Saucony - Xodus Ultra 4

Hey 👋🏼 thought I’d share my experience with them: https://www.alastairrunning.com/saucony-xodus-ultra-4-review/ - my YouTube review drops on Sunday: https://youtube.com/@alastair.running - let me know if you have any questions on them ✌🏼

Xodus ultra are my favourite. V1 and V2. Perigrine second place for shorter trails or muddy days. One thing I do is to re-sole the shoes (xodus ultra) after lose grip or spikes. New Vibram soles are great and give a seconde life.

As a saucony lover I recommend xodus ultra 4. I loved the v1 and v2, total fail with v3 but now with these, Vibram mega grip sole, breathable and good for all terrain. After 200km on first pair I never had a problem

Ultra 4 is getting a vibram sole??? That’s my dream. Xodus fits me like no other, but the sole is absolute dogshit on wet rock.

The Saucony Xodus has a pretty high stack, and the PWRRUN PB is definitely a super foam. Version 4 is set to release in a couple of months with significant upgrades over the previous model—most notably, a Vibram outsole ([Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 First Look](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klJoS7fwkJk)) Personally, I’m planning to grab a pair as soon as they drop and use them for all my summer 25 races. My Merrell Agility Peak 5s from last summer have flattened out, so it’s time for an upgrade!

The Saucony Xodus has a pretty high stack, and the PWRRUN PB is definitely a super foam. Version 4 is set to release in a couple of months with significant upgrades over the previous model—most notably, a Vibram outsole ([Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 First Look](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klJoS7fwkJk)) Personally, I’m planning to grab a pair as soon as they drop and use them for all my summer 25 races. My Merrell Agility Peak 5s from last summer have flattened out, so it’s time for an upgrade!

Got the new ultra 4, one run and the glue on the rubber on the toes started peeling off, I give it 3 runs before it is completely ripped off.

Hello. I come from the same issue. I had major issues with Plantar Fasciitis after running in the Speedcross and S/Lab Speed for many years. My first shoe was the Hoka Speedgoat Evo. That was an epic shoe, but sold out everywhere so quickly I only ever ran in one pair. Since then I’ve tried many similar shoes, looking for great grip, soft and bouncy ride, but good stability as I over-pronate, plus I recently developed osteoarthritisin my big toes. So, I really rate the following: - Hoka Mafate Speed 4. Good all rounder - Salomon S/lab genesis. A little narrow and unstable but speedy and shed mud quickly - La Sportiva Prodigeo Pro - great foam and good grip, lightweight. - Saucony Xodus Ultra - 1 and 3 are pretty good, ignore the 2. - Hoka Tecton X 3 - my go-to race shoe for hard packed trails and gravel I like the Speedgoat, Catamount, Fuji Lite, Ultra Glide too but they all have compromises that the shoes above don’t have in the same way.

Hoka Mafate 5 is comfy and fun. Mafate Speed 4 is still good but a little narrower and not quite so bouncy. I used to run in Speedgoats a lot but think the 5 & 6 are missing some comfort and the foam isn’t returning the energy of newer shoes. Salomon Genesis or Ultra Glide are both good if you can accommodate a narrower fit. I prefer the protection of the Genesis over the Ultra Glide. Prodigio Pro is also fun and bouncy, but much lighter, less protection around the ankle and so a bit more stripped back. Everyone I know loves them though. Hoka Tecton X 3 is a similar proposition to the Prodigio but both are spendy. Hoka is slightly more stable and bouncy but there is very little in it. If you want the best outsole rubber money can buy, look at the VJ Ultra 3. Seriously, the lugs and rubber is like glue. Finally, the Saucony Xodus Ultra is a good shoe for distances like this. It’s also comfy and protective. Just avoid the 2 or 3 and go for the latest version 4.

I bought them on an odd sale at rei this week. Fit is great.

I live in Pnw and the new Saucony exodus ultra hits all these boxes for me, plus comfy and crazy grip.

I don't have feedback about that specific shoe, but I have wide lady feet and absolutely love the xodus ultra 3 and 4 (I have both lol).

