Skechers Performance GO Run Ride 10 Multi Tester Review

Article by Renee Krusemark, Peter Stuart, Zack Dunn, and Michael Ellenberger

Skechers Performance GORun Ride 10 ($145)

Introduction

The GO Run Ride is Skechers neutral daily trainer. It has a 34 mm heel / 24mm forefoot, 6mm drop geometry. The midsole is Skechers supercritical Hyperburst foam while the outsole is Goodyear rubber. 

The update from the Ride 9 according to Skechers is a new softer more foot compliant mono polyester upper as well as Skechers podiatrist certified Arch Fit EVA sockliner. ArchFit is the product of 120,000 unweighted foot scans and is designed to conform and support a wide variety of foot and arch types. 

There are no updates to the midsole or outsole with the previously expected carbon infused H-Plate not included. The weight stays nearly the same at 8.4 oz / 238g US men’s 9.

Pros:

Lightweight: Renee/Peter/Zack/Michael

Great cushion/responsiveness ratio: Renee

Fast turnover for all foot strike types: Renee

Works for various distances and paces: Renee/Peter/Zack/Michael

Comfortable fit and ride Peter/Zack

Cons:

Narrow toebox: Renee

Narrow medial/forefoot fit: Renee

Dull forefoot landing: Renee/Peter/Zack/Michael (not super dull, but not super exciting)

Overly soft/squishy: Michael

Upper requires far-too-tight lacing: Michael

Tester Profiles

Renee is a former U. S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.

Zack: I am a college freshman / runner at Lewis University. I’ve been running for 7 years, and focused solely on running after giving up on years of baseball and wrestling. I race distances between 800 meters and 10K  whether it be on the track, the roads, or cross country. I do most of my training on the roads, some training on the track, and occasionally run trails logging anywhere from 40-60 miles a week. My typical training consists of easy days, long days, workouts (fartleks, tempos, interval training, etc.). My typical training paces range from 7’30 a mile on easy days to sub-5 minutes a mile on fast interval days.  My personal bests are 2:00 for 800m, 4:25 for 1600m, 9:50 for 3200m, 15:57 for 5K, and 34:10 for 10K.

Michael is a 2019 graduate of Northwestern University Law School in Chicago and is a patent and intellectual property attorney. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). He recently finished 2nd at the Chicago Half-Marathon in a PR of 67:43. He has a 2:23 marathon PR (2nd place) from the 2021 Lakefront Marathon in Wisconsin

Peter lives in Austin, Texas and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:25 half marathoner in recent years.

Stats

Weight: men’s 8.34 oz  / 237g (US9)  /  women’s 7.24 oz / 205g (US8)

  Samples: 9.34  oz / 265g (US11)  women’s 7.24oz/205g (US8)

Stack Height:  women’s & men’s: 34 mm heel / 28 mm forefoot

Available $145

First Impressions and Fit

Renee: Who has two thumbs and loves HYPER BURST®? This girl. The GO RUN Ride 10 is my first in the Ride series, and I was looking forward to adding the shoe to my Skechers selection (Razor 3, Razor 3+, Razor Excess 2, Speed Elite Hyper, Razor TRL, Speed Trail). 

My first impressions were great after easy miles and short speed work. As a daily trainer, the Ride 10 seemed capable of everything from 3 miles to 20 miles from easy to interval paces, all in a very lightweight package. After breaking the shoes in, I started to notice fit issues that I think will be specific to foot shape. While I still think the Ride 10 is a great shoe, I think the fit might be a hit or miss depending on foot shape. I wore a women’s 8, and the Ride 10 has a bit more length as compared to all my other Skechers. 

Peter: A pretty good, if not exciting, looking daily trainer from Skechers. Working Archfit insole and a slab of hyperburst into the RIde line. Ride has been hit and miss for me over the years, but this is a nice upgrade. The fit is true-to-size for me and has enough room in the upper that it should accommodate most folks. Step in and first run were both excellent. 

Zack: I had experienced my first Skechers running shoe just a couple of weeks ago in the Skechers Razor Excess 2, and I really enjoyed it. One of my first thoughts while running in the shoe was, “I wonder what this would feel like without a plate, in a more daily trainer type of build?”; and this is exactly what we have here. The first impression fit was perfect and very true-to-size. The underfoot feel on the first try definitely made me excited to run in it. 

Michael: I’ve run in several makes and models from Skechers Performance now, and my (and many of our RTR reviewer’s) impressions are overly positive. Skechers consistently pairs great midsole material, in various amounts, with a huge range of uppers (you can see what I’m teasing, here)… and sometimes really hits the mark! And sometimes widely misses. In this case, it’s somewhere down the middle – a good (to even really good) trainer that just isn’t quite ripe.

