Skechers Aero Tempo Review | Aptly Named for Speed

If you’re a runner looking for an uptempo race day shoe or speedy performance shoe, the new Skechers Aero Tempo lives up to the name. Part of Skecher’s latest Aero running shoe series, it’s a solid snappy option to get you through challenging speed workouts and daily wear.

The Aero Tempo is a cushioned performance shoe designed for tempo miles and daily training that bridges a speed trainer with a race day shoe. The shoe is light, energetic, responsive, and a lot of fun – not to mention it’s also a bright statement shoe that stands out!

In the few weeks I’ve had the Aero Tempo, I’ve tested this shoe over interval speed workouts, tempo runs, and some easy 3-4 milers. I tried this shoe on the road and on the treadmill and found that it held up well in both environments, especially for speed training.

This shoe is a solid pick if you’re looking for a versatile, cushioned speed shoe that will hold up from interval workouts to race day to daily miles.

Skechers Aero Tempo Overview

If you’re like me and new to the Skechers brand for running shoes, the Aero Tempo joins a new lineup as part of the Aero series, which includes the Aero Burst and the Aero Spark in addition to the Aero Tempo.

Of the series, the Aero Tempo stands out as the brand’s fast and flashy performance shoe. The shoe is meant to take you through speed workouts, races, and daily miles with responsive cushioning, a lightweight upper, and an energetic carbon infused-sole to make your runs feel fast and fun.

Coming out of the box, this shoe looks like a speed demon and fits the trend of lightweight, bright, geometric performance shoes I’ve seen on the market. Skechers designed these shoes with bright colorways and a fresh, wavy designed outsole that looks funky and energetic.

The woven TPU mesh upper of the Aero Tempo is breathable, flexible, and lightweight. It mimics other performance shoes on the market with the coated, woven, single-layer mesh, which felt comfortably snug through most of my foot.

I found that it felt secure in the midfoot without restricting movement, and the mesh made the upper feel really breathable even on the summer runs in the heat and the rain.

The Aero Tempo finds its speed from its HYPER ARC™ rocker geometry and its carbon-infused winglet plate.

The HYPER ARC™ rocker helps to promote smooth transitions when your feet turnover from landing to toe-off. For me, the rocker felt a bit sharp and aggressive and I found my calves a bit overworked. That being said, it did help provide smooth turnover and would probably be great for runners who land on their forefoot.

The midsole of the Aero Tempo is really where this shoe shines for me.

Despite being a speed shoe, the midsole feels nicely cushioned and soft while also being responsive and energetic. The foam cushioning makes the shoe feel comfy and plush, thanks to the dual density HYPER BURST PRO™.

But that softeness doesn’t lessen the great rebound when striding so you can pickup the pace without feeling clunky (and that’s what sandwiching a plate between cushion gives us!).

I think this combo of a cushioned midsole with the full-length carbon plate and rocker make this shoe one I could run in at mid-range paces and not just interval speeds.

Skechers also included a Carbon-infused wingplate in this shoe. The carbon plate is an excellent complement to the cushioned midsole, as it provides some additional rigidity to the shoe while also adding bounce and energy return as you turnover.

Beyond the midsole, all of the Aero shoes also feature something I really liked – a firm rubber outsole made by Goodyear (yes, like the tires!) that provides some solid grip for running on the road in different conditions.

The grip on these shoes helped me feel more connected to the road and gave me extra traction when I was out running in the rain. The soles also held up great on a treadmill and felt grippy enough for speed and hill workouts indoors and outdoors.

From a design perspective, this shoe feels like a statement. The colorways are vibrant and fun, and the wavy foam design of the sole stands out from other shoes in the market. The rocker on the forefront gives the shoe some pronounced geometry at first glance, and the bright colorway of these shoes stacks up to other bright speed shoes on the market.

While I think I’d reach for these shoes more for uptempo workouts than a race day, this shoe is a solid option for speed days that balances comfort and stability with quick turnover and responsiveness. The shoe is bouncy and energetic and could easily race a 5K or 10K.

Quick Take

Skechers Aero Tempo Fit

The Skechers Aero Tempo fit true to size for me, feeling like the right length for my foot from first wear.

Similar to other speed shoes on the market, the heel collar and tongue both are very thin and light without any padding at all. The fabric tongue and heel collar are both designed to be soft and comfortable and require no break-in time to avoid rubbing or hot spots.

The heel counter does have some light padding to it. That being said, the heel collar is very low and felt like the lack of padding led to a less secure run. The heel slippage was evident in every run in these for me.

The shoe’s midfoot felt just a little snug to me, while the heel felt a little loose, so I had to adjust the lacing a bit to make the shoe fit my feet just right. I probably wouldn’t recommend this shoe for someone with a wider midfoot, as that area will feel much too narrow on this shoe

Skechers Aero Burst Feel

The shoe on the whole is designed to balance lightweight energy return and comfort, and I found that they did not take long to break in and mold to my feet. For a carbon-plated speed shoe, these shoes still feel really soft and comfortable from first wear and not overly rigid like some of their competitors.

The lacing system on these shoes includes very thin laces, which I found a little underwhelming when balanced with the heel slippage I was experiencing from the heel collar. I would’ve liked to see a more robust lacing system or laces to counteract any instability from the thin heel to help keep my feet in place during the run.

While I liked these shoes best for uptempo interval workouts, I didn’t feel like these shoes felt like they would exclusively perform at fast paces. The cushioned midsole foam adds comfort and support that lends itself to other daily workouts. That being said, I think these shoes are best used for your speedier days when you want that extra bounce in your step.

Skechers Aero Tempo vs. Burst vs. Spark

As Skechers released the Aero Tempo, they also released a full Aero series of running shoes, including the Aero Spark and Aero Burst, which we also got to try out to review for you.

The Aero Burst is a max-cushioned daily trainer that also features a Carbon-infused H-plate. This shoe has a higher stack height at 42mm and is best suited for easy, longer runs.

The Aero Spark is also a daily trainer from this lineup, but that shoe features a Carbon H-plate at the forefoot for a snappier, faster ride than the Aero Burst. This shoe feels lighter out of the box than the Burst, and it comes in overall lighter at 7.8 oz. While this shoe is meant for shorter, faster runs than the Burst, it isn’t meant for the speed workouts and race days best suited for the Tempo.

Each of these shoes features the company’s latest technology, including the HYPER BURST™ midsole and a carbon-infused plate.

All of these shoes are a lot of fun and make a solid lineup to cover you for all of your weekly runs and races. I found that the Aero Burst was best for my long, easy days and my recovery days, and the Aero Spark had just enough pep that it could get me through lighter, quicker miles with some more variety as a trainer.

Unlike the other two, the Aero Tempo is the Skechers shoe best for fast pickups and race days.

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