Price: $130
Weight: 10.6 oz (M), 9.0 oz (W)
Type: Road
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My mom had a thing for Arnold Schwarzenegger—stay with me here—so naturally, I grew up watching a lot of his movies, including the ’80s classic Twins. Arnie’s character was a genetic experiment where the combined DNA of six fathers would birth a real-life Adonis. Now, I’m well-versed in fiction, but can this idea possibly translate into a running shoe? Well, indeed, yes it can. Leave it to Finnish shoe company Karhu and a partnership with Fleet Feet to create the first Schwarzenegger road shoe of its kind.
More than 100,000 runners’ feet were scanned using Fleet Feet’s 3D platform “fit id” to build the Ikoni Ortix. Instead of resulting in a Franken-shoe, the trainer is a sleek road warrior, with recognizable Karhu elements—a fulcrum sole for a quick heel-to-toe transition; an M overlay standing for “mestari,” which is Finnish for “champion”—and an accommodating feel that had wear-testers describing the shoe as “very comfortable” and “with ample cushioning.”
The Ikoni is a neutral road shoe with high-energy return—confirmed by the Runner’s World Shoe Lab—and a soft midsole that will buffer your feet during short and long runs, as well as races.
Cushy Midsole
Shoe lab results placed the Ikoni on the heavy side of the running shoe spectrum, but wear-testers noted how they weren’t weighed down by the trainer’s bulk. “I was pleasantly surprised by this shoe,” said a tester. “It isn't by any means lightweight, but it didn't feel heavy while running. It is a comfortable and responsive shoe.”
Heel strikers liked the plush cushioning in the heel, which was made possible by the Aerofoam midsole. However, some testers found the forefoot cushioning lacking. As for the fulcrum midsection, testers with high arches liked the extra support, while flat- and normal-arched runners didn’t notice much of a difference on their runs—which they considered a good sign. “I believe this shoe uses a type of fulcrum technology which isn’t noticeable to me, but I think that means it must have been doing its job perfectly!” said a tester.
Reliable Traction
Wet surfaces were no match for the Ikoni’s outsole. Testers reported no slipping on wet roads and praised the trainer for its durability. “I am currently marathon training and have logged plenty of miles in these shoes,” said a tester. “They have showed little to no wear and have fared well on road, trail, and treadmill.”
Ergonomic Upper
Thanks to a roomy toe box and cushioned heel collar, our testers experienced no rubbing or blisters on their runs. The shoe’s last, which is ergonomically shaped, was created using fit id data. It’s no wonder, then, that most of our testers found the shoe had a cozy feel. “The shoe was true to size and was one of the most comfortable I have ever run in,” said a tester.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- Weight: Heavy | 10.6 oz
- CA Notice at Collection
- The Karhu Ikoni Ortix Is the Product of 100K-Plus Foot Scans
- Whats the Cost of Being a Runner
- Best Running Shoes 2025
- Forefoot Cushioning: Soft
- Flexibility: Stiff
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: Most
Women’s
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- This Adrenaline Fan Loved the Newest Model
- Weight: Heavy | 10.6 oz
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- Forefoot Cushioning: Firm
- Flexibility: Stiff
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: Most
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