Upper

Renee: The upper is Hyper mono mesh and polyester with a fair balance of stretch/security and great breathability. The tongue has moderate padding, which seems appropriate for a daily trainer. I had no issues with heel hold or irritation. As a typical Sketchers shoe, the toe box is slightly shallow/narrow on the lateral side. In all my Sketchers shoes (aside from the Speed Trail), my small toe seems cramped but that has never been an issue while running, even during a 50k with the Razor 3+. The Ride 10 has more length as compared to other Skechers, but it doesn’t change the toe box shape. For me, that’s not an issue. Runners who are fine with the lateral shape of other Skechers’ toe boxes should be fine with the Ride 10. Unlike my other Skechers, I felt narrowness on the medial side. This was a real bummer for me because after 20 miles total in the shoes, the forefoot fit became less than ideal. I can’t tell if it’s the shape of the forefoot or the midsole under the forefoot or both. Runners who have had medial-side forefoot irritation in other Skechers may have similar issues with the Ride 10.

Peter: The poly mono-mesh upper holds my foot well and is plenty breathable in this unseasonably warm Texas Spring. Lacing is efficient and the tongue is cushioned without being overly thick and has some ventilation as well. There are a couple of subtle reflective elements on the outside front of the toebox and on the heel of the shoe as well. Overall the upper is balanced, well cushioned and comfortable. The ArchFit insole adds a level of comfort and fit that I’ve felt was missing in the past couple of Skechers models. It’s a welcome addition. Padding in the heel collar is just right. 

Zack: The mono / polyester blend upper was really well made. I found it to be very breathable, with many perforations in the forefoot and toe box area, which allows for great airflow on hot days. As well as that, the padding and heel area allows for a fine heel lockdown. The tongue was cushioned perfectly and laces are just fine, with there being no issues with lockdown at all. Some small but nice detail that was added was reflective markings on the front. Overall, I think the upper was very well engineered and thought out. 

Michael: Seems I’m in the minority here, but I had some disappointment with the upper. Like Renee, I found it slightly narrow up front – but for me, the bigger issue was that in my true-to-size 8.5s (which fit just great, length-wise), I consistently had to yank the laces down to get an appropriately snug fit… only to have the upper fully relaxed (loosened) by the end of the run. It wasn’t enough of an issue for me to stop running in them – I’ve logged north of 50 miles on my pair at time of writing, so clearly it’s not a dealbreaker! – but it was a frustration.

The rest of the upper, fit-aside, is good – the material feels slightly cheap, but looks nice enough, and has some cool visibility elements. The tongue is a great blend of cushioned and thin, which is exactly what a performance trainer needs.

Midsole

Renee: If you didn’t know, I really like HYBER BURST®. The Mid-foot strike technology (MStrike) promotes a healthy forward roll. I don’t typically like strong rockers, but with the lower drop (6mm), I think it feels natural and unobtrusive with a natural foot landing. I did have some issues with the forefoot feel, which I wrote about in the ride section. At 28mm/34mm stack height, the Ride 10 is capable of a variety of distances. Skechers states the Arch Fit insole is “removable,” which is true although it’s glued in.

Peter: Yep, this is a nice use of Hyperburst. It’s got some cushion and bounce, but isn’t uncontrollable or unstable. There’s no carbon infused plate (as was rumored) but the front of the shoe has a little bit of snap to it. 

Zack: I am definitely a fan of the Hyperburst midsole foam, for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, it is very lightweight and bouncy, which is something that makes the shoe fun. Furthermore, the MStrike midfoot technology promotes a more midfoot landing which makes the ride more fun. I definitely agree with Renee, as the shoe has the stack height of 28mm/34mm it definitely can go a multitude of distances, especially with the foam being lightweight, it could be used for different runs as well. Overall, the midsole was a pleasure to run in.

Michael: Agreed across the board that the composition and proportions here are good, though (as I’ll cover in the Ride section), it came across slightly sloppy to me, especially for easy running. I also felt some hot spots on the balls of my feet after a steamy 10 mile run, but since that was the only instance, I’m willing to blame the socks. With a 28/34 stack, I think Skechers has done a great job blending comfort with potential performance in a trainer – this is a midsole that truly can handle long, slow distance and workouts in the same breath. No need to force anything here.

Outsole

Renee: Skechers + Goodyear. I have no wear on the outsole after 50 miles, and most of those miles were on gravel and crushed rock. I appreciate the generous coverage, particularly in a daily trainer. In comparison to the Goodyear outsole on the Razor 3, Razor 3+, and Excess 2, the Ride 10 has a thicker, heartier outsole. 

