Skechers GO RUN Persistence: A Quiet Do-it-All
By Contributor Ryan Flugaur
One of the genre of shoes that has quietly emerged recently is the accessible stable neutral trainer. That shoe that you can reliable point out in a brand that's going to work for a lot of people. It may not be super flashy or fun, but has the potential to just log all sorts of miles and accomplish a lot of goals. Some recent shoes that come in mind including the On Cloudrunner and Hoka Kawana. Skechers delivers their version with the Persistence, a stable neutral trainer with an H-plate and slightly firmer foam from their performance line. The combination offers a slightly simple, but effective trainer for a variety of tasks. In this review, contributor Ryan Flugaur delivers his thoughts on the Persistence and how it fit into his rotation.
Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.4oz, g (men's size 9), 6.8 oz, 193g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 34mm heel, 28mm forefoot
Drop: 6mm
Classification: Beginner daily trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The GO RUN Persistence is a budget friendly, neutral daily trainer and
the first edition of its kind released by Skechers. Designed with a less
aggressive carbon infused H plate, it brings a plated shoe shoe to individuals looking to try a plate without the high-cost price tag. The
Persistence falls in in the Skechers performance line as a neutral daily
trainer followed by the more Premium GO RUN Ride 10 and the faster
Razor Excess 2. I wasn't sure exactly what the Persistence had to offer,
but thanks to its comfortable fit and versatile performance, it ended up
giving me more than I expected.
FIT
The GO RUN Persistence fits me true to size in my men’s
size 9. I found the initial step in feel very comfortable thanks to the
nicely padded heel counter and comfortable insole. The toe box is
accommodating but keeps the foot secure when picking up the pace. The
upper is constructed of engineered mesh and can get warm during hot
summer runs. It offers some breathability but is much thicker than the
upper found on the Go Run Ride 10. The tongue is lightly padded with a
lace loop to keep it secure over the dorsum of the foot. Moving to the
back of the shoe, the heel counter is flexible allowing it to be easily
compressed between my fingers. Those runners that prefer a more flexible
heel counter will do great here. Despite the flexible heel counter, I
experienced no issues with heel slippage as the extra padding assisted
with keeping the foot securely in the shoe. Overall, the Persistence is
a very comfortable and well-designed shoe. The versatility of the
Persistence makes it a valuable everyday shoe contender as it performs
well for casual use when walking as well as performance use during
running. It can be further utilized as a gym shoe thanks to its wide
base of support and lower 6 mm drop.
PERFORMANCE
The Skechers GO RUN Persistence is a neutral daily trainer designed with a firm forefoot rocker, plush midsole, and carbon H plate. Skechers goes back in time with the midsole construction of the Persistence using their older ULTRA FLIGHT EVA foam. Skechers states they went with the ULTRA FLIGHT foam for the Persistence as it is slightly more plush than their newer HYPER BURST foam. The Persistence also comes with a forefoot carbon H plate to help keep the shoe snappy and stable despite that softer midsole. I was able to take the Persistence through a variety of runs ranging from easy recovery days to faster interval training. The Persistence performed well during all my runs but best during foundational, daily mileage pace. Despite saying this, the H plate helps to create a stiff forefoot and paired with a more aggressive rocker, the Persistence performs better than I expected during Tempo and interval pace. At initial contact, the heel bevel creates a natural landing and provides a smooth transition to the midfoot. From there, the forefoot rocker adds to a smooth snappy push off. Despite having nearly 80 miles on my pair, the outsole displays very little wear thanks to the durable Good Year outsole. I anticipate these shoes lasting many miles as they likely have above average durability for most runners.
When comparing the ($120 USD) GO RUN Persistence to the ($145 USD) GO RUN Ride 10 there are some obvious differences between the two shoes. The main differences being the integrated H plate, the midsole foam, and upper material used. The H plate found in the Persistence makes the forefoot very stiff especially compared to the flexible forefoot on the Ride 10. This is likely due to the lack of the H plate and the mid foot strike zone in the Ride 10. The mid foot strike zone creates flex points in the outsole and helps to create a more subtle toe off found in the Ride 10. This also makes it slightly clunky at faster speeds, however. Overall, the GO RUN Persistence offers a slightly softer ride, thicker upper, and stiffer forefoot rocker while costing $25 less compared to the GO RUN RIDE 10. Having worn both shoes for a considerable amount of time, it may come down to individual preference on which to choose.
STABILITY
The GO RUN Persistence is a neutral shoe but employs certain features to add structure to the ride. The wider platform of the shoe creates a large area for landing and push off. This helps keep the foot feeling secure throughout the run cycle. The design of the plate also adds some adherent structure to the shoe. The plate is constructed in a wing design forming the Letter “H.” This helps to add structure to the forefoot and assists with keeping the foot pointed forward. While turning in the shoe, the wings on the plate help add stability to the forefoot keeping the foot planted on the insole. The thicker upper also helps keep the foot secure and stable. I would classify the Persistence as a stable neutral shoe.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Design of the H-Plate
The H plate is not a true carbon plate, but strips of carbon material embedded in the midsole to add structure to the shoe. It gets its name from the “H” design the materials make as the carbon strips come together. There are two longitudinal carbon pieces running lengthwise over the forefoot with a small piece extending from the center of each strip towards the midline of the shoe. This design is less aggressive compared to a traditional plate and may be a good choice for those individuals trying out a carbon plate for the first time. The goal of a plate is to add structure to the midsole and in some cases provide a measurable performance benefit. This can be objectively measured using a metabolic cart oftentimes measuring Vo2 max. Research shows that this performance gain will vary from person to person and may also depend on many other factors such as foam and plate placement. When thinking about what role the “H” plate plays in the Persistence, I believe it is more about adding structure to the midsole and less about improving performance. The Persistence would not be my choice as a race day shoe; however, the “H” plate makes the shoe more versatile as it feels snappy at those quicker speeds. When carbon plates were first implemented into running shoes, people believed the “magic” abilities of shoes was in the carbon plate. We now understand that the foam, plate, and shoe design all work together to create that magic shoe.
RECOMMENDATIONS
For a $120 USD running shoe I was pleasantly surprised by the Skechers Persistence. If I could change one thing about this shoe it would be the upper material used. I would really like to see a thinner material like that used on the Ride 10. This would make it more breathable during hot runs and improve the overall comfort of the shoe.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Skechers Persistence is for the runner looking to purchase a “carbon plated” shoe without wanting to spend a significant amount of money. The H plate comes off less aggressive than other plated shoes and does allow for some mobility in the forefoot. This makes it a good choice for those runners new to carbon plates. Being a neutral shoe, the wearer needs good neuromuscular control of the lower extremity, but certain features do improve the stability. The Persistence’s versatility combined with a soft midsole foam, comfortable upper, and wider base make this shoe a contender for runners, walkers, and gym goers alike.
FURTHER THOUGHTS FROM DAVID SALAS
GRADING
Ryan
Fit: A- (Comfortable fit with an accommodating toe box. Upper is thick and can be hot in warmer weather)
Performance: A- (Versatile shoe that performs well during a variety of paces. Can be used for running, walking, and gym use)
Stability: B+ (Neutral shoe with some stability features thanks to the H plate and rocker)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (I find the H plate design intriguing. Much of my training is performed without plates as I typically reserve plates for race and faster training days.)
Personal: B+/A- (I find the Persistence to be a versatile, comfortable running shoe that works well anything from casual use to performance training. Solid shoe for $120 USD)
Overall: B+/A-
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Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
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