5 Best Saucony Trail Running Shoes in 2024

We navigated trail routes with finesse and confidence in the Peregrine 14. Its light and agile build makes us quickly adapt to any environment while its deep lugs deliver unwavering traction in the woods. Though backed up by lab analysis, it’s our own experience that cements Peregrine 14’s status as the best Saucony trail shoe.

Its solid grip encourages us to challenge ourselves with tougher terrains, knowing its 4.7-mm lugs can handle slippery slopes effortlessly. We feel secure knowing the reliable outsole would protect us from any slips. Plus, its lug arrangement is cleverly spaced to shed underfoot debris. 

Peregrine 14 feels light and airy on foot, almost like we can fly. At 9.4 oz (266g), it’s significantly lighter than the average Saucony trail shoe (9.9 oz/281g). 

Its grounded and fluid nature enhances agility as the shoe gives much ground feedback for quicker adaptation. Our caliper reveals a minimal 2.2 mm drop, much lower than the 7.9 mm average. We’re free to move as the shoe barely resists us, confirmed by an average result in our flex test. 

Unfortunately, its focus on versatility means it isn’t the most explosive trail shoe. We recommend checking speedier options for races.

Saucony Endorphin Edge is always race-ready with its fast and light nature, delightful cushion, and secured ride. It gives the speed and confidence every runner needs, making it our ultimate trail racer among Saucony shoes.

This off-road racer doesn’t drag us down with its feathery 9.5 oz (269g). It’s as light as the average road running shoe and has the benefits of a trail shoe. It’s hard to slow down with this pair because of its snappy carbon plate and rocker structure. Our flex test in the lab confirms the pop of energy we experience, as it’s 76.9% more resilient than average. Every step down launches back with greater energy return.

Endorphin Edge excels in any race distance with its pillow-like cushion that prevents our feet from strain. Our durometer validates that its velvet foam is 27.7% softer than the average trail shoe.

The outsole can withstand any terrain with its 3.4-mm lugs that bite through puddles and loose dirt. We can easily maneuver without any slips because of its grip and without any lateral wobbles because of its wide enough base.

The heel fit may feel loose to some runners, causing heel slippage. We recommend checking other options for a more snug fit in this area.

Endorphin Trail crushes any terrain with its thick, dense midsole, super aggressive lug design, and sock-like upper. It's built like a tank, providing armor and zero ground feel like no other. No doubt, it delivers the best foot protection among the Saucony trail lineup.

Its skyscraper stack rises 36.3/31.1 mm vs. the 31.8/24.2 mm average, making it one of the tallest trail shoes we’ve tested. That’s a lot of material to protect the feet from sharp rocks. It's lined with mesh on the edges to ensure the midsole doesn’t get damaged. Being the first trail shoe to have the renowned PWRRUN PB midsole, it attacks the trails with vigor and energy.

Its robust, full-length rubber outsole serves as an added shield. Our durometer measurement of 87.5 HC shows it’s harder than the 85.1 HC average. This reassures us that it's more resistant to wear and tear. We can confidently take on rocky terrains and even soft mud because of its deep 4.5 mm lugs that increase traction.

Its bootie upper hugs our feet in place and gives much-needed lockdown to prevent smaller rocks from getting in our shoes.

The downside of all the added protection is the added weight. At 11.0 oz (312g), it’s extremely heavy vs. the 10.4 oz (296g) average.

In our off-road adventures with Saucony’s trail line-up, we discovered that Xodus Ultra 3 suits its name. As our top ultra shoe, it made brutal miles feel like a walk in the park. No arguing between trail and feet, it has a ground-muting cushion with an added stability boost. It’s a comfy place to be in all day as our lab proves its breezy and free-flowing nature.

The cut-in-half XU3 reveals a dual-foam setup that stands above average at 35.1/29.2 mm, perfect for endurance runs. The bulk of the midsole consists of a plush and propulsive 15.9 HA foam, while the second layer closer to the ground is a balanced 24.0 HA for stability and protection.

To counter the shoe’s height, it widens its midsole to 116.4/91.1 mm for surefooted strides. Additionally, its 4.3 mm lugs on the PWRTRAC outsole display solid traction on most terrains.

We’re amazed with XU3’s stable ride without all the rigidity, despite featuring a forefoot rock plate. Its adaptive nature and breathable upper add a feeling of lightness to our strides. Our bend test reveals it’s even 12.5% more flexible than average, enhancing overall comfort. Meanwhile, in our smoke test, we awarded it with an impressive 4/5 rating.

We highly encourage wearing reflective elements when running in the dark because XU3 has none.

After multiple wear tests and intensive lab tests, we endorse the Endorphin Rift as the best lightweight shoe among Saucony’s trail lineup. It’s everything speed-oriented—snappy, responsive, feathery, and agile—with a robust and grippy outsole to boost our confidence on diverse terrains.

The Endorphin Rift's lightweight design, akin to road-running shoes, is evident in its weight of just 9.0 oz (255g), compared to the 10.4 oz (294g) average trail shoe. Surprisingly, despite minimalists sacrificing cushioning, it retains a generous amount of light and bouncy PWRRUN PB cushioning, delivering leg-saving support with its 33.0/25.1 mm stack. Our durometer readings confirm it to be 26.2% softer than average.

Additionally, Saucony's Speedroll technology and rocker geometry promote responsive toe-offs, enhancing the overall running experience.Moving laterally and bending our feet feels relatively easy as the midsole doesn’t resist our natural movements. Our lab tests reaffirm its fluid ride by showing a torsional rigidity of 3/5 and a result that’s 9.9% more bendable than average.

To ensure our surefootedness and stability, Endorphin Rift heightens its traction through 4.5 mm deep, sticky, and multi-directional lugs. On top of this, the PWRTRAC compound exhibits mind-blowing resistance against our Dremel by showing 77.8% less damage than average.However, while the deep lugs are a plus in muddy conditions, we believe less depth would have resulted in less bulk and a more responsive ride.