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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 Review}}Is the [http://www.zappos.com/skechers-ultra GOrun Ultra] a Hoka for only $80? Sadly not, but it's closer than you might expect, though the cost per mile probably works out more higher than the longer lasting Hokas. With the updated GOrun Ultra 2, Skechers has some good improvements, but there's still some way to go before it's competitive. I've rated the Ultra as "Worth Considering." {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}* '''Cushioning'''{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|250px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 top]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-bottom. The JPG|none|thumb|250px|Skechers GOrun Ultra is massively cushioned in the heel; it's as thick as the thicker Hokas, but softer2 bottom]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-inside. However, the forefoot is far thinnerJPG|none|thumb|250px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 inside]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-outside. JPG|none|thumb|250px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 outside]]|}=Characteristics=* '''Protection'''{{H:WhyBuy}}. The GOrun Ultra offers little protection compared with other Minimax shoes. This is partly because the forefoot is relatively thin and partly because a lot of cushioning for the large foam lugs. If you hit a stone between the lugs the forefoot is only 22mm (with insole). If the stone hits on the gap in the red foampurchase price, you'd only have about 17mm but its lack of remarkably soft foam. Ouchlongevity makes it hard to recommend. * '''Drop'''{{H:cushioning}}. The drop with GOrun Ultra has plenty of soft cushioning, but it falls short of the insole is 14mm[[Hoka Clifton]]. The cushioning lacks bounce, making it worse than especially when compared with a traditional running shoeHoka. If you take I think part of the problem is the egg crate effect of the insole out, midsole that make the drop is reduced to 10mmGOrun Ultra softer on initial contact, which is but this softness does not quite as bad, though slightly more than a traditional shoelast all the way through the landing. HoweverOverall, if you look at the picture above, youGOrun Ultra can'll notice t compete with the cut outs in [[Hoka Clifton]] for the red foam around the forefootsoft, which makes the drop seem worse as the forefoot is softer and more compressibleplush ride. ** Note that the measurements published by Skechers indicate the {{H:drop is 8mm with the insole and 4mm without the insole}}. I've also seen The drop of the measurements of 23/27mm sole height quoted by third parties. HoweverGOrun Ultra is 6mm, an independent measurement but when the shoe is 27/41mm with the insole, 25/35mm withoutworn this goes up to 8mm, which close to my measurement. I took my measurement from under the ball and heel of the foot using the slice seen abovebelieve is far too much. * '''Medial post'''{{H:structure}}. The construction of the sole is a little odd, becoming thicker just in front and to the inside of your heel. This creates what is sometimes called a sort of medial post, which is intended in an attempt to resist the natural roll of your foot as it lands. The combination of the shape of the midsole and the drop caused me slight knee discomfort, something I rarely suffer from. * '''Feel'''{{H:flexibility}}. The GOrun Ultra is quite flexible when compared with a Hoka. I found This is partly due to the combination lack of outsole, and partly the medial post egg crate effect that means the midsole is thinner than it would otherwise be. * {{H:outsole}}. There is no outsole, and the large drop rather disconcertingegg crate effect of the exposed midsole means that the GOrun Ultra wears quickly. The exposed egg crate "lugs" wear down horribly quickly on asphalt, even faster than the [[Altra One]]. * {{H:shape}}. The GORun Ultra has a better shape than most running shoes, and while it's not really designed to fit the human foot, I found I could run in them without cutting open the heel is nicely cushionedtoe box. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}* {{H:upper}}. The upper mostly unpadded, with just a relatively small amount around the forefoot feels rather poorankle opening. There are far more seams and overlays than I've run d like, making blisters a few miles with a GOrun Ultra on one foot possible issue. Most of the upper is inflexible, but the area at the top of the toe box and a Hoka Bondi on the other (lower part of the tongue is quite stretchy. The inflexible areas of the shoe don't do that at home)have much breathability, and the shoes feel superficially similarseem overly thick. * '''Heel counter'''{{H:tongue}}. The heel counter tongue is attached on either side, but this shoe is rather different to other shoesdoes not extend all the way up the tongue, putting almost no pressure on the Achillesso it doesn' tendont feel like a "sock upper". Instead This arrangement worked really well, keeping the tongue in place without any problems putting the heel counter presses shoe on or creating excessive pressure on the back top of the heel bone, which feels rather odd initially, and when running faster it felt like foot. The tongue is moderately padded at the GORun Ultras would come offtop end. * {{H:lacing}}. The traditional flat laces stayed tied.* {{H:heelcounter}}. HoweverThe heel counter is fairly firm, but also quite small so itshouldn's possible that this shoe may work better if you are having Achilles' Tendon t cause any issues. * '''Wear'''[[File:GORunSole. Shoes that lack JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the hard rubber outsole layer always wear more quicklysole, but showing the GORun Ultra's have lugs wear that wear even quicker than others. If found noticeable wear occurred after only just 130 miles. ]]{{FastBlr|skechers/gorun-ultra-2-707|707|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2}}=Comparisons=Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.==Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 and Sketchers GOrun Ultra==* '''InjurySkechers have made a number of good improvements over the original version. The thickness of the midsole had changed from 26/40 to 28/34, so the forefoot is thicker and better cushioned, while rearfoot cushioning has been reduced. While it'''I found that I started s sad to develop knee pain during see the loss of rear cushioning, this has made the time I was trying out these shoesdrop rather less horrible. The drop is still 8mm when loaded, even though I was only running short distances but at least that's an improvement. The other improvement is in themthe upper at the extreme rear where it wraps around the heel bone. The knee pain disappeared after In the original, the rear did not cup the heel at all, which was an odd sensation and I ceased using found it put undue pressure on the GORun ultrasAchilles bursa (actually the Retrocalcaneal Bursa). This could be coincidence Sadly Skechers did not improve the lifespan of coursethe GOrun Ultra, but and it still wears out like it does concern me's made of chocolate. For more bad news, the weight has gone up nearly an ounce. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 top]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 bottom]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 inside]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-outside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Sketchers-GoRun-Ultra-top.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Sketchers GOrun Ultra top]]|[[File:Sketchers-GoRun-Ultra-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Sketchers GOrun Ultra bottom]]|[[File:Sketchers-GoRun-Ultra-inside.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Sketchers GOrun Ultra inside]]|[[File:Sketchers-GoRun-Ultra-outside. jpg|none|thumb|200px|Sketchers GOrun Ultra outside]]|}==Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 and Hoka Clifton 2==The [[Hoka Clifton| Hoka Clifton 2]] is the best [[Minimax]] shoe by far, combining massive cushioning with light weight. The GOrun Ultra is heavier, but offers less cushioning. The Clifton has most of far less drop, and lasts vastly longer, as well as being better cushioned. While the GOrun Ultra may be cheaper to buy, the softness cost per mile is much higher, and comfort the Clifton is a better shoe in every way I can think of . {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 top]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 bottom]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 inside]]|[[File:Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-outside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 top]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 inside]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-outside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 outside]]|}{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 2}}==Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 and Saucony Kinvara==The [[Saucony Kinvara]] is a great transitional shoe from a traditional shoe like the Hoka at [[Asics GS 2000]] to something more optimal. The Kinvara is quite a far lower purchase pricebit lighter (>2oz) and has less drop, but not as well cushioned. HoweverThe Kinvara is a much better transitional shoe, I have some concerns with amount of drop and the rapid wear that undermines the cost advantageUltra is more of a compromised [[Minimax]].

