Article by Courtney Kelly, Ben David, Renee Krusemark, Sally Reiley and Sam Winebaum
Skechers Aero Burst ($150)
Introduction
Courtney: Skechers is back on the scene. Once revered for the GOMeb Speed 3’s, in which Meb Keflezghi won the 2014 Boston Marathon (the first US man in 31 years), Skechers was hailed as a top performance and comfort brand and the first to broadly incorporate supercritical foams, and at reasonable prices. The GOrun Razor series also had their share of success in the years after. Then they went quiet in run for more than a few years as they focused on comfort lifestyle shoes.
The new 2025 Aero line comes on the heels of those now relatively "ancient" successes and we have been anxiously waiting to see what innovations they bring. In addition to the mex Burst we will soon be reviewing the daily trainer Spark and tempo to race shoe the Aero Tempo.
The Aero Burst is Skechers' all new max stack trainer, boldly designed and made for the ultimate in protection. The HyperBurst TPEE and EVA combination of foams is soft, yet firm and resilient enough to keep you aligned and rolling forward through its carbon infused front H-Plate. And all of this for a reasonable $150.
Let’s break down what Skechers has done to try to, once again, make an impact in the performance running world
Pros:
- Highly cushioned, protective, stable ride - Courtney/Sally/Ben/Sam/Zack/Renee
- Durable outsole -Courtney/Ben/Sally/Zack
- Responsive cushioning: inner core> spring, outer carrier>bounce - Courtney/Sally/Sam/Zack
- Reasonably priced at $150: 2 super foams, big 42/36 stack height and plated - Courtney/Sally/Ben/Sam/Zack
- Commendably lively plated yet flexible toe off for such a big 36mm forefoot stack height: Sam
Cons:
- Weight: 10.0 oz for US W9, 10.65 oz US M9 -Courtney/Ben/Sally/Zack/Renee
- Wider ankle entry caused some slippage -Courtney/Sally/Renee
- Runs a bit long -Courtney
- Upper material is a little rough -Courtney/Sam
- Over rigid over stabilized, awkward medial heel landing area (higher than lateral), those with “support” needs may appreciate it more: Sam/Renee
Most comparable shoes
Skyward X
Endorphin Trainer
Nimbus
Atomo Star
Glycerin Max
Hyperion Max 3
Vomero 18
Pegasus Premium
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 10.65 oz / 301g US9 women’s 9.5 oz / 268 g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 10.4 oz / 296 g US8.5
women’s 9.5 oz / 268 g US W8, 284 grams/ 10.0 oz US9
Stack Height: 42mm heel / 36mm forefoot
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 90 mm (50mm contact) midfoot / 112mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Courtney: Skechers Aero Burst is a boldly designed max stack trainer made for the ultimate in protection You immediately notice that the larger than life geometry and bright color way is here to make an impact.
On step-in I noticed the shoe ran quite long on me, while the width was a little narrow, specifically on the lateral side where the fifth toe had mild irritation. The wider rear opening of the shoe felt a little unstable for my ankle. This also contributed to some heel slippage as I began my run. So I opted for the second rear eyelet for lacing.
The perforated mesh upper is a generously padded double layer mesh. It has a scratchy feel to the touch compared to some competitors. The tongue gusset is only on the medial side with the tongue thickly padded and quite broad, contributing to a less breathable upper. Its thick padding reminds me a bit of the Vomero 18 tongue. The external heel counter wraps around nicely providing extra support. It has two padded areas on the outside which feel somewhat unnecessary in function but perhaps add to the style of the shoe.
Ben: The Aero Burst announces Skechers return to the running scene. Many associate the brand with casual wear and those seeking comfort. Hardly would it be associated with anything racy, in any sense of the word. The slip-ons were for those who spent long hours on their feet. The sneakers were for retirees and those ok to trade fashion for wearability.
As Courtney notes, there was a time not long ago when the winner of the Boston Marathon, America’s own Meb Keflezghi, had Skechers on his feet for training and racing. (Inspired by Meb, I wore Skechers for one of my faster Philadelphia Marathons once upon a time). Those days were receding from memory quickly as the brand seemingly forgot about the needs of runners and the rest of the running world passed them by. With a series of exciting drops, Skechers now comes back to the running scene in a bright and bold way in the late spring of 2025. The Aero Burst is a serious contender. It’s well-made, fun and protective, if not a bit bulky.
I found that my men’s 9 was true-to-size even if I had to work a bit to get it really locked down.
