Lululemon Split Shift Review | Finally, a Lululemon Shoe Built for Real Runners

Our review of the new Lululmeon Split Shift running shoe, their attempt to really take some big strides forward with shoe technology.

Lululemon isn’t often a brand we think of for running shoes. But they found a foothold with the Lululmeon BeyondFeel for newer runners and the Lululemon Split Shift running shoe has left me pleasantly surprised for some longer miles!

Can a brand that is typically know for yoga apparel compare to some of the big running shoe brands? Maybe, especially when they use a new “ShiftFoam” cushioning for a responsive, springy feel paired with a rocker-style footbed for a smooth heel to toe transition.

When I slid these shoes on, they were not at all what I expected. I could tell right away that they would be give me a little extra energy for faster running. Let’s checkout how they hold up for marathon mileage.

This shoe is great for anything from an easy run (when you want to get a little more pop to your stride) to racing a half marathon. They really shine for mid-distance workouts like tempo runs.

Lululemon Split Shift Overview

Finding a great lightweight running shoe is hard, so many have added enough stack height that weights have gone up. Which means, we’re pretty impressed with the combo of cushion for weight in a shoe that can easily transition from daily trainer to picking up the pace.

The most noticeable aspect of this shoe is the rocker shaped footbed. I’ve worn some shoes lately with a similar rocker feel (like the Glycerin Max) but they usually come with a higher stack height or more weight.

The Split Shifts are light (7.8 oz for a women’s 8) so the rocker just makes you feel like you’re flying. Plus at 37mm stack height, it’s not nearly as high as so many shoes have gotten, which helps with speed.

I wore these for easy runs, strides, and a tempo run and they felt great for all of them. The only problem is that I wanted to run faster on my easy runs! But I think these are good for those days when you need a little extra energy on any type of run.

I’m about 5 weeks into marathon training so most of my weekday runs are in the 6-7 mile range right now.

I think these could handle much more than that, but we’re always extra caution to not change too much in marathon training. If you’re used to say a 10mm drop you won’t notice the change to 7mm, but if you’ve been in a 12mm then you might want to slowly add them in to your rotation.

While these feel soft and smooth thanks to the ShiftFoam cushioning in the midsole, they’re definitely not the squishy, highly cushioned shoe max stack shoes we’re seeing everywhere.

To me it’s just enough cushioning to make them feel soft and comfortable without overdoing it, which allows you to keep that ability to pick up the pace.

The 7mm heel drop is unique because you don’t see that number often, but we’re fans of finding that moderate heel to toe drop for most runners.

Somehow, the Split Shifts have brought together all the important elements that you would want in a shoe for faster running: they’re lightweight, responsive, springy, allow for smooth transitions, and have just the right amount of cushion to feel soft but not heavy.

100% we would recommend these over the BeyondFeel for those putting in more than 3 miles. While the Beyond had a nice cushion, these feel more like what we expect in a running shoe for those doing more than quick gym workouts.

I appreciate the light colors that make up the upper of the shoe with the pop of orange on the bottom. They seem like a shoe that would go well with just about anything. And it really feels like Lululemon staying true to the overall brand.

No surprise the outsole is fairly standard and not designed for anything off road. Overall the rubber placement looks good and like the shoe should have a pretty good lifespan.

Lululemon Split Shift Fit

These shoes are more on the narrow side, but the toe box has enough room for my toes to spread out a bit. If you are between sizes, I’d recommend going up a size in these.

The midsole fits snugly around the foot due to the light and breathable material. The tongue is thin but does come up high. It lays mostly flat, but did bunch up just a bit down by the toe box.

I was able to lace these pretty quickly without having to worry about them being too tight or too loose.

The padded heel collar felt nice and secure, like it wouldn’t move around at all. Overall it felt like a pretty stable shoe, but I could feel the flexibility in the sole that allowed for a smooth transition from heel to toe.

When I first put these shoes on I was a bit hesitant about the gusseted tongue. I’ve had both good and bad experiences with those kinds of tongues with other running shoes.

This tongue also came up fairly high so I was worried it would rub against my ankle, but I had no issue with it on the run and the tongue in general felt good.

Who Tried It?

Lisa is a distance runner, running coach, counselor, and mom of 2 kids. She’s been running since high school and has completed 8 marathons and dozens of other races. Her runs are usually done in the early morning hours either on the roads or on the treadmill. Lisa has also embraced strength training to stay strong and prevent injuries. You can find Lisa on instagram at @milebymile or sharing running tips at Mile by Mile Running.

What to read next?

• Best Lightweight Running Shoes
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