This Skechers GoRun MaxRoad 5 review is part of our 2022 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards, where the shoe won Best for Newbie Runners. You can see the rest of our award winners here.
So I’ll first have to be honest in saying that the pavement doesn’t exactly beckon me as I climb out of bed each morning. I’m more of a “let’s see where the day takes me” kind of gal, but when it comes to running that frame of mind doesn’t typically get me very far. I’ve recently committed myself, however, to “officially” becoming a runner.
I joined the SELF staff during an interesting time of the year. The brand had recently published a running challenge, created to encourage folks to put their best foot forward and just run already. Inspired by the work, I joined Black Girls Run, a runners club for Black women in my area. One of the first pairs of sneakers I put to the test (or wore in several years, if I’m being honest), were the Skechers GoRun Maxroad 5s ($145, skechers.com).
How I Tested
I’ve been running twice a week both on the sidewalks and roads, as well as on a three-mile loop trail near where I live in Chapel Hill, wearing the Skechers GoRun MaxRoad 5.
As I continue in my journey with BGR, they encouraged me to find a good training app that could help me prepare for my very first 5K race this winter in Miami. After some research, I settled on this Couch to 5K app, which has provided a progressive running plan to help steadily increase my endurance and strength.
Finally, I work with a personal trainer once a week, going over some running-form basics, such as my posture and gaze, as well as weight lifting.
Fit
I wear a size 6 in women’s shoes, and can easily do a 5.5. For someone who is in heels 85% of the time, it felt good to test a shoe that is comfortable and caters to my extremely high arches. The GoRun MaxRoad 5s fit my foot perfectly, hugging it in all the right places (my heels and arches) and providing room for my toes to breathe as well.
Skechers is known for their comfortable athletic shoes, and so receiving this pair for testing was a godsend, especially as I was unsure where to begin as a new runner.
Shape of the Shoe
The GoRun MaxRoad 5 is a great selection for more narrow foot types like my own, so I’m crazy about the fit, but if my feet were just a little wider, I’d have to say I might have a different opinion.
Feel of the Shoe
This has to be the most comfortable running shoe I’ve tried over the last decade. Though I’m just getting started in my adult running journey, I can remember running track as a teen and training in sneakers that were much too hard and tight, often causing blisters and hardened, cracked soles. I loved that these shoes provided a cushioned step with an added bounce thanks to the gum sole. Also worth noting: The shoe gave me great stability as I began working my way over to the weights with my PT. I felt grounded throughout my sessions and, with wobbly ankles, I was grateful for that.
How My Body Felt During and After Activity
These shoes made me feel supported and stable during my activities, including on the dirt trails I walked. Generally, when training or running, a lot of folks feel the need to swap out one pair of sneaks for another. I can honestly say that this wasn’t the case with this pair for me, and I often ran errands in these sneakers after my workouts or runs. They’re comfortable enough to wear for hours, even long after your activity has ended.