Not that Tomir 2 is way more narrow than Peregrine. I own a pair and after like 250 kms I’m havivg second thoughts whether I should have sized up in my Tomirs even if they felt awesome out of the box. Which is weird because it’s usually the other way round. The new Xodus Ultra 4 is just as fun, lugs are little less deep than Tomir 2 - so better ride on packed terrain; however the sole is Vibram as well. They feel way more stable and comfortable also because the heel part of Tomir sticks out and I keep hitting it against the rocks. Which doesn’t happen in Xodus at all. Idk I am already ordering 2nd pair because they are now my absolute favourites. 

Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 are high cushion, peba, midsole that don’t feel too stacked. They’re comfortable, energetic, and supportive.

This right here! Absolutely terrible wet weather grip. Worse than Nike rubber. The xodus ultra 4 moving to a vibram megagrip outsole is basically an admission from Saucony that they know their outsole is bad.

I bought 4 pairs at < $30/ea when DSW was doing their sale 18mo ago as well as two more pairs (one with Runshield) earlier at slightly higher prices. Fantastic shoes and I look forward to another year or two of running in them, but I'm hopeful for the Xodus Ultra 4 since it has a Vibram outsole that will hopefully solve my one issue with Saucony trail shoes which is grip on wet rock.

Interesting. I'd agree their grip is not as good as Vibram, etc., but I run in the PNW which has all those in spades and the only place I've really seen issues is wet rock. Especially creek crossings.

Summers are generally dry most years so no issue there. There's also a ton of different types of rock and only a few have given me issues when wet.

I ran on a trail today that has a section that is all golfball size rounded river rocks stuck into the ground. It's practically like running in place with my Saucony shoes, but to be honest I'm not sure it'd be that great even with Vibram.

Yea, I've never had an issue with the Saucony's on those wet bridges which is a little surprising. That said, I definitely run them very easy because they truly can turn into the slickest surface imaginable.

Pros: Easy to find last years models for very reasonable prices, at least in the US (Amazon, Sierra, etc.), nice toe box, lots of colors, fairly decent all around trail shoe. Cons: The already mentioned issue with the heal cracking. Lots and lots of reports of this, especially on rocky trails. Saucony outsole grip is good, but not as good as Vibram outsoles in certain conditions (wet rock especially). Somewhat mediocre cushioning compared to more cushioned models. I have a pair of Peregrine 11's that I've relegated to hiking because they're just too damn firm for the distances I run on firm trails. On softer trails they're not as bad, but I'd still prefer something else. I don't think there have been any significant changes in the last few models, so just get whatever is most compelling price wise between the 12's and 13's if you decide to buy them. Personally I prefer the Xodus Ultra which resolved all the issues outlined above other than the outsole.

Can you post a photo of the soles splitting or call out where it is in your photo? Previous to the 15 there were several models in a row where the Peregrine had a well-known design flaw where the back of the sole split along a seem for a lot of people, but the 15 was supposed to have resolved this so I'm concerned to hear a similar issue is happening with it. I'd also contact Saucony and send them photos of the damage. I've heard other people with similar low-miles issues say they got a credit and were able to purchase replacement shoes. If they do give you a credit I'd look into the Xodus Ultra 4. A little heavier and a little more cushioned, but it gains a Vibram outsole. Fit has been fairly similar between the two models previously in my experience, but no idea if that changed with the current generation.

I just went from the Peregrine to the Xodus and quite happy after 30 miles

I got the 4. I have had peregrine for the last 5 years or so and finally went into a store. They suggested the Xodus and they felt better than the new Peregrine so definitely just went with it.

Xodus Ultra 4 (just came out) switches to Vibram for its outsole. Wore it for a technical ultra and worked really well.

They feel great. I got along really well with the first one but 2 was a tad narrow for me. This one has a little more squish and width and it worked great during the race. Wore it for the last 30 of my 100 along with 20ish training miles. 

I loved the v1, tried the V2 in a store and felt the toe box had gotten a tiny bit smaller, moved onto the agility peak 5 after that.

I loved the v1, tried the V2 in a store and felt the toe box had gotten a tiny bit smaller, moved onto the agility peak 5 after that.

An unreal shoe IMO. They were being sold really cheaply a year or so ago, really regret not buying their entire stock.

Super jealous of that, mate. I check every now and then for more sales, but I think that version is sold out now. I've genuinely never had a problem with the grip, but I do t spend that much time on wet rock tbf. Definitely can't argue with the move to the vibram sole though, it's going to be a hell of a shoe.

