Saucony Peregrine 10 Review - Big Improvements to a Classic All Mountain Trail Runner

Article by Jeff Valliere, John Tribbia, Jacob Brady, and Jeff Beck

Editor's Note: We are thrilled to welcome John Tribbia to the RTR test team with this is first review.

John is mountain runner who lives, works, and trains in the Boulder, Colorado Area and has an enthusiastic penchant to ascend mountains as fast as possible. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; he's placed atop the podium at the Red Bull 400 (twice), US Trail Marathon Championships (twice), and the Catalina Island Marathon; and he was the first person to ever ascend Grandeur Peak in Salt Lake City in under 40 minutes. Even though many of his racing accomplishments have been on the off-beaten path, you can also find him running on roads, running in snowshoes, and bike commuting with his son in tow on a cargo e-bike. If you follow him on Strava (https://www.strava.com/athletes/1044838), you'll notice he runs before the break of dawn almost everyday. His favorite food is Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches.



Saucony Peregrine 10 ($120)

Introduction

Jeff:  I have a long history with the Peregrine dating back to version 4.  I liked that they were light, low and stable, with a minimal, yet secure upper and had excellent traction. However, I did not like that versions 4 and 5 were stiff as a 2x4 underfoot and caused me extensive heel blistering that I just could not manage or mitigate.  Version 6 was much better, but still required about 50 miles of break in to manage the heel rub issues. Version 7 was more padded in the heel and slightly more flexible/forgiving, but the upper was a little less secure.  Versions 8 and ISO (technically the 9 I guess?) were in my opinion, completely different shoes and only really shared a name and perhaps tread with its predecessors, as they seemed to gain weight/bulk and cushion, making them good all terrain cruisers, but not no longer really an all mountain racer.  Enter the Peregrine 10, where, despite being similar weight and with 2mm more stack, feel more streamlined to the point where the Peregrine 10 has returned to its more speedy performance roots with vast improvements throughout.  

John: I’ve never worn Saucony. The first thing I noticed when I put this shoe on was how bouncy and smooth it felt, even just walking around the house. The shoe feels comfortable and I really like the lacing system. The heel fit is snug and deep; and the shoe cushion underfoot is like that of a road running trainer. In fact, if I were to categorize this shoe, upon initial wear testing, I would say it can function as a high performing cross-over from road-to-trail or trail-to-road. The traction is awesome and grippy. Overall, the shoe reminds me a lot of the Salomon Sense.

Jacob: The Peregrine is Saucony’s flagship do-it-all trail shoe. The tenth version of the Peregrine is defined by a significant shift in technology, however, its purpose as a medium-cushion, all terrain trail runner remains. With this version, Saucony ditched the ISO upper which defined the previous model and also changed the midsole foam to PWRRUN, an EVA/TPU blend, as they have done with other recent releases such as the road Kinvara 11 and Guide 13. 

Pros 

Jeff:  Fit/security, Response, Light feel on foot, Underfoot protection, Upper protection, Stability, Traction

John: Flat laces, easy tightening lacing system, snug heel fit, traction, bouncy and smooth ride.

Jacob: Versatility, traction, stability, smooth ride
Jeff B: Spacious toebox, bulletproof upper, incredible traction, more than ample rockplate protection, customization ports for screws/drain holes, 

Cons

Jeff:  Weight (not overly heavy for all that it offers, but would like to see the Peregrine drop an ounce or more), cushioning can feel a bit overly firm on long, hard surface descents.

John: sloppy fit in toe box when running off camber for a narrow to medium width foot, rigid upper along midfoot
Jacob: Stiff upper, weight 
Jeff B: Upper might be a little overbuilt - especially around the heel collar, kind of heavy on the scale but not on the foot

Stats

Official Weight:: men's 10.7 / 303 g (US9)  / women's 9.3 oz / 264g (US8)  

  Samples: US M9 10.69 oz /303g US M10:  11.13 oz/314g, 336 grams / 11.85 ounces M11D 

Stack Height: 27mm heel, 23mm forefoot, 4mm drop

Available $120. Releases Jan 2020

Tester Profiles

Jeff V. runs mostly on very steep technical terrain above Boulder often challenging well known local FKT's. 

