Skechers GORun Ride 11 Review: Soft and Bouncy, But Not for Everyone

Introduction

The Skechers GORun Ride 11 arrives with a brand new midsole compound and a weight that puts it firmly in the daily trainer category: 9.8 ounces (278 g) in a men’s size 9, and 7.6 ounces (215 g) in a women’s size 7. On paper, there is a lot to like here. In practice, the shoe splits opinion depending on what you need from a ride.

What’s New: Hyperburst ICE Midsole

The headline change is Hyperburst ICE, a new foam compound that feels notably softer and bouncier than before. The foam itself has a genuinely nice feel underfoot, and it is easy to see why Skechers is excited about where this material goes next.

In this particular shoe, though, the foam is only part of the story. The way the midsole is shaped and supported ends up mattering just as much, and that is where the Ride 11 gets complicated.

The Geometry Problem

The Ride 11 uses Skechers’ rocker geometry, called Hyperarc, and it has a heel bevel that comes deep and far forward into the heel. For runners who land in that back portion of the heel, the effect is like hitting a small speed bump before the shoe lets you roll forward. It makes for a clunky entrance and a feel that is very midfoot heavy.

That matters because the stack is already substantial: 38 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop. A lot of that foam feels concentrated in the midfoot, which, combined with the bevel construction, makes the ride feel less stable and less smooth than the numbers suggest.

A Flexible Plate in Soft Foam

The forefoot carries a carbon-infused plate, but it is a fairly flexible one. You get some rigidity, yet there is still a lot of motion through the front of the shoe. Paired with such soft foam, the result is a ride that could arguably have used more structure, not less.

A little more forefoot rigidity, more stability through the midfoot, and a slightly wider midfoot waist would all help this shoe hold together better for runners who lean on their midfoot through the gait cycle.

Fit: A Tight Toe Box

Fit is the other sticking point. The toe box runs tight, and not in a snug-but-fine way: it pulls on the front part of the forefoot and stays slightly uncomfortable. It never really fully loosened up over wear, so if you have wider forefeet or value toe room, this is worth taking seriously.

Buying Advice

If you love a soft, bouncy ride and have no stability concerns, the GORun Ride 11 is still worth a look. The Hyperburst ICE foam is pleasant, and runners with a neutral gait who land further forward may not notice the heel bevel the same way.

If you land deep in the heel, need a stable midfoot, or want more toe box room, this shoe is a harder sell in its current form.

Conclusion

The Skechers GORun Ride 11 showcases a promising new foam, but a tight toe box, a deep heel bevel, and a midfoot-heavy, flexible platform keep it from working for everyone. Soft-and-bouncy fans with neutral mechanics should try it; stability-focused runners and wide forefeet should look elsewhere.