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 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 8.1 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what sneaker fanatics think:
9 reasons to buy
- A couple of Saucony Shadow Original Suede owners were happy that they got complimented when they wore the shoe.
- The price of this pair is budget friendly.
- A handful of buyers were impressed with the quality of these kicks.
- Some wearers found the sneakers comfortable.
- A few users commented that the Shadow Original Suede is stylish.
- It features a cushioned EVA sockliner and fabric lining that bring comfort for the entire day.
- The marshmallow-soft EVA midsole of the shoe serves as the shock absorber.
- There is a TPU heel piece that gives more support.
- The tongue and collar are padded for a comfy fit.
1 reasons not to buy
- A reviewer claimed that the black/red colorway looks raspberry pink rather than red wine color.
Bottom line
With its classic and sporty origins, the Saucony Shadow Original Suede is among many shoes that become a fashion staple. It excels not only in style, but also in performance. People who are interested in buying these kicks are treated to a high-quality product at a budget-friendly price.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are sneaker fanatics, 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.
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Saucony Shadow Original Suede History
The Saucony Shadow Original Suede is a shoe that originates from the Shadow, a staple in the American footwear label’s history. It debuted as a performance trainer in 1985. Now known as the Shadow Original, the shoe was marketed using the "1st is first. Second is nowhere" catchphrase. It’s a silhouette that received various iterations to date.
The outsole of the Shadow Original evolved from the Saucony Jazz trainer. It maintained the same cushioning performance and had a reinforced rubber as an addition to improve its quality and support. Its midsole stems from the Freedom trainer, with the inclusion of a shank insert and motion controller for torsional stability. For survivability through the night, a protective double screen in black color and 3M Scotchlite reflective tape were used to cover the heel counter. Saucony related all its technicalities with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in a promotional material.
An update of the original silhouette under the name Shadow Original Suede was released in 2016 and retailed at 80 USD.
Saucony Shadow Original Suede Style
The Saucony Shadow Original Suede still carries the stability and comfort of the original shoe. It is updated with suede. The iconic, low-cut shoe returns in multiple colorways. The shoe gives off a retro vibe. The classic and not-too-loud design makes this pair a good wardrobe staple. These sporty kicks look great with jeans.
Fit & Sizing
The Saucony Shadow Original Suede is offered in men’s sizing. The range is from 4.5 to 14. Women interested in purchasing the shoe should go 1.5 sizes lower from their typical size. The lace up front allows Shadow Original Suede owners to achieve an optimum fit.
Notable Features
Clearly, it is the silhouette that is the most prominent part of the shoe as this is basically a staple of Saucony footwear. From its performance-based design, it is now catered to a more lifestyle and casual appeal. It is one of Saucony’s most popular silhouettes.
Additional Info
- The Shadow Original Suede features the signature triangular tread pattern of Saucony.
- It has a rubber outsole.
- It has an Ionic Cushioning System which supports the heel on impact.
- It weighs 12.9 oz.
- Both the tongue and ankle collar are well-padded to enhance comfort.
- Saucony uses a TPU counter in the heel for more support.