Details
Brand
Skechers
Heel To Toe Drop
4mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Cushioned
Key Features
• Full-coverage parametric web lug design for great traction• Single-density 5GEN midsole cushioning is comfortable, responsive, and flexible• Outsole cavities plus ventilated upper provide excellent breathability and water drainage• Extra rubber in heel and forefoot for greater durability• Small drop size
Upper
The flexibility of the upper allows it to stay comfortable even during long runs. The upper is made of a flat-knit material that is essentially seamless, this aspect of the upper also helps add comfort. This material is snug and secures while still being flexible, and it also gives great ventilation. Synthetic overlays make the upper both stable and durable—they decrease the risk of irritation and make the shoe softer, yet more firm as well. The tongue is very flexible, as is the collar, giving extra support all around the foot. And a full-length Strobel-stitched last adds extra flexibility around the underfoot area.
Midsole
Single-density 5GEN cushioning made from EVA foam makes up the majority of the midsole. This cushioning has a finish that is soft and supple, and it really helps protect your legs no matter how long you are running or on what kind of terrain. One nice aspect of the midsole is the firm cushioning—this isn’t typical of most maximalist shoes, but the Ultra Road 2 has more stability because the cushioning is so firm. It’s still plenty flexible, however, and gives you a smooth ride, aiding in moving to higher speeds. A perforated sock liner helps with breathability, and M-Strike technology shows off the rocker design by making things efficient through the midfoot strike zone. The insole has a great fit and also helps with your natural stride.
Outsole
The GORun Ultra Road 2’s outsole is a rocker-design. It also has great forefoot flexibility, making the overall outsole less aggressive. Three cavities on each side of the forefoot help with this flexibility, and with water drainage as well. Lugs can be found on the outsole in a full-coverage parametric web design. This lug arrangement does two things: it gives the shoe good traction on the road, and it supports a smooth transition all the way through your gait cycle to help you keep your momentum going forward. The outsole is very wide, which is good news for the shoe: a wide outsole gives the Ultra Road 2 more protection, responsiveness, and stability. Finally, the outsole also features extra rubber in the heel and forefoot to aid in durability and stability. Skechers has come a long way over the years and has transitioned from other technologies, consumers appreciate the way Skechers is always evolving and searching for what works best. They’ve landed on a great outsole package with the Ultra Road 2.
Breathability
A perforated sock liner in the midsole helps with breathability—plus, it gives the shoe good drainage properties. The upper is also very breathable, its flat-knit material provides excellent ventilation to help air continue to circulate all around your foot. The outsole also helps with breathability: three cavities on each side of the forefoot help expedite water drainage. Runners who train on hot summer days will appreciate the good breathability offered by the Ultra Road 2. The great ventilation aids with comfort as well.
Comfort
No matter how long or how far you run, the upper will stay comfortable because of its excellent flexibility and breathability. The midsole is very comfortable as well, its 5GEN cushioning is single-density (an unusual choice) and is made with EVA foam. The maximalist cushioning of the Ultra Road 2 provides plenty of comfort even on long hot days (the great breathability properties of the shoe help add comfort as well—keeping air circulating around your foot is key to staying comfortable).
Style
Skechers has become known for having subpar, unattractive shoe designs, and the Ultra Road 2 is no different. The logo is unattractive, the shoe looks clunky (although this may just be because of the maximum cushioning, in this case), and there is a rather large “quick fit” tab on the back to aid you in putting on the shoe. Women’s color options are purple/pink, black, charcoal, and pink, the men’s shoe comes in charcoal, blue, burgundy, black, and blue/navy. The shoe is very large and bulky and just does not look appealing. If you’re an athlete who is constantly concerned about how you look while running, stay away from the Ultra Road 2, because it simply does not look attractive.
Durability
The heel and forefoot of the Ultra Road 2 are reinforced with extra rubber to help add max durability. The rubber on the heel is thin, but has been reported to still have adequate durability. Synthetic overlays add more durability as well. Since the Ultra Road 2 is designed for long distances, it should last for hundreds of miles, it is very well-made, tough, and will hold up even under all of that pounding on the pavement.