Peter: The outsole is looking and feeling pretty bombproof. I’m up over 60 miles on these and there is no visible wear at all. Grip is excellent in all conditions and coverage is generous. The outsole is going to last a good long time. 

Zack: Skechers definitely crushes outsoles with simplicity, yet great performance. The Goodyear rubber allows for great traction, on both roads, and gravel or even paved dirt trails. There is also a generous amount of this rubber, which provides the shoe with a very long lasting outsole. After 53 miles, there is very little wear which is definitely a good sign for a daily trainer. 

Micheal: Echoing all of the above; I have approximately the same mileage as Zack and similarly no concerns with durability. The non-rubberized (Hyperburst) elements of Skechers bottom platform can get sharp rocks and glass stuck in them pretty easily (it’s a very pliable material), but I had no such issues here. Nice!

Ride

Renee: I love HYBER BURST® (did I say that already?). My first runs with the Ride 10 were great, from 5 miles at an easy pace on gravel to speed work (sprint intervals and 5k paces). The midsole and geometry are great, and the shoes promote a healthy forefoot landing for me. 

After about  20 total miles run in the Ride, I started to feel a dullness under my forefoot. The forefoot landing felt like cardboard. I literally thought of the word “cardboard” while running a 12 miler. Then I quickly reminded myself how much I loved HYBER BURST®. What’s going on? I had to adjust my foot landing to heel strike to avoid irritating my foot. For midfoot/heel striking, I don’t think this is an issue. And during my first runs, this was not an issue. The toe bumper does not seem to be the issue, and I wonder if the slightly longer length creates a more narrow fit right at the widest part of my forefoot. I can see a gap between the width of the insole and mesh upper, which might be pinching my forefoot. Switching insoles might help.

Peter: The Skechers Ride 10 rides smooth and easy for me. I’ve pulled it out for more runs than not in the past two weeks. It pairs nicely with the slightly snappier Razor Excess 2. I haven’t even thought the word cardboard on any of my runs, so I haven’t had that problem. I agree that the forefoot could be a little bit bouncier/more forgiving, but it rides just fine for me. I’d say that overall the ride is pleasant and comfortable at easy paces and can go long without any problems. It’s not laugh out loud fun, but it is a very good and comfortable daily trainer. 

Zack: This shoe was very nice to run in. I had used it for easy days, normal runs, a tempo day, and a long day. For easy running (7:30 min/ mile pace and over, typically 6-8 miles), the shoes felt really good, as they have such a soft, forgiving midsole which feels great at slower paces. For 5-6 mile tempo runs (5:20-5:30 / mile pace), the shoe performed decently, but obviously it is not made for those faster runs, it was a bit too soft and I found it hard to get up to those quick paces. For long runs, which for me are in the 10-14 mile range (6:30 min/mile pace), the shoe performed well, but admittedly around mile 14 the legs definitely started feeling fatigued. The sweet spot of this shoe is moderate paces, which for me is 6:30-6:40 per mile, as it has a good blend of being soft and cushioned but in a lightweight package.

Michael: I’ll begin with the bad – for true recovery running, I just found the midsole here sloppy and mushy; of course, a slower cadence and less purposeful foot strike is not the ideal way to test a shoe, but it’s also a part of running – and when running slow, I felt no energy return and instead felt like I was sort of melting into the ground, instead of being propelled up against it.

But of course, that isn’t really what Hyperburst is for – and I agree with my fellow testers that at quicker speeds (including a 10 miler at just under 6:00 pace), there is some serious ‘pop’ here. For a daily trainer, I am impressed with the upside (if not surprised, given Skecher’s track record of fun trainers!).

Conclusions and Recommendations

Renee: HYBER BURST® fans and patrons of lightweight shoes will enjoy the Ride 10. The shoe is capable of a variety of paces and distances and works well on pavement and light gravel. As a daily trainer, the Ride 10 is considerably lighter in weight in comparison to other shoe options, and it works well for speed work and distance runs too, which is good because at $145 it should be a performance-based trainer. As for sizing, the length ran a bit longer than my other Skechers in the same size, and I wonder if that caused the medial forefoot issues. Runners with a wide forefoot might experience fit issues. 

Renee’s score: 9.10/10 (- .15 cost, -.25 forefoot dullness, -.40 narrow forefoot, -.10 narrow toebox). 

Peter: The Ride 10 is a comfortable daily trainer with a forgiving and pleasant ride. It’s a nice looking shoe that would be a contender if i could only bring one shoe on vacation with me right now. It’s not thrilling, but it’s a very good daily shoe and has proven to be plenty breathable for summer miles.. I’d recommend it. 

9/10. A completely competent and comfortable daily trainer that will suit lots of different folks. 