Jacob runs a mix of roads and trails in the Portland, Maine area. He runs every day and averages 50 miles per week. Jacob recently ran a PR 2:51 marathon and just wrapped up his first season of ultra/trail running which included two 50km trail races and two mountain races.
Jeff B is the token slow runner of the RTR lineup as such his viewpoints on shoe and gear can differ from those who routinely finish marathons in three hours or less. Jeff runs 40 miles per week, both roads and desert trails in Phoenix, Arizona. He has a PR's of 4:07 marathon and 5K at 23:39. In December he raced his first 50 mile trail ultra. 

John Tribbia (5' 6", 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/trail runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Feet, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Even though he competes less frequently these days, you can still find John enjoying the daily grind of running on any surface, though his favorite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; and he's held several FKTs on several iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you follow him on Strava, you'll notice he runs at varying paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile before the break of dawn almost everyday.

First Impressions and Fit:

Jeff:  Just pulling the Peregrine 10 out of the box, I knew they were going to be a huge improvement over previous versions before I even slid them on.  Fit is amazing for me, true to size, great midfoot hold, heel hold and enough toe room to not feel constricting, yet I also find the upper overall to be very secure at any speed over any terrain.  Even though my test pair of size 10 is just over 11oz., they feel lighter on the foot and responsive.

John: When I put these on, I first noticed the bounce in the forefoot and smooth transition from heel-to-toe. I went for a quick giddy-up inside my house from one side of the kitchen to the other. It feels like a road trainer with a little more stiffness in the sole and upper and ample traction for off the beaten path. Overall, very secure fit across the midfoot laces and in the heel. I can already tell that this will be a shoe that can transition well from road to trail and back to road. Differently put, I can see this being a go-to shoe for any trail excursion.

Jacob: The Peregrine has a very polished look. The green/blue colorway I received is clean and professional with well-placed brighter accents. The upper is very overlaid and holds its shape even with no foot inside the shoe. The outsole looks versatile and powerful with medium height, somewhat tacky, well-spaced chevron lugs.

Jeff B: Last year's Peregrine ISO was my first Peregrine, and I thoroughly enjoyed it - but immediately preferred almost everything about the 10. The toebox shape had improved, the grippy outsole seemed to get even more aggressive, and the midsole was no longer the ill-fated EVERUN - what's not to like? The fit is a little loose, but Saucony only had whole sizes available for testing, so my pair is a half-size large at 11. At true-to-size fit, I don't think the extra material would come through unless a runner has a very narrow foot.

Upper

Jeff:  The FORMFIT upper that replaces the ISO is a big improvement for the Peregrine 10.  I had no trouble with the ISO upper, it was comfortable and held my foot just fine, was softer and more pliable, where the FORMFIT is better suited for locking down the foot, providing better abrasion resistance and protection from rocks, sticks and branches when in rocky technical terrain and off trail.  The upper, while comfortable, was a touch stiff at first, but did soften up after a few runs. Comfort is still excellent, just not as soft, padded and plush as the previous ISO version.

Given that it is December, it is hard to tell how breathable they are.  They don’t feel particularly airy and keep my feet warm easily down into the low 20’s, so may not be ideal in very hot temperatures.

The heel counter is well protected/well structured with the low end of moderate padding and is quite stable and secure.

I appreciate the booty style gusseted tongue, which is comfortable and secure.

The toe bumper is protective and substantial, wrapping all the way around the toe box.

I find the laces to be a bit flat/thin for my preference and need to triple knot them to stay tied, but are otherwise very secure.

John: The upper provides a comfortable and secure fit. While not the softest feel like the seamless variety, this was a comfortable shoe that requires only a short break-in period. By that I mean: out of the box, the upper over the midfoot was firm in the foot flex and bend. After 15 miles worth of running, the upper broke in nicely and comfortably. I also like the toe protection.