There’s A LOT of padding here, which some might appreciate. The upper feels extremely durable and protective; it’s not overly light or breathable, but most likely you’re not signing up for that here.
Sally: Skechers used to be mentioned in the same sentence as road racing - I remember Meb winning the 2014 Boston Marathon wearing Skechers - but then the brand and its reputation shifted away from running to casual comfort. Think slip-ons that don’t require bending down to tie laces for the retired set, or inexpensive everyday footwear found at Costco…
But Skechers is reappearing this year with a bang and they want everyone to know that they are back into running with renewed focus and a new look and new technology.
I have not had good experiences with the Skechers running shoes I have tried in recent years (almost missed out on running Boston two years ago with an achilles injury brought on by running in the Go Run Speed Beast), so my expectations were low.
But this max cushion max stack trainer has been a very pleasant surprise! The look screams BIG: the shoe looks very “Hoka-like” with its massive looking midsole and plush upper.
The step-in feel for me is awesome and super comfortable.
I have a reasonably narrow foot, and I find the fit a bit long and weirdly tapered at the toes due potentially due to the very extended toe bumper, but I would still recommend going true to size.
The heel opening is wide and the well padded heel collar sits fairly low on the ankle. I struggled with heel slippage and had to resort to the runners loop for lacing right from the get-go, which alleviated the problem for the most part and resulted in solid lockdown. The upper seems plenty breathable.I echo Courtney in that I am curious as to the purpose, if any, of the padded patches on the exterior of the heel.
Sam: The upper is just fine. Made of relatively thin, not particularly pliable or soft mesh it has a comfortable and supportive fit. This last, the support, is vital for such a big stack height shoe
The fit was true to size for my narrow to medium feet with plenty of toe box room but don’t come here looking for a plush, soft and stretchy upper.
All effective business this upper although I question the function and weight of the rear somewhat puffy padded heel overlay over the rigid heel counter
Midsole & Platform
Ben: The magic of the Burst is in the rather perfect combination of the robust midsole and the highly accommodating, broad platform. The significant stack, with its supercritical foam, makes this more than just a recovery day option.
And it's not just stack for stack’s sake. The carbon infused H Plate gives the shoe real bounce, along with structure, never having it become messy or unpredictable. I found that the foam gives the shoe a surprisingly peppy ride (considering its weight) and the width gives a lot of reassurance, adding an overall feeling of stability.
The insole, as Courtney points out, contributes to all of it by really wanting to hug the arch of the foot. I found this to be a really nice element of the shoe, but I’m not sure everyone will.
To put it simply, this shoe is both responsive AND protective. The foam, combined with the significant rocker come together to urge a nice toe-off while also keeping the legs nice and fresh throughout the run. I found it all to be really, really fun on the run. It’s a daily trainer to be sure, just bordering on a bit clunky (but never quite going there). It’s bold and fun (just like the bright colorway).
Courtney: Skechers calls out several underfoot features.The first is the signature HYPERburst dual super critical foams. Composed of TPEE as a soft and responsive and comfortable core, with an outer carrier of supercritical EVA foam for stability and structure.
I did find the shoe to be both soft and responsive enough to get me through my recovery runs feeling good and well.
The larger than life appearing geometry of the shoe must be mentioned here. The Burst has a nicely designed heel bevel and heel flare that comes out 30mm from the base of the heel creating that easy landing to toe off roll. There is a moderate toe spring underfoot while the rocker is more aggressive up front. The width of the platform is quite wide coming in at 90 mm width in the heel, 90mm in the midfoot, and 112mm in the forefoot. Although a broad platform greatly helps the stability of the shoe, it definitely contributes to its relatively high weight.
Second, The carbon-infused H Plate provides further torsional rigidity and pop ito help you roll through your gait. I felt some pop but my legs got tired because of the weight of the shoe.
Third, the Skechers’ Archfit insole, a Hyper Burst TPE sockliner which has less aggressive guidance, and more cushion and which I felt also helps provides a more natural roll forward and fits a wider range of runners’ feet. It is somewhat heavier than the usual insole adding about 5g to shoe weight.
I found the platform to be very stable and had no problem traversing uneven road surfaces. I really enjoyed my recovery runs in the Burst. That said, it's not a shoe that wants to go super fast.
