SCORE: 9/10
Weight: 8.3 oz / 235g (M) size 9, 6.3oz/179g (W) size 7
Heel Drop: 6mm
Shoe Type: Max-Cushioned neutral shoe
Surface: Road and trail
Pros
- Responsive
- secure fit
- Affordable
- Smooth transitioning
- Rides soft
- Breathable upper
- Comfortable upper
- Maximum cushioning
Cons
- Deep flex can pick pebbles on the way
Take Away
The Skechers GOrun MAXROAD 5 ranks well in performance. It is max-cushioned for extra comfort and comes with an H-shaped plate in the forefoot for snappy toe-off. It rides soft on-road and trail and performs well as a long-distance running shoe.
Skechers GOrun MAXROAD 5 Instant Impression
I don't know what went through my mind when I identified the GOrun MAXROAD 5 as the shoe to buy to complement my New Balance 1080v11.
Not that Skechers is a bad shoe, but honestly, it is not the brand that comes to mind when looking for a running shoe, especially when you don't have Skechers fandom.
Can you tell me any record-breaking Sketcher in the world of athletics? You see! It is Nike, Saucony, or Brooks that comes to mind. On the downside, such thought is the cause of Skechers misconception, consequently overruling its good reputation.
Well, when Skechers GOrun MAXROAD 5 was released, I fell in love with its appearance and was primarily attracted to the innovation thrown at it, particularly in the midsole. The H-shaped carbon plate, Hyperburst midsole, and pod-style outsole got my attention.
The first time I got hold of it, I fell for the traditional upper design. The mesh felt smooth, and the heel collar had a lot of padding to it. Putting it on, I was welcomed with a comfortable feeling. The fitting was snug, and the toe box was roomy.
"This is it!" A voice in my head screamed when I took it out for a run. The ride was soft and responsive. The transition was smooth, and I kept going. It felt like a marathon shoe.
Skechers GOrun MAXROAD 5 Upper Component
Skechers draped the Go Run MAXROAD 5 in a single layer engineered upper with a soft feel to keep the foot comfortable and tiny perforations in the toe box to make the shoe breathable.
There are soft rubberized overlays on the lateral sides of the shoe, and they extend to the heel counter. They give the shoe some frills and structure. They also protect the single mesh upper from abrasion, giving it more life span.
The Go Run Maxroad 5 comes with a simple classic lacing design but without the extra eyelets. The lack of extra eyelets does not compromise the overall fitting. I felt the lockdown was perfect and secure. Also, the lacing length was just enough for a lovely runner's knot.
The tongue is somehow large, so it wraps around the foot. It is moderately padded, which I think is just enough to keep the instep comfortable. The tongue is not gusted, but it comes with a loop for running the laces through to keep it in place.
The design of the tongue is eye-catching and practical. The start to midway has perforations to enhance aeration, and the midway to the top is designed with suede-like material.
I did not have any issues when I was running in Skechers Maxroad 5. It neither slipped sideways or downwards. Even the pressure from the laces was undetectable.
There is a significant amount of padding on the heel and the inner lining of the heel counter. The thick heel collar hugs the foot correctly, enhancing a snug fit. It is also very comfortable, especially in the Achilles area.
Skechers went with a more traditional heel counter by doing away with the heel flare. The heel counter exhibits a profound structure. It is very solid, creating a pocket structure for holding the heels. While the heel counter is very solid, Skechers complemented the rigid heel counter with an extra inner cushioning and around the heel collar. The lockdown is excellent, and I felt comfortable running in the Go Run Maxroad 5.
Everything about the upper is comfort. Apart from the shoe's padded tongue, heel, and inner lining, Skechers added a well-padded, responsive, and removable Hyperburst insole. The insole adds to the overall comfort of the upper part and the responsiveness of the max-cushioned midsole.
Skechers GOrun MAXROAD 5 Sole Component
The midsole of the Go Run Maxroad 5 features Hyperburst foam. It is soft, incredibly cushioned, and very lightweight with significant bounciness. The energy return is magnificent, with no visible breakdown in this supercritical foam.
You may wonder where the Maxroad 5 gets the magic ride from, bearing in mind that it has a 38 mm heel stack height. Look no further because in the forefoot, within the magical super Hyper Burst foam, designers strategically and tactfully placed an H-frame carbon plate.
We are in an era of putting carbon plates in the shoe; notably, every brand is doing it, and Skechers did not want to be left behind. So despite the euphoria, Skechers was careful enough to do the right thing. The H-frame in the forefoot provides stability and snappiness for more efficient propulsion.
There is more to the midsole than just the Hyperburst foam and H- plate. The midsole has the Hyper Arch rocker geometry for a smooth heel toe-toe transitioning. Even with the 38mm heel stack, Go Run Maxroad 5 is stable underfoot, and the ride is soft.
The Go Run Maxroad 5 has one X factor; the midsole is very soft yet very responsive. Even with the H-carbon plate fiber infusion, the forefoot is exceptionally flexible.
To maintain the flexibility of the midsole, in a pod-style, Skechers strategically placed a Goodyear hard rubber on crucial abrasion areas; including the toe zone, midfoot, and heels. There is a good amount of the Goodyear rubber in the heel and toe-zone. Also, in pod-like fashion around the midfoot and parts of the forefoot area.
The outsole design has toned down the shoe's weight while adding durability to the Hyperburst midsole and enhancing traction during running. Flex grooves have to be significantly deep to make the midsole very flexible. The downside is that they tend to pick up pebbles when running on trails, but it cannot be an excuse for not buying the Go Run Maxroad 5. However, the irritating noise when the pebbles scrape the road can be annoying.
I have clocked about 90 miles running in the Go Run Maxroad 5, and I love every aspect of training. I have never tried any Skechers before, so I can't compare it to other Skechers models, but I am thanking myself for buying the Go Run Maxroad 5. It is serving me well.
Most shoemakers make soft max cushioned running with less responsiveness. However, Skechers has broken the norm with the Go Run Maxroad 5 model. I love the 6mm heel drop and the Hyper Arch rocker. The drop is comfortable, and the rolling from heel to toe is magnificent.
It feels like a long-distance running shoe because you keep racking up miles and don't get to feel tiredness in the foot. The responsiveness and toe-off are on another level. Overall, it is fun running in the Sketcher Go Run Maxroad 5.
Conclusion
Skechers is not an easy pick when it comes to running shoes. It is easier to pick a Nike, Brooks, New Balance, Saucony, Adidas, Asics, or Hoka than Skechers when looking for a running shoe. However, Skechers is quickly building a good reputation in the running shoe industry.
The Go Run Maxroad 5 is an example that Sketchers is going in the right direction. I have consistently run in Go Run Maxroad 5 ever since I bought it, and I have no significant issues to report.
The Go Run Maxroad 5 is a beautiful shoe that gets the job done as a long-distance runner. The upper offers a snug fit, and it has good padding to keep the foot comfortable and fresh throughout the running distance. In addition, the soft max-cushioned midsole combines well with the carbon fiber plate to provide a smooth, snappy ride.
I see the Go Run Maxroad 5 as a shoe outdoing itself. I don't expect a max cushion running shoe to be versatile. This one has all the features of a great daily training shoe. For a marathoner, lightweight, less carbon plate action with extra energy return, super cushioning, and breathable upper are what you need. Going by the price tag, you get more value than what you pay to own this shoe.
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By Dick Harrison
Harrison is an Australian who lives in Sidney. He trains for fitness and the fun of it but does it like a pro. Harrison has the experience of running in various running shoes and understands the technology behind each shoe model he has worn.
