The Resalyte midsole retains the softish feel of previous versions, and also remains quite flexible. The insole is removable, and the footbed underneath is finished, so if you need a roomier fit removing the insole should do the trick.Īs mentioned under the “Specs” section, the GoRun 4 gains a bit of thickness in the midsole (3mm more than the GR3 in both the heel and forefoot), and as such the shoe provides a bit more cushioning than previous versions. It’s by no means a tight-fitting shoe – fits my average-width foot just about right. In terms of fit, the GoRun 4 is similar to previous versions, maybe just a tad snugger up in the forefoot. I still advocated leaving it out, but I didn’t win that battle.
I had major concerns about potential for abrasion against the skin from the margins of the portal, but after multiple sockless runs by myself and other wear testers it seemed to be benign. Basically, the QFP is a hole in the back of the shoe that is intended to be used as a finger-loop to help pull the shoe on quickly.
One of the biggest points of debate about the GoRun 4 was the addition of a feature called the QuickFit Portal (see photo above). The tongue is also nicely padded and I have not had any issues with it slipping. Inside the heel the shoe is lined by a soft, padded mesh that feels good against a bare foot. I was initially opposed to this, but it’s so flexible that you barely know it’s there. A thin, flexible heel counter was added after the initial prototype to help maintain structure in that area. The upper is minimally structured with welded overlays and a few stitched overlays providing most of the support. The fabric is reasonably stretchy, but does a good job of holding the foot in place. It does a good job of keeping road debris out, but breathability is compromised a bit by the tight weave. The upper of the GoRun 4 is composed of a outer layer of tightly woven mesh over an inner layer of more open mesh. The included 3mm forefoot, 7mm heel sockliner adds 4mm to the drop (8mm total), but it is removable and there is a finished footbed underneath. Midsole thickness is 18mm heel, 14mm forefoot for 4mm drop. As such, it’s still a pretty lightweight shoe. The GoRun 4 adds a bit of weight over previous versions, mainly due to a slightly thicker midsole – specs sent to me by Skechers indicate a weight of 7.8oz in men’s size 9. My take is that the ride retains some of the feel of previous versions, but in a more refined package. That being said, fans of previous versions should not be worried that their favorite shoe has been ruined. New upper, new sole – it’s a complete re-design. So what has changed in the GoRun 4? Well, pretty much everything.
Skechers has given me the go-ahead to post a full review, so here goes! The finished product is set to be released on November 15, and I’m excited to see how it will be received.
Changes were not substantial, though there were a few that spurred some debate among wear testers and the design team (more on this below). Over the Spring and Summer I ran in several subsequent iterations of the shoe. I emailed my contacts at Skechers right after that run and told them the shoe was nearly perfect even though it was still an early prototype. It was one of those runs where everything just felt right, and I wound up running way faster than I intended to at the outset. My first run in the shoes convinced me that Skechers had produced something special in the GR4. Upon opening the package when it first arrived, it was clear that this shoe had indeed undergone a top-to-bottom overhaul, and I liked what I saw. I’d heard hints that the shoe was substantially changed from previous versions, but didn’t know much beyond that (I had heard that it was more Kinvara-like than previous versions, no complaints here with that comparison!). I first ran in a prototype of the Skechers GoRun 4 on a cold, slushy day earlier this year.