Skechers GORun Razor Excess 2: Put a Plate in It
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Senior Contributor Nathan Brown
The Skechers Razor Excess was built off the successful Razor series using a higher stack height and stiffer rocker while maintaining the low weight characteristic of a lightweight performance trainer. The original was a solid shoe during uptempo efforts for those not wanting a plate and had a range that could possibly reach into road ultras. The current version returns with a forefoot plate (a common characteristic of Skechers shoes recently) and some other unique features that, unlike many shoes today, make the Razor Excess 2 far more than "just" an upper update.
Price: $140 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.2 oz, 204 g (men's size 9), 5.7 oz, 162 g (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 30 mm / 26 mm
Drop: 4mm
Classification: Forefoot Plated Lightweight Performance Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 is a snug-fitting, forefoot plated, lightweight performance trainer for those looking for a rockered, mildly soft, and responsive ride. An updated upper provides a snug fit particularly in the forefoot with a new engineered mesh that dramatically improves the lockdown. A new ARCHFIT insole provides additional proprioceptive pressure under the arch which will work well for those that like sensation there or have higher arches. The addition of a forefoot carbon-infused plate is only mildly noticeable adding a bit more rigidity to an already stiff ride. The Skechers Razor Excess 2 continues to be a surprisingly lightweight and rockered shoe than can handle long-distance efforts and adds some versatility at shorter and faster efforts.
Nathan: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 is a lightweight, lower drop performance trainer that operates off of a rocker geometry, semi-rigid forefoot via a carbon-infused plate, and a mildly-soft and responsive slab of HYPERBURST foam. The main changes from its predecessor include a completely re-done upper, the addition of the forefoot H-Plate, and the addition of ARCHFIT insoles.
FIT
Matt: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. It feels like the length is almost long, but the tapered toebox cuts the sizing back to true to size. The fit is snug throughout the length of the shoe, giving it a faster feel. Those who have more narrow feet will likely enjoy the shape of the Razor Excess 2. I did not have to lace lock the shoe and the new monomesh/polyester upper provides solid security and mild stretch for comfort. The toe box is tapered and narrow. I initially felt a large amount of pressure on my medial and lateral toes until the engineered mesh broke in. There is a somewhat flexible heel counter that is covered by a solid amount of heel collar cushioning. Those two worked well enough together that I had zero trouble with the counter. The heel is also snug and secure even during faster paces. Even the midfoot fits slightly more narrow, but the adjustable laces make things adaptable. The engineered mesh upper breathes fairly well from the midfoot forward. There are ventilation holes that can be seen from the inside of the shoe. These vents make the inside of the shoe a little scratchy, so socks are highly advised with this shoe.
Nathan: The Skechers Razor Excess 2's biggest update is found in the upper and fit. For me, it was a huge step in the right direction. The previous version was a very synthetic-feeling material that would lock down fine through the midfoot and also had a wider toe box. It was so synthetic that it didn't really have any comfort to it. This version is totally different. It is made of a monomesh and polyester material that creates a superior comfort to the previous version yet locks down just as well, if not better. This is one of those performance trainers that locks down the entire foot, and therefore for some will feel a bit narrow in the toe box. That said, it's currently a favorite of mine in the performance trainer realm this year, because I could lace it down as tight as I wanted without any irritation over the top of the foot. Length-wise, it fits true to size. There is a semi-rigid heel counter, however the rest of the upper does not have any other significant reinforcement besides a flexible toe guard. Again, the Excess 2 provides a locked-in fit from back-to-front, is a bit more narrow, and has more comfort than the previous version.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Razor Excess 2 is moderately cushioned with an extremely rockered ride. Skechers is using the phrase HyperArc instead of "M-Strike" but there is a noticeable push to land at the midfoot given how intense the heel bevel and toe spring are. The ARCHFIT adds to this feeling as the medial arch in the insole is raised. This provides noticeable pressure against the arch (but does not provide true support), so those craving the M-Strike feeling of older Skechers will like the underfoot feel. The HYPERBURST is slightly soft with a moderately responsive ride when the pace picks up. The heel and midfoot are slightly soft and the forefoot is slightly firmer (likely thanks to the plate). The ride overall is on the stiff side, but I did not really notice the plate in the forefoot outside of the slight increase in firmness over the previous version. There is a 4mm drop that I almost did not notice given how rockered the ride is. The durability is much improved as the Goodyear outsole is finally staying intact for me after 35 miles. There is some mild wear in my usual spot, but I have not ripped the outsole off yet like previous Skechers shoes. Given the lighter weight performance nature of this shoe, I would expect 200-300 miles for me, more for most people, and a ton for those who land lighter on their feet.
The surprisingly lightweight and rockered/cushioned ride makes the Razor Excess 2 excellent for both daily training and workouts. I have used this shoe for tempo runs, fartleks, intervals and easy runs with ease. Tempo runs and easy runs tended to be a bit better than fartleks and intervals, but the lighter weight and plate do help with moving quicker. Those looking for an uptempo long-run shoe will do well with the Razor Excess 2 if they can handle the lower drop. Many may find this to be an excellent racing shoe for longer distances, particularly the half or full marathon. It is not fully plated but still has some ridigity, so those who do not do well with the extremely soft and stiff super shoes may find this a potential alternative. It isn't quite responsive enough for me for 5k-10k racing, but others who don't want as aggressive of a shoe may be able to use it as such.