Zack: In all, I really enjoyed what this shoe had to offer. It had many great qualities of being lightweight, comfortable, and having a nice ride, but with nothing too outstanding or crazy going on. I definitely agree with Peter’s conclusion; it’s a daily trainer that can suit many people and many runs. This is definitely a versatile daily trainer option that will not disappoint in the least bit.  

Zack’s Score: 9/10

Michael: I went into the Ride 10 with mild hesitation – the Razor Excess was not a shoe I enjoyed running in – but came away largely pleased with Skechers here. The upper needs some work, but the midsole is well-positions for many runners, and (if slightly too mushy) does provide a nice blend of cushion and bounce. This isn’t an 

“awesome, go-tell-all-your-friends” trainer, but it’s worth considering if you want a dynamic everyday option.

Michael’s Score: 8.8/10

Comparisons

Index to all RTR reviews: HERE

Skechers Performance GO Run Ride 9 (RTR Review)

Editor’s Note: None of Ride 10 reviewers tested the Ride 9.  Changes as called out by Skechers are to the upper which is now poly mono-mesh and inclusion of the ArchFit insole. No changes underfoot are highlighted.

Skechers Performance GO Run Razor Excess 2 (RTR Review)

Renee: Both shoes work fine for a variety of paces and distances, although the Excess 2 is better suited for uptempo and fast paces, partly because of its carbon infused H plate whereas the Ride 10 is better suited as a daily trainer. The lower stack height (30/26) 4mmd drop Excess weighs 0.40 ounces less in my women’s size 8. The upper fit is similar, although I did not have any issues with the forefoot on the Excess 2. Sizing is comparable, although the Ride 10 is slightly longer. 

Peter: The Razor Excess is the more exciting of these two. I agree it’s a better tempo and race shoe, while the Ride may be a better choice when you are heading up over 10 miles. 

Zack: I really enjoy both of these shoes, and it is to be said that they are made for different things. The Ride is a more everyday, daily trainer option, while the Excess leans more towards the faster, workout runs. The Excess is definitely lighter, more responsive and stiffer (Due to a carbon H-Plate), with the Ride being more softer and laid-back, so deciding between the choice will be based solely on reference and what type of runs they will be used for.  

Michael: I found the Excess 2 – especially in the arch and midfoot – way too stiff, and just downright uncomfortable. I didn’t even finish testing my pair. On that alone, I’d take the Ride 10 – but the Ride is also just a more lively and better-positioned trainer for most runners, and worth considering.

Skechers Performance GO Run Razor 3/3+ (RTR Review)

Renee: The Razor 3 has better ground feel and a less pronounced roll/rocker forward. For speed work, the Razor 3 is the better choice. I have enough stack height in the Razor 3+ for distances (I ran a 50k in them) and because I did not have fit issues in either the Razor 3 or Razor 3+, I’d prefer either of those shoes over the Ride 10. I wore a women’s size 8 in the Razor 3 and in the Ride 10. Sizing is comparable, although the Ride 10 is slightly longer.

Peter: The Razor 3 is more fun and the hyperburst feels a little more wild in the Razor. For day in, day out miles I’d say the Ride 10 is a better choice. 

Michael: The Razor 3+, as I’ve noted in subsequent reviews, was a shoe I initially swore off, but kept coming back to for its easy riding and upside at speed. The Ride 10 has a similar platform and feel, on the run, but feels cheaper and a little less dynamic. Plus, the upper on the 3+ is superior. Go Razor. 

Puma Velocity Nitro 2 (RTR Review)

Renee: The Velocity Nitro 2 costs $25 less and provides a similar lightweight, fast midsole. Still, the Ride 10 is lighter (0.80 ounces in a women’s size 8), and my preference is the HYBER BURST®. The Velocity Nitro 2 has a 10mm drop with less stack height. Both shoes have a solid amount of outsole coverage. Sizing/length is comparable. 

New Balance FuelCell Rebel 2 (RTR Review)

Renee: The Rebel 2 is one of my favorite shoes. Lighter and faster than the Ride 10, the Rebel 2 is still capable of being a daily trainer for many runners. The midsole is softer in the Rebel 2, which did not compromise the responsiveness. For training and durability, the Ride 10 works better. For performance and a wider fit, the Rebel 2 is better. Sizing is comparable. 

Peter: No doubt about it for me. The Rebel V2 is more fun, more exciting and a shoe I’d reach for first. That said, you’ll probably get more miles out of the Ride 10 as the Rebels seem to fade after about 300 miles. The Ride 10 feels a little more traditional than the Rebel. 

Michael: Same as the others; the Rebel v2 is about as good as trainers get right now. It has all the upside of the Skechers without the mushiness. Go NB.

The GO Run Ride 10 is available from Skechers HERE 

& at our partner RoadRunner Sports HERE