I have miles in the XU2 and XU3. The XU3 leans into more structure, support, and a wider platform for longer miles. I find this shoe highly comfortable and capable for long miles over a wider range of terrain. Saucony also has managed to integrate its rocker technology into the shoe while keeping the close to the XU2 in weight. Is it is the perfect training workhorse if you are staring down a long block. This shoe stands as my favorite trail shoe of all time. The XU2 leaned into versatility and the midsole was more lively than the XU3 which made the XU2 great for faster trail efforts. I always struggled to go past 2.5 comfortably in this shoe. I found the XU2 had a more finicky upper and did not have enough stability and structure to be a great ultra shoe. The XU4 with vibram stands to be a banger, and hopefully with the removal of the rock plate, the weight comes down some too.

The Xodus Ultra is worth a shot. I went from the 2 to the 4 and while the 4 is indeed a CHONK (that design change happened in the 3, and I can forego it) the Vibram outsole has been a long time coming and the shoe itself feels pretty nimble for its size.

The Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 meets your criteria. I haven’t worn them to death yet, but I wore my 2’s until they fell apart. The 4 adds a lot of stack but is nicely balanced and doesn’t feel obtrusive on the foot and it has a Vibram outsole so you don’t really need to think about what you’re running over. I wouldn’t go run roads with it for fun but it is not annoying to use to get where you’re going and I’ll probably use it on the roads as an ice shoe this winter.

I’ve got over 500 miles on the 3. The 4 looks to be good too.

After years of Hoka Speedgoats and not liking the latest model, I now use the Hoka Mafate Speed for my hikes under 16-18 miles and Saucony Xodus for the long runs/hikes.

I've got the new ones with Vibram. I know the weight is the knock on them, but they rebound extremely well so I haven't noticed it yet. But I haven't done any big runs/hikes yet, so after my 27-mile day hike/run of Kings Peak in Utah coming up I'll have a better feel.

This is actually my first pair of Saucony shoes! I was originally into Altras and then Hokas and Salomons. I absolutely love the fit, though, for my feet. Very little breaking in compared with other shoes. I tend to get hot spots on my heel with firmer, sturdier trail shoes, but that didn't happen with these.

Really difficult to say. Vibram should be a massive improvement but for me the Xudos 1 was great, 2 upper fell apart and 3 was too narrow for me....we shall see where the 4 goes as an overall package. I think they are coming out in June?

For Saucony you better look at the Xodus Ultra which is wider than the Peregrine.

Saucony Xodus Ultra for everything from dirt and mud to light scrambling and rock hopping. The Xodus line has gotten really tall and kind of unstable though. I've rolled my ankles so many times with the Ultra whereas I had no problems with the 10 and 11.

Fan of peregrine and even had those older model exodus (the tanks!) and liked them, but something didn’t click for me in the Xodus Ultra. Really wanted to love them. But I just always felt flat running in them, and failed to get a lockdown fit. Nowadays prefer shoes with a bit more flexibility too. Such an odd experience considering the rave reviews! Glad they worked out for someone though!

Fan of peregrine and even had those older model exodus (the tanks!) and liked them, but something didn’t click for me in the Xodus Ultra. Really wanted to love them. But I just always felt flat running in them, and failed to get a lockdown fit. Nowadays prefer shoes with a bit more flexibility too. Such an odd experience considering the rave reviews! Glad they worked out for someone though!

Agreed, I wouldn't take it more than 50k either. I ran a 86k trail ultra in May and was very happy that I used Saucony Xodus Ultras instead, even if the grip is much worse. I'm not the fastest though, others might be fine with it even for 100k. A modernized VJ Ultra 3 is coming for next year, Juuso Simpanen (VJ sponsored runner) already ran UTMB with a prototype version.

I am running the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 as my road shoe but they would certainly work on any trail that's not loose or muddy. The outsole is mostly rubberized and the grip is fantastic, the sole even has small lugs. I enjoyed the Xodus Ultra but the upper wore out quite quickly for me, big rips in the upper but plenty of mileage in the sole. Maybe less of an issue if you're not beating them up in ultras like I was.

I have ~100 miles in the Tomir 2 and ran extensively in the Endorphin Edge, Peregrine, Xodus Ultra, and Speedgoat. For me, the Tomir 2.0 is most like the Peregrine but with better traction. I wouldn't use the Peregrine in anything over a marathon and ditto with the Tomir 2.0. The main selling point of the Tomir 2 to me is better traction and overall shoe life (remains to be seen) since my Peregrines were done after 270 miles on my usual rocky trails. Of these, I like the Endorphin Edge the most and used it for my recent races and long runs. Outsole life and traction need improvement though, I've straight up lost chunks of outsole.