Jacob: The Peregrine upper is composed of a dense-weave, taught engineered mesh which is heavily overlaid. Only the mesh above the forefoot is overlay-free. Thus, it is very durable and protective and lightly water resistant. 

A substantial rubber toe bumper lifts the toebox high and keeps the mesh above it taught. The overlays overall make the upper feel a bit static and firm—it’s certainly not a plush feel—and with a tight forefoot lace I experience undesirable pressure on my smallest toe and outside toe joint, though it’s fine while on the run with a well-tuned forefoot lace; it’s not built on a narrow last, just a bit stiff. Additionally, I agree with John that the upper seemed to soften up a bit after a few runs. Overall, it strikes a good balance between precision fit and spaciousness.

Though the Peregrine’s static upper can cause some discomfort and make lacing up comfortably more of a conscious process, it provides outstanding foothold, so much so that on moderately technical terrain I can lace loosely in the forefoot to avoid discomfort and still feel totally locked in; on the road I could lace extremely loosely and still have acceptable foothold.

The gusseted tongue, medium-padded heel collar, and smooth laces are well-designed and function without issue. The elastic lace-keeper is looser than seems ideal when laced up but has worked to hold the laces so far. Despite width/outer-forefoot pressure issues I like how the Peregrine fits—a solid upper overall.

Jeff B: All three described the upper well. It is definitely a big step up from last year's model, and is very reminiscent of a few of the more extreme Salomon trail shoes - but unlike the European brand this toebox is forgiving. 

That isn't to say the toebox is just open, it has layers of protection around the outside, giving it a bulletproof feel, but I didn't find it stiff at all either. The tongue is great, soft and unstructured in a way, but I wouldn't say it's formless, and the gusseting on the side keeps it planted. It has several gaiter attachment points in the front, though no hidden velcro in the rear that Brooks, Altra, and others slip in. The heel collar is very firm, but it didn't pose any issues, other than perhaps contributing to slight weight gain. I did find that I needed to really lace things down if I was running some gnarly technical stuff, but at a half-size over my usual 10.5, I don't think correctly-sized shoes would have the same result. Lastly, the fit and quality of the materials is soft, but really not plush. This isn't a deluxe cruising shoe, but it isn't made from scratchy materials either.

Midsole

PWRUN foam in the midsole is the same foam as in the new Kinvara 11 and Guide 13.

Jeff:  The new PWRUN midsole, replacing the former PWRFM midsole found in the ISO and the Peregrine 8 is firmer, responsive, stable and performance oriented.  I find the Peregrine 10 to feel much quicker and lively compared to the 2 previous versions and while I appreciated the PWRFM for its comfort/cushion and reasonably responsive ride, the firmer PWRUN is much more appropriate for the Peregrine and pushing fast through technical terrain.  The only real drawback is that I feel that the PWRUN is a bit too firm for road use and long descents on hard surfaces, where I might prefer the Xodus 10.

John: The midsole runs like a comfortable road trainer with ample cushion in the heel, midfoot, and forefoot. I tried some hard downhill on road and trail, hoping to test where I could generate discomfort. This shoe provided a comfortably cushioned ride with subtle rock protection in the stiffer midfoot sole. 

Jacob: The Peregrine employs Saucony’s PWRRUN midsole. The material is dense, firm, resilient, and lightly bouncy, but not springy. It responds well to changes in pace and provides a stable and generally smooth ride on all terrain. 

The Peregrine’s cushioning level is mid-range which contributes to its versatility. I usually prefer softer midsoles but I’ve have no issues on the double digit runs I’ve done in them, even when the run includes road sections. I think they’re too firm for ultra distances, though. The only time the midsole feels too harsh is when descending. I have not taken the Peregrine to the mountains, and though the rest of the shoe can handle alpine terrain, the midsole may make descending more of a conscious effort than I’d prefer.

