Skechers Razor 4 First Impressions: A Light, Fast Ride with Some Sizing Caveats

Introduction

The Skechers Razor 4 arrives after what feels like at least three years without an update, and that gap matters. The original Razor was one of the first shoes to feature supercritical foam, which Skechers introduced before most of the bigger names caught on. It was an up-tempo shoe you could genuinely race in, and for true running shoe enthusiasts, it was something of an insider pick: if you spotted someone running in a Razor, you knew they were not simply grabbing a default trainer off their local running store’s shelf. It was also fairly reasonably priced, sitting around the $130 mark.

What’s New in the Razor 4

Skechers has renamed the midsole foam. The previous version used Hyper Burst, and the Razor 4 moves to Hyper Burst Pro, a TPU-infused formulation. The plate setup is also worth noting: the shoe includes a carbon plate in the forefoot. The outsole uses Goodyear rubber, and the grip held up well with no issues during testing.

Visually, this may be the best-looking Skechers shoe to date. The Lakers-inspired colorway fits, given Skechers is a California company, and the tongue is particularly well designed.

Fit and Sizing: Proceed with Caution

Sizing deserves a warning. One tester found the shoe roughly a full size too big and would have sized down at least a half size, and noted that Skechers sizing has run large in recent years. That sizing mismatch turned a planned first run into a 10-mile effort with a hot spot on the inside of the big toe. The other tester, however, found the shoe fit true to size while wearing them, so this may come down to individual foot shape and the last rather than a universal problem. Anyone between sizes, or who has run Skechers before, should weigh that history carefully.

The shoe still uses a rockered sole. Skechers previously used what it called an M-strike design, and the Razor 4 continues the rockered geometry under an Arch Fit label.

Ride Feel: Light, Fast, and Firm

Both testers liked the ride. The shoe feels fast through the stride, light on the foot, and easy to pick up the pace in, with the rocker rolling the foot forward nicely. One tester covered a comfortable 10 miles in them and appreciated that the pace was easy to lift when needed.

The trade-off is firmness. One tester, accustomed to heavily cushioned max-cushion trainers, found the front of the foot aching toward the end of a run, noting it had been a while since running in something this firm. If you spend most of your mileage in plush daily trainers, expect an adjustment period.

Who Should Consider the Razor 4

The Razor 4 makes sense for runners who want a lighter, faster tempo shoe rather than a max-cushion cruiser. Long-time Razor fans will appreciate that the core appeal survives: an efficient, fun ride at a reasonable price, now with updated foam and a carbon plate in the forefoot.

If your Skechers sizing history is inconsistent, order carefully and consider sizing down. If you have a known hot-spot issue on the inside of the big toe in Skechers shoes, that may recur here.

Conclusion

The Skechers Razor 4 is a light, fast, good-looking tempo shoe with upgraded Hyper Burst Pro foam, a carbon forefoot plate, a rockered sole, and reliable Goodyear rubber grip. Its main caveats are firmness relative to max-cushion alternatives and sizing that may run large for some feet. Testers came away liking the ride and planning a more in-depth follow-up.