Details
Brand
Skechers
Heel To Toe Drop
4 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Racing
Key Features
• 5Gen super energy-efficient midsole cushion• Goknit upper fits snugly and ventilates exceptionally well• Ortholite insole• Dupont Delrin plate positioned in the midsole• Dupont Hytrel heel counter• Midfoot strike zone helps encourages natural footstrike• Parametric outsole construction
Upper
The upper is really where the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 shines. Made of Goknit material, the upper feels secure without comprising stability. It feels nice to slip on the shoe and not have to worry too much about lacing up properly. The traditional laces allow you to adjust the fit, but I’m almost certain Skechers could do away with the laces and the shoe would still fit fine. My favorite part was the subtle tongue. It’s paper thin and soft and there are zero edges that might cause irritation to the front of your ankle – a problem I’ve had with other shoes. The heel collar is only mildly padded but I felt locked into the shoe nonetheless.;Inside the shoe, there’s an Ortholite sock liner. Thankfully, it has antibacterial properties. I found myself preferring to wear the shoe without socks (it’s virtually seamless) so I was a bit concerned about my foot sweat stinking up the interior of the shoe. I would have preferred a bit more moisture wicking from the liner, but alas my feet probably sweat way more than a normal person’s.
Midsole
The midsole of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is made up of 5Gen cushioning material and it feels tremendous underfoot. As soon as I slipped on the shoe it was like stepping on bouncy little clouds. The cushioning in responsive and doesn’t crumble as you keep running. I felt the energy return even at the tail end of my longer runs. The shoe also features M-Strike technology which is meant to encourage a more natural footstrike. As a forefoot striker, I definitely enjoyed this aspect of the shoe. I didn’t feel like the heel was in the way and felt free to run as I saw fit. The midsole also features a Dupont stability plate which provides an extra bit of responsiveness and support for neutral wearers.
Outsole
The outsole of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is probably the weakest part of the shoe. The shoe is almost completely covered in rubber except for a cutout that helps to reduce the overall weight somewhat. The geometric web-like outsole pattern is meant to provide traction and I found it did well on dry pavement. My biggest concern was how thin the sole seemed. Granted, I only ran a little over 40 miles in my pair. I just had a feeling, however, that I wouldn’t get that much life out of the shoe. As a forefoot striker, I tend to wear out the frontal part of my shoe’s outsole really quickly. There just never seems to be enough coverage in that area.
Breathability
Like I mentioned, the shoe has a nicely designed Goknit upper that really does a great job at circulating air. I never felt too warm inside the shoe, even when I ran in dreadful humid weather. I did, however, find my feet feeling a bit sweatier than I would have liked. The anti-microbial Ortholite liner is nice and soft, but it couldn’t keep up with my sweaty feet. If only running shoes could come equipped with interior mini air conditioners!
Comfort
Aside from flip-flops, this is the most comfortable shoe I’ve worn in a long time. The comfort has a lot to do with the 5Gen cushioning that Skechers packs inside the midsole. There a whole lot of hype when it comes to Adidas Boost cushioning and other running brand proprietary midsole materials but I think it’s safe to say that Skechers is catching up quickly. The best part? The shoes don’t cost a mint but you get ample padding and a nice responsive ride. The fit of the shoe is true to size, although I’d caution runners with wider feet to try the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 before purchasing. The upper has a lot of give but it feels a lot like slipping on a sock. If you want to wear socks with the shoe, I’d consider going up a half-size. Should I decide to purchase a pair in the future, it’s what I’ll be doing since I find it necessary to wear socks for winter runs.
Style
One thing I really liked about the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is the fact that they can easily double as casual wear shoes. I’m not a shoe person, aside from running shoes that is, so I find it hard to justify spending money on casual sneakers. I like being able to wear my running shoes around town for errands if need be. This shoe can easily be transitioned from training to lunch with friends. It’s got a sleek design with simple pops of colors and the instantly recognizable Skecher’s logo. It comes in three colorways for women, the black/purple combo is the subtlest and the one I tested. I found myself wearing the shoes for walks with my dogs because they were so darn comfy and I even got compliments! The men’s version comes in four color options most of them quite flashy.
Durability
I was most concerned with this aspect of the shoe. I usually find myself replacing my shoes quite often when I am training for a race because as a forefoot striker I wear out the soles of my shoes very quickly. Companies never seem to add enough protective materials in the areas where I strike the most. It’s frustrating. It was the same with the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4. After a few runs, I could sense that the outsole wasn’t going to last that long. The shoe is flexible and lightweight but where it shines in those aspects it loses out in terms of durability. I was happy with the quality build of the upper. The thin Goknit material seems a bit flimsy at first, but it’s really built strong and I sense it could handle a lot of use.
