Article by Jen Schmidt and Jeff Valliere
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 ($170)
Introduction
The Xodus Ultra is Saucony’s entry in the more maximally cushioned trail shoe race. The 4th edition for the first time gets a Vibram MegaGrip outsole. The central core of PWRRUN Pb supercritical foam is increased 8% in volume at the forefoot for more soft and bouncy response. The stack height remains the same at 36/30 while the weight increases, most likely to the now full coverage Vibram outsole.
Pros:
- All-around high-performing trail shoe - Jen/Jeff V
- Improved cushion and energy return over v2 - Jen//Jeff V
- Durability is promising in early testing - Jen/Jeff V
- Great fit out of the box, especially for low-volume feet - Jen/Jeff V
- Good value given the reasonable price point - Jen
- Overall comfort - Jeff V
- Improved traction - Jeff V
Cons:
- Laces tend to come untied unless tucked in - some sort of lace garage would be great - Jen
- Doesn’t drain well - Jen
- Heavier than the previous version and already not the lightest shoe out there - Jen/Jeff V
Most comparable shoes
Salomon Genesis - Jen
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro - Jen
Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 - Jen
Nnormal Tomir - Jen
Stats
Spec Weights:
V4: men's 10.9 oz / 309g US9 // women’s 9.9 oz / 280g US8
V3:: men’s 10.1 oz./288 g // women’s 8.7 oz./249 g
Sample Weights: women’s 10.0 oz / 283 g US8.5
Stack Heights:
V4: 36 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (6 mm drop)
V3: 36 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (6 mm drop)
Platform Widths:
V4 105 mm forefoot, 77 mm midfoot, 92 mm heel (US W8.5)
v3 : 115 mm forefoot / 75 mm midfoot / 90 mm heel US8.5 (US M8.5)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jen: I had run in the Xodus Ultra 2 so much that both uppers on my beloved pair finally ripped open, so I was curious to see how the Ultra 4 would compare, two updates later. The fit was true to size and remarkably dialed in but still comfortable out of the box.
I find the moderate toebox to have just the right amount of room around and above my toes, without letting my foot slide around.
The rugged engineered upper is noticeably thicker than the Ultra 2 and lightly reinforced around the toe and on the lateral side, making me optimistic about its durability.
On the other hand, the tradeoff is that the relatively dense mesh and padded heel collar don’t drain all that quickly, and my feet stayed wet for a while after creek crossings.
After only a four-mile test run, I took the Xodus Ultra 4 out for a hefty long run in the Canyons section of the Western States trail and my positive first impression was confirmed - more on that below.
One minor complaint was that the laces were apt to come untied right away if not tucked in - some sort of lace garage might be worth considering for the next version.
Jeff V:
The Xodus line has really taken some twists and turns over the years, going from a heavy hiking shoe, then a full revamp back in 2022 where they reset naming from Xodus 11, to Xodus Ultra 1.
The Xodus Ultra 1 dropped nearly 2 ounces in my US 10 and became a relatively fast, energetic and responsive trail running shoe (though lacked upper security and thus struggled in technical terrain or even cornering at speed), to the point where they should have just come up with a new model name.
I missed out on the Xodus Ultra 2 back in 2023, but got to review the 3 last year. The 3 was a nice shoe, well cushioned, protective and versatile, but it was clear the Xodus was creeping back towards being a heavier, more burly protective shoe for longer distances at slower paces.
The Xodus Ultra 4 continues that trend, as it is a few grams heavier, but in a good way, with some nice improvements to the upper and outsole that make it a very worthy all arounder.
The nylon mesh upper is rugged and durable, yet flexible and breathable. Lacing is quite secure with midfoot reinforcements for a stable, locked down feel. I have not had any issues with the laces coming untied as Jen mentions (but I consistently double/triple knot my lace pretty tight).
The toe bumper is quite beefy and protective, yet unnoticeable on the inside when running. In the above photo, you can also a D ring to secure a gaiter.
The tongue is gusseted and provides a nice midfoot wrap. Padding on the tongue is moderately thick and provides great comfort and protection from the laces. There is also a pull tab on the tongue that I find completely unnecessary. The pull tab on the heel is slightly more handy, but I find this shoe easy enough to slide into either way.
The heel collar is well padded and a good height for my ankle.
The 3D molded heel counter is beefy, protective and supportive (perhaps a bit much even, but will be welcome when bashing through talus and scree on high peaks).