Jeff B: The PWRRUN midsole in the Peregrine 10 is my first experience with it, but having fallen in love with it's slightly more premium PWRRUN+ I had high hopes. Ultimately, I think PWRRUN is a nice midsole that doesn't do anything extremely well, but seems to be just very good - which is a big step up from Saucony's former midsole material (and sometime topsole material) EVERUN. I'm with Jacob, I usually prefer a softer midsole, but I really enjoyed every run in the Peregrine 10. It has a "just soft enough" feel that makes me consider it for any mid-length trail run of 8-15 miles, and I could see some runners consider them for longer.

Outsole

Jeff:  The PWRTRAC outsole provides excellent traction over a wide variety of terrain and is notable for its exceptional versatility.  The lugs have been trimmed down from 6 to 5mm and are a bit more spaced out than in previous versions, which helps with shedding mud.  I find that the tread design is an improvement over previous versions, as they provide better bite on snow, ice, mud, off trail, while rolling along more smoothly on hard surfaces.  Additionally, like with the Mad River TR, the outsole is designed to easily accommodate sheet metal screws for ice traction, or can be drilled out for water drainage.

The woven rock guard can be seen in the photo above, providing excellent protection, yet allowing for good flexibility making for a not overly stiff shoe such was the case with some of the earlier versions.  Contouring over rocks is excellent, with no tippyness.

Wet traction is very good, as it traction on rocks/slab, wet or dry.

Thus far durability is proving to be very good as well, with hardly any wear visible after about 30 miles on mostly rocky, rough technical terrain.

John: Great traction and security in all types of terrain. I ran these on rocky trail, road, ice, snow, gravel pack trail, and mud. The traction was sufficient in all conditions, with the exception of colder temperatures (10-15 *F) across dry rock. The traction excelled on gravel pack and smooth single track. The woven rock plate provided protection through rocky and rutted muddy trail.

Jacob: The Peregrine PWRTRAC outsole is exceptional. The Peregrine series is notoriously smooth-running on the road and thus a good road-to-trail shoe, but this isn’t due to compromises with the outsole. The outsole is sticky in a variety of conditions. It is the most versatile outsole of any shoe I’ve run, performing well in slush, ice, mud, wet rocks, rooted singletrack, dry dirt, and asphalt. The 5mm lug (down from 6mm in the previous version) is aggressive but doesn’t get in the way on tame terrain. 

I’ve been testing the Peregrine in December and January in Maine (NE USA) and it’s become my top choice for slushy, snowy, icy road/sidewalk runs—wet grip is top notch. The designated traction screw holes are a great touch for the icier days; I have Icespike™️ installed in the above photo and the screw head is the perfect distance above the lugs.

Jeff B: It looks like I'm the only one not to use the Peregrine in the snow, but I did get a chance to run them on a rainy day and experience their mud grip. In a word: AMAZING. The clay-like dirt throughout much of Phoenix can get very slick when things get even slightly wet, and over nearly seven miles I didn't experience even a single slip. Not many shoes have the outsole as its crowning achievement, but in this case, I think the outsole steals the show. And it isn't just a mud bog master, the lug depth and woven rock plate combine to give incredible traction and protection over rocky terrain as well. Major kudos to Saucony for this, especially considering how much flexibility the shoe's forefoot has.

Ride

Jeff:  The ride is very predictable and smooth through the shoe's intended technical terrain as it is firm, stable and responsive, and with great response and agility.  The ride is a touch harsh at higher speeds on roads/hard surfaces and very long descents on hard surfaces.

John: Transition from heel-to-toe is very smooth and stable. The origins as a road shoe are apparent in this particular model, but it provides some protection with a stiffer midsole in the forefoot. The stiffness was subtle enough that it didn’t compromise the shoe performance or ride.

Jacob: The Peregrine ride is defined by the firm midsole. The ride is stable, consistent, and smooth. On my first run (10mi road/icy trail mix, casual pace [7:55min/mi]), I thought the midsole felt too hard on the paved sections, but I’ve gotten used to it since then. In fact, after 40 miles in testing, I’ve determined it’s the best road running trail shoe in my rotation and my current top choice for road-to-trail runs.

