Road Trail Run: The Knitty Gritty—Reviews Skechers Performance GoRun 4-2016 and GoMebSpeed 3-2016

Article by Peter Stuart

Editor's Note: Just in time for the Olympic Trials in LA and the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Sunday, Peter reviews Meb and Kara's race shoe, the GoMeb Speed 3-2016, with special bonus a review of the equally fine GoRun Ride 4-2016. Road Trail Run wishes Meb and Kara, two great champions and inspiration to runners everywhere best of luck in LA!

Update: Meb takes a magnificent 2nd in his GoMeb Speed 3-2016 and Kara Goucher finishes a valiant 4th in her race, also in GoMeb Speed 3.

Meb on the way to a magnificent 2nd in the Olympic Trials in his custom GoMeb Speed 3-2016
Photo Credit: Skechers Performance

Kara Goucher on the way to a valiant 4th in the Olympic Trials in her custom GoMeb Speed 3-2016
Photo Credit: Skechers Performance

Meb's custom GoMeb Speed 3-2016
Photo Credit: Skechers Performance

So just in time Peter Stuart tests and reviews significant updates to two Skechers performance stalwarts: the new 6.8 oz $125 GoMeb Speed 3- 2016 and the 7.7 oz, $105 GoRun 4-2016.

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

I’ve paired these two shoes together for review because, while there are significant updates to both, the changes are extremely similar for each. The naming of these shoes is a little confusing to me. I’m not sure why they didn’t just go with GoRun 5 and GoMeb 4—I’ve seen shoes get new names with far less comprehensive changes.

GoRun 4-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

Upper and Fit

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

The biggest story on both of these updates is the upper. Both the GoRun and the GoMeb now have fully knit Go Knit uppers. This upper first appeared in the GoRun Road Ultra last year. I’m a big fan. I had no idea that I’d like a knit upper, but they’re pretty great. The Skechers description of the upper is that it “offers the ultimate in comfort, fit and breathability”. Sock-like is certainly a good way to describe the fit of the shoe. The knit is soft and provides plenty of hold, but also allows the foot to push it out a bit if needed. I went out for 18 rainy, windy miles on my first run in the GoMeb and there were zero problems, hot spots or blisters. The knit stayed light (I was afraid it would retain water) and the shoe was perfectly comfortable. The GoRun also benefits from having this knit upper. In a bonus, I think the knit upper makes the Skechers designs (which I don’t always love) look way better. They’re both really good looking shoes.

GoRun 4-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

Fit is great in both shoes. The GoMeb is still a bit narrow, but seems to give a little bit and not feel too constrictive. The GoRun remains slipper-like and super comfortable. Both shoes run true-to-size for me. The GoRun has the Quick fit portal in the back of the shoe—which is neither here nor there to me. The GoMeb does not have the quick fit portal. Lacing and lockdown of foot on both shoes are great.

GoRun 4-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

Midsole and Outsole
The midsole is the other big news on the Go Run 4 and Go Meb Speed 3 updates. They’ve changed the material from Resalyte™ to 5Gen™. Here is how Skechers describes 5Gen™

“Skechers Performance 5Gen™ is a rubber based EVA midsole foam that was developed to offer runners more energy return without sacrificing cushioning protection, traction, and durability. We went through a rigorous testing process to come up with the ideal compound. 5Gen is 20% more resilient than Resalyte and therefore it's a midsole that feels soft and protective, yet is extremely energetic.”

GoRun 4-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

There’s definitely a difference in the materials that you can feel on the road as well as by just pushing your finger into the bottom of the shoe. The new 5Gen™ soles are a little firmer to the touch and are just a touch snappier on the road. There’s not a huge difference between the 2015 model and the 2016 in terms of ride, but you can certainly tell them apart.

The Go Run 2016 features “Resalyte Power pillars” in the mid foot “strike zone”, and the layout of the exposed EVA outsole and the harder rubber ‘pods’ seems to be the same as previous versions.

GoRun 4-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

The Go Meb Speed 3 features a Delrin “speed plate” which adds a healthy dose of firm to these flats. The midsole is the new 5Gen™.

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 Photo Credit: Peter Stuart

Ride
GoRun 4 2016: This shoe continues to be a snappy, super flexible, light, barely there shoe. It weighs in at 7.7 ounces (men’s 9) and rides a lot like the Go Run 4 it is replacing. The transition is a little quicker, the ride a hair firmer (though it still has that “how can something this light have so much cushioning” effect). I’m a big fan of the ride of this shoe. I find my forefoot fatigues a little when I go long in these, but slightly less so with the new version. If you liked the Go Run 4, this will be a nice subtle update to the ride. The upper is a great change for me.

GoMeb Speed 3 2016: The ride on these is great, if a tiny bit stiff. The ride feels identical to the Go Meb Speed 3 (2015). I wore one on each foot and couldn’t feel a difference. I find the plate adds a stiffness to the shoe that makes it just a little too stiff for me over longer runs, but I’m sure it would work for many. It’s a nice, snappy ride and there’s plenty of (firm) cushion to get through a marathon. They are not as minimal as some other racing flats—and I think that’s a good thing. These weigh about 6.8 ounces for a men’s 9.

 Comparisons
The Go Run 4, 2016 is similar in ride and feel to the following shoes: GoRun 4, Altra The One 2.5 and the Nike Lunar Tempo. They are all very flexible, light and carry more cushioning than you would think is possible for a shoe that light. The Go Run 4, 2016, doesn’t quite have the snap of racing flats such as the NB 1400, Asics Hyperspeed 6 +7, or the Pearl Izumi NO V2. Those shoes all feel a little more race-worthy to me. The Go Run is great for fartleks, tempo work and for long runs.

The Go Meb Speed 3, 2016 is very similar to the Go Meb Speed 3 (duh!). It’s a bit stiffer than any other race flat in my shoe closet, and also feels a little more substantial than many of them. It’s a fast and firm shoe.The ride is reminiscent of the Saucony Fastwitch series, the New Balance Vazee Pace and the Altra Impulse.

Conclusion
Both of these updates are terrific. If you already liked the GoRun 4 or the GoMeb 3 I think you will be really happy with the updates to the upper and to the midsoles and outsoles. If you haven’t tried either of these shoes yet, they’re fast, snappy and a delight to run in.

The GoRun 4 and GoMeb Speed 3 were provided at no charge to Road Trail Run. The opinions herein are entirely the author's.

Also please check out our review of the Skechers Forza, a new 2016 light stability shoe we liked a lot here.

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Peter Stuart's Running Bio

My running career got off to a slow start…in high school I was told I ran like a race walker and was thus relegated to race walking on the track team. I got back into running about 15 years ago and then into triathlon. Triathlon really rekindled my love for running, so about two years ago I hired a coach and really focused on the half and full marathons. I broke a bad habit of putting in tons of moderately hard miles (and no easy or hard ones) and after plateauing at 3:25 (with some disastrous marathons in there), this past year I brought my marathon under 3:00 and my half under 1:25. Along the way I’ve developed a bit of a shoe problem.

GoMeb Speed 3-2016 is available from Running Warehouse:

Men's here, Women's here

GoRun 4-2016 is available from Running Warehouse

Men's here Women's here

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