Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: These beginner-friendly running shoes are just $85

The Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 are some of the best running shoes for beginners. At just $85/£80, they’re budget-friendly, so an ideal amount of investment for someone just starting. If you’re running on a treadmill or just on the road, these could be the best beginner-friendly shoes on the market right now.

I loved how comfortable these running shoes were. The 1½-inch foam heel provided excellent bounce and cushioning during road running. On top of that, Skechers’ GogaMat sole foam is cooling, which helped me on runs in 70°F weather (hot for the U.K., trust me).

While the sneakers aren’t waterproof, they performed excellently in dry weather on the road and during sprint training. I’d get another pair for trail running as I doubt the Go Run Elevate 2.0 would perform as well on rugged or muddy terrain. I’ll discuss everything in detail in this Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review.

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Cheat sheet

• Who are they for? Beginner runners mostly — they’re quite basic, which isn’t a bad thing, but more experienced runners might want some more oomph
• What do they do well? They’re really comfy and affordable
• What do they cost? Just $85 / £80
• What are the weaknesses? They’re not waterproof

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Specs

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Price & availability

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 are $85 from Amazon U.S. (women), $85 from Amazon U.S. (men), £80 from Amazon U.K. (women) and £80 from Amazon U.K. (men). They’re available in both men’s and women’s styles and sizes.

This is a very good price for cushioned running shoes; my personal running shoes are the $175 Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX, which, granted, have Gore-Tex, but are still more than double the price of the Skechers.

Our best running shoes, the Ascis Novablast 5, are $139 from Amazon U.S. I think if you’re just starting out and unsure if you want to spend over a hundred dollars on some running shoes, then the Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 are a perfect option.

The Go Run Elevate 2.0 are available in the following colors: Black, Bluish Pink, and Fuschia Pink, sizes 6-11 (U.K. 2-8). I tested the bright pink version, but I probably would have chosen the black. In the men’s style, they’re available in: Black, Gray/Orange, and Red, from sizes 9-13 (U.K. 7-9.5).

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Design

Right off the bat, I’m going to say it’s amazing that the Go Run Elevates are completely vegan, so anyone can use these regardless of lifestyle choice. I’m not vegan, but I only buy vegan clothing and footwear so this gets a big thumbs up from me.

The upper is made from a synthetic knit fabric with no waterproofing, but very breathable. The shoes are laced and the laces stay tied up even on one knot, which is more than I can say for the Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTXs, which love to come untied.

Unfortunately, there’s no physical support around the heel or the Achilles. In no way did I feel unsupported during testing, but it’s worth noting that if you need extra support from your running shoes, you’d be better off looking somewhere else. I can recommend the Saucony Hurricane 24.

I also loved the padded tongue, which was super protective of my foot bridge and made the shoes even more comfortable.

The midsole has ultra-light cushioning, which is effectively just a foam sole. Given the price point, this is a basic sole and doesn’t live up to Brooks Glycerin or Puma’s DNA Loft V3, but I found the shoes gave decent arch support and cushioning without being heavy. Even when I was landing quite hard, the shoes absorbed a lot of the shock. My ankles and knees didn’t hurt at all after running.

The soles have Skechers’ trademark GogaMat foam. Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 shoes have a 9mm drop, which provides a lot of heel support and bounce during use. The soles are 1½ inches high at the heel and I found this cushioned my feet during runs well.

I ran in around 68°F weather (very hot for the U.K., trust me) and my feet never overheated or got sweaty. The shoes did well to combat the outside heat. The breathable materials paired with the cooling foam really did the trick.

Perhaps the only complaint I have with the Go Run Elevates is that they’re pretty roomy around the toe box and the ball of my foot. While this is good for those with wide feet, it’s worth noting for narrower-footed people. Right now, these shoes are only available in standard width.

I have narrow feet, but it also meant that the shoes creased easily when I was running. When I tried to tie the laces tighter to prevent this roominess around my toes, the shoes were too tight on my bridge.

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Performance

Obviously performance is very subjective: what I like may not equal what you like. I loved the Go Run Elevate’s bouncy, airy soles and the 1½-inch height. This enabled me to run with ease, and my legs felt supported and comfortable during sprinting.

I have a neutral gait, so my feet and ankles don’t tend to roll. If yours do, it’s worth looking at shoes with more support such as the Saucony 24 Hurricane I mentioned earlier.

Thanks to the rockered ride and bouncy foam, I felt comfortable and assisted on runs when my legs were getting tired. The bouncy soles were truly a lifesaver when I didn’t want to go any further, as the shoes almost did all the work for me.

The Go Run Elevate 2.0 are plate-free running shoes. Plate-free basically means there’s no carbon plating between the sole and cushioning. This means they’re lighter and more breathable, but might not be ideal for longer or more intense runs. As a result, I’d recommend these shoes for beginner runners or those who tend to do 5ks rather than marathons.

Given the 8.2-ounce weight, these shoes are incredibly versatile and lightweight. I could barely notice any weight on my foot whatsoever. The Go Run Elevates are lighter than the Saucony Ride 18 ($140) and the Brooks Glycerin 21 ($160).

More seasoned runners may want to look elsewhere: I recommend the Brooks Glycerin Max ($200, which has a nitrogen-infused sole for supreme bounce) or the carbon-plated Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 ($275).

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review: Verdict

The Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 running shoes are ideal for beginners. I say beginners because they’re pretty cheap — just $85. Runners who need a carbon plate shoe (for racing or speedwork) should look elsewhere.

Considering they’re just $85, it’s not surprising that they don’t have waterproofing. I’d recommend these for use on a treadmill or casual road running. If you’re a trail runner, you might want to look at Gore-Tex sneakers like the Hoka Speedgoat range.

For me, though, these running shoes are ideal. They’re very comfortable and the 1½-inch thick foam provided extra help on runs where I needed a little extra help. If you’re a beginner, I can’t recommend these enough.