I’m mixed on whether the Peregrine ride is conducive to running fast or racing. They are not adequately cushioned for long (20+mi) races, but the responsive midsole, good foothold, and great traction could be conducive to a short or mid-length race. The only speed I’ve done in them has been short strides, and they’re been fun for that, though not notably fast. Though their moderate weight hasn’t been a burden on any of my runs so far, I haven’t tried a real workout in them and there are certainly many lighter shoes out there.

Jeff B: The ride is the most vanilla part of this shoe, and that's not a bad thing. It's very smooth, without too much give, and just feels solid. That might sound like an indictment against the shoe, but really, not every shoe needs to wow you with every step. It's predictable nature allow the shoe to disappear on your foot, and just do its job, and I really can't fault Saucony for that.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Jeff:  Alhough the Peregrine 10 added 2mm of stack and is roughly the same weight as previous versions, it feels much more like an all mountain racer vs. long distance cruiser as the previous 2 versions were.  It is more responsive, firmer and predictable with a more secure, no nonsense upper and improved, more versatile traction. I reach for the Peregrine 10 for faster runs (or slower) on technical terrain where I am looking for the utmost traction, protection, security and predictability.  I would not hesitate to race in the Peregrine 10, but would love to see it drop yet a bit more in weight, while retaining all of the excellent performance characteristics and protection.

Jeff’s Score:  9.2 / 10

Ride: 8.5 Fit: 9.5 Value: 9 Style: 9 Traction: 9.5 Rock Protection: 10 Weight: 8

I would love to see the Peregrine still drop an ounce or so per shoe, which I think is a reasonable ask without losing any of the protection and performance that makes this shoe so good.

John: If you are looking to add an all-around versatile shoe to your quiver, the Peregrine 10 is perfect. The shoe is comfortable, feels secure when running across varied terrain, provides a smooth and stable ride, and requires very little break-in out of the box. This is my go-to shoe for almost every trail running condition and would invite Saucony to create a lightweight version for racing Half Marathon and shorter trail race distances which may in fact turn out to be the upcoming Fall 2020 Switchback 2 (RTR Preview).

John’s Score: 8.5 / 10

Ride: 9-fun shoe with stable and smooth ride

Fit: 8.75-break-in period before shoe becomes comfortable reduces score

Value: 8 -I think ~400 to 500 miles seems possible with the sturdy outsole and upper

Style: 7 -I love the color choices, but given it is a high performing shoe I would prefer some flash with the bright colors being predominant and grays as the inferior color tone

Traction: 8- high performing, but not SUPER sticky on dry rock

Rock Protection: 8.5-toe protection, cushioning, and rock plate provide ample protection)

Jacob: The Peregrine is a great all-around trail shoe. It would be a perfect choice for a road runner looking for a single trail shoe for the occasional off-road day, as well as for a trail-runner hoping for a single-shoe quiver. It runs smoothly on all terrain, grips exceptionally well in a variety of conditions, and is stable, decisively neutral, and solidly built. For me, they’re a first choice road-to-trail or mixed-conditions winter road running shoe.

Jacob’s Score: 8.58

Ride: 8 (30%) Fit: 7.5 (30%) Value: 10 (10%)  Style 10 (5%) Traction: 9.5 (15%) Rock Protection: 10 (10%)

Winter running in Maine, USA

Jeff B: This is a trail shoe for just about everyone. If you are one of those runners that wants one shoe that does everything - this is it. If you are one of those runners that has a half dozen different shoes for different runs, the Peregrine 10 can fit into a number of different categories. It handles mud and dry as well as anything, and while the ride won't wow you, it also won't disappoint you either. I was surprised how heavy the shoe was on the scale, on the foot it felt closer to a 10 ounce shoe. The upper feels better, the toebox is more accommodating, and the aesthetics are great. There's very little to nitpick about this shoe, and very few aspects are just okay to good; this is a great trail shoe.

