Article by Sam Winebaum
Skechers GO Run Ride 11 ($125)
Introduction
The Ride sits as Skechers all around daily trainer with the yet more cushioned Max Road as the long to recovery run option and the Razor series as the uptempo models.
The Ride 11 sees a major update in midsole foam to Hyperburst Ice dual density construction with a new Hyperburst 2.0 as a central core, 4mm more stack height front and back with now 38mm at the heel, and the inclusion of Skechers carbon infused H-Plate, here the less aggressive version.
The upper changes from a mono mesh polyester to an engineered mesh material.
The changes lead to a 13g increase in weight to about 9.7 oz / 275g (US9) which is quite frankly not noticed on the run as we get a snappier, more agile, deeper and more energetically cushioned versatile trainer. There is plenty of deep GoodYear rubber with a more aggressively gripping pattern for some terrain versatility as well.
And in a huge plus with all the updates including carbon in the mix, and despite inflation, the Ride remains at a super fair $125, one of the best if not the best trainer bargains out there.
Pros:
Versatile: Any pace or distance friendly
Great value: Still $125 for a now dual supertical foam midsole and lots of it, carbon infused partial plate, and copious GoodYear rubber outsole
New Hyperburst Ice midsole is energetic, soft and even with the big stack not mushy
Smooth rocker off of heel landings even at slow paces, snappy flexible toe off at all paces.
H Plate is felt as stabilizing and propulsive but not over demanding of a particular strike pattern, really comes to life at faster paces, is not harsh or in the way at slower paces.
Runs lighter than weight
Cons:
Upper feels warmish and may also add to shoe weight
Weight has increased 13g, understandable given stack height increase and outsole but..