Skechers GOrun Razor 4 Introduction

The Razor identify is a kind of which has been used so usually by Skechers that the product line has grow to be actually complicated. First, there was the Razor 1, 2, 3 and three+. Then got here the Razor Elite which was a lighter, sooner model of the common Razor and a Razor TRL, a path model.

Within the final 2 years, the Razor Extra 1 and a couple of have been additionally launched and so they have been extra cushioned variations of the Razor. Now, they’ve dropped the Extra identify and they’re again to the Razor 4. Skechers says that the Razor 4 is a mix of the common Razor and the Razor Extra however that it was nonetheless designed for pace coaching and racing.

Final 12 months I examined the Razor Extra 2 and I discovered it to be a superb pace coach for runners who don’t like stiff, carbon-plated pace trainers. I loved how easy its transitions felt and the way it provided arch help for flat ft.

The Razor 4 is the primary Skechers shoe to characteristic the brand new Hyper Burst Professional midsole foam which is a supercritical TPU foam. The Razor 4 has a forefoot carbon-fiber plate nevertheless it’s fascinating that on the Skechers web site, there’s completely no point out of the plate which is generally one of many key options of a plated pace coach.

The Razor 4 now weighs 8 oz (227 g) for a males’s US9. This is a rise of 0.8 oz in comparison with final 12 months’s Razor Extra 2. Skechers has the wrong weight of 6.4 oz listed on their US web site which is fake and deceptive. The stack top stays the identical because it was within the Extra 2, 30 mm within the heel, 26 mm within the forefoot.

The worth is $130 on Operating Warehouse however $145 on the Skechers web site which additionally doesn’t make any sense.

Skechers GOrun Razor 4 First Impressions

The primary time I attempted the Razor 4 on, it was in my common measurement however the toe-box felt alarmingly slim. I may sense that this might trigger me issues so I made a decision to measurement up. Skechers doesn’t herald half sizes into Malaysia so I needed to go a full 1 cm bigger than my common measurement.

My first run was a 12 km steady-paced run and I used to be actually glad I sized up. The match felt barely lengthy however nonetheless very comfy.

I used to be impressed with the trip of the up to date midsole: it felt softer and extra cushioned than the Razor Extra 2. Transitions felt easy and the trip felt extra bouncy; extra energetic.

The brand new midsole jogged my memory of the PEBA foam within the Endorphin Velocity 2 nonetheless the Razor 4 felt much more steady than the Endorphin Velocity 2.

It didn’t really feel as quick as its predecessor due to the softer trip nevertheless it felt far more comfy and enjoyable at sluggish paces.

Skechers GOrun Razor 4 Higher

Skechers makes use of a brand new poly-mono mix for the higher with a low water primarily based dying course of which makes use of nearly no water. The brand new higher materials feels softer, extra comfy and extra premium than every other Skechers higher I’ve felt.

It has a flat, non-gusseted tongue which slides barely downwards throughout runs and it has a calmly padded collar space which could be very comfy round my ankles. Heel lockdown is nice though I do have to make use of a runner’s knot to get a great lockdown.

The Razor 4’s greatest disadvantage is its tremendous slim, pointy toe-box which even runners with actually slim ft will discover uncomfortable. I needed to go up a full measurement from my regular measurement nevertheless it feels abnormally lengthy, nearly like clown footwear.

The midfoot and forefoot are accommodating nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a shoe for broad footed runners because of the slim toe-box.

Skechers GOrun Razor 4 Sole Unit

Skechers brags that their Hyper Burst Professional midsole foam is 100% supercritical TPU. The rationale that they use Hyper Burst Professional within the Razor 4, and never common Hyper Burst (which is supercritical EVA) is as a result of Hyper Burst Professional is lighter and extra responsive.

I actually benefit from the trip of Hyper Burst Professional and I desire it to Hyper Burst: it compresses extra and it rebounds extra. I discover that it has a softer, much less dense really feel and it’s extra participating. Though it’s softer than Hyper Burst, it’s nonetheless firmer than the opposite tremendous foams like ZoomX, Fuelcell, FF Blast+ and Nitro Elite.

The Razor 4 can now be categorized as a every day coach as a result of it’s mushy sufficient for simple/restoration days. It has a extra versatile forefoot than the Razor Extra 2 so it feels extra relaxed and never as snappy. The forefoot carbon plate is barely noticeable.

For intervals and tempo runs, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the Razor 4 as a result of it has a comparatively mild construct with an energy-returning midsole nevertheless it feels extra sluggish than the Razor 3 and the Razor Extra 2 which had firmer rides. I really feel that the Razor 4 is extra suited to straightforward or average runs.

The Razor 4 has much more long-distance consolation than the Razor Extra 2 as a result of its softer trip so it’s a a lot better long term and marathon shoe than any of the earlier Razor fashions. It’s positively extra versatile. It additionally has a outstanding rocker geometry which feels energy-saving and environment friendly.

Arch Match arch help can be a characteristic of the Razor 4. It’s an insole which is built-up on the medial aspect to offer light arch help for runners with flat ft comparable to myself. I discover it actually comfy and in no way intrusive.

The outsole rubber on the Razor 4 is thicker and extra ample than its predecessors. The rubber now covers the excessive put on areas on the outer heel so the midsole foam has extra safety. There may be little or no put on exhibiting on the outsoles of my pair and grip is superb even on moist surfaces.

Skechers GOrun Razor 4 Conclusions

Total, the Razor 4 feels prefer it has a better construct high quality than earlier Razor fashions which had laborious, scratchy uppers and midsoles that felt like plastic.

Skechers designed the Razor 4 for pace runs and racing however I actually really feel that it features higher as a every day coach for runners who don’t like mushy, mushy rides; it’s steady, cushioned, and environment friendly.

It’s not as snappy or quick as earlier Razor variations nevertheless it does really feel extra bouncy and extra premium as a result of its Hyper Burst Professional midsole and upgraded higher materials.

There’s not loads to dislike concerning the Razor 4: it has a very slim toe-box however you’ll be able to treatment this by sizing up. The carbon plate in its forefoot just isn’t very noticeable so it doesn’t present a lot pace help and it’s additionally heavier than earlier Razors. It’s nonetheless very mild for a every day coach.

I’ll proceed utilizing the Razor 4 in my rotation after I need to use a every day coach that feels quick and energy-saving.

It’s a greater choice than a Pegasus, Ghost or different comparable conventional every day coach as a result of its midsole foam is a lot extra advanced- extra bouncy and extra versatile.