Based on a few questions that I've gotten recently (and some encouragement from TTF), and considering the weather conditions in this lovely bipolar Chicago winter, here is a product review of my trail shoes, Saucony Progrid Xodus 2.0. First things first, the story behind the shoe purchase (I mean, what's the fun in just a review without a story, right??). Running for Kicks hosted a local trail run on a Saturday in early/mid November. Amanda and I ran the hilly 5.75 mile loop together. The run was sponsored by Saucony and had a big turnout.
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| At RFK with the other trail shoe winners |
Needless to say, I was beyond excited. I haven't bought shoes at Running for Kicks before so I was excited to see what everyone was always talking about! Mel, the owner, asked me what I was looking for in a shoe. I overpronate, have orthopedic insoles, need a really sturdy and stable shoe, and currently run in the Asics Kayano 17s. Right away, he went to the back and came out with a pair of Saucony Progrid Xodus 2.0 for me to try. This pair had arch lock and was very stable. The shoes are water resistant and help with slippage out on the trail. I went out for a quick run around the parking lot to give them a feel. One of the shoes had a sharp something sticking through which was rubbing up against my heel. I'm not sure what it was, but after grabbing another pair, that was no longer an issue. (I think it was just a weird imperfection or something.)
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| Shoe twins |
Now, for the actual review.
Looks:
These shoes sure do grab your attention. The colors are a bit flashy for me, but I do like the reflective strips. The shoelaces seem to come untied an unusual amount of time, so I might consider swapping them out if you're not a fan. Also, I feel like my feet look enormous in these shoes. I normally wear a size 9 (already big boats) and these are a 9.5. They fit great with my orthodics and everything, but I just feel like the boats are extra big in these bad boys. I'm not sure if Saucony normally runs small, but this was my experience with this particular shoe.
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| Soure: Amazon |
Terrain:
I've run with these shoes on both trails and concrete. When wearing them while running on sidewalks or streets, they seem bulky and heavy. When I switched it up and ran in the grass (shh, don't tell my neighbors), they instantly felt better--light and purposeful. I've been running in them a lot more through the slush and snow of the sidestreets, and they seem to do well on mixed terrain (light snow, melted slush, wet concrete). My toes stay somewhat dry (versus my normal trainers) and I think they really do help with the slipping factor. It's not like wearing YakTrax or anything--don't get me wrong. If there is an icy patch, you'll probably still fall, but I think in the grand scheme of things they are helpful.
Price:
They seem to be in the average range for a running shoe, depending on the size and where you look. Amazon lists it at $95-$100. (Running for Kicks had them priced at $100 last I checked. Not sure about other local running stores or if they carry them. Please let me know in the comments if you know otherwise, and I'm happy to post.)
Overall:
I liked/like these shoes and would recommend them to others. To be honest, if I didn't win the raffle, I probably wouldn't have paid money to buy these on my own. Now that I have them, I'm glad I do. A trail shoe might just be something else I can keep in the shoe rotation! :)
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| Inaugural run! |
Do you own any trail shoes? What prompted you to buy them? If not, what ones are you currently eyeing? What's your preferred brand of trail shoes or trainers?
*I was not compensated in any way for this review by Saucony or Running for Kicks. The thoughts and views expressed on my blog are completely my own.
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