Absolutely adored the OG-EUs. Also quite like this year's New Balance Hierros (I was a tester last summer).

Saucony xodus ultra does it for me. Based on the picture you shared, you are better off with Topo.

There are so many different trail shoes out there that I like to try different pairs when I get new ones, the problem with this is I don’t really know how they will be during longer races. They can feel great for 3-4 hours, but it’s hard to tell how my feet will feel after 8+ hours so I thought I would list the ones I have tried and see what you guys think. Saucony Endorphin Edge- My current “race” shoe. I got them on sale. I wore for shorter distances and they are fine, then I wore them for 2 different 50k and they gave me heel blisters both times. Saucony Peregrine 13- I like these, light, comfortable, but worried about how they would feel after 30+ miles. Saucony Xodus Ultra- I really liked these, but I had them when I wasn’t running as many miles. Also the 3’s have mixed reviews so that makes me nervous to try. Hoka Speedgoat 5- These felt just too chunky. They were comfortable, but just too big. Salomon Ultra Glide 2- These are just fine. I don’t like or hate them, just ok. Also I did a road 50 mile with Saucony Endorphin 3 Pro and my feet were fine, no problems at all. Also my feet are average/narrow so a wide toe box is not a big deal. I was thinking of trying the Nnormal Tomir 2 or Topo’s, but I don’t know anyone who has actually had these and if I’m just being hooked by the marketing, of course sponsored athletes will hype them up. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!

There are so many different trail shoes out there that I like to try different pairs when I get new ones, the problem with this is I don’t really know how they will be during longer races. They can feel great for 3-4 hours, but it’s hard to tell how my feet will feel after 8+ hours so I thought I would list the ones I have tried and see what you guys think. Saucony Endorphin Edge- My current “race” shoe. I got them on sale. I wore for shorter distances and they are fine, then I wore them for 2 different 50k and they gave me heel blisters both times. Saucony Peregrine 13- I like these, light, comfortable, but worried about how they would feel after 30+ miles. Saucony Xodus Ultra- I really liked these, but I had them when I wasn’t running as many miles. Also the 3’s have mixed reviews so that makes me nervous to try. Hoka Speedgoat 5- These felt just too chunky. They were comfortable, but just too big. Salomon Ultra Glide 2- These are just fine. I don’t like or hate them, just ok. Also I did a road 50 mile with Saucony Endorphin 3 Pro and my feet were fine, no problems at all. Also my feet are average/narrow so a wide toe box is not a big deal. I was thinking of trying the Nnormal Tomir 2 or Topo’s, but I don’t know anyone who has actually had these and if I’m just being hooked by the marketing, of course sponsored athletes will hype them up. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!

I currently have about 7 pairs in rotation but four of those are road shoes and they’re getting minimal use as I’ve been doing trail almost exclusively lately. Saucony exodus ultras do well road to trail, I’m only warming up about 1K to get to the trail though. nnormal tomir 2 on the trails/racing are amazballs…especially in mud and snow and some zero drop topo for a strength change. Mostly new balance plateless road shoes and a pair of mizuno neo vistas for training over 25K on the road.

The answer is: it depends on the shoe. My Salomons shed mud pretty well (Ultra glide 2, Sense Ride 4, Thunder Cross), as do my Saucony Xodus Ultras. I wouldn't recommend either the Sense Rides or the UGs for very muddy conditions.

I've had both. The Exodus Ultras have more cushion. They are now my favorite trail shoe. Peregrines are good too.

I used to run in the regular Xodus because it was built like a tank and could handle my local trails. But then I tried the ultra and was blown away. I loved the lighter weight with good cushioning. Completed my first 50km with more than 3000m elevation gain in them!

I used to run in the regular Xodus because it was built like a tank and could handle my local trails. But then I tried the ultra and was blown away. I loved the lighter weight with good cushioning. Completed my first 50km with more than 3000m elevation gain in them!

I have switched from the SpeedGoats to the Xodus Ultra and couldn’t be happier. More generous toe box, great cushioning and haven’t had the durability issues (tor delaminating, etc.) I experienced with the Hokas. Frankly, I think Saucony is the most underrated running shoe brand out there.

