7 Best Saucony Trail Running Shoes in 2023

Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen on
7 Best Saucony Trail Running Shoes in 2023
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Whether running at your local park or competing for your first ultra, trail running offers an awesome break from the monotony of the flat, paved roads.

Of course, when if you’re planning to conquer the rugged paths and technical terrain, you need to have a dependable trail running shoe that provides grippy traction and protection against sharp rocks. One of the most reliable brands out there we don’t hesitate to recommend is Saucony.

HEAD on to check our highly-rated Saucony trail running shoes below, or browse through our comprehensive reviews on each model based on our meticulous lab analysis and in-field wear tests done by our dedicated team of shoe experts and editors.

How we test trail running shoes

To make our fantastic selections, we’ve put in many hours poring over Saucony’s impressive lineup of trail running shoes. Together with our team of wear-testers and shoe lab technicians, we‘ve tested and analyzed 30+ models on this list. Our entire approach involves:

  • Investing our own money to buy all the Saucony trail running shoes to ensure we’re 100% transparent and unbiased.
  • Performing mechanical tests inside the RunRepeat lab, which includes cutting the shoes into pieces and analyzing over 30 parameters, from flexibility, outsole traction, and durability, to the softness of the midsole and waterproofing, etc.
  • Wear-testing each model in various trail running conditions logging at least 30-40 miles.
  • Gathering more useful data from other experts and regular trail runners who have tried Saucony’s trail running shoes.

For the final step of our process, we go to the CoreScore system that calculates all comparable data above and assigns each model its overall rating, which ranges from 0-to 100. We then pick our top selections for specific categories.

Best Saucony trail running shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The Xodus Ultra from Saucony is a trail running shoe for ultra distances. It lets go of the beefy and burly signature of the past Xodus, shedding off a significant amount of weight. It can go fast and far with its responsive and uber-comfy ride. And if you want a shoe that has protection written all over it, the Saucony Xodus Ultra will crush through both well-groomed and rugged terrains like they're nothing.

Pros

  • Protective cushion
  • Responsive ride
  • Extremely comfy for ultras
  • Grippy on mud and loose ground
  • Breathable
  • Lighter than the Xodus 11
  • Stable platform
  • Wide-feet friendly

Cons

  • Midfoot is too roomy
  • Lace change needed for good lockdown
Full review of Saucony Xodus Ultra

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Sapphire/Vizi Red (S2073416)
Black/Charcoal (S1073405)
Yellow (S2073425)
Miles to Go (S2080801)

Best Saucony trail running shoes with wide toebox

What makes it the best?

Aggressive!!! That’s the first impression that many runners had about the Endorphin Trail. With the shoe's meaty, deep lugs, and thick, dense midsole, it flies down any terrain you can throw at it. It’s a bit of a tank, but its PB midsole is springy, and its rockered design lets you efficiently coast gentler terrain between the hard stuff. Lace these up and head into your next trail battle with confidence!

Pros

  • Amazing grip
  • Sock-like fit
  • True to size
  • Aggressive
  • Peppy midsole
  • Rock protection

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Not breathable
  • Poor draining
Full review of Saucony Endorphin Trail

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Gravel (S2064710)
Yellow (S2064716)
Orange (S1064765)
Scarlet/Black (S2064720)
Blue (S2064725)

Saucony trail running shoes with best cushioning

What makes it the best?

As one of the longest-running trail series, it’s safe to say the Peregrine is among the first shoes runners think about when going offroad. It can handle nearly anything you throw at it thanks to its tried-and-true comfort, agility, and traction. But what truly puts the v13 above its predecessors is its thicker slab of midsole foam—making it even more capable for easy days, long slow miles, and the occasional race through punishing terrains.

Pros

  • Cushioned and protective midsole
  • Better for longer efforts than the v12
  • A good trail racing option
  • Great traction whether on ice, snow, gravel, and dirt
  • Mud just falls off the outsole
  • Comfy and airy upper
  • Performance-oriented fit
  • No heel slippage
  • Smooth and natural-feeling ride

Cons

  • Debris tends to get in
  • Not as fast as other speedwork trail shoes
  • Too-firm midsole
Full review of Saucony Peregrine 13

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Men
Women
Any color
Agave/Basalt (S2083825)
Wood/Fossil (S2083815)
Fog/Clay (S2083885)
Vapor/Poppy (S2083816)
Arroyo (S1083835)
Finesse Black (S2083891)

Best Saucony trail running shoes for long distance

What makes it the best?

The Endorphin Edge from Saucony is the brand's "sweet redemption," in the words of one runner, of the not-so-great Saucony Endorphin Trail. And others can't help but agree with this. It's everything super, they say. It has a carbon-fiber plate, it's max-cushioned, and it can go fast, fast, fast. Even better, it's ready for runs ranging from short to long distances.

Pros

  • Fast as hell
  • Comfort written all over it
  • Super smooth ride
  • Light AF
  • Protection can't be more awesome
  • Breathable under warm temps
  • Toe box is ready for ultras
  • Carbon plate is not harsh
  • Grippy on wet, loose, and soft trails
  • Also great for the roads

Cons

  • Unstable at slow paces
  • Loose heel
Full review of Saucony Endorphin Edge

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Goldstruck (S1077310)
Blue (S2077331)
Clay/Basalt (S2077325)
Pink (S1077340)
Beige (S2077386)
Fog/Zenith (S1077386)
Soot/Basalt (S1077325)

Best Saucony trail supination running shoes

What makes it the best?

Have the confidence to take on a little bit of everything with the Ride 15 TR. This hybrid trail runner from Saucony knows how to adapt to many different levels of terrain. With a snug fit, cushy midsole, and a responsive ride, runs from the treadmill to the outdoors are a piece of cake. Never again will your feet feel unsafe with this daily trainer’s superb grip and lockdown.

Pros

  • Snug fit
  • Well-cushioned
  • Peppy ride
  • Offers light to mid stability
  • Keeps feet in place
  • Grippy outsole
  • Protective midsole
  • Can also be a golf shoe

Cons

  • Have to be careful over wet rocks and roots
  • Lacks more colorful options
Full review of Saucony Ride 15 TR

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Charcoal (S2077510)
Blue (S2077531)
Pewter/Agave (S2077525)
White (S2077521)

Best value Saucony trail running shoes

What makes it the best?

The Saucony Excursion TR 12 has impressed numerous consumers as evidenced by the positive comments outweighing the negative ones. Many users have mentioned buying a second pair because of how satisfied they were with the shoe’s performance and style, and have claimed that the Saucony Excursion TR 12 was a valuable purchase.

Pros

  • Perfect fit
  • Breathable
  • Doesn't need a break-in
  • Appealing design
  • Affordable
  • Roomy toe box
  • Grips on uneven surfaces

Cons

  • Not durable enough
  • Insufficient grip indoor surfaces
Full review of Saucony Excursion TR 12

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (S204512)
Grey/Orange (S204511)
Grey (S204515)
Blue/Black (S204513)
Green/Black (S204514)

Comparison of the 7 best Saucony trail running shoes

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CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
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# of colorways
Author
Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen

Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running.