shape. The Bionic has the classic running shoe shape that does not match the human foot, but the toe box is not as bad as many shoes. Nonetheless I still found that I had to cut the toe box open. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
• Upper. The upper is a little thicker than many shoes. The material from the midfoot to the back of the shoe is slightly cushioned and completely inflexible. However, the area from the forefoot forward is nicely flexible and breathable. The padding around the ankle opening is a little less than I would like, but adequate nonetheless.
• Tongue. The Bionic has a classic tongue that is attached half way along its length to either side of the shoe, making it nicely stable. The tongue is made of soft almost neoprene material that works quite well.
• Lacing. The round laces work well and remained tied.
• Heel Counter. There does not appear to be extra material to form a true heel counter, just upper materials shape giving it structure. The shoe comes as far up the heel as is typical for running shoe.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Skechers GO Bionic at Zappos Buy Skechers GO Bionic at Road Runner Sports Buy Skechers GO Bionic at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Skechers GO Bionic at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Skechers GO Bionic

How Skechers GO Bionic compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Skechers GO Bionic compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Skechers GO Bionic compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Skechers GO Bionic compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 Comparisons

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

4.1 GO Bionic and Saucony Virrata

Comparing the GO Bionic and the Saucony Virrata:

• Similarities
  • Grip. Neither has much grip.
  • Shape. Neither has a reasonable toe box.
• Advantage GO Bionic
  • Price. The Bionic is generally cheaper.
  • Weight. The Bionic is a little lighter.
  • Flexibility. The Bionic is quite a bit more flexible.
  • Longevity. The Bionic lasts longer than you'd expect.
• Advantage Saucony Virrata
  • Drop. Virrata is zero drop.
  • Cushioning . The Virrata is more softly cushioned, though it's close.
  • Trails. The Virrata has a little more protection from rocks, but not much.
  • Availability. The Virrata is easier to find, as Saucony is widely stocked.

Sketchers Go Bionic top	Sketchers Go Bionic bottom	Sketchers Go Bionic inside	Sketchers Go Bionic outside
Saucony Virrata top	Saucony Virrata bottom	Saucony Virrata inside	Saucony Virrata outside

4.2 GO Bionic and Altra One2

Comparing the GO Bionic and the Altra One2:

• Similarities
  • Grip. Neither has much grip.
  • Trails. Neither has much protection from rocks.
• Advantage GO Bionic
  • Price. The Bionic is a lot cheaper.
  • Weight. The Bionic is a little lighter.
  • Flexibility. The Bionic is a bit more flexible.
  • Longevity. The Bionic lasts longer than you'd expect.
  • Availability. The Bionic is a little easier to find, but Skechers running shoes are not widely stocked.
• Advantage Altra One2
  • Drop. The Altra are zero drop.
  • Shape. The Altra has a much better toe box.
  • Cushioning . The Altra is a lot more softly cushioned.

Sketchers Go Bionic top	Sketchers Go Bionic bottom	Sketchers Go Bionic inside	Sketchers Go Bionic outside
Altra One2 top	Altra One2 bottom	Altra One2 inside	Altra One2 outside

5 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.