Sam: The platform is for sure in the lower end of what we can now call the super max category. At 42mm heel / 36mm forefoot it is not as extreme as some 2025 trainers such as Hoka’s Skyward X (48mm/43mm), Brooks Glycerin Max (45mm/ 39mm ) and Hyperion Max 3 (46/40) where the forefoot heights are a real challenge to “get past” at toe off. No such issues here as the the slightly lower forefoot height, combination of resilient foam, side cuts for flex in the midsole sidewalls and carbon infused H-Plate at the ball of the foot deliver a springy toe off with some much appreciated flex in the mix
Of course there is a lot of cushioning here with the combination of supercritical EVA outer carrier with TPEE inner core plus TPE Archfit insole delivering a well stabilized lively return.
It is a bit hard to describe but the outer carrier seemed to provide bounce along its perimeter while the inner core delivers a pleasant spring. That said unlike, other dual foam shoes (for example Adizero Boston or Endorphin Trainer with their layered approach), the integration of foams is more seamless in feel with less of a contrast between layers, a less noticeable plate and with more consistency
I would like to focus on an element of an otherwise excellent super max cushion platform which negatively affects the ride for me, the medial heel side heel as shown below.
It is elevated considerably higher ( 3-4mm) than the lateral side by more midsole foam. While this is a stability feature, and the Burst is very heel stable, I find heel landings ( I tend to heel strike at slower paces) awkward and over rigid with my roll off the heel slowed by this feature with the crash pad groove’s effect to help decouple the heel muted. I felt this at all paces from slow recovery to more moderate daily training paces.
Sally: The others have all touched on how the various elements of this super max platform work together to provide a stable yet energetic, well-cushioned protective ride. The massive midsole is bouncy without being trampoline-like, encouraging a nice springy toe-off and a consistently smooth feel underfoot.
I did find I was somehow weirdly kicking myself in the inner shins occasionally as I ran- does the midsole really flare that wide?
Outsole
Courtney: The well-placed rubber and lateral flex grooves provide a smooth transition which is most necessary in such a high stack shoe. Strategically placed Goodyear rubber on the outsole promises durability and longevity. I had no wear and tear from my 26 miles to date in them. The Burst proved it can conquer the elements with stability and grip on the roads.
Ben: The outsole is highly durable and ready for nearly any surface. I’ve now taken mine on roads, light trails, and ran in them during some fairly significant rain. I had no trouble at all. It’s very grippy and adds to the overall feeling of a very safe, very protective shoe. It could almost pass as a road-to-trail shoe for some.
These are real lugs that, in some ways, had me recall the On Cloud Eclipse or even Cloud Monster. You can essentially feel them underfoot as they’re so pronounced. I never minded it; it’s just quite noticeable. (Very little about this shoe is subtle).
Sally: This outsole consists of a significant amount of deliberately placed Goodyear rubber, and the resulting traction is excellent. I had several opportunities to test these out in the rain and on wet roads, and the grip was solid. The rubber is delightfully quiet underfoot. I see no signs of wear so far on my pair after some 40 miles of running and walking, which bodes well for durability.
Sam: Plenty of fine Goodyear rubber in all the right places. The two deep front flex grooves reaching into both the outsole and midsole give some welcome flex to the big front stack height. As discussed in Midsole, the raised medial outsole at the heel and overall heel at the ground construction (lots of continuous firm rubber coverage is a miss for me making the rear of the shoe overly rigid in transition and somewhat awkward. Those with pronation control needs greater than me likely will benefit more.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Ben:The Skechers Burst is a fun, highly wearable daily trainer. It announces Skechers’ return to the running scene, something many of us have been anticipating for a long while. The ride of the shoe, with its ample, high quality foam and its H-Plate, is upbeat. The shoe portends to be a durable choice for easy days. Are you going to buy this over the Super Blast 2, the Nova Blast 5 or the Clifton 10? Probably not. But does it make for an affordable, likeable addition to a rotation and a surprisingly upbeat option? Absolutely.
Ben's Score: 9.0/10
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Sam: The Burst is a tale of two shoes for me. The front of the shoe with its lively plated yet flexible ride for such a big stack height shoe is outstanding with a much more easy and natural toe off than say a Glycerin Max or Superblast. The rear of the shoe at the heel is overly rigid and overly stabilized by that raised medial outsole piece and overly extensive heel outsole rubber. It was not a show stopper but noticed and in the way and especially so at slower paces.
That said, for sure, the dual foam cushioning system here is outstanding everywhere, deep, reactive and fun with the H-Plate both stabilizing and propulsive in a mellow training focused way.
My runs have been at moderate daily to recovery paces and the deep cushion and stability have been just right although I did notice the weight of the shoe. Those with moderate stability needs, heavier runners, easy pace runners and those wanting a combination of an easy toe off to go with lots of cushion will enjoy the Burst. It should also prove an excellent walking shoe.
