KURU Atom 2 review

The KURU Atom 2 should be on your radar if your request includes the following:

• a supportive shoe that's built with the intention of easing the heel pain
• a comfortable shoe for easy runs and long hours of walking and standing

If you came here in search of a performance running shoe, you will be disappointed with the shoe's cushioning properties and heavy weight.

There are plenty of lighter max-cushioned road shoes with much higher shock absorption and energy return measurements that are also available at a lower price point. Some of the best alternatives currently include the ASICS Novablast 5, the Nike Vomero 18, and the Brooks Ghost Max 2.

With KURU's reputation built around foot comfort and pain relief, we expected high shock absorption results from the KURU Atom 2. Like all of the brand's shoes, it features the proprietary KURUSOLE plate under the heel, which acts as a cradle for the wearer's heel pad to minimize the impact of prolonged running and walking.

But to our disappointment, the lab test recorded pretty underwhelming results of 117 SA in the heel and 96 SA in the forefoot. While these are decent measurements themselves, we found them surprisingly low for the shoe's thick platform and the promise of 'heeling better.'

For reference, the brand's Triple Max Ion showed better results at 122 SA in the heel and 105 SA in the forefoot.

KURU promises 'even more energy return' in the Atom 2, but seeing its exceptionally low measurements (only 40.9% in the heel and 49.5% in the forefoot), we can't even imagine how dull the original shoe was...The rebound is practically absent here, even for a daily trainer.

And while this makes the KURU Atom 2 more stable, it negates the shoe's ability to pick up the pace.

The shoe's below-average shock absorption becomes even more perplexing when we consider its towering platform.

Following the World Athletics standard for measuring stack height, our caliper recorded a tall reading of 39.9 mm.

The forefoot, on the other hand, proved to have a standard stack height of 26 mm.

Contrary to the brand's specs, we measured the KURU Atom 2's drop at 13.9 mm instead of the promised 10 mm.

This large discrepancy confirms that the shoe's target audience is strictly limited to runners with a heel striking pattern and walkers.

Even though the KURU Atom 2 doesn't feel particularly plush underfoot, we found that its EVA-based KURUSOLE+ foam is on the softer side of the spectrum.

With a durometer reading of 20.0 HA, it proved to be on par with the running shoe average (which also leans towards the softer side in recent years). This makes for a pleasantly comfortable ride for easy runs and walks.

Putting the KURU Atom 2 against the rulers, we found that its toe rocker is moderate, but the heel curve is quite pronounced for a support-oriented shoe.

This further confirms the fact that this KURU shoe is better suited for heel striking and walking, making the ride smoother from the rearfoot.

What's more, we couldn't help but notice how much the Atom's heel design resembles HOKA's Swallowtail!

We are happy to report that you can expect a predictable fit in the KURU Atom 2's regular medium width.

Having created a gel mold of the shoe's interiors, we measured the widest part of its forefoot at a standard 95.2 mm. This is right on par with the category average for a men's US size 9.

And if you need more space, the shoe is also available in a wide variant.

On the downside, we can't subscribe to the brand's promise of a 'wide toebox'

Measuring the mold's width in the big toe area, our caliper showed only 70.7 mm, making it even a little narrower than average.

But while it's still within the medium range and allows for a decent toe splay, we wouldn't describe it as wide. And if the latter is what you're after in a running shoe, you can find better options here.

The vertical space of this KURU shoe also made us frown a bit as our caliper recorded its toebox height at only 22 mm.

Significantly lower than average, it can result in pressure points and make the shoe less comfortable for people with hammertoes, ingrown toenails, or other toe issues.

Testing the gripping capacity of the KURU Atom 2, we found that this shoe can keep you surefooted on both dry and wet city streets.

With a friction coefficient of 0.44 in the forefoot, it may not be the tackiest on particularly slippery surfaces (like wet stone or tiles), but it gives enough confidence for most urban scenarios.

The rubber outsole runs the entire length of the shoe except the midfoot area. We found that it helps shave off some grams without affecting the grip.

Deep flex grooves break up the shoe's rubber layer in the forefoot, allowing for decent flexibility.

The aforementioned flex grooves and moderate forefoot stack allow for some decent pliability in the Atom 2's forefoot.

Recording the amount of force needed to bend this KURU shoe by 30 degrees, we found that it took no more than the category average at 15.7N.

