Skechers GOrun Razor Excess 2: First Impressions of a Do-It-All Daily Trainer

Introduction

The Skechers GOrun Razor Excess 2 is the second version of the Razor Excess, and it arrives with a familiar Skechers signature: bold stripe detailing across the upper. Depending on your taste, that either distracts from an otherwise fairly plain top or gives the shoe some personality. Either way, the interesting changes sit underneath the surface.

This is positioned as a daily trainer, and Skechers has loaded it with technology borrowed from elsewhere in the lineup. That raises a fair question about whether all of it is actually needed. Here are our first impressions.

The Midsole and the H-Plate Question

The big change is a carbon-infused H-plate in the toe area, paired with the Hyper Arc rocker shape built into the midsole. Skechers calls the plate carbon infused, and it is meant to add propulsion, but the honest question is whether it solves a problem the original Razor Excess had. On first runs, the answer was not obvious.

The midsole feels firmer and less lively than the original Razor. There is more Goodyear rubber underfoot, and the foam does not have that softer, springier feel of the first version. Part of that may come down to context: coming off softer, higher-stacked, more cushioned shoes makes a firmer platform feel even more noticeable. The extra hardware underfoot also seems to stiffen the ride slightly, trading away some of the flex that made the plain Razor appealing.

If you want a plate to earn its place, you may find yourself asking whether you need one here at all. Skechers appears to be aiming for a shoe that can do everything, and the H-plate reflects that everything-at-once ambition more than a specific fix.

Upper and Fit

The upper is where this version genuinely improves. Skechers has moved away from the mono mesh used previously, which sometimes felt a little baggy in the forefoot and throat, to a jacquard upper that sculpts nicely through the arch. On the foot, it delivers one of the better fits Skechers has produced.

Other details are straightforward. The tongue is not gusseted but works fine, the insole is glued in rather than removable, and there is a pull tab at the heel. The lacing is basic and functional. The fit runs fairly narrow, which will suit runners who prefer a snug shoe and may frustrate those who need more volume up front.

First Runs: Who Will Feel the Difference

Two testers came at this shoe from very different places. One was running on tired legs after a break, the other had been logging plenty of miles in soft, high-stack, high-cushion shoes. Both noticed the firmer ride, though for slightly different reasons, and both agreed the shoe asks a little more energy from you than a max-cushion trainer does.

That is not necessarily a flaw. A firmer daily trainer with a plate can work well for runners who want to feel the ground and stay engaged, rather than sink into foam. But if your reference point is the original Razor’s softer, more flexible character, expect the Excess 2 to feel more structured and slightly stiffer.

Buying Advice

The Skechers GOrun Razor Excess 2 makes sense for runners who want one shoe to cover a lot of ground and who like a snug, sculpted fit. The jacquard upper is a clear step forward, and the rocker geometry gives the ride a smooth roll.

If you loved the softer, more flexible feel of the original Razor, temper your expectations: this version is firmer and less lively, partly because of the H-plate and the added rubber. Consider it if you run in firmer shoes already or want a versatile trainer with a bit of propulsion built in. Skip it if your priority is plush cushioning, or if you need a wide forefoot. As always with first impressions, a longer test may soften some of these judgments.

Conclusion

The Razor Excess 2 is a better-fitting shoe than its predecessor, with an improved jacquard upper and a feature-packed midsole. Whether the carbon-infused H-plate earns its place is the open question, since the ride feels firmer and less springy than before. For runners seeking a narrow-fitting, do-everything daily trainer, it is worth a close look. Those chasing softness may prefer looking elsewhere.