Skechers Speed Elite is Now Available ($190)

zzzz wrote:

Nike Vaporfly (original, about a dozen years ago): 21

Found a photo of this just for fun.

Interesting, though I do know some world class triathletes, in the twilight of their careers who have switched to vaporfly next% and are now running 5k faster than ever (like 20-30s). Back in September my guess was that the Speed Elite would suit me better than the Vaporflys but they never arrived. My injury though has allowed me to wait and decide between the two. Michael Jamison and his girlfriend claim that they are fast.

Subway Surfers wrote:

RobA wrote:

My Speed Elite shipped this morning. Should have them in hand on Friday.

It is your responsibility to review these for us, it would be great if you could compare them to the Vaporflys too.

That will be tough as I have never owned/worn any shoes from Nike. I'll give you my thoughts though compared to the Razor 3 and Speed 6.

My pair will be here today. Will update on sizing - I'm a little concerned in that regard with recent Skechers snafus.

Alberto's Dog wrote:

My pair will be here today. Will update on sizing - I'm a little concerned in that regard with recent Skechers snafus.

At the Houston expo I tried on the Speed 6 in my regular size and they were a bit short. So I tried on one that was a half size larger and it was even shorter, even though there was a little more width to it.

Almost like the early days of Altra where their sizing was all over the place.

Raggedman wrote:

Alberto's Dog wrote:

My pair will be here today. Will update on sizing - I'm a little concerned in that regard with recent Skechers snafus.

At the Houston expo I tried on the Speed 6 in my regular size and they were a bit short. So I tried on one that was a half size larger and it was even shorter, even though there was a little more width to it.

Almost like the early days of Altra where their sizing was all over the place.

I tend to wear an 8.5 in trainers. Flats I often wear 8.0, sometimes 8.5. In the Speed 6, I have a 9, and even that has cost me a toenail. But Skechers is sending me a size 8 in the Speed Elite so... we'll see! May need an exchange.

I've had similar sizing issues with Skechers--first pair of Razor 3 was a little tight (size 9), same size in MaxRoad 4 was a little big, and the same size in the GRR8 was massive. I got a second pair of Razors in the 9 and they fit perfectly. I ordered the Speed Elite in size 9 and am hoping they don't squeeze too much, but looking forward to seeing what people here say on sizing.

Update - the size 8 is in. Fits almost exactly the same as a size 9 in the Speed 6, with a little more room, if anything, owing to a less restrictive toe overlay. Have not run in them yet - just arrived, and I ran this morning - but I may do a short treadmill session in the PM to see.

Any more insight Alberto?

I'm gonna push the button on some Speed Elites soon - I'm going to go with my "normal" Skechers size.... even though I went 1/2 size bigger on my first (and only) pair of Razor 3.

Pretty sure a full size up will be too big.

Want to make sure I get it right though as I'll be getting a buddy to send me a pair from the US.

:)

dss123 wrote:

Any more insight Alberto?

I'm gonna push the button on some Speed Elites soon - I'm going to go with my "normal" Skechers size.... even though I went 1/2 size bigger on my first (and only) pair of Razor 3.

Pretty sure a full size up will be too big.

Want to make sure I get it right though as I'll be getting a buddy to send me a pair from the US.

:)

Hey now, I’m not Alberto! Just his dog.

I would go with your normal size, absolutely. Unfortunately I haven’t given them a full workout yet (we got a pretty decent snowstorm) but the 8 I have seems TTS on my treadmill test.

Cheers Alberto's dog....

so for me Skechers have always run a bit big.

Almost every other shoe, I'm a 9.5

Reebok- I'm guaranteed to be 9.

Skechers-Size 9 - Razor 3- a bit larger than expected, could have prob sized down to 8.5)

Size 9- Speed 6- need to wear thin socks to fit right (but it is a flat, so that's ok)

I'm guessing I'm going to be a 9 here, but really intrigued with Alberto's Dog's feedback.

Jeremy R wrote:

so for me Skechers have always run a bit big.

Almost every other shoe, I'm a 9.5

Reebok- I'm guaranteed to be 9.

Skechers-Size 9 - Razor 3- a bit larger than expected, could have prob sized down to 8.5)

Size 9- Speed 6- need to wear thin socks to fit right (but it is a flat, so that's ok)

I'm guessing I'm going to be a 9 here, but really intrigued with Alberto's Dog's feedback.

I've only worn 3 Skechers - GoRun 7, GoRun 7+, and Speed 6 (and now, I suppose Speed Elite). Of those, I've gone 8.5, 8.5, 9, and now 8 in the Speed Elite.

Based on what you've told me - I'd go 9. It's weird that we overlap with the Speed 6 (surprised you fit into the 9) but I would imagine the 8 in the Speed Elite will be too small, since I'm right on the border.

I should add, we try really hard to add size comparisons to the Comparison portion of reviews, so it may be worth a look if you have some references, at

.

I'm still waiting for my Speed Elite to ship, but I ran 50 miles in the VFNext% and returned them to RW. The Razor 3 is my daily trainer. For me, I actually preferred the R3 over the VF...and by a wide margin. I found the VF midsole to be way too squishy for my taste. Paired with the plate (which was rather stiff) and a sloppy heel IMO, it made for very awkward transitions for me from midfoot to toe off. I found myself trying to want to run in the VF instead of willingly pulling it out of my shoe closet.

Time will tell whether the Speed Elite is more my cup of tea, but if it really is like a Razor 3 with a Speed 6 upper and a plate, it sounds like it's right up my alley. Firmer, lower to the ground, and lighter than the VF...I haven't anticipated a shoe this much in a long time.

Agreed. Very excited for this shoe as well. I hate my VP FKs. They hurt my feet

you used the the Next% for 1/3 of their life span an returned them. sweet.

First shoes I ever returned...and like Jeremy, they hurt my feet. In fairness, I probably should have returned them a bit sooner, but I kept running in them because I felt like I must've been missing something - everyone kept on hyping them up. For me, they'd be a no go even if they were free.

My worry is the massive sideways pronation of the Vaporflys

amadeus303 wrote:

First shoes I ever returned...and like Jeremy, they hurt my feet. In fairness, I probably should have returned them a bit sooner, but I kept running in them because I felt like I must've been missing something - everyone kept on hyping them up. For me, they'd be a no go even if they were free.

Looking forward to your feedback on the Speed Elite. I haven't worn the Next%, though I wasn't in love with the 4%s. I did PR in the marathon, but I never felt they fit my stride quite right - sort of (as Subway Surfers suggests) like a sideways wobble.