Friday, August 05, 2016

Outdoor Retailer Saucony 2017 Previews: Freedom ISO, Triumph ISO 3, Kinvara 8, Peregrine 7, MARL Stealth Colors


In general Saucony continues to carefully tune and adapt its use of its resilient energy returning Everun TPU midsole compound, generally focusing the Everun to a top sole in its lighter shoes removing the Everun heel inserts from Kinvara and Peregrine  increasing its size in the Triumph 3, and introducing an all Everun midsole light trainer the Freedom ISO.

Freedom ISO
Saucony Freedom ISO
Clearly the star of the Saucony line and potentially for us of the entire show, the Freedom ISO is an all new 9.0 oz, approx. 19mm heel/15 forefoot,  light weight premium neutral trainer coming December 2016. $160.

Update: Read our full review of the Freedom ISO here

It features for the first time a full midsole of Saucony's "boost like" TPU Everun material as well as an Everun top sole.
We were told the TPU midsole is approximately 10% firmer than Boost, a good move as softer Boost TPU needs some plastic stabilizing elements as found in the adidas Energy and adios Boost.
Saucony Freedom ISO
The Crystal Rubber outsole is said to be more flexible than the usual carbon rubber, thus reducing the need for flex grooves in the midsole. The outsole is a single density of Crystal Rubber so when combined with the Everun midsole we expect a very smooth even feeling ride. The Freedom sure felt decently flexible, more flexible than the Kinvara for example, yet with plenty of full coverage no exposed midsole outsole for durability.

Saucony Freedom ISO
The Freedom is topped off by an engineered stretch mesh upper with a new take on Saucony's effective ISO Fit system.
The Freedom is one shoe we absolutely want to try, decently light with the promise of a responsive bouncy yet stable ride.

Triumph ISO 3
Saucony Triumph ISO 3
Saucony Triumph ISO 3
The Triumph ISO 2 was our daily heavy duty trainer of the year in 2015 . We almost didn't recognize the T3 as its successor at first as the upper is completely updated with a softer now engineered mesh upper and two ISO Fit bands instead of three. The Everun heel insert is twice as wide.
Saucony Triumph ISO 3
The Triumph ISO 3 has a 30mm heel/ 22 mm forefoot, weighs 10.5 oz, retail of $150 and arrives 11/1/16.

Update: Read our full review of the Triumph ISO 3 here

Kinvara 8
Saucony Kinvara 8
The  popular Kinvara, one of the original, low drop, light weight racer trainers is "carefully" updated. We liked the Kinvara 7  but many found the Pro-Lock strap across the mid foot bothersome. Well, Saucony eliminated the "label", a fairly stiff piece on the tongue between the 2 Pro-Lock wings, retaining the Pro-Lock straps which lock down the mid foot.
Saucony Kinvara 8
The upper is an engineered mesh with Saucony's Pro-Film overlays. It seemed softer and more relaxed with fewer overlays but still having a locked down well held midfoot. The Everun heel insert is removed.  A TPU Everun top sole, as in most new Saucony, is added for energy return and  continuous cushioning. The outsole is unchanged. The Kinvara 8 seemed noticeably more flexible than the Kinvara 7,  a surprisingly stiff shoe compared to other heavier duty Saucony, likely due to the softer lighter upper,
Saucony Kinvara 8
The Kinvara 8 will weigh between 7.4 and 7.9 oz, with a stack of 23mm heel/19 mm toe, 4mm drop so about the same as its predecessor. Retail is $110. On sale 3/1/17.

Breakthru 3 
Saucony Breakthru 3
The Breakthru is a light trainer for those wanting more heel toe drip than Kinvara or Zealot ISO, responsive cushioning and a fast taut under foot feel. The Breakthru 3 gets an Everun topsole, the excellent Tri-Flex outsole design found on other newer models and an engineered mesh upper.
Saucony Breakthru 3
At 8.7 oz with a 25mm heel/ 17mm toe, 8mm drop I see the Breakthru as an excellent marathon race choice for me. Fairly priced at $100 it will be available 1/12017.

Peregrine 7
Saucony Peregrine 7
Saucony Peregrine 7
Part of Saucony's Run Anywhere collection the Peregrine trail runner keeps the excellent sticky PWRTRAC outsole unchanged. The EVERUN heel insert is eliminated. An EVERUN top sole is added.
Saucony Peregrine 7
Saucony Peregrine 7

The upper features a very cool looking and we expect effective to lock the midfoot TPU exo-skelteon overlay system.
Weighing 9.4 oz with a stack of 22.5 heel/18.5mm toe, 4mm drop the Peregrine is priced at $120 and available 1/1/2017

Marl Pack Run Life
"Fast enough for your run. Cool Enough for your rest day."
Saucony MARL Pack

To finish their presentation Saucony had one more thing to pull out from behind the counter...
The Xodus ISO, Kinvara 8, Triumph ISO 3, Guide 10, and Kineta Relay will be available in a stealth, from workout to work to dinner to rest day stunning gray and black color way
Saucony MARL Pack
On top of the shoes there will be a accompanying collection of matching apparel pieces for men and women.
Saucony MARL Pack
Update: Read our full review of the Freedom ISO here
Update: Read our full review of the Triumph ISO 3 here

Click Here for RTR's other 2017 Run Shoe Previews: Brooks, Saucony, Salomon, Altra, adidas Outdoor, New Balance and More!

Road Trail Run has tested and reviewed over 40 shoes in 2016 including the predecessors of all the Saucony models covered here except the Breakthru. See our index page here

Thanks for Reading!


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3 comments:

Cedar Schimke said...

Any idea what colors the women's will come in? Also, if they'll still have the rubberized laces? I just finished 500 miles of trail in the Peregrine 6, have another 2600 to walk starting in April, and am nervous that the changes for the 7 will not be in my feet's favor!

Sam Winebaum said...

Hi Cedar, Thanks for reading! The women's Peregrine 7 will come in the Teal/Purple/Citron shown above in the post. It will also come in a Grey upper with Berry trim, laces and back of midsole with a red outsole. Not sure about the laces but will find out.

Lauren said...

Why should we change to the 7 when the 6 is good enough? The rubber gripping sole stays the same so not much improvement in terms of durability. And I suggest if your walking choose the Solomon Ellipse 2 GTX.

Cedar how is the sole of your shoe has it fadded after 500 miles?