Saucony Tempus review

Who should buy the Saucony Tempus

The Tempus may be a stability shoe, but it's unlike the stability running shoes of yesteryears.

Meaning to say, it's also the perfect choice for those who want a: 

• supportive shoe that can also accommodate neutral runners
• versatile shoe for both daily runs and tempo training sessions
• long-distance shoe that can handle marathon paces

Who should NOT buy it

If you're looking for a daily trainer that's oozing with goodness for recovery paces and is priced less than the Saucony Tempus, we suggest taking the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3. Don't want any of that heel rub? We propose the Saucony Ride 16.

The Saucony Tempus redefines stability 

Saucony is finally coming up with a new approach to arch support and stability. It's not the typical stiff support running shoe. We never felt like the shoe was forcing us to run in a particular way. 

To explain this further, it doesn't have the traditional harsh posting of the older stability shoes. The midsole is a smidge dense and the forefoot base is wide, making the overall ride very surefooted.

Measuring the forefoot part of the midsole at its widest (117.4 mm), we found it to be more than 4 mm wider than average!

The same goes for the shoe's heel. At 94.5 mm, it is a good 4.5 mm wider than road running shoes on average!

Says no to sweaty feet

The shoe's upper is incredibly light and breathable. We can confirm that there will be no heat issues in this shoe even when running at 80-90 degrees.

See how easily the smoke passes through the mesh upper in our breathability test below.

Experience an energetic ride

Apart from its non-invasive stability, the shoe's springy cushion is also what makes the Saucony Tempus a game-changer. It balances stability with bounce perfectly!

On easy days, it comes to life, making the ride fun and enjoyable. And when it's time to put in some speed, it can certainly pick up the pace. Think of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 but with a touch of stability. That's how it performs. 

Saucony proved that a stability shoe doesn't have to be dull!

Easy, seamless strides

The shoe has a rocker geometry that also contributes to its fast and easy heel-to-toe transitions. But the best thing about it feels very balanced and not aggressive. 

Reach great distances with the Tempus

The Tempus from Saucony has a generous amount of cushion and support that makes it an excellent pick for high-mileage efforts.

With a 33.9 mm heel cushioning, we measured the Saucony Tempus to be about the same as running shoes on average. Given how much taller running shoes become with each year, what used to be max-cushioned is now the new average.

We believe that the Tempus can make a perfect go-to shoe for long runs, especially on days when your legs are more tired than normal and need extra support.

Tempus also turns out to be surprisingly plush for a stability shoe! With a durometer measurement of 18.4 HA, we found this Saucony shoe to be 30% plusher than average!

A bit of reflectivity in the back

The vertical stripes on the heel counters are made of reflective material to keep you visible in low-light conditions.

Looks bulky but doesn't run like it

At 252 grams/8.9 ounces in US men's 9, the Saucony Tempus redefines stability shoes in terms of weight. For a 34 mm heel stack, that's impressive!

On average, support running shoes weigh in at 10.5 ounces (298g).

Fit is ooh-la-la 

When it comes to the in-shoe comfort, it feels nothing less than a huge bear hug! The Tempus is snug in all the right places and has a little extra room where you need it.

A secure fit is also provided by a semi-gusseted tongue (attached to the sides), the overlays, and the shoe's secure lacing system.

A space to splay

Given the shoe's average forefoot width of 97.4 mm, it's wide enough to be comfortable for medium-width feet. However, because the toebox becomes tapered around the toes, it may feel restricting to wide footers.

Luckily, the Saucony Tempus is available in a wide option too!

A heel counter that skimps on padding 

This is what ruins the otherwise oh-so-good feel of the Tempus. The lack of padding causes abrasion on the skin, and although the upper has a more precise fit than most shoes, this could potentially cause heel slips.

If your ankles are sensitive to the heel counter, we recommend being cautious and stocking up on bandaids. 

Outsole crushes it in the durability department

After logging about 30 miles in the Saucony Tempus, we can confirm that the Saucony Tempus is built like a tank, especially in the outsole. Because of that, we actually anticipate the shoe to last beyond 500 miles.

The Tempus has a solid 3-mm thick rubber outsole. So, this Saucony shoe has a great deal of material to wear through.

Not to mention that the rubber is also much harder than average! With a durometer measurement of 89.5 HC, we found it to be 12% harder than average and also one of the hardest in our catalog!

Grip that doesn't disappoint

We felt amazingly surefooted running in the Tempus. No worries about slipping or sliding. The shoe gripped very well, even after a downpour!

It's gonna dig into your wallet 

At its full price of $160, the Saucony Tempus can be a little bit of a splurge.

And just to give you a little bit of a reference, the average daily trainer only costs $119 a pair while the average stability shoe costs $135 a pair.