Skechers GoBionic2 Review

I did never tried the first version of Skechers GoBionic. 0mm drop was never an attraction for me and I was very happy with my shoe rotation last year. I read and heard  really good things about the Bionics and during NYC Marathon expo, I received lot of questions from runners when the new Bionic2 was going to be released. I was asked by Skechers Performance Division to log some miles in the new Bionic2 and I have to say I was excited to finally get to test the Bionics. Over the winter I have been logging about 250 miles in the new Bionic2, as a part of Skechers Performance Division wear tester program.

Skechers GoBionic2 

Whats new
SkechersBionic2 carries over the same mid sole unit as the first Bionic. The big changes comes to the upper. Skechers also  offer a 2:1 insole system. For the Bionic2 that means that you can chose between 0mm/4mm drop.

Upper
The upper on the Bionic2 is like a stripped down version of Skechers GoRun3. You get the same stretchable mesh in the front, which gives your toes lot of room to spread out. The mid foot area has less overlays and a lighter mesh then GoRun3. The lace system is also different from GoRun3. You will find less rows for the rounded laces. At times I have found it hard to get an even pressure from the laces and they can create hot spots on top of your feet if you're not careful with the lacing. The mid foot area offers a really snug fit and you can go sock less in these. Due to the cold NJ weather I have only tried this a few times. Over all the upper is really snug with minimal overlays that interfere, go sockl ess if you want, the upper wont cause any problems for you.

Midsole/Outsole
Bionic2 carries over the same  mid sole  unit as the the first edition. You will find the same deep open flex grooves. The whole unit is build around 18 different Resalyte pods, this makes shoe very flexible in every possible direction. Some blown rubber are placed at strategically places. For some runners including myself, the rubbers might be placed on the wrong pods. I could have used more blown rubber in the mid foot front area.  You can see my wear and tear on the pictures below.

Performance/Conclusion 
I have really enjoyed the close to road feeling of the Bionic2, this and  the really close snug fit has made the Bionic2 one of my favorite shoes in my current rotation. I have used the Bionic2 with the insole for a 4mm drop on most of the runs, this gives you some extra cushion, but still you have that great road feel. Bionic2 can be used  for all different kinds of runs.  Longest run for me has been a 16 miler. In the end I could feel that my feet and legs got a bit fatigue from the flexible mid sole unit. In my experience it takes a bit to get use to the flexibility of the Bionic. When going 0mm drop I could feels some tension in my calves as I'm not use to this drop level.  The Resalyte makes the Bionic2 very responsive and the grip of the road is great.  I have been thinking that this could be a shoe for shorter races as it is very responsive and I get a fast feeling, but the fact that the deep flex grooves pick up every pebble you pass, its a bit of a problem on a race day. Over all I have really liked every run with Bionic2, they kind of makes you happy when you lace them on.

Pros
- Great upper, with a really nice close to the feet snug feeling. Offers plenty of room for your toes
-Very responsive and flexible.
-Outstanding road feel.
-2:1 insole system. 0mm or 4mm drop options

Cons
-Flex grooves, is a pebble magnet. After each run I have too clean the shoes from stones and pebbles.
-Durability of the out sole. Some of the pods goes down really quick.
-Probably not the best pick on a snowy day, due to the deep flex grooves.
-Laces could create hot spots on top of your feet.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive Running shoes from Skechers Performance Division as part of their Skecher Performance Division brand ambassador program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”