Nathan: The Razor Excess 2 will be a familiar feel for those who have experienced HYPERBURST. It's only mildly soft, but has decent rebound as you put more into the foam. Additionally, this shoe feels extremely lightweight, even lighter than the listed 7.2oz, which is likely aided by the great lockdown and rockered geometry. When a shoe locks your foot on the platform securely, you don't feel any loss of connection or energy when lifting the foot up for the swing phase, and this shoe was a great example.
Personally, I could not feel much of an impact from the forefoot plate which is new to this iteration. The previous had a semi-rigid forefoot rocker thanks to the stack and HYPERBURST, which still allowed some extension of the toes. The increased stiffness may only be marginal with the addition of a forefoot plate in this model, but I haven't noticed it much. However, I personally appreciate the maintenance of some flexibility because this allowed the shoe to function really well for easy runs as well. In fact, a majority of my miles were at easier paces and I found the transitions smooth at all paces and the HYPERBURST just forgiving enough when going slower. Given that reality for me, this is a very versatile shoe that may continue in my rotation. It's secure and light enough to function really well for tempos, workouts, and even on the track, but also felt smooth at slower paces.
The final update in this shoe is the ARCHFIT insole. There is noticeable build-up in the area of the arch of the foot (medial arch), but it was not intrusive. More than anything, the nature of the ARCHFIT will be comfort for people, as it likely isn't robust enough to provide guidance of any kind. I personally thought the ARCHFIT molded to my foot well (semi-high arches), but this also means that for other foot types it may not.
Ultimately this was a shoe with versatile utility and operates off of a rocker geometry, a semi-rigid forefoot, and a mildly soft and responsive foam.
STABILITY
Matt: The Razor Excess 2 is a neutral shoe but has subtle guidance, making it a borderline stable neutral shoe. The ride is extremely rockered and transitions you forward. The heel counter and rearfoot sidewalls provide some gentle guidance at the back. The wider forefoot and plate create inherent stability up front thanks to additional rigidity. The midfoot is neutral to slightly unstable thanks to the narrowing as well as the increased relative stiffness at the forefoot. The ARCHFIT provides proprioceptive pressure against th earch, but does not provide true stability. Those sensitive to stability but like a higher arched shoe will do well in the Razor Excess 2.
Nathan: The Razor Excess 2 is a neutral shoe. The heel does not have any notable flaring to the inside or outside, which makes the heel truly neutral to mildly unstable for some. The wider forefoot and forefoot plate do provide a more stable platform in the front. Additionally, the wonderful lockdown does secure the foot well to add to the stability overall. This is a truly neutral shoe without any guidance from side to side, but the smooth rocker does guide the foot forward nicely.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Two Unique Aspects of the Razor Excess 2, by Chief Editor Matt Klein
Of the updates to the Razor Excess 2, the forefoot plate and ARCHFIT stuck out to me the most. We have discussed previously that the primary purpose of plates is to add stiffness to the sole. Whether they improve running economy/efficiency will depend on how the person wearing them responds to different levels of stiffness, which is highly individual (Hunter et al., 2022; Mcleod et al., 2021). Adding a plate to only a certain part of the shoe has not been studied extensively to my knowledge. It makes sense to add the plate to the forefoot, as that area needs to be a bit stiffer and stable for proper toe-off mechanics. Normally, the foot should move into a degree of supination during that last part of stance phase, which (should) lock up the joints in the rearfoot and midfoot to provide a stable base to push off from. I do understand why Skechers added a plate there, but I'm not sure if it is necessary. Plates are not the only way to add stiffness to the sole and I honestly did not notice a huge difference in the forefoot between the current and prior versions. The plate is carbon infused instead of full carbon, which offers a little less stiffness for those who need it.
While I appreciate Skechers is adding this variety to the market, it feels like every single one of their shoes has a forefoot plate. I question this necessity and feel the sight increase in stiffness in the Razor Excess 2 actually decreases its versatility. The original was a fantastic shoe that I would have considered using for a road ultramarathon. The current version I would not, but it does make it more suitable for half to full marathons. Skechers already has a shoe for this (Speed Freak), so I don't understand the necessity for this overlap. I would suggest not using the plate in the Razor Excess series and having one in the Speed Freak for appropriate differentiation and variation between the two shoes. Again, the research on plates and stiffness suggests that different people need different amounts for optimal performance, so Skechers should maintain some variation within their own line.
