Skechers GoBionic2 Review

Sorry for the long silence and the reason for that was the travelling and the mountain of work waiting as I came back to work on Monday this week. As some of you already know, the unboxing of the Skechers GoBionic2 was done last week when I was in Houston. Let's jump straight into the shoe's review. It will be a quick one, just like how the shoe made me run.

Houston, We have no problems.

Fitting : No socks and with sockliner
I took US11 for this version though I am ok with US10. Somehow, my feet has grown over the year and perhaps this could be attributed to a more free-fitting shoes that has my feet splayed upon landing. Wearing minimalist could had contributed to expanded feet, perhaps? Having said that, the sizing was great for me. The fitting was familiar when compared to GoBionic. The toe box was great allowing all digits to move freely. There was no immediate feel of any protrusion that may add to potential hotspot, but we will only know when we takes it for a run.

Immediately after checking into hotel. Lines from compression thigh still visible

The flexibility as provided by the 18-individual pods were great. Sole wise, there is no differences between the GoBionic and the GoBionic2. I've mentioned about this in the previous unboxing write up. The 4mm drop due to the sockliner did not bother me much. It did lend some additional cushioning and did not change much of the static feel.

Ready to pound Houston Pavement

As I've been running sockless due to necessity as it is tough to get affordable (read : cheap) socks and the extra laundry needed after every run. Also, i find wearing a socks lend me more blisters than not wearing one. If you love your socks with your shoes, do remember that this review revolves around no-socks scenario. If you wear socks, please do try the fit with the socks you will be using with the shoe as I've came across cases of others asking me why their feet felt numb after a while wearing "Brand X". Diving deeper, we concluded (including him/her using other socks or run sockless and loosen/tighten laces as appropriate) that it is bad fitting. 

Fast shoes

The review continue with me running the shoe in Houston Downtown area and into the Sam Houston Park, alongside the Buffalo Bayou Walk that has extensive running and cycling trails in excess of (imperial unit) 20miles in a loop. 

I maintain that the best way to see a country is by running.

What I was looking out for in particular with the GoBionic2 are:
- consistency with the responsiveness to GoBionic
- hotspot or friction points
- heat dissipation from new materials
- differences with support/glove-like feel of the shoe

Lift it up high, land under navel, kick back to butt, repeat.

Consistency with Responsiveness to GB
The shoe shares the same sole design and material. This one is hard to miss as the GB feel was there - which was why I love this model a lot. It is thin enough to run and responsive enough to provide feel upon landing and take off. Sufficiently padded for that minimalist feel, and yet cushy just about right as long you are not stomping your feet.

Discovery Green Park

Hotspot and/or friction points
Non was felt on the days i ran there (4-days). The insole being thicker than the original did provide a much better feel to the run. This is subjective and dependent on how much you sweat in the feet though. I've taken notice that someone that sweat a lot (and by that I meant drenching the shoe every run with sweat) may have more issue of blisters due to softer soaked/wet skin against shoe's material. However, this will be true for any shoes, not just GB2 specific.

Hot (35deg C), but lower humidity made it more bearable

Heat Dissipation from New material
I will not lie and tell you I felt no differences between the old and new material. The biggest differences is perhaps visual as the material inlay of the GB2 somewhat show a more "permeable" and "breathable" surface. Maybe I did not run fast enough to get or feel some wind in my feet. Or it could be me already accustomed to the wonderful materials of Skechers and it will be easier to spot a less breathable material. Do i make sense here?

The pavement were wide. You can run all over without worrying being ran down by car

Glove Like Feel? Support?
Despite being lightweight, GB2 offered adequate and sufficient support for the run. I do not feel the shoe moving sideway or being slipping to the front or back. It was snug and glove like without being restrictive. No complains here. This does felt very right - and compared to GB, a good improvement (as my GB is very very worn out already)

Midfoot landing and forefoot landing possible (if you trained for it)

Bottomline:
- lightweight. This pair is so light it will be silly to weigh it to verify.
- snug fitting.
- cooler newer upper design and material lend a more contemporary feel instead of the shoe looking "canvas-sy" when compared to GB.

See the running pose?

What could be better
- The sole is the same material and has the same pattern where the wear-pads are. Previous experience tells me that certain area around the midfoot-heel and the front foot outer toes will take more beating and wears out faster. Perhaps more resilient materials at those spots will combat the wear and tear better.

Goodnight Houston! (pic taken at 8.30pm..and it's still bright!)

Note: This pair of Skechers GoBionic2 is sponsored by Skechers Malaysia via collaboration with 2ndSkin Asia Athletes program. Thank you Skechers Malaysia and 2ndSkin! This pair of GoBionic2 is not available yet and the version you see is meant for seedling and feedback purposes. It is expected to retail for RM399 and is available at all Skechers store in October 2014. However, it will only be available for men at this point of time.