mm M, 26.5 mm W Running Shoes - Gear, Lululemon has expanded its women’s footwear collection to include several road, trail, and cross-training models. Soon, the brand will release its first shoe for men. The Beyondfeel—which will also be available in a women’s version—debuts this March.
Our testers logged mileage in the shoe this past fall and winter, some using the Blissfeel—the brand’s first running shoe—for comparison. (We awarded the Blissfeel Gear of the Year in 2022.) Gear of the Year in 2022.
Beyondfeel Specs
- Type: Road
- Weight: 10.5 oz (M), 8.6 oz (W)
- Drop: 10 mm (M), 9 mm (W)
- Heel Height: 37 mm (M), 35.5 mm (W)
- Forefoot Height: 27 mm (M), 26.5 mm (W)
- Who It’s For: Runners who want a supportive daily trainer with firmer cushioning
- Preceded By: Blissfeel, Blissfeel 2
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- Midsole: Supercritical foam with more cushioning and durability than the Blissfeel
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A Beyond Running Brand
Over the past couple of years, Lululemon has established itself as a beyond-yoga brand. Besides launching comfy, functional running apparel, the brand has also taken an active role in the running space, advocating for diversity and inclusivity.
In 2023, Lululemon announced its Further initiative, a six-day ultramarathon that will take place this March. The event aims to spotlight women’s endurance and grit with a participant roster including Camille Herron, Mirna Valerio, and several other women ultrarunners.
Also noteworthy is the brand’s sponsorship of Nikki Hiltz since 2022. Hiltz, who described their relationship with Lululemon as a “dream partnership,” has had a slew of amazing performances this past year. Most recently, they won the 1000m at the University of Washington Invitational & Mile City this January, clocking in a 2:34.71.
On the product side, Lululemon proved its debut women’s trainer, the Blissfeel, wasn’t a lifestyle shoe pretending to be a running shoe. All this to say, the brand has “finally” launched a men’s running shoe. But don’t consider the Beyondfeel a pivot away from Lululemon’s women-focused offerings.
A Women- and Men-Specific Running Shoe
We’ve long surpassed the just “shrink it and pink it” era of creating women’s running shoes (i.e., when running shoe companies merely made smaller versions of men’s trainers in new colors). Brands are now acknowledging the gender-specific differences between men’s and women’s feet and how a shoe’s construction affects the wearer’s biomechanics.
According to Lululemon’s senior vice president of footwear, Simon Atkins, the Beyondfeel has seven key differences between the men’s and women’s shoes. He described some of these characteristics on a video call.
“Some of these differences are more visible,” Atkins said. “In terms of the outsole configuration for him, for example, he needs a little bit more longitudinal stiffness. For her, she needs a little bit more flexibility.”
Putting the men’s outsole alongside the women’s, the latter has visibly more flex grooves on the medial side. The shoes’ lasts are also unique to women’s and men’s feet. Because men tend to have flatter arches and wider feet, the Beyondfeel men’s last is wider with a flatter arch. The men’s shoe has more cushioning as well, since men’s footfalls generally land with greater force.
“And then, there are the tiny little details, like the sockliner specifications and the heel-to-toe drops. (The men’s drop is 10mm, whereas the women’s is 1mm lower),” Atkins continued. “The oval-shaped heel clips, found on both sides of the rearfoot, are designed uniquely for him and her. (The men’s clips are slightly longer, while the women’s clips are slightly higher.) All these differences are being tuned specifically for each gender.”
Not Just the First Men’s Running Shoe
One thing to note is that the Beyondfeel isn’t simply a men’s version of the Blissfeel. Looking at Lululemon’s shoe line as a whole, each model has its own role in a runner’s quiver—the Blissfeel for daily runs, the Chargefeel for cross-training, the Blissfeel Trail for miles on the dirt, and the Restfeel sandal for relaxing off-the-run. The Beyondfeel is the firmly-cushioned trainer for slow and steady recovery jogs. It also serves as a dependable and supportive long run trainer.
While the Beyondfeel has some of its predecessor’s DNA, there’s a reason why the shoe isn’t dubbed the Blissfeel 3. The Beyondfeel’s midsole, for instance, has similar chemistry to the Blissfeel’s foam, said Atkins. But the Beyondfeel’s supercritical foam midsole is optimized with denser, more durable cushioning.
The shoe has a streamlined upper that also echoes the Blissfeel’s—the zonal breathable mesh design resembles the Lululemon omega emblem. But the Beyondfeel is noticeably beefier vertically, with a stack height that’s about 5mm taller.
Running in the Beyondfeel
On my first run in the Beyondfeel, I mistakenly went beyond the initial mileage I had intended to run. I ran a new route in my neighborhood and got lost turning left when I should have turned right. It was a hilly detour and the extra miles should have felt less forgiving on my legs and feet, since I hadn’t run a long one in awhile.
as a dream partnership.
I didn’t feel defeated even though I wasn’t physically prepared to run that far. The fit also accommodated my wide feet. Compared to the Blissfeel, this shoe feels heavier and requires some more effort to get going in the very first mile. Once I became acquainted with the Beyondfeel, however, I was cruising. It’s not propulsive, nor built for speedwork. But it served as the ideal shoe for building back fitness, as I slowly added miles coming off an injury.
Other women testers who hadn’t previously run in the Blissfeel shared similar sentiments.
“I would place this shoe in the ‘stiffly cushioned’ category,” said tester Erica Bobsein, who described the Beyondfeel as a “solid and substantial” trainer. “I don’t typically take a brand new pair of shoes on a long run for their first use, but I also don’t feel like many need to be broken-in either. These, however, felt best after 20 to 25 miles. The cushion felt similar to the Brooks Glycerin. I prefer this stiffer cushioning over plush, marshmallow foam. It is not a speed shoe, but it’s not trying to be one either.”
What Men Have to Say
The ultimate test was seeing what our male wear-testers had to say wearing a Lululemon shoe for the first time. One tester described the Beyondfeel as extraordinarily comfortable, yet was dismayed at how heavy and flat they rode. Others’ comments were on par with Bobsein’s feedback.
“The shoe feels a bit New Balance lawnmower dad-esque,” said tester Jim Warrenfeltz, who runs an average of 42 miles per week at 7:30 pace. “It feels like a plussed-up Nike Pegasus. It’s comfortable, plush but not a marshmallow, and seems well-built. It works really well as a daily jogger. For speedwork, it’s a little sluggish—the cushioning makes it less snappy and responsive, but it eats up the miles and softens impact on long runs.”
The Beyondfeel will be available at shop.lululemon.com Races - Places.
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.