The upper is just fine. True to size, comfortable and supportive. This last vital for a big stack shoe even if the upper’s substance, thick tongue, and heel “decorative” outer element all likely add to weight which at 10.65 oz is up there but competitive with others in the super max class.
Value at $150 for dual supercritical foams stacked way up with a carbon infused plate in the mix is excellent if its ride suits your needs, but it didn't quite suit me. Its closest competitor for me, the Skyward X from Hoka is $225.
Skechers is back and up to the moment here with their first max cushion trainer. Wildly colorful with a modern design conveying motion and fun just right, its ride gets very close to delivering on its looks.
Sam’s Score: 8.63 / 10
Ride (50%): 8.0 Fit (30%): 9 Value (15%): 9.5 Style (5%): 10
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Sally: The preview of the new Skechers lineup last fall at TRE piqued my interest in a brand that I personally have not had much luck with in the past.
The Aero Burst has been a pleasant surprise and has provided some enjoyable and well cushioned recovery miles. Fit wise, I was initially challenged with serious heel slippage and sloppiness in the back of the shoe, but some creative lacing and runners knots remedied that. As a lightweight runner and midfoot striker, I enjoy the peppy toe-off and nice spring of the midsole, but I have a hard time pushing the pace and find the shoe excels for me at the easier paces. Heavier runners and heel strikers will experience it differently. Rest assured, Skechers will turn heads with this max cushion high stack trainer with its bold colorful neon looks and comfortable ride!
Sally’s score: 8.45 / 10.0
Ride (50%): 8.0 Fit (30%): 8.5 Value (15%): 9.5 Style (5%): 9.5
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Courtney: The Skechers Aero Burst is an excellent shoe for recovery and easy speed long runs. An excellent value for this kind of trainer, it seems to also show promise with durability. The Burst rolls along nicely and provides plenty of cushion and enough responsiveness to get you through your runs. It is no doubt a reliable option for great protection and overall performance especially for its reasonable price.
The fit is generous in length which may require some to go down a half size. It could definitely work as a long run shoe for some as well. I tend to run my long runs with speed work embedded, or just overall at a faster pace so these wouldn’t be the shoes I choose. I think the upper could use some refinement. Perhaps a mono-mesh or engineered knit rather than double mesh to help with breathability. Because of its higher weight, it really sits in the recovery run category for me as a highly protective and stable ride in between harder sessions. I think Skechers is reentering the space with some great options. They are a company known to change peoples’ perception and expectations and I think this Aero line is no exception.
Overall: 7.8/10
Ride (50%):8.0 penalty for weight
Fit (30%): 7.0 runs long yet a little snug through lateral forefoot on me
Value (15%): 9.0 Great value for an max stack trainer
Style (5%): 7.0 I like the men’s colorway better than the women’s. It's a little bulky looking.
Renee: I’m skipping right to the conclusion as I don’t have much to add to my peers’ thoughts. The Burst is heavy and with a loose heel hold on my narrow heel, the shoe rides extra clunky. I was running in the Aero Spark at the same time, and I had no reason to choose the Burst instead of the Spark. I think the Burst could use some inspiration from the Spark and function similarly to Hoka’s Cielo x1 (not the 2.0). Skechers has a great combination with the midsole’s EVA/TPE along with the TPEE insole and H-plate. The Spark remains fun because of the midfoot rocker and flexible geometry, both lacking in the Burst. The shoe is very well priced as compared to its competitors so I’m hoping the next version sees some improvements with the same cost.
Renee’s Score: 7.3/10 Ride 7/10 Fit 7/10 Value 8/10
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6 Comparisons
Nike Vomero 18 (RTR Review)
Courtney: 9.6oz US W9. At a 46mm-36mm stack height, the Vomero comes in a little lighter than the Aero Burst and you can feel that during your runs. With a higher drop there is a less stack under the forefoot in the Vomero but it still provides plenty of cushion all around.
The more hourglass fit on the Vomero allows a little more wiggle room up front as well. Both shoes are highly cushioned and protective, but the Zoom X in the Vomero underfoot is a bit more bouncy. The heel counter in the Vomero is a bit better designed with zero slippage. The Burst probably wins in the durability contest as the exposed foam is carved out enough that it can't really be worn down. The Vomero, in contrast has exposed midfoot foam more vulnerable to wear and tear. Both shoes provide excellent grip on the roads
Ben: I found the Vomero to be very soft and very cumbersome. The Burst feels much more spry by comparison. Both are highly cushioned, effective daily trainers, but the Burst has more oomph to it and probably better traction and durability.