Fit for me is true to size in my US Men’s size 10, with a secure heel, midfoot and very comfortable toe box, which offers a little bit of wiggle room.
While I find the foothold to be quite good for most running, sidehilling, technical terrain and rock hopping, however when pushing hard on very steep downhills, I have noticed my foot sliding forward in the shoe. It has not caused me any blisters or issues, but just something to note that this is not a shoe for pushing on the steep descents.
Midsole & Platform
Jen: The dual-foam midsole in this version of the Xodus bumps up the PWRRUN PB supercritical expanded beads foam (Saucony’s superfoam) 8 % over V3 at the forefoot, retaining the PWRRUN supportive frame for durability and responsiveness.
The stack height remains the same as v3 at 36/30 . My v2, I did not run v3 was 3.5mm lower stack height. The increased cushioning makes the Xodus Ultra 4 an even better ultra-distance shoe in my book, but without feeling mushy or sloppy. I reached for it on three long runs totaling 65 miles on the Western States course (Swinging Bridge to the Rucky Chucky crossing), including the steeper canyons sections, and it was exactly what I was looking for: a dialed-in fit for confidence through technical sections but still responsive on smooth singletrack and comfortable for multiple hours.
Since my focus is 50k and below, this amount of cushioning is more than adequate, but I’ll defer to other testers for a perspective on longer distances. This will likely be my shoe of choice for Silver State 50k, which features rocky, sandy singletrack and fire roads with sustained climbs and descents, due to the combination of comfortable cushioning and zero slippage front-to-back or side-to-side. Sure, the weight is significant at 10.0 oz in my US W8.5, but somehow it doesn’t feel as heavy on the run as the specs might suggest.
Jeff V:
As Jen mentions, the midsole consists of a dual foam construction with Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam as the central core with PWRRUN EVA blend foam as the outer stabilizing carrier. Adding to the substantial cushion is a FormFit sockliner which appears to be PWRRUN+.foam, a bouncy expanded bead TPU.
The cushioning feels very soft underfoot, but not overly so and the PWRRUN EVA carrier does a very effective job providing a stable and predictable feel.
Like the Xodus 3, I find the Xodus 4 to be reasonably responsive and lively when I am feeling similar, such that it can respond to fast running when I am feeling good and push it, but I think the overall weight of the shoe slows it a bit and does not necessarily beg to go fast.
I find them to be very supportive, predictable and protective no matter how rocky or technical the trail is. On long, hard surfaced downhills, I find the midsole eats up the impact and do not feel beat up as the cushioning overall is more than adequate.
Outsole
Jen: The new outsole here competes with the additional superfoam for the title of biggest and best update. V4 trades up from the PWRTRAC of v3 to Vibram Mega-Grip for significantly improved traction and performance, especially in wet conditions. The prior woven rock plate is also eliminated. The outsole was perhaps my only complaint with v2, especially through the wet and muddy winter, but switching to Vibram solves that problem perfectly. At this time of year, I didn’t have much mud to test it in on the local trails, but the grip provided by the 4mm lugs and new outsole material was excellent on loose sandy/rocky slopes and through stream crossings.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Xodus Ultra 4 was also a great road-to-trail shoe for running out my door to the trailhead. That bottom layer of PWRRUN provides good energy return when picking up the pace, whether on trails or pavement, and the lugs never feel unstable.
Jeff V:
The Vibram Megagrip outsole with Traction Lug is the big update for the Xodus 4, at least for me and my needs (and for anyone else!). The compound is super sticky and performs very well in wet conditions, snow, mud, etc…
Grip on slabby rock, smooth slab, and for light scrambling is also excellent. as is the norm for Vibram Megagrip.
The shape, size and configuration of the 4mm traction lugs are ideal for a wide range of trail surfaces, conditions and sis even fine on the road for door to trail and without the outsole feeling obtrusive. No matter how loose the trail surface or navigating steep off trail descents, grip is fantastic. Thus far, I am seeing very little wear after 40 or so mostly rocky, rough miles and predict durability to be average to slightly above average.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jen: For its price point of $170, the Xodus Ultra 4 is the best all-around trail shoe I’ve tried this year. There are fancier carbon-plated racers, squishier max-cushion trainers, and more agile mountain adventure shoes out there, but sometimes what you need is the equivalent of your favorite jeans - simple, unpretentious, and a pretty darn good choice for any occasion. (I’ll add the caveat here that my testing involved runs up to 4.5 hours on generally runnable terrain with a relatively low-volume foot). The specs might not blow anyone away at first glance, but I’d urge fellow shoe nerds not to sleep on this update.