Unfortunately, we are yet to see a lightweight KURU shoe in our lab...

Tipping the scale at a whopping 12.9 oz (366g), the Atom 2 proved to be one of the absolute heaviest options in our running shoe catalog. It is even heavier than Brooks's Beast GTS and Addiction GTS!

We think that this clunker can turn many potential buyers away, as it can make even easy runs feel like a chore.

The incredibly sturdy nature of the shoe's NOVAKNIT upper material has a downside when it comes to ventilation.

Unlike regular open-cell mesh, this tightly-woven fabric didn't let the smoke pass through the toebox so easily in our breathability test above.

Even though the material looks so transparent against the light, it is not as airy as it seems.

You can see how thick and compact the weave is in our microscope shots.

All of these findings convinced us to lower the shoe's breathability score to only 2 out of 5. It's not the best option for breaking a sweat in the summer heat.

Even though KURU doesn't position the Atom 2 as a stability shoe, the level of lateral support it offers made us stop and think about which category it belongs to.

Our feet felt so securely locked inside the shoe that we could hardly imagine them rolling and wobbling uncontrollably.

The shoe's stout platform and stiff KURUSOLE component in the rearfoot generated some serious torsional rigidity through the midfoot as well.

Assessing its stiffness in our manual test, we didn't hesitate to give the Atom 2 a high score of 4 out of 5. Thus, we believe that people with mild or even moderate overpronation could feel sufficiently supported in this KURU shoe.

A moderately stiff heel counter also contributes to the shoe's secure foothold and side-to-side support.

Even though we rated its stiffness with a moderate score of 3 out of 5, it feels much more rigid at the base of the heel, thanks to the plastic KURUSOLE component.

Our caliper measurements also confirmed that the KURU Atom 2's platform offers nice and broad contact points with the ground.

Showing 114.5 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, the shoe's midsole proved to be just as wide as most other running shoes.

And at 92.7 mm in the widest area of the heel, the KURU Atom 2 also proved its more heel-friendly setup, being a few millimeters wider than average.

While the shoe's NOVAKNIT upper falls short of breathability, it compensates for it with fantastic durability!

The fabric resisted our Dremel drilling beautifully, remaining practically intact! We don't see this very often with road running shoes, but this KURU shoe deserved the highest score for toebox durability - 5 out of 5!

Even the shoe's inner lining proved itself as a highly wear-resistant material.

Earning a high durability score of 4 out of 5 in our Dremel test, it will take a lot of wear and on-and-off action before you start seeing serious damage in this part of the shoe.

The shoe's outsole durability also looks very promising, showing a moderate damage of 1.1 mm after an aggressive 18-second drilling session. It is comparable to the other daily trainers we've tested.

A 3.2 mm thick outsole is yet another puzzle piece to the shoe's outsole durability, promising a solid lifespan for the KURU Atom 2.

Underfoot padding is put to the max in the Atom 2 as it features a generously cushioned insole with a heel thickness of 6.6 mm. It creates a cozier step-in feel and contributes to the overall comfort.

Not only is it well-padded, but the shoe's Ultimate Insole also has an ergonomic shape that offers a touch of arch support in the midfoot.

The shoe's poor breathability makes it a more suitable option for the colder season instead. But what about its cushioning?

Our 20-minute freezer test showed that the KURUCLOUD+ only firmed up by a moderate 21% and remained decently soft at 24.3 HA. This means that the shoe will not turn into a hard brick when the temperature drops.

None of the shoe's components reflected light in our dark room test.

The KURU Atom 2's abundant interior padding also showed up in its tongue and collar.

The tongue, in particular, returned a high caliper reading of 9.9 mm, keeping the potential lace bites at bay.

This KURU shoe's tongue has a traditional non-gusseted design, meaning that it's not attached to the rest of the upper on the sides.

However, it is covered with a fabric overlay in its base to help minimize some of the unwanted shifting and sliding.

Most runners in search of a solid daily beater for running and walking will find this KURU shoe quite expensive. Especially considering its lack of shock absorption and an alarmingly low energy return.

But if you suffer from plantar fasciitis or any other foot conditions that call for a more orthopedic type of footwear, you may find this investment worthwhile.

There is no finger loop at the back, but you can use the shoe's extended heel collar to ease the on-and-off.