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The RW Takeaway: With more cushioning and support than the original Razor, the Excess 2 capably handles long runs and daily jogs, but feels best when you’re picking up the pace.
- New carbon-infused forefoot plate; same firm and bouncy Hyper Burst foam
- Upper is now softer and stretchier, with a widened toebox and forefoot.
- Durable, full-length Goodyear rubber outsole provides excellent grip.
Price: $135
Type: Neutral Road
Weight: 7.2 oz (M), 5.7 oz (W)
Drop: 4 mm
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We’ve seen the Razor in an assortment of exciting flavors since its 2018 debut. Last fall’s TRL model was a big twist that added a new lugged outsole for zipping from roads to trails. But some varieties are mainly upper swaps to the original Razor’s non-stretch monomesh, like the wild zebra-clad Cloak or the stretchier, graphic-free Plus. The latter actually launched as a training companion to the Razor Elite, a carbon fiber-plated shoe built for racing and not much else. Though it might sound like a synonym for that Plus model, the Excess is much different.
Pros
- Very lightweight, yet well-cushioned
- Versatile for different paces
- More insole support
Cons
- Carbon plate is not very noticeable
Three more millimeters of bouncy Hyper Burst foam makes this the most cushioned Razor yet—with 30mm and 26mm stacks. The forefoot and toebox are also roomier. When we tested the debut version of this shoe, those qualities let us take it out for longer distances more comfortably. They’re here in the second version, too.
The 2 has a new hybrid upper, with portions of see-through monomesh striped with thicker, slightly stretchy polyester knit. The combination of materials holds the foot secure when moving at top speed, but still allows for some expansion and airflow. There’s also more padding on the tongue. Though Jeff Dengate preferred the v1’s thinner, perforated faux suede, he conceded that the thicker tongue will likely work better for most runners. I count myself among that majority, but my own diva request is for an internal gusset to really wrap the foot snugly.
In my opinion, sockliners are consistently overlooked, so I appreciate that Skechers went deep on this part of the shoe—like, analyzing-the-data-of-more-than-120,000-foot-scans deep. Upon step-in, I was worried that a 3mm-thick EVA insole wouldn’t work for me; beneath my flat feet, it felt like a golf ball was stuck under my foot on the medial side. But less than a mile into my run, it conformed to my foot for just enough support. And unlike the Excess v1’s glued-in lining, the new insole softens the overall ride.
“I like a relatively firm shoe, like the original Razor, one that is protective but doesn’t feel mushy,” Dengate said. “The Excess maintains that characteristic. It’s not overly plush, but feels a little softer.”
Those upgrades sit atop the biggest change for the v2, the carbon-infused H-plate that’s becoming nearly ubiquitous to Skechers shoes. In the Excess, it’s stiff and snappy even at an easy lope, which makes the shoe better suited to uptempo efforts than daily jogs. Admittedly, I usually avoid doing longer speedwork in shoes with a 4mm drop or lower—my calves are happiest at twice that amount. However, the added carbon and rocker sole helped me out a little on toe-off, enough to ease some of that lower-leg strain. I was able to crank for over an hour, progressing down to goal half-marathon pace on hilly roads and hard sidewalks.
Gabe F. | Tester since 2021
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Heel
“I was a fan of the Skechers Razor 3, but only for fast workouts. It did not have a ton of cushioning for long runs. The Excess is very lightweight, but has a lot of cushion that keeps my feet fresh for both faster workouts and high-volume workouts. I prefer softer shoes for my easy days, but for workouts, I prefer shoes like the Excess—a little firmer with a nice pop on toe-off and. However, the H-shaped plate is not as snappy compared to the full-length carbon plates of the Nike Vaporfly or Saucony Endorphin Pro. I used the Excess for workouts, long runs, and easy days, and found that it worked really well at a variety of paces. (My fartlek sessions averaged around 6:00/mile, tempo runs around 6:20, 12-14 mile long runs at 7:00-7:15, and hilly easy-day efforts days around 7:30.) Though this shoe is very similar to the Hoka Rincon 3, I prefer the Excess 2 for its comfort—the upper is one of the most comfortable uppers I have worn in recent history.”