Overall 9.75/10
Ride (30%): 9.5/10 - minor deduction for weight
Fit (30%): 9.5/10 - minor points off for not draining all that well and laces coming untied
Value (10%): 10/10
Style (5%): 10/10
Traction (15%): 10/10
Rock Protection (10%): 9.5/10
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Jeff V: Echoing Jen’s thoughts above, the Xodus Ultra 4 is a great all around trail shoe, super versatile and just as much adept at running or hiking technical terrain as for easier trails or door to trail.
Cushioning is excellent, soft, but not mushy and the upper is roomy, comfortable and nice and secure for all but the steepest downhills (at speed), so this should not be an issue for most.
The upgrade to the outsole to feature Vibram Megagrip is a great move, making the 4 much more versatile and competent over a wider range of conditions and terrain. In my opinion, the added weight, while not a positive, is a fair trade for the added protection and traction underfoot vs. the previous version.
Going forward, the Xodus Ultra 4 will be a top pick for me for everyday training runs when I am not planning to go fast, for long days in the mountains where comfort, protection and traction are paramount andit is also a great shoe to leave in the car, a shoe that is ready to tackle just about any trail run that comes my way.
Jeff V’s Score: 9.4/10
Ride (30%): 9.5/10 - smooth, cushioned and comfortable
Fit (30%): 9/10 - overall very good, comfortable and accommodating, but deduction for forward slip on steep descents.
Value (10%): 9/10 - you are getting a great shoe here, but I see this shoe closer to the $150-$160 price point (splitting hairs here)
Style (5%): 9.5/10 - I was unsure of the Kodiak/Wine colorway at first, but it has really grown on me and is overall it a well styled shoe.
Traction (15%): 10/10
Rock Protection (10%): 9.5/10
😊😊😊😊😊
3 Comparisons
Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 (RTR Review)
Jen - We’ve covered the updates in detail above, but briefly, v4 outperforms v3 in cushioning and grip, but adds a few grams. If debating between the two versions, I highly recommend upgrading to the latest one.
Jeff V: Compared throughout. I was just so-so on the 3 and did not really run in them post review, but I find the 4 to be a more friendly, fun and versatile shoe, with a better upper and a much improved outsole (which is a very key upgrade for the steep and technical trails that I frequent).
Salomon Genesis (RTR Review)
Jen - Both tend toward the narrower end of the spectrum, but the Xodus Ultra 4 fits slightly narrower and shorter, so the Genesis may be more accommodating for a range of feet. The Genesis is also a little lighter, with a lower stack and higher heel-toe offset (30mm/22 mm, vs. 36/30 for the Xodus Ultra 4). Those specs don’t tell the full story, though: the Xodus feels smoother and snappier underfoot to me, and the Vibram Mega-Grip outsole outperforms the Contagrip of the Genesis.
Jeff V: Agreed with Jen above, with not much more to add. I did not really get the forward foot slide in the Genesis like I did the Xodus, but the Xodus has slightly better traction, so that differential would probably be a wash.
NNormal Tomir 2 (RTR Review)
Jen - The Tomir is lighter and roomier, with a similarly grippy outsole. I couldn’t get the heel of the Tomir 2 to lock down as much as I needed, so preferred the more precise fit of the Xodus Ultra 4. The weight difference is a full ounce (10.9 for the Xodus vs 9.9 oz ifor the Tomir n a USM9) despite the wider base on the Tomir 2. The weight difference is most likely due to the single compound supercritical foam midsole of the Tomir. Both are all-around workhorses designed for a variety of conditions, though.
Jeff V: I find the Tomir to be a very similar shoe and while its lighter weight is welcome, especially on the uphills, I do not find them to be all that agile in technical terrain and speed, at least not as much as I had hoped/expected. I think the Xodus is a bit more friendly and versatile for daily use and for most people, where the Tomir is a bit more mountain focused.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Xodus Ultra 4 will release mid June 2025
Tester Profiles
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's are nearest and dearest to her heart, and she recently took the win at the 2025 Way Too Cool 50k and placed sixth at the 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50k. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn, chasing competitive and personal goals over a variety of surfaces and distances. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team, with a marathon PR of 2:41.
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.
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