Is the Skechers Aero Tempo Going to Be Your New Favorite Shoe? Probably Not.

Remember how, in the mid-2010s, Skechers went from being something of an unknown brand in the running world to a company that actually made good running shoes that could lift you to personal bests? Skechers was to running what Buick is to cars — their ads were always trying to convince the younger generation that their products weren’t only for senior citizens. Unlike Buick (which I still think of solely as a car for grandparents), Skechers climbed out of that hole, eventually finding decent success with serious runners.

The brand teamed up with legit stars of the sport, like Meb Keflezighi (who won the 2014 Boston Marathon in Skechers), world championship silver medallist Kara Goucher and 17-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek (whose surname made him a near-perfect Skechers-signee, as it is almost a complete anagram of the company name). Skechers also made waves in the world of triathlon, as the likes of Lionel Sanders and Lucy Charles-Barclay — among other top pros — wore them in IRONMAN-winning performances around the world.

Then Skechers sort of disappeared from running for a while. The company has still been making running shoes, but in recent years, it seemed to put more focus on other lines, like lifestyle, golf and even pickleball.

In late 2025, I got the chance to speak with some Skechers team members who said the company was eager to dive back into the running space as seriously as it had been a few years ago. They pointed me to a few of their latest models, including the Skechers Aero Tempo, a “high-performance race day shoe” that they were excited to share. I was equally excited to test the Aero Tempo out, but I was sorely disappointed just a few steps into my first run. Unfortunately, my opinion on the shoe didn’t improve much from there, and after many miles logged in the Aero Tempo, I have to say I would not be recommending it to anyone looking for a personal best at their next race.

Aero Tempo Specs

• Weight: 8.5 oz (U.S. men’s size 9), 7.6 oz (U.S. women’s size 7)
• Drop: 4 mm
• Stack Height: 37mm (heel) / 33 mm (forefoot)
• Price: US$160

The Aero Tempo specs and design all look great. The shoes are not too heavy at 8.5 ounces for a men’s size 9 and 7.6 ounces for women’s size 7. They don’t have the biggest drop, but their rocker design and carbon plate are designed to offer plenty of speed. The Goodyear rubber outsole offers great traction and durability. The midsole is listed as being lightweight and highly cushioned.

All of that looks great — on paper. When I took them for a run, however, I didn’t feel like this design delivered the fast and comfortable ride that it promised. Let’s get into the positives and negatives I experienced during my runs in the Aero Tempo.

The Pros of the Aero Tempo

My favourite feature on these Skechers is the upper and sock-liner. The upper has a lightweight TPU makeup with the company’s HyperBurst Pro sock-liner. This was very comfortable, and even on a couple of runs for which I wore shorter socks, I didn’t experience any rubbing or irritation. The shoe was snug, but not too tight, and the mesh upper provided nice breathability.

If you like a stiff ride in your running shoes, the Aero Tempo could be the shoe for you. Personally, I did not enjoy this feel from the shoe (more on that in a bit), but there are runners out there who are not fans of the ultra-plush options on the market today. It does seem like that is where most companies are headed with their running shoes — maxing out plushness and trying to deliver on energy return and bounce at the same time. Skechers delivers a stiffer option with this model, and it could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Another positive is the shoe’s price. At US$160, this is a great deal for a carbon-plated racing shoe. So many other brands charge well over $200 for their racing shoes and carbon plate technology, so if you are in the market for a more budget-friendly race shoe, the Skechers Aero Tempo could be for you. Before you jump at this deal, though, consider the shoe’s cons.

The Cons of the Aero Tempo

I did not like running in these shoes. To be fair, I have seen other reviews in which people said they loved the Aero Tempo, so if the lower price point and racing design intrigue you, they very well could be worth testing out. Based on my experience running in them, however, I would encourage you to try them in-store for more than just a few steps — a run shop with a treadmill would be ideal.

My biggest complaint with the shoes is that they are not comfortable. The upper is great, but nothing in the midsole and lower made me want to go for another run in these shoes. Skechers says the carbon plate provides a “high stiffness-to-weight ratio,” which is often the case with carbon-plated shoes. However, Skechers also says this stiffness “promotes stability and next-level energy return,” which I did not find at all in any of my runs.

Every stride that I took in these shoes felt dead as soon as my foot made contact with the ground. Something in the midsole — the HyperBurst cushioning, or the carbon plate, or the combo of the two — both sucked the energy out of each step and delivered a bit of a jarring shot of impact into my feet and legs. While most shoes will give you a spring of energy return with each step, it felt like with the Aero Tempo, all of that energy was lost in the ground.

This was a stark contrast with other shoes I have reviewed recently — all of which are trainers that are not made specifically for racing. Personally, I would much rather race in any of those training shoes than in the Skechers Aero Tempo. Not only would they be more comfortable, but I also think they would be faster at baseline.

The lack of spring and responsiveness in the Aero Tempo means you are losing any momentum you might build throughout each stride. The stiff impact you feel with every step will eventually take its toll on your body, and I have to imagine that any race longer than a 10K is going to be unpleasant in these shoes. The Aero Tempo even felt heavier than the other shoes I have worn recently (despite being a full one or even two ounces lighter).

Conclusion

I wanted to like these Skechers. I won a pair of Skechers trainers back in 2017 at a triathlon, and I ran those shoes into the ground. I loved them, and when I heard that the company was putting more emphasis on the running and performance line again, I was very keen to fall back in love with the brand.

Sadly, that didn’t happen. I have another Skechers shoe — the brand new Aero Razor — that I have yet to test out. Perhaps that will be the shoe that convinces me that the company is, in fact, back to compete in the running game and square up against the likes of Nike, Hoka, Asics and so on. Based on the Aero Tempo, though, I have to say that I think Skechers should stick to lifestyle, golf and even pickleball shoes instead.

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