The Skechers Razor Excess 2 is a carbon fiber plated, max cushion running shoe following in the footsteps of the original (and well-reviewed) Razor Excess. Skechers sent pairs for both Tyler and Drew and they’ve put in the miles. This is their review.
Tyler: Meh. That’s what I have to say about the Razor Excess 2. Drew can attest, but I was beyond giddy when I heard that these arrived at WearTesters HQ. After really enjoying both the Skechers GOrun Max Road 5 in 2021, as well as the GOrun Razor 3 (chef’s kiss) back in 2018, I assumed that the Razor Excess 2 would follow-suit and be another great experience with Skechers. Not so much.
Drew: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 does some things I really like and some things I don’t. This review is going to touch on everything so you see if any of the cons are dealbreakers.
Skechers Razor Excess 2
Release Date: May 2022
Price: $140
Weight: M 7.9 oz, W 6.5 oz
Drop: 4mm (30mm forefoot, 34mm heel)
Sizing: True to size
- Rundown: A peppy, breathable, and fun shoe with solid Goodyear traction but an uncomfortable toebox.
Pros
- Price
- Hyperburst Cushion
- Looks
Cons
- Fit
- Toebox
Pros
Price
Tyler: At $135, you’re getting a lightweight uptempo (or daily) shoe that includes a carbon-infused forefoot H-plate, Goodyear outsole and a mighty-fine looking design, no matter what colorway you choose. While it didn’t deliver what I wanted, the cost alone was enticing enough to roll the dice.
Drew: Skechers is bringing the competitive pricing despite post pandemic inflationary concerns. I gotta hand it to them as that’s much needed.
Hyperburst Cushioning
Tyler: For all my nitpicks on this shoe, the one area I can’t shoot down is the midsole. Hyperburst, Skechers carbonated EVA foam, is resilient, light and extremely responsive. Give me more!
Drew: I’ve tried Hyperburst several times and it’s always peppy. Especially when paired with the H-plate in the forefoot, the Skechers Razor Excess 2 pops. I love it when bouncy foams like Hyperburst are used on daily trainers. It just makes it a little easier to log the endless miles of a typical marathon training schedule.
Looks
Tyler: Since the inception of Skechers resurgence in the running world, their designs have been spot on (ok, ok, the Razor 3’s overlay was a little over-the-top). With enough color and pop to catch eyes, they balance that with simple executions and understated branding.
Drew: Skechers is always going to try interesting upper ideas. This one is a play on the various animal-esque prints they’ve done previously. While I don’t love it, I do appreciate that they take risks unlike some of the more boring running brands.
Cons
Fit
Tyler: I don’t know where to start. There’s a lot going on with the shoe that didn’t accommodate my relatively normal foot. The combination of the Arch Fit insole, 4mm drop and Hyper Arc rocker bottom all led to a fit that felt like my heel wasn’t fully in the shoe and my midfoot was tightened down for dear life.
Drew: For me, the lockdown was fine and I enjoyed the drop and rocker. The Arch Fit insole is weird though. It felt odd on my right foot for two runs before it broke in and felt fairly normal. To start, it feels a lot like the arch of the original Nike React Infinity Run. The extra arch support on the Skechers Razor Excess 2 may work well for flat footers that need a lot of arch support.
Toebox
Tyler: RIP pinky toes. I can not believe how narrow the forefoot of this shoe is. With the fit issues stated above, my foot felt so constricted during my initial run that I chalked it up to needing a period of break in. After about 12-15 miles in the shoes, it became evident that these weren’t planning on opening up at all. As a last-ditch effort, I yanked the insoles out (props for an easily removable insole) and threw in a pair of standard insoles from another pair of daily runners. While that did open up the fit slightly, it wasn’t enough for me to change my mind.
Drew: The forefoot narrows precipitously. I made it work but I didn’t love the feeling. I can’t recommend this shoe for wide footers as even going up a half size won’t solve the issue.
Skechers Razor Excess 2 Summary
Tyler: I was so excited and hopeful for the Skechers Razor Excess 2, but this just isn’t a shoe that jives with me, nor would I recommend it to most runners. If you’re looking for an uptempo, lightweight and poppy shoe, I’d set my sights on something like the New Balance Rebel v2 or Hoka Mach Supersonic.
Drew: The Skechers Razor Excess 2 is a peppy, breathable, fun shoe with solid Goodyear traction. But the narrow forefoot fit is going to annoy a lot of people. If the fit doesn’t bother you, you’ll get a right-priced tempo-ready shoe.