Protection
Look, this is a racing shoe. It’s not meant to be taken on trails and protect you from much. The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is meant to be taken for fast runs in a controlled environment (a race). The thin outsole does grip well on pavement. When I encountered puddles during my runs I did feel like there was the potential for slipping, though, so I wouldn’t trust these in heavy rainfall and definitely not on in ice. I’d call these fair weather shoes. The thing is, with too much more grip underfoot, the shoe would provide too much-breaking action and that would hinder race day performance. Otherwise, the rest of the shoe does just fine in terms of protecting the wearer. I didn’t feel exposed to the elements despite the thin upper but I would avoid going off-road in the Speed 4.
Responsiveness
This was probably my favorite part of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4. They are so freaking responsive! Even on the treadmill, where runs can feel like a slog, I felt a spring in my step. I usually feel as if my feet are planting themselves deeper and deeper into my shoes as I finish off my runs but in the Speed 4 I felt like the 5Gen midsole cushion really did give me an extra boost. The cushion seems to deliver a lot of energy-return and it’s quite surprising considering the low weight of the shoe. Running in the Speed 4 felt like I was running in a much higher cushioned shoe but without all the bulk. With the low heel to toe drop, there’s also an element of stability since you can feel the ground below quite easily.
Support
The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 delivers its support via the midsole’s Dupont Delrin plate. It helps with energy-return and enables an element of stability for the wearer. Truthfully, I didn’t really find this component added any noticeable support. The upper alone is supportive enough. I felt contained inside the shoe and well-supported by the generous midsole 5Gen material. The Dupont Hytrel heel component also works to ensure the wearer remains stable.
Terrain
I wouldn’t take these for runs anywhere but around town. The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is just not for adventure running. The outsole is almost entirely flat and although it offers a near full-contact surface there are not enough lugs to grip varied terrain. The geometrically designed outsole is clearly meant to be used on race day. I would even be wary of running on grass in this shoe.
Price
Even though I found myself having concerns about the shoe’s durability, it didn’t really matter. Big picture, the shoe is affordable enough for me to accept a lack of durability. Skechers brand running shoes place themselves at the low end of the pricing spectrum. They’re the perfect shoes for runners without big budgets to splurge on their hobby. It’s another reason I’m considering moving to Skechers. I find it hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on shoes that serve a single purpose and are only mildly comfortable. The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 hits all the marks. It’s extremely comfortable, lightweight, and looks great during a race or on a walk with the dogs. It’s nice to know that if I retire a shoe from racing, I can continue to wear it casually.
Drop
The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 has a tiny drop of 4mm. This drop brings you closer to the ground which helps with stability and increases overall responsiveness.;I really liked the drop in this shoe. It seemed to work well with the responsive cushioning. Each step felt natural and I didn’t feel weighed down or annoyed by the rearfoot of the shoe, which is a common occurrence for me with standard drop shoes.
Stability
This race day shoe does have a bit of stability to offer to wearers. The 5Gen midsole material incorporates a nice stable platform for runners. The Dupont brand Delrin component in the midsole enhances the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4’s overall stability and the Hytrel heel component also keeps runners from wobbling side to side.;As a neutral runner, I didn’t really notice these features so I’m not sure if they’re just not very effective or very subtle. All I can say is that I felt stable wearing the Speed 4 and a lot of that secureness came from the fit of the upper.
Flexibility
You’ll notice a photograph that I took that demonstrates the flexibility of the shoe. I really liked this aspect of the Skechers GoMeb Speed 4. It makes for a comfortable toe-off and it enhances the rebound you get from the 5Gen cushioning. Each step really feels like you’re springing forward. The upper also provides a lot of give. It’s stretchy enough to accommodate the wearer’s foot and the lacing system almost seemed superfluous.;I do worry about the shoe’s outsole, though. The Speed 4 is so flexible I could envision the outsole cracking when pushing off hard after months of use. Unfortunately, I couldn’t confirm my suspicions since I only wore the shoe for a few weeks of running.
Traction
There’s not a lot of that here. The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 features an outsole with a very flat profile. The geometric shape of the sole looks more like it’s for fashion than form. You wouldn’t catch me wearing these during my icy winter runs. I felt a bit uneasy when wearing these while running in wetter weather. They grip just fine when the weather is nice and sunny but during and after a rainy day I just didn’t feel as secure underfoot.
Bottom Line
The Skechers GoMeb Speed 4 is a super affordable shoe that can most definitely carry you through race day. The extremely responsive Speed 4 works just as well for daily runs if you’re looking for a lightweight low drop option. It also happens to be Kara Goucher’s official race day shoe. I know I’ll never in a million years be as great a runner as her, but the shoe made me feel fast nonetheless. It’s an all-around great shoe for running fast and despite what I saw as potential durability issues, it’s an excellent option for racing.