|[[File:GoRunSliceSkechers GoRun Ultra 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|x300px200px|A slice through the Skechers GOrun ultras.Ultra 2 top]]|[[File:GoRunPressureSkechers GoRun Ultra 2-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|x300px200px|Here's a close up with my foot in the slice. The arrows give an idea of where the pressure points are under the ball and heel of the foot. Here you can see the sole thickening in front of the heel, creating a 'medial post'.Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 bottom]]|- valign="top"|[[File:GORunAnkleSkechers GoRun Ultra 2-inside.JPG|none|thumb|x300px200px|A close up of the ankle, where you can see the foam that holds the shoe against the back of the ankle.Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 inside]]|[[File:GORunAnkle2Skechers GoRun Ultra 2-outside.JPG|none|thumb|x300px200px|Here's the closeup with my ankle, and the blue arrow points to where the shoe presses on the heel bone (calcaneus) and the calcanean bursa. The red arrow points to the Achilles' tendon, which is where most shoes press. Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 outside]]

|[[File:GORunSoleSaucony Kinvara 6-top.JPG|none|thumb|x300px200px|A close up of the sole, showing the wear that occurred after just 130 milesSaucony Kinvara 6 top]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 bottom]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 inside]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-outside. JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 outside]]

{{BuyShoesFastBlr|AZ=Tsaucony/kinvara-6-952|952|Saucony Kinvara 6}}