Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 9.1 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:
7 reasons to buy
- A couple of consumers were surprised that the shoe is more supportive than expected.
- Some runners felt the KOA TR provided a comfortable ride that is just right for trail running.
- The midsole is thick and feels great to run in, a buyer commented.
- A lot of users are impressed by the light weight of the shoe.
- Several runners were satisfied by the traction provided by the lugs of the shoe.
- One reviewer commented on the excellent water drainage system of the KOA TR.
- The weave of the upper is tight but is surprisingly breathable, according to one user.
4 reasons not to buy
- Some users felt the shoe was heavy and that it had a tendency to drag the foot.
- One runner commented the lugs had less grip than they would have preferred.
- The shoe is harsh on the first use and required breaking in, according to a reviewer.
- There was a noticeable tightness around the midfoot, which was hard to ignore, as stated by a user.
Bottom line
With a much-appreciated versatility and impressive technology, the KOA TR delivers comfort and performance that is outstanding no matter the trail condition. It is not the lightest trail shoe on the market, but its responsive performance was admired by many neutral runners. They liked that the shoe was able to provide feedback and lateral stability without compromising protection.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
86 / 100 based on 7 expert reviews
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96 / 100 by Road Trail Run • Jeff Valliere • Level 5 expert
I would probably be reluctant to spend much time off trail in the Koa TR (but would certainly consider the Koa ST with 8mm lugs), but aside from steep, loose off trail and perhaps snowy, icy winter conditions, the Koa TR is a fine choice, especially if you run from your doorstep.
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80 / 100 by Coach • Nick Harris-Fry • Level 3 expert
A new addition to the Saucony trail line-up, the Koa TR is perfect for city runners whose trail running mostly consists of off-roading in parks with the odd trip out to the countryside. The Koa TR is comfortable enough to run on roads, while the 4mm lugs give just enough grip to cope with a range of trails – although you obviously wouldn’t want to try speeding through a bog in them.
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85 / 100 by Mud Run Guide • Margaret Schlachter • Level 2 expert
This shoe will get you through the roughest terrain. On a drier course, it will be great. For a race with a lot of mud, the drainage is a consideration when buying. Overall, this could be a decent OCR shoe for the right race.
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80 / 100 by Mud Run Guide • Margaret Schlachter • Level 2 expert
The shoes were pretty responsive and transitioned well from pavement to boardwalk to a packed trail and finally off the trail. My heel locked in nicely and my toes had ample room to move where needed. The shoe is wide enough for my foot and my feet had a comfortable ride on the trail.
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85 / 100 by iRun • Alex Flint • Level 1 expert
Although the Koa ST’s aren’t the smallest or lightest trail shoes available, the impressive tread, handy lacing system and comfortable ride make it worthwhile. Whether you’re new to the trails and want to protect your feet from rocks and mud, or you’re a seasoned ultra runner with a foot long beard, I recommend giving these new Sauconys a try.
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78 / 100 by ULTRA-RUNNER.COM • ULTRA-RUNNER.COM • Level 1 expert
When running at speed on road in the Saucony KOA TR the shoe feels almost like a road shoe, soft and light with lots of bounce, the slight rock to the sole feels great. Once on hard trails the shoe turns in to a nice trail shoe and can even cope with little bits of mud.
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75 / 100 by ULTRA-RUNNER.COM • ULTRA-RUNNER.COM • Level 1 expert
The Saucony ST feels very much the same as the Saucony TR as you would expect however when you get on to muddy ground the ST comes into its own. The grip on the ST is outstanding giving great traction on the ascent and descents, wet rock is also fine, not as sticky as the La Sportiva but still far better than other trail shoes. When are hard services the lugs are supple so act as extra cushioning, with the shoe being 4mm drop and the stack height not being too high you feel stable on technical descents.
Updates to Saucony Koa TR
- The Saucony KOA TR is a versatile shoe that is built to function on- and off-road; it performs well in a wide variety of conditions, including technical trails. Both the outsole tread and midsole unit allow the shoe to be responsive and efficient in transitioning from the pavement to the trail.
- The innovative EVERUN midsole allows the shoe to be responsive while still providing ample cushioning throughout the run.
- It also features the FlexFilm technology, which provides lightweight support, strength, and comfort while retaining foot security for a stable motion.
- The 4-mm heel-to-toe drop delivers a more natural ride, letting the foot exert more effort by not allowing it to be complacent with the shoe’s cushioning and stability features. This, combined with the small weight and midfoot strike, results in an excellent speed.
Saucony Koa TR size and fit
The KOA TR is a lightweight trail running shoe that caters to the foot with neutral pronation. It provides the foot with a secure fit, and the shoe technologies allow for a locked-down feel. The oblique toe box results in a wider toe room, so while the length runs true to size, runners with a high-volume foot will also appreciate this shoe. Width profiles are available in D – Medium for men and B – Medium for women.
Outsole
Using the PWR TRAC outsole, the KOA TR is engineered to adapt to various terrain types with its excellent traction and durability. It offers enough grip to keep the foot secure, even on the most uneven surfaces.
The outsole also includes a more versatile lower lug pattern that provides extra grip, thus making it more effective on both hard surfaces and uneven terrain. Although quite minimal, the 3.5 mm lugs make running easier because they allow the sole to roll smoothly, keeping the runner sure-footed no matter the terrain. They are made from a sticky rubber compound that is capable of handling sloppy and muddy conditions.
Midsole
Featuring Saucony’s unique EVERUN technology, the EVA midsole provides the right blend of firmness, cushioning, and responsiveness. EVERUN delivers significant key benefits: it absorbs impact shock three times better than standard EVAs, returns 83% of the energy absorbed, and it lowers peak pressures as the underfoot conforms to the shape of the foot and distributes force across a larger surface area.
Made from tiny pellets of polyurethane that are heat-expanded and molded into a single cushioning unit, EVERUN has a definite firmness that allows for a resilient ride.
Despite the relatively low stack height, the midsole of the KOA TR provides the right amount of protection and support. It is bouncier and allows for smoother landings and stronger takeoffs.
Upper
The upper of the KOA TR is made from woven mesh that is flexible, tough, and breathable that works double-duty as a protection from debris and rocks and as an evacuation system that sheds water well, enabling the foot to stay cool, dry, and at ease. Its secure finish delivers durable foot-wrapping and adequate ventilation.
Using the FlexFilm technology, there is an exoskeletal support frame for an enhanced strength and comfort. It is fused with the upper mesh material, reducing the amount of stitching and thus creating a soft and almost seamless surface against the runner’s foot.
FlexFilm overlays are also present to secure the foot in place and minimize any unwanted movement for a stable run. It runs in a crisscross design across the midfoot and the through the forefoot so the foot is comfortably locked into place.
The toe box is oblique-shaped for additional toe room, allowing maximum toe splay and therefore improving balance, especially when pushing the pace on moderate to technical trails.
Heel support is present through the heel collar that is made plush for added comfort, and the heel counter that is made sturdy and secure. A reinforced heel piece is also positioned in the upper for added protection and locked down fit.
There is also a plush, non-gusseted tongue which rides independently beneath the booty upper throughout the lace area. This design delivers a snug yet comfortable protection for the ankle.