Gear Closest: Skora Fit Running Shoes

skora ss14 fit m02 mens single

Like most runners, I got pulled into the minimalist craze that was all the rage a few years back. I liked the idea of running with lighter footwear, and the approach that proponents of the minimalist approach espoused, and while I found it worked well for me on short runs (3 miles (5km) or less), when I ran further than that, I often found that the approach didn’t hold up for me personally. I needed a shoe with a bit more support for those longer distances, and most the minimalist shoes just weren’t meeting my needs.

Back then, one of the shoes that I reviewed was the Skora Form, which I liked very much, although I found them on the pricier side of the minimalist market. But like most of the other footwear that I tested in that category, they were ver comfortable to wear and gave you a sense that you were well connected to the ground, but I also didn’t find that they were good for longer distances. Over the past couple of year though, Skora has continued to perfect their designs and offer new options for runners. Recently, I decided to give one of their new designs a second look, and I’m glad I did. The new Fit training shoe is a good example of how the minimalist movement has matured in recent months, blending new designs and materials to still create lightweight shoes, but also providing more overall support and comfort than ever before.

I have to admit, when I first pulled on my pair of Fit shoes, I was afraid I’d have the same relationship with them as I had in with similar designs from the past. They instantly felt good on my feet, but I worried that might not hold up on longer runs, especially since I had recently increased my weekly mileage by a fair amount, and added a lot more hills to the workout. I first put them to the test on 6.5 mile (10.4 km) route with a new running group that I joined, and they performed well. I was able to maintain a steady seven-and-a-half minute mile for the workout, and when I was done, my legs and feet felt great. Subsequent runs confirmed those findings, and if anything, they actually got more comfortable once I put a few miles on them.

Skora says that the Fit is “the ultimate all-purpose running and training shoe,” and as such, they’ve built it for comfort, speed, and agility. It is made from breathable fabrics that help keep your feet cool and dry, and an innovative new support pattern is actually created using a 3D printer. The results are pretty impressive. While this isn’t a “barefoot” shoe by any means, it does manage to be super lightweight, without compromising on the protection for your feet and legs.

As with the previous Skora shoes that I tested, the Fit also seems quite durable for a minimalist shoe. I’ve put a fair amount of milage on them already, and they still look practically brand new. Then again, I am one of those runners whose shoes tend to look good, long after the support and cushioning has blown out. They end up being horrible for running, but still look practically brand new.

Skora also managed to make some serious headway in offering an affordable option for those who are looking for a very lightweight shoe. The price tag on a fair of Fits is just $94.95, which makes them very competitively priced with just about an other decent running shoe on the market. That is to say, you can obviously by running shoes that cost less than this, but you really do get what you pay for.

Throughout this review, I’ve used the word “minimalist” and “lightweight” a lot. So just how light are the Fits? They tip the scale at 8.2 ounces (232 grams), which definitely puts them in the minimalist category, even if they are a slight step up from “barefoot.”

Personally, I think Skora has a winner on their hands with these shoes. They are comfortable, but surprisingly supportive, which in turn keeps your feet very happy. If you’re in the market for a new pair of running shoes, and you want to go minimalist, the Skora Fits will fit your needs quite nicely. And they won’t make your wallet cry out in pain either.

Kraig Becker