Article by Jeff Valliere and Renee Krusemark
Saucony Peregrine 15 ($140.00)
Introduction: The Peregrine 15 is Saucony’s all mountain and perhaps most versatile trail running shoe, featuring a new blend of PWRRUN foam that provides more cushion, comfort and flexibility, a newly formulated and redesigned PWRTRAC outsole and an improved more durable upper.
Pros:
Cushion, comfort, traction, secure fit, versatility, protection, stability, breathable - Jeff V/Renee
Cons:
Some minor heel rub, but went away after a few runs and some break in Jeff
Outsole changes under the heel may affect ride: Renee
Slightly heavier than needed / ideal: Renee
Stats
Spec Weight: US men's 9 9.7oz / 275g US9
Prior Version Weight: 9.75 oz / 276 g US9
Sample Weights:
US men’s 10 10.25 oz / 288 g US10 ,
US women’s 8.48 oz / 242g US8
Stack Height: men’s 28mm heel / 24mm forefoot (4mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot (US M10)
Available now. $140
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jeff V: I have run in every version of the Peregrine since version 5 and the 15 is in my opinion the best yet, with the improvements to the upper, midsole and outsole striking an impressive balance between all mountain high performance and every day, all day running. Out of the box, the Peregrine 15 is classic Peregrine and everything you would expect from the model, with a familiar look and deep 5mm Chevron lugs.
The upper is made of what Saucony calls “a High-strength mesh upper with added protection in the high abrasion areas and a D-Ring for gaiter compatibility”. While I have only run in the Peregrine 15 during December/January, breathability I believe will be excellent, as they feel very airy.
The toe bumper is beefy and protective without being noticeable from the inside.
The upper is overall quite similar in design, fit and feel, with some minor, barely discernible tweaks (at least when wearing the 14 and 15 side by side). The 15 now has a beefed up, expanded 360 degree rand to help keep out some moisture in shallow puddles and wet grass, while offering greater protection in technical terrain as well as abrasion resistance.
In the photo above and the first one in the start of this section, you can see the full 360 wrapping rand.
Fit is again true to size and side by side with the 14, I can hardly tell them apart in a blind test. Upper protection is slightly improved with the extended wrap around rand with lockdown comparable to the previous version, holding my foot well in steep, rugged terrain. Breathability is comparable as well.
Lacing is very positive and secure with perfect stretch(ish) woven laces providing a once and done process (the peregrine image on the tongue is a nice nod to the shoe’s namesake).
The tongue is again gusseted and well padded.
The heel collar is well padded and comfortable, but for the first several runs, I experienced some heel rubbing on uphills that seems to have gradually subsided, but not entirely disappeared. I am not entirely sure if the shoe has broken in some, or perhaps my heel has adapted, or perhaps a bit of both. Even now, after ~65 miles of running, I feel it a little, but only on the steepest uphills and it is very minor with no actual blistering.
Renee: Jeff has the details. If you’ve run with previous versions of the Peregrine, the upper fit and sizing is basically the same. If you haven’t run with a Peregrine before, I suggest true to size. I’m between half sizes and always wear a women’s size 8 rather than 7.5 for Saucony. The Peregrine has a pointy looking toebox, although I don’t feel any restriction. If between half sizes, I think the half size up works best, especially if you like a roomy toebox.
Overall fit of the upper is secure and comfortable. For single track, the upper is secure for nimble landings, and like previous versions, I find the v15 smooth for rolling gravel too. The breathability for hot running will be fine, similar to the previous versions. Like Jeff, I’m reviewing the shoe in winter months, and the upper works well for cold to frigid temps (wind chills at 0°F) with quality wool socks.
I did not have any issues with heel slippage or rubbing, although I needed to use the extra lace eyelet to get a good fit around my ankles. I consider my foot volume low and prefer a low sitting heel counter and collar. Without that additional eyelet for lacing, I’d likely have some issues with the heel fit. The heel counter is slightly higher than the previous version. If I didn’t have v14 for comparison, I don’t think I would notice.
[Photo above: left v15; right v14]
The other noted difference of the upper is the overlay/bumper that extends all around the shoe.
