The new Split Shift running shoe from Lululemon features a foam compound.
Lululemon
Lululemon’s footwear category has a new silhouette. That silhouette, the Split Shift, comes with a fresh underfoot foam. The Aug. 5 launch of the Split Shift running shoe features the brand’s new proprietary ShiftFoam cushioning, meant to provide a responsive, springy feel, as tested during the brand’s six-day ultramarathon in 2024.
George Robusti, Lululemon vice president of footwear design, tells me the ShfitFoam is the brand’s lightest and most responsive. The proprietary blend is designed to return more energy to the runner than the foam used in the brand’s popular Beyondfeel shoe.
“We were impressed with the athletes’ responses,” he says about the 2,880 miles run during Further, a six-day ultramarathon. “This foam offered more of a springy and energized feeling. And their real-world validation was essential in refining the underfoot experience for the final product.”
Lululemon’s footwear category continues to grow since the original launch in 2022. Now the brand has its Beyondfeel running shoe, a Wildfeel trail runner that launched earlier this year, the trainer styles of Chargefeel and Strongfeel and the Cityverse casual shoe. Building on the running lineup was a natural evolution.
The Lululemon Split Shift running shoe.
Lululemon
“We saw an opportunity to expand our running assortment with a shoe that delivers a different type of experience, one that’s light, energetic and springy, and gives runners more options to choose from,” Robusti says. “Split Shift is built for runners who want a little more pop in their stride, whether they’re heading out for an easy run or looking to pick up the pace. It brings a new feel state to the mix and complements the smoother, more relaxed ride of the Beyondfeel.”
To differentiate between the foam used in the Beyondfeel, Lululemon introduced the new foam on a rocker-style footbed to encourage heel-to-toe transition. Robusti says the shape helps “gently roll the runner forward, supporting a smooth transition.” The mesh upper is meant to improve airflow while providing structure, and the gusseted tongue is designed for fit and feel. “Together,” he says, “these elements help create that effortless, energized sensation that defines the Split Shift.”
Robusti says choosing between the Lululemon lineup for runners comes down to feel. “Split Shift is for the runner who wants that energized, more responsive ride,” he says, “someone looking for a shoe they can take on everyday runs but also turn to when picking up the pace for moderate or tempo efforts. Beyondfeel is all about smoothness and ease. It’s a more relaxed ride, perfect for recovery days or when you just want to get out and log steady miles.”
MORE: Lululemon’s Growth In Tennis: A Collaboration With Leylah Fernandez
Lululemon started in shoes with women’s-specific models by creating different lasts and performance attributes for female runners. Creating a lineup with men’s-specific lasts and attributes was added to the mix later. While there are similarities in how Lululemon builds both the men’s and women’s shoes, it’s not the exact same across models and each has its own design intent.
The Split Shift features differing lasts for each—the men’s size 9 is 9.1 ounces with a 7mm heel-to-toe drop, while the women’s size 8 is 7.8 ounces with the same 7mm heel-to-doe drop—and each features flex grooves in the outsole for designed to mirror either a male’s natural foot strike or a female’s foot strike. The women’s model also includes additional arch reinforcements.
Lululemon isn’t taking anything off the table for future expansion of the running lineup, with Robusti saying they are constantly looking at how to solve athletic and lifestyle footwear needs. “This can range,” he says, “from refining and evolving our existing models or introducing completely new solutions.”
