Saucony Terminal VT review

After testing the Saucony Terminal VT on the track and in the lab, we concluded that it's:

• A great choice for runners seeking a featherlight spike with an energetic and responsive ride.
• Perfect for athletes training and racing in hot conditions thanks to its exceptionally breathable upper.
• An excellent option for runners who want one spike for everything from 800m races to 5000m events.

If your focus is exclusively on longer-distance events and you have no interest in racing the 800m, we believe the Saucony Endorphin Cheetah is the better choice. It was designed specifically for those races and offers a setup that we think is better suited to the demands of longer track events.

The absence of a carbon-fiber plate may also disappoint runners who crave the snappy feel that such designs provide. If that sounds like you, we think the Nike Victory 2 is worth the extra investment and will likely be a better match for your preferences.

With 18.6 mm of heel stack height, the Saucony Terminal VT comes remarkably close to the 20 mm limit imposed by World Athletics, leaving very little potential cushioning on the table. In our view, Saucony did the right choice by maximizing (almost) every millimeter available.

We measured the forefoot at 16.6 mm. That's slightly lower than the heel, but the result didn't surprise us, as most track spikes feature a bit more foam in the rear than in the front.

The difference between heel and forefoot stack height comes to just 2.0 mm. However, that's largely irrelevant in practice, as most runners using the Terminal VT will spend virtually the entire race landing on the forefoot.

Saucony chose its most energetic superfoam at the time of this release (PWRRUN HG) for the Terminal VT. Even though the brand later introduced IncrediRUN in shoes like the Endorphin Elite 2, we believe that PWRRUN HG remains the better match for this spike, as it delivers exceptional bounce while offering a more stable platform for track racing.

That added stability comes partly from the foam's firmer character. While 42.3 AC may not seem particularly firm compared to the average track spike, the story changes when you compare it to road running shoes, which make up the bulk of the training miles for most athletes.

To evaluate the fit of the Terminal VT, we filled the shoe with liquid gel and allowed it to solidify in our refrigerator before extracting it and taking our three measurements.

For the first one, we recorded 88.2 mm. That's right in line with most competing spikes, delivering a secure foot-hugging fit that helps keep unwanted movement to a minimum during fast running.

Our second measurement came in at 69.4 mm, showing that the Terminal VT maintains a snug shape through the toe area.

With two results on board, we guarantee that anyone can expect a race-ready fit designed to minimize excess movement.

This appears to be a recurring trait in Saucony's top-tier spikes, as we observed similarly generous toebox height in the Endorphin Cheetah.

The Terminal VT follows the same approach, reaching an impressive 28.2 mm in our final measurement.

The Saucony Terminal VT is an excellent option for runners who prefer to avoid carbon-fiber plates on the track. And we understand the appeal, as the ultra-rigid feel of some spikes can place a lot of stress on tendons, bones and muscles.

Instead, the Terminal VT takes a more forgiving route with a Pebax plate that flexes far more naturally. We found that this design resulted in a remarkably low stiffness score of just 9.6N, making it one of the most flexible high-performance spikes we've tested.

Another area where the Terminal VT truly shines is here. At just 4.2 oz (119g) on our scale, it ranks among the lightest spikes we've ever tested, making it an outstanding choice for runners seeking a barely-there feel on track workouts or race day.

Based on its ultra-thin upper and stripped-down design, we strongly suspected that the Terminal VT would excel in our breathability test. As it turned out, our expectations were fully met.

Smoke escaped from the shoe almost instantly, making the result easy to score. We had no hesitation awarding the maximum rating of 5/5 for breathability.

The upper is astonishingly lightweight, to the point of appearing nearly transparent. In our experience, very few spikes take weight reduction this far.

A closer look under our digital microscope revealed just how aggressively Saucony pursued airflow and weight savings.

However, that approach comes with an obvious trade-off, and we wouldn't expect outstanding durability from such a minimal construction.

One detail that genuinely surprised us was the presence of some padding around the heel. Beyond that tiny comfort-focused touch, the Terminal VT feels like a Formula 1 car disguised as a track spike.

We found torsional rigidity to be below average as well, registering just 8.0 Nm in our test.

This result reinforces Saucony's approach of prioritizing a premium foam and natural flexibility, which means runners who thrive in ultra-rigid carbon-plated spikes may not get the same benefits here.

The heel counter performs exactly as its appearance suggests: exceptionally flexible.

It earned an unsurprising 1/5 in our test, and we found that its minimal structure should work especially well for runners with sensitive Achilles tendons.

Given that the Terminal VT is built for middle-distance racing, we expected Saucony to strike a careful balance rather than chasing either maximum stability or extreme narrowness.

That's exactly what we found with a forefoot width of 93.6 mm. In our view, it preserves the nimble feel and quick transitions that runners need for events like the 800m and 1500m.

The heel is, as expected from a track spike, kept as narrow as possible. We measured it at 62.1 mm, which places it right around the category average and provides little in the way of extra support.

That said, we don't see this as a concern. In middle-distance track races, runners spend nearly all their time on the forefoot, making heel landings extremely uncommon even as fatigue sets in.

Our Dremel test revealed exceptional durability in the heel padding, with only minor damage after testing. As a result, it secured a solid 4/5 score that erases any potential concerns here.

The outsole measures 1.9 mm thick, and we think that's a optimal choice for a race-focused spike. In our view, minimizing outsole material helps keep weight low while allowing more room for the foam that actually contributes to performance.

At just 1.0 mm thick, the insole is astonishingly thin. In fact, it's one of the thinnest insoles we've ever measured in the lab.

The eyelet system of the Terminal VT is one of the most rare designs we've seen in a track spike... and in a running shoe too!

Saucony uses fabric bands that extend directly from the midsole and integrate with the lacing system, creating an impressively secure lockdown. We really liked the result, although runners who prefer a more traditional setup may dislike it.

We also discovered that the tongue uses a different material than the rest of the upper, relying on a sock-like design. Despite its minimalist construction, it still measured 1.8 mm thick in our lab thanks to the knit material.

The heel collar extends slightly upward at the rear of the shoe, creating a beautiful design that adds a good amount of Achilles support while also making the Terminal VT easier to pull on before workouts and races.

We think the Saucony Terminal VT is competitively priced given its exceptionally low weight and highly-responsive ride. In our view, it delivers outstanding value, especially when compared to premium rivals like the Nike Victory 2 that carry a noticeably higher price tag.

The Terminal VT features a four-pin configuration, and all of the spikes can be easily removed or replaced using the spike wrench included in the box.