The ARCHFIT caught my attention as I have seen Skechers marketing this more. The explanation given is that it is an insole system designed to provide arch support. Removing the insole, it is clear that there is no additional rigidity in this area (or anywhere in the insole), the foam is slightly raised and the area underneath the medial arch aspect of the foot features a unique podded/holed component. The common definition of arch support is raised foam or material that supports the medial longitudinal arch from collapsing or collapsing excessively. People will often associate this with true medial support in the form of posting or duel density designs. I am concerned that this is going to confuse customers because this flimsy insole does not provide that. It has a higher arch, which may FIT some people's arches better if they have a high arch. It will not provide support. That would require additional rigidity, stiffness, etc to truly support the arch. As it stands, it currently provides some proprioceptive pressure into the arch. Those sensitive to higher arched shoes will not do well here, but those sensitive to stability measures will be fine. I caution Skechers to be careful with their verbiage, as it is easy to put out confusing terms and accidentally provide false marketing.
References
Hunter, I., Bradshaw, C., McLeod, A., Ward, J., & Standifird, T. (2022). Energetics and Biomechanics of Uphill, Downhill and Level Running in Highly-Cushioned Carbon Fiber Midsole Plated Shoes. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 21(1), 127.
McLeod, A. R., Bruening, D., Johnson, A. W., Ward, J., & Hunter, I. (2020). Improving running economy through altered shoe bending stiffness across speeds. Footwear Science, 12(2), 79-89.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: While I have enjoyed the Razor Excess 2, there are some things that could be done to further improve it. The fit is now on the narrow side, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, the toebox is heavily tapered and moves away from Skechers more anatomically inspired toe boxes. I had a large amount of pressure on my lateral toes initially, so would suggest they widen that part. The remainder of the secure fit in the midfoot and heel are great, but the forefoot could be adjusted. I understand that Skechers is putting a plate in everything, but I am still questioning the reason for just a forefoot plate in this shoe. I barely notice the plate as the ride of the original was already on the stiff side. A full-length plate makes more sense to me for efficiency, so I would suggest removing the plate altogether to further lighten the ride. I understand the marketing behind the ARCHFIT, but think there are better ways to stabilize the foot. I am concerned people will think this is a stability shoe, when it is certainly not. The arch pressure is noticeable, but this is far more proprioceptive input than actual support. Plus it will push people who are sensitive to high arched shoes away. A better way to do this would be to fill in the midfoot and use some sidewalls, which will be far more effective in creating guidance, which is a far more forward-thinking term now.
Nathan: I really enjoyed the upper update to this shoe, but the forefoot could do with a bit more volume to work better for more folks. I am also curious to see how people respond to the feel of the ARCHFIT insole. Though it's an easy marketing point to put "support" on the arch, it likely isn't making a biomechanical difference. Also, I worry that people will choose it because of the "support" even if it isn't comfortable. I'm not saying it needs to be removed necessarily, I'm simply curious to see how people who purchase this shoe respond to it in terms of comfort.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 is for those who love the Skechers line wanting a lower drop, highly rockered, snug/narrow fitting, lightweight performance trainer. At 7.2 oz for men's size 9, the Razor Excess 2 is incredibly light while still providing a moderate to high amount of HYPERBURST cushioning underfoot for mileage. The rockered and stiffer sole provides an efficient ride over longer, uptempo and faster miles. The new ARCHFIT insole provides a higher arch for those who like it, but not necessarily more support. The Skechers Razor Excess 2 features a performance-oriented ride and snug fit that can handle almost anything you through at it.
Nathan: The Razor Excess 2 is for HYPERBURST lovers who want a lower drop, rockered, and securely fitting performance trainer. It's a shoe that will shine for workouts of all kinds, but is forgiving enough to tackle some daily mileage, warm-ups, and cool downs.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B+ (Snug and secure fit characteristic of a faster shoe. On the narrow side, particularly in the forefoot with a tapered toe box)
Performance: A- (Rockered, lightweight and more responsive ride. Can double as both a lighweight trainer and workout shoe)
Stability: B/B+ [Neutral] (Subtle methods of guidance in the rearfoot and forefoot, Less stability in midfoot, also due to contrast with stiffer forefoot)
DPT/Footwear Science: B- (Questionable necessity of plate. Archfit provides a higher arch, but not necessarily any degree of true support. Although it may feel like that. There are better ways to create guidance, particularly in the midfoot)
Personal: B+ (A solid shoe, but less versatile than the previous version into long miles for me due to the tapered toe box and narrower fit)
Overall: B+
Nathan
Fit: A- (Very comfortable and secure, just a bit narrow in forefoot)
Performance: A (Versatility was off the charts for me, and all transitions were smooth)
Stability: B (Upper helps hold the foot, but normal width heel and midfoot don't add stability for those who need it)
DPT/Footwear Science: B- (I think the plate in this shoe is not necessary and the ARCHFIT as well)
Personal: A (Very good chance this remains in my rotation for some daily mileage and my workouts)
Overall: B+/A-
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TESTER PROFILES:
Matthew Klein, PT DPT PhD(c) OCS FAAOMPT
Movement Performance Institute Certified in Advanced Functional Biomechanics
Dr. Brown is a 155 lb male with notable PRs of 18:18 5K, 39:25 10K, 1:29:01 half marathon, and 3:29:44 marathon. He typically runs between 20-50 miles per week at a variety of paces from 8:00-9:00 min/mile for recovery runs to 6:45-7:15 min/mile for tempo runs. He typically prefers shoes that provide some cushioning underfoot but still maintain a mildly firm yet cushioned feel.
Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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