Jeff's Score: 9.2/10

Ride: 9 (50%) Fit: 9 (30%) Value: 10 (15%) Style: 10 (5%)

Comparisons Index to all RTR reviews: HERE

Saucony Peregrine ISO (RTR Review)

Jeff:  Close in weight, the 10 has 2 mm more stack but with more responsive and firmer cushioning.  The ISO is more plush/soft feeling overall, not as responsive or suited for running all out on technical terrain as the 10, but feels cushier for longer distances.

LEFT: Peregrine ISO, RIGHT: Peregrine10

You can see how much more “puffy” and padded the ISO is, where the 10 is a bit more trimmed down, at least in padding and size (though still about the same weight).

Jeff B: Last year's model was my first Peregrine, and I was shocked how much I liked it. I wasn't shocked then, to find out how much more I like the 10. The denser midsole of the ISO is apparent when you have one on each foot, and the toebox improvement is apparent from 10 feet away. Sometimes last year's model on a sale can be worth it, but I'd recommend you spring for the upgrade.

Altra Lone Peak 4.5 (RTR Review)

John: While the Lone Peak traction is best in class and it has a comfortable seamless upper, it has a much stiffer ride and harder midsole feel when compared to Peregrine 10. The Lone Peak feels better equipped for longer distances where toe push off and high turnover cadences are less common. Peregrine provides better toe protection, a more responsive and smoother ride in all terrain, and softer cushion.

Jacob: The level of cushioning and on-trail versatility (general intended use) of the Lone Peak and Peregrine is similar, but the Lone Peak is firmer, which makes it overly harsh on the road, where the Peregrine ride is still very smooth. The Peregrine fit is more secure and more suited for speed on technical terrain but the lone peak could be a better long haul trucker and the fit is undoubtedly more relaxed and accommodating. 

Saucony Xodus 10 (Initial RTR Review on road, full review soon):

Jeff:  The Xodus 10 has dropped a lot of weight over previous iterations, though still weighs about an ounce more than the Peregrine.  The Xodus hardly feels heavier though and its cushioning is softer, although the shoe is still very responsive and agile, has amazing road manners and can also rip steep and technical terrain every bit as well as the Peregrine.  The Xodus 10 is a massive surprise, stay tuned for our full review.

Topo Athletic MTN Racer (RTR Review)

Jeff B: Similar in weight, the Peregrine has a slightly narrower toebox, but extra toebox height - which was a surprise given Topo's usually superior toebox shape. The shoes are similar, and for me fit a similar spot in my line up (5-15 miles with some rough terrain), and while the Topo is good every regard, the Peregrine is just better. More comfortable upper, better gripping outsole, more rock protection. No question, go Saucony.

Hoka One One Torrent (RTR Review)

Jeff:  The Torrent is lighter and has more forgiving cushion and is more responsive too (but some of that related to the lighter weight).  Peregrine has superior traction, protection and upper fit/security.

Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 5 (RTR Review)

Jeff B: The Kiger comes in about an ounce lighter, and has a little more pop to it when running quickly. If I was racing a 25K or less, I'd likely favor the Kiger, but day in and day out usage, I favor the little bit of extra midsole (and lots better rock protection) of the Peregrine. As a 200 pound runner, I like the Kiger more than it likes me, and the Peregrine doesn't leave me beat up like the Nike does. 

Salomon Speedcross 5 (RTR Review)

Jeff:  The Speedcross 5 is heavier, less responsive and bulkier, though it has more forgiving cushioning and more comfort for longer days.  The SC 5 tread is very aggressive, better in mud or snow, while the Peregrine's outsole is overall more versatile. I also find the SC 5 to be a bit tippy in technical terrain due to the big blocky heel and the Peregrine outshines it by far in technical terrain stability and performance.

The Peregrine 10 & Peregrine 10 GTx is available now at the stores below

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The product reviewed was provided at no cost. The opinions herein are the authors'.

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