Article by Jennifer Schmidt
Saucony Tempus 2 ($160)
Introduction
If “stability shoe” brings up associations of “heavy”, “clunky”, or “stiff” for you, the Tempus 1 and now Tempus 2 may change your mind. As someone with a fairly neutral gait looking for a daily road trainer, I was pleasantly surprised by the Tempus 2. Runners who like the Endorphin line for uptempo days and races may want to give the Tempus 2 a try, even if they don’t often seek out stability shoes.
Pros:
Stable without being noticeably a “stability shoe”; feels fairly neutral underfoot - Jen
Great amount of cushioning for the weight - Jen
Surprisingly comfortable, and versatile at recovery run paces but with enough spring for strides - Jen
Comparable to the Saucony Endorphin line but slightly more support as the foot rolls forward - Jen
Cons:
Took a few runs to settle into the fit, especially toward the toe - Jen
Not inexpensive for a daily trainer - Jen
Most comparable shoes
Saucony Endorphin Shift
Asics Gel-Kayano
Brooks Launch GTS 10
Stats
Spec Weight: women's 8.2 oz / 232 g (US 8)
Prior Version Weight: women’s 7.9 oz / 224 g (US 8)
Sample Weight: women’s 8.46 oz / 240 g (US 8.5)
Stack Height: women’s 38 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (8 mm drop spec) Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 69 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jen - It feels like a more cushioned, barely heavier (8.2 vs 7.2 oz for the women’s model), and less springy version of the Endorphin Speed 3 out of the box. (I haven’t run in the latest version of the Endorphin Shift or Guide, which may be more appropriate comparisons within the Saucony line.)
Unlike the Speed 3, the toe box seemed to relax to a slightly roomier fit after the first couple runs, which in my opinion is a good thing. The fit is true-to-size and supportive, especially through the arch, without altering my stride or feeling clunky underfoot. The comfortable upper is similar in weight to other Saucony shoes and locks the fit in place nicely.
Midsole & Platform
More vertical sidewalls on the medial side for stability
Jen - The midsole is pleasantly soft, with cushioning that feels great on tired feet and legs. The Tempus 2 isn’t just for plodding along. There is good energy return in there as well thanks to the PWRRUN PB supercritical foam in the center of the shoe with the PWRRUN EVA blend as an outer stabilizing or guidance frame .
The rear of the shoe (smooth foam) is the firmer PWRRUN EVA with down the center and as a deeper layer upfront the PWRRUN PB (popcorn like texture)
A wide base balances the 38 mm heel stack height, though the wide base/high stack combination means it might be too much shoe for minimalists.
Outsole
Jen - I found the XT-900 carbon rubber outsole to provide good traction on wet pavement, gravel roads, and dirt paths. No signs of wear after 60-ish miles in them so far.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jen - The comfortably cushioned, stabilized neutral ride made the Tempus 2 an easy choice for recovery runs and daily mileage. It’s light enough and provides the energy return for faster paces and strides as well, although runners who don’t need the stability support may reach for something at the faster end of the Endorphin line on those days instead. Best suited for runners who want a relatively light but soft trainer and don’t mind a wider base and a touch of support.
Jen’s Score: 9.5/10
(-0.2 for value - a little pricey, -0.3 for fit, a combination of narrow toe box and wide base).
😊😊😊😊 1/2
Comparisons
Saucony Tempus 1 (RTR Review)
While I did not run v1 our RTR Review is linked above.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (RTR Review)-
The Speed is an ounce lighter, with a narrower base and more propulsion thanks to the nylon plate. Otherwise, however, the Tempus 2 could make a case for being a more cushioned, more stable trainer in the Endorphin line, with a similar stack height (38 vs 36 mm on the Speed 3) and equal drop (8 mm).
Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 (RTR Review)
I haven’t run in this one, but it seems like it should be the most direct comparison. The Shift 3 is about half an ounce heavier and has less of a drop (4 mm vs 8 for the Tempus 2).
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profile
Jennifer found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's and road marathons are nearest and dearest to her heart, but she loves chasing competitive and personal goals on any surface and over any distance. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn and Truckee, usually averaging 70-95 mpw. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team. She has a marathon PR of 2:41 and was recently selected as an alternate for the USA team for 50k world championships.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
1 comment:
Saucony themselves says the stack height is 33mm/25mm (which is weird cuz v1 was described as 36/28). In either case I don't believe the 38/30 reported here is accurate? It's not a World Athletics almost-max amount of stack, but a reasonably stacked daily trainer.
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