[Photo above: top v14; bottom v15]
Midsole & Platform
Jeff V: The Peregrine 15 midsole is a new blend next-gen PWRRUN EVA blend foam that is a little bit softer than the 14, providing a well cushioned, protective and soft feel to the shoe, while maintaining stability and not compromising control in technical terrain.
The softer PWRRUN foam is welcome on long days and long downhills, offering ample cushion. Response is snappy and quick on the uphills and everywhere else really, as this is a reasonably quick shoe and overall performance oriented. Despite the foam being softer, I find stability to be very good, with protection enhanced by the forefoot rock guard.
Renee: The Peregrine v14 was supposed to have a softer midsole than v13, but I never noticed a difference. However, I can notably feel the softer midsole of v15. With the stack and ground feel, the softer midsole doesn’t necessarily affect the stability, although see my note in the outsole section.
I agree with Jeff that the softness is an asset for long runs or for comfort during downhills. The previous version had enough stack/comfort for a 50k for me, and I wore it for the first 34 miles of The Bighorn 52. I think v15 offers more comfort/protection and better potential for longer distances. The insole is one of my favorites, a dense TPU (Saucony’s PWRRUN+). The forefoot rock guard remains the same as previous versions, which helps with protection and stability. The Peregrine is comfortable on more mellow trails as well.
Outsole
Jeff V: The Peregrine 15 features a full coverage, newly formulated PWRTRAC rubber outsole that provides better all around traction than the previous models. In loose dirt, steep off trail, packed snow, mud and all around general trail running, the aggressively shaped lugs and pattern provide very good grip, certainly one of the best tread patterns out there. I would however call wet traction to be moderate as in previous versions, good, but not at the level of La Sportiva, VJ or Scarpa.
Outsole durability has improved greatly over previous versions with hardly any wear after 65 or so rough, rocky miles of trail and off trail.
Renee: Jeff has the specs. The outsole works well for loose terrain, packed dirt, some mud, and snow. I noticed some slipping on icy surfaces, which is to be expected for a shoe without studs. Some mud will wedge in the lugs, but it falls out quickly.
I’ve never had an issue with the outsole of the Peregrine on wet, rocky terrain, but many runners aren’t happy unless they have Vibram or a more tacky compound that is often needed in mountain-only specific shoes, especially when the rocks have a slimy film. The outsole here is a good balance for varied terrain.
The lug pattern is different from the previous version. Each lug has a line etched across it. In theory the segmentation on each lug should help with grip and traction. The exposed section under the heel from the previous versions (v13 and v14) is replaced with full coverage.
[Photo above: v15 top; v14 bottom]
A v-shaped line is across the midfoot and another line from the medial heel to the midfoot is inserted to reduce rigidness in the landing. Those lines aren’t as flexing as the previous version. The new version has nine smaller lugs under the heel’s medial side as compared to six larger lugs on the previous version. I had a few heel landings where I felt the stability of the shoe was compromised as compared to what I remember in the previous version. That said, the changes will offer protection under the heel thanks to the full coverage.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jeff V: As I said about the 14, the Peregrine 15 fits into the daily trainer and even a bit longer distances category, without really losing the all mountain, fast technical capabilities, which only adds to its versatility. Reasonably light weight, even softer cushion now, great fit, comfort, agility, stability, security, traction and improved outsole durability, the Peregrine 15 continues to rank very high on my list of favorites.
Jeff V’s Score: 9.6 / 10
Ride: 9.5 - Smooth and well cushioned with excellent control, even softer PWRRUN now
Fit: 9.5 - very secure and comfortable
Value: 9.5 - great versatility and you are getting a lot of performance and quality for the money, now even better tread durability.
Style: 9.5 - Most of the colorways I have seen look good, especially the orange as tested (I wore them to a Denver Broncos game and they fit right in)
Traction: 9.5 - wet traction on rock is OK, but otherwise traction everywhere else is top notch
Rock Protection: 10
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Renee: Jeff writes it perfectly: the Peregrine remains a well-priced, diverse shoe that is capable of technical, fast efforts. The softer midsole is the real story here as it provides cushion for distances and protection when running significant and steep technical downhills.
I rarely run mountainous terrain, and find the Peregrine fun for more runnable trails and gravel too. My first run was 290ft vert per mile on small but constant switchbacks and inclines/declines. The Peregrine works great there.