Sally: I love the bounce of Zoom X foam, and have enjoyed many daily training miles with the Vomero 18. The Aero Burst is heavier and more cushioned, and for me more of a recovery day easy run protective shoe, whereas the Vomero would be my choice for daily training when you might want to throw in some faster paces as well.
Sam: The Vomero is a more versatile big shoe for me than the Burst and leans more daily trainer in the max cushion category. It is slightly lighter and higher heel stacked with a 10mm drop which gets me off the heel quicker than the 5mm Burst with its awkward raised medial heel. As with many of the comparisons, I prefer the more flexible and lively front of the shoe of the Burst but as noted above struggled with its heel design. Both true to size, the Burst’s upper is slightly higher volume and less dense/constricting. Priced the same at $150.
Asics Gel Nimbus 27 (RTR Review)
Courtney: 9.2 oz for women’s US 9. The Nimbus also comes in lighter than the Burst. With a high stack of 43.5mm/ 35.5mm, the Nimbus has a bit more underfoot, but FF Blast is not quite as springy as Skechers’ HYPERburst. I loved the Nimbus and still find I reach for it for those recovery runs. It’s a no fuss, easy shoe that can roll through the miles. The Burst is similar to the Nimbus in this respect, highly protective and great for those recovery miles. I think ASICS nailed the materials in the Nimbus with the comfortable single layer engineered mesh, and the fit is pretty much spot on for me.
Hoka Skyward X (RTR Review)
Sam: Higher stack yet at 48/43 at about the same weight the Hoka also has a dual supercritical foam midsole with a full skeletal carbon plate and a stable ride with a wider yet platform. Its upper is similarly supportive and a bit more plush, supportive and warm. Both are true to size.
The $225 Hoka is more energetic and slightly softer with an easier flowing geometry off the heel and a faster ride for me. But that comes at a cost of $75 more than the Skechers. Still I would pick the Hoka if budget is less of an issue as it is yet more fun and more versatile in terms of run types it can handle.
Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)
Renee: Both shoes are high stack, heavy shoes. Overall comfort and fit points go to the Glycerin Max. The Max is slightly heavier but the loose heel hold of the Burst makes it feels clunkier while running. At $50 less, the Burst has potential but not for narrow heels.
Sam: Not a big big fan of the Glycerin Max and especially at $200 compared to the Burst. My ride issues with the Glycerin are the opposite of those with the Burst. I found its abrupt front rocker and stiffness awkward and cumbersome compared to the much more fluid toe off of the Burst. Both fit me similarly and I had no issues with heel slip with either.
Brooks Hyperion Max 3 (RTR Video Review)
Sam: The Max 3 is a much more uptempo focused max shoe than the Burst with a more rigid profile, somewhat firmer foam, a few millimeters higher stack, lighter weight at just under 10 oz and a more secure performance oriented upper. Burst for comfort easy runs, Max 3 for long uptempo runs.
Nike Pegasus Premium (RTR Review)
Sam: Slightly heavier and higher stack height at the heel but with 2x the drop at 10mm, the Nike plays in the same category as the Burst. Instead of a plate it has a plated shaped Zoom Air unit between a top layer of Zoom X PEBA foam and a bottom layer of ReactX EVA blend foam. It is a rigid rocker type shoe and slightly firmer and is a more responsive option. Its upper is true to size but snugger and more substantial (overbuilt) than the Burst’s as is its pricing at $210. Somewhat more uptempo in focus if you prefer a higher drop ( I do) and firmer more responsive big shoe ride the Nike. If you prefer a more mellow, softer cushioned and flexible ride the Burst.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Aero Burst, Spark and Tempo
Skechers Running
Tester Profiles
Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a college lacrosse player turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and 8. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, winning second place in a time of 1:26. She decided to take running a bit more seriously, joining Wicked Running Club and trying some training plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. In addition, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She looks forward to getting some more strength and speed under her belt this next season, before taking a crack at the marathon again. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past eleven Boston Marathons, three NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights (Berlin in 2025). With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and three consecutive 2nd place in Age Group awards in NYC, she has competed in several Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships and placed 6th in the world in W 60-64 when she ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02 at age 63 at the 2022 London Marathon. She also competes in USATF races of all distances with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally stands tall at 5’2’’ and 105 pounds, and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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