I got a pair of the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes this past week and took them on the trail Sunday morning to try them out. I had already worn them for a couple of days around town and at the house to break them in; although I’m not sure if I even needed to, they felt snug and cushioned as soon as I put them on, and this was after I had been wearing my road running shoes! A trail running shoe that feels better on my foot than a road running shoe? I didn’t buy it, so I had to test it.
I went on a 6 mile road run before hitting the trails, 5 miles in my road running shoes and then one mile in the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes to see if this fit and comfort level really did compare on the road. I found that the Progrid Xodus provided the same cushioning, support, and lightweight-ed-ness as my road running shoes but with the biggest difference coming from the Vibram Trek Outsole which is made specifically for the trail. These running shoes are strong enough for the road, but PH balanced just for the trail.
The first thing I liked about these shoes when I put them on was their tight fit. It is very unusual for me to get a perfect fit out of the box (no pun-intended). I have normal width feet but most running shoes still feel too loose to me when I first lace them up. It usually takes me 5 or 6 runs until my running shoes feel snug enough when I lace them up, but not with the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoe. You get the tight upper fit because of the Arch-Lock technology that provides a snug midfoot upon first lacing. Even with this tight fit, I still pulled the laces as tight as I could and tied them off. As soon as I tied my double knot I noticed how tight the knot was. It was like the laces were wedging against each other for an extra tightness, or maybe the bumblebee pattern made it look tight, either way, these shoe laces were not coming loose and I looked “tight” in these bad boys. I’m just glad I was able to run fast enough to avoid being mistakenly cross pollinated with by a bumble bee. I imagine that would hurt.
I also really like how lightweight the shoes are. The Sockliner makes the shoes feel extra lightweight and is breathable with a moisture wicking anti-odor and anti-microbial insolses with rebound properties. I got them pretty wet from water crossings and about 3 gallons of my sweat that rolled down my legs into these shoes. They seemed to dry pretty quickly but I still left them outside to dry out a bit more. It’s been less than 24 hours so I’ve yet to see how well the rebound properties really are. With my amount of sweat, these shoes will need to be able to rebound like Charles Barkely or Dikembe Mutumbo to feel and smell like new again.
With the Saucony Progrid Xodus Trail Running Shoes’ lightweight and comfort I was a little concerned that Saucony skimped on the durability, but I didn’t find this to be the case. The shoe gave a smooth ride on the trail with a good response to the uneven terrain. These are my first Progrid style running shoes but I found that they were able to absorb the impact and dissipate the shock which set my feet up for a great transitions. Speaking of great transitions…
…the picture above is the Vibram Trek Outsole which is why the Saucony Progrid Xodus feels good enough for the roads but are perfect for the trails. The Vibram sole feels like a rubbery/plastic material (it’s a shoescientist term, don’t worry if you don’t understand) that has a lot of teeth for grip but they are far enough apart that you don’t have to carry the trail with you on your run. It’s material and pattern make it a lightwieght sole which does not compromise the grip, traction, or durability. Brilliant! This is why I think Saucony got this shoe right, they focused on the most important part of a trail running shoe, the sole.
You too need to improve you’re most important part, you’re soul, and get our there and trail run. And if you want to get serious about trail running and want a shoe that feels as comfortable as your road running shoes, then this is the shoe for you. Click here for more information on this awesome trail running shoe.
Chris-
Just picked up a pair at my local shop – ran 10 miles on singletrack in them today and they fit my foot like an old friend right out of the box. Low to the ground, smooth rolling, and awesome traction made the maiden voyage a definite thumbs up. I am anxious to see how they wear.
Steve
Glad you like them Steve! I just got my pair too and am anxious as well to see how they perform over time.
One question though, why do you put your old friends in boxes?
My pair of these have done 460 miles since 1st September 2009. They have been worn right through a wet muddy winter, except during the snow as they don’t perform as well as other shoes in snow. The verdict at this point is they still perform very well and have 200+ miles left in them I guess. The Vibram outsole has virtually no wear, but most surfaces I run on are soft. The midsole still seems very cushioned. The insole is tired now and could do with being replaced, but I don’t have another to replace with that is the right thickness so for now will put up with it. The upper has started to suffer from being made wet and muddy in English fields and forest 3 times a week for several months. The material is starting to peel, the slither of material by the archlock is completely gone, so you can put your finger right in the shoe there, but thankfully the sockliner provides a second skin. The laces are hopefully going to survive but are beginning to go.
In summary these have been good value for money as I expect to get 100 miles for every £10 spent. I picked these up for £53 and expect to get 600-700 miles out of them.