For the price, the Peregrine is one of the best options for the runner who needs one shoe for most trail efforts. I’d like to see the weight of the shoe down just a few tenths of an ounce, but it’s by no means a heavy shoe.
Renee’s Score: 9.75/10
Ride: 9.5/10 (good for a variety of terrain; softer PWRRUN extends distance use)
Fit: 10/10 (secure and comfortable)
Value: 10/10 (one of the best for an all around trail shoe)
Style: 9.5/10 (subjective and not important for a trail shoe: bright yellow not my favorite)
Traction: 9.5/10 (likely improved with the lug changes and patterns; under heel changes may affect the ride)
Rock Protection: 10/10
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6 Comparisons
Peregrine 14 (RTR Review)
Jeff V: Compared throughout. The 15 has a new upper, midsole and outsole, which on a whole makes for a worthy upgrade along with a softer midsole foam and improved outsole durability. I could also easily make a case though for buying the 14 on closeout, as it is still an excellent shoe!
Renee: The upper changes (the wrapped bumper) are good although not significant. I think v15 is better because of the softer midsole. If looking for an ultra distance shoe, I’d suggest v15 over a discounted v14 for that reason.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 (RTR Review)
Jeff V: The Speedgoat is a little lighter, has more cushioning, yet is still very stable and well suited to technical terrain. While the Peregrine has more pronounced lugs and a slight edge in loose terrain, the Speedgoat has better wet traction due to its Vibram MegaGrip outsole. The Peregrine has a slight edge in technical terrain, as it feels a bit lower, more stable and planted, though with the now lighter weight and rockered design, the Speedgoat feels a bit more race ready and faster overall.
Hoka Torrent 4 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Torrent 4 is a lighter shoe with just enough underfoot for similar distances as the Peregrine. The Peregrine midsole is softer and more forgiving while the Torrent’s is firm but ample. The Peregrine favors more technical terrain. Unfortunately, the new midfoot rocker of the Torrent did not work for me, and it felt narrow and pinching under my arch. Otherwise, it’s a fun, light shoe. As someone between half sizes, I wear the half size smaller in the Torrent.
Salomon Genesis (RTR Review)
Jeff V: Somewhat close in specs, the Genesis has 2 more mm stack in the heel, but 2mm less in the forefoot (4 mm drop for Peregrine vs. 8mm for Genesis) and is a little bit lighter. The Genesis is a great all around, all trail daily trainer, as is the Peregrine, but I think the Genesis has the edge for longer distance on most terrain, whereas the Peregrine Is better for mid distances and more technical terrain.
INOV-8 Trailfly (RTR Review)
Jeff V: Both very similar in stack and weight and overall versatile usage. The Peregrine has more aggressive lugs which are better in loose terrain, but the Trailfly has a more sticky outsole that grips well and even in the wet. The big differentiator is the wider toebox of the Trailfly, reminiscent of Altra or Topo (closer to Topo), where you have some wiggle room, while still maintaining good control of the shoe.
VJ MAXx2 (RTR Review)
Jeff V: The MAXx2 was my favorite shoe of 2024 and for good reason, as it is light, protective, nimble, fast and has excellent grip. It is lighter than the Peregrine, with a bit more cushion and a superior outsole. MAXx2for ripping tech trails at full speed, Peregrine for longer, slightly more toned down outings and more versatile all around running.
Renee: I agree with Jeff. The MAXx2 has a more dynamic midsole and ride along with a technical ready outsole. It’s also comfortable on the mellow surfaces but clearly not meant for that terrain. I had fit and sizing issues with the MAXx2, however. The Peregrine is the cheaper, more diverse usage shoe.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Shopping at our partners for the Peregrine 15 is much appreciated and helps support RoadTrailRun
Peregrine 15
Tester Profiles
Jeff Valliere loves to run and explore the mountains of Colorado, the steeper and more technical the better. He has summited all of the 14ers in the state, many 13ers and other peaks in Colorado and beyond, plus, he has summited his local Green Mountain over 2,100 times in the past 20 years. He can be found on mountain trails daily, no matter the weather, season, conditions or whether there is daylight or not. On the side he loves to ski (all forms) bike and hike, often with his family, as he introduces his twin daughters to the outdoors. Jeff was born and raised in New Hampshire, but has called Colorado home for over 25 years. He is 5’9” and 145 lbs.
Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon
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