Protection
The 5GEN cushioning in the midsole does a great job of protecting the entire foot during long runs, it also protects your joints and is very soft to walk or run in. This firm cushioning provides extra stability to help you feel secure. The outsole is very wide, which aids with protection as well. The toe area is infused with a rubber stiffener to help protect your toe. Skechers did an excellent job upping the protection of this shoe to keep you feeling safe and secure on all of your road runs.
Responsiveness
The responsiveness of the Ultra Road 2 is not excellent—there isn’t really much ground feel. However, this is to be expected in a maximalist shoe. But the midsole cushioning does provide adequate responsiveness and helps the shoe give a lively and smooth ride. It also encourages higher speeds and the M-Strike technology keeps your stride efficient. Although many maximalist shoes are not responsive, and the Ultra Road 2 is not anything to write home about, it is still plenty good enough.
Support
Because of extra cushioning in the upper and the molded heel counter, the heel area of the Ultra Road 2 has great support. The tongue is flexible and has a secure feeling. Maximalist shoes are becoming more and more trendy, but the majority of them have one big problem: although they have ample cushioning, they somehow still lack adequate support. The Ultra Road 2, however, has a great amount of support to keep your foot safe and secure wherever you are running.
Terrain
The Ultra Road 2 is designed for the road, as the name suggests. Its outsole is covered in lugs (using a full-coverage parametric web design) plus a few flex grooves. Since this outsole pattern is not very aggressive, it is highly recommended to run exclusively on pavement —no trails or technical terrain with this shoe. The good news, though, is that the Ultra Road 2’s traction combined with its support and stability will always keep you feeling safe on road runs. Plus, it’s designed for higher speeds and longer distances, so as long as you’re on the basic terrain you can run for as fast and as long as you’d like.
Price
The price of the Skechers GORun Ultra Road 2 is more or less average for a running shoe of its size and with its capabilities. Since the shoe is so durable—it is built for long distances—you will more than get your money’s worth out of it. Runners who dislike spending large amounts of money on shoes will be happy with the price of the Ultra Road 2, but so will runners who believe that the price of a shoe directly correlates to the quality of the shoe. The Ultra Road 2’s price falls in the middle of the road and should be right for anybody.
Drop
The heel height of the Ultra Road 2 is 28mm and the forefoot height is 24mm, so the heel-to-toe-drop of the shoe is 4mm. This is a small drop size, leaning towards the minimalist side even though the overall shoe is considered a maximalist shoe.
Stability
Many reviewers have reported the shoe lacks stability around the ankle area, leaving them feeling unsteady and unsafe. The thick sole and well-padded arch, however, help stabilize the rest of the foot. The cushioning in the midsole helps as well—even though this is a maximalist shoe, the cushioning is very firm. This firm cushioning plays an important role in supporting your foot and helping you feel stable. Plus, the outsole is wider than you might expect, giving you a broad and stable surface to run on. The Ultra Road 2 has good stability everywhere except the ankle, where things get a little iffy.
Flexibility
Even though the Ultra Road 2 is a maximalist shoe—which are known to not have good flexibility—Skechers ensured that this shoe does, in fact, have satisfactory flexibility. Three cavities on either side of the forefoot plus the soft cushioning in the midsole help in this area, allowing the shoe to have a little more give and to support your natural stride in a way that is comfortable and non-restricting. For many runners, it will be a welcome change to find a shoe with maximum cushioning and maximum comfort, yet a shoe that is still very flexible and responsive.
Traction
The outsole has lugs that are arranged in a full-coverage parametric web design. So even though the outsole is not very aggressive, it still has great traction on the road. The durability (reinforcements in the toe and heel, synthetic overlays) of the shoe will ensure the traction stays up to par for a very long time. The traction is not good enough for technical terrain like trails, the Ultra Road 2’s outsole is not very aggressive and should be kept on roads only, where it grips the pavement very well.
Bottom Line
Besides the unfortunate appearance of the shoe—to put it frankly, the Ultra Road 2 is just ugly—the Skechers GORun Ultra Road 2 is very well-made. The updated outsole package includes lugs for traction, extra rubber for durability, and a rocker design for a smooth stride. The midsole contains comfortable 5GEN cushioning, a perforated sock liner for breathability, and is very soft yet still remains firm. The upper has a seamlessly comfortable flat-knit material, a flexible tongue, and stable and durable stitched overlays. The Skechers GORun Ultra Road 2 is a lightweight, maximum-cushioned shoe with a lively stride that works for any pace and any distance.