Another vote for the Xodus Ultra. A great shoe that last longer and has a roomy toe box. Saucony just makes great products.

I usually find discount for these at 90 EUR, ran up to 800k in Trabuco 11, midsole worn out as similar for other brands, now bought 12 until it's sold out, probably skipping version 13 as it's more narrow. Stack height is fine, maybe couple mm less would be great, rolled ankle once in technical terrain. Anyway, stability is good. Outsole is great... for that discount price, it's great shoe. Also running Fuji Lite 5, but one has probably badly manufactured area around insole.. or insole itself and got blister from it after long run. Similar to Saucony Xodus Ultra I had before, but better price and more durable upper, comfortable tongue - lock for sure. Maybe better energy return in Saucony, not sure about weight. Ran 80k in Trabuco 11, no issue.

I love my Xodus Ultras for anything longer than a marathon. I also have Peregrines but they have a much shorter stack and are better for shorter races.

Trail: Saucony Xodus Ultra, Topo Mt Racer, Brooks Cascadia Road: Saucony Speed, Brooks Ghost, Hilma Anywhere

I switched from Speedgoats to Xodus Ultras a couple years ago and haven't looked back. No issue with Speedgoats, they just never seem to go on sale and I was able to find Xodus Ultras on clearance for around $50 (so now I have a closet full of them). Plus, Saucony's customer service was super on point when a pair of Peregrines I had went to shit less than 200 miles in.

Saucony Xodus Ultra (three pairs in rotation with another three brand new pairs in the closet ready to sub in)

Saucony Xodus Ultra if you don't mind a little more width and padding

Yeah, I tried the Peregrines first but thought they were a little light on padding and were also falling apart less than 200 miles in. The switch to Xodus Ultras was a big win for me. I've already logged 400+ miles in six separate pairs, have three more pairs currently in rotation, and one more pair in the closet. Got most all of them for between $50-$75 and am not looking forward to paying $150+ for my next trail runners. Hopefully I can find a similar deal on a last year's model clearance sale when the time comes.

I usually buy whichever one is cheapest. You can still get 11’s for like $65. I’m good with them until about 12 miles then my feet hurt. I have the xodus ultra as well and they are much better for fatigue, but you sacrifice ground feel and I won’t use them on trails with a lot of exposed roots. I think the peregrines are pretty good for the money my only complaint is they take forever to dry out.

Cascadias if you must stay with Brooks. I prefer Sauconys for the trails - either Peregrine or the Xodus Ultras

I’m not a distance runner, but I do a lot of hiking and some trail running in Saucony’s Xodus Ultras. I love them, MUCH more than the Peregrins which feel slow and unresponsive by comparison. The one problem, as I see it, is that the outsole while grippy on dirt and dry rock has less than ideal traction on wet rock and the lugs wear down very, very quickly. BUT, Saucony is switching to a vibram outsole in the new model Xodus Ultra that they release on June 1. Check that out.

To the Saucony Xodus Ultra! Each pair has over 500 miles of trail and they still feel great. Oh, and a definite runner-up shout out to the Mad Rivers in the back. I wish Saucony brought those back. Moving on to the Xodus 2's, which so far seem just as good.

Saucony Xodus Ultra are great

Saucony Xodus Ultra is decent. Plenty cushioning for the road sections that I’ve found them to feel ok.

I love the Saucony Xodus Ultra for any long distance stuff.

Saucony Xodus Ultra are great. Comfiest trail shoes I’ve ever found. I’m a bit heavier than you and have worn these on ultra distance races with hard packed and road sections with no bother.

I couldn’t wear Hokas because they kept giving me blisters on my arches. I’ll always recommend Saucony Xodus Ultra. Love them for long distance stuff. So comfy.

Echoing a lot of the other comments, go for the Xodus Ultras instead. Such a great shoe. I considered the peregrines but they felt much stiffer and less comfortable particularly on the upper and heel area for me so I didn’t get them. The XUs are dreamy comfy.

FWIW, I run in novablasts on the road and Saucony Xodus Ultras on trail. Everyone raves about the Peregrines but I find the X’s much more comfortable!

I've enjoyed my Saucony Xodus Ultra, and am yet to slip on my arse in mud. Terrible on rock though!

Salomon Genesis work as good road to trails, deal with mud well and i've used up to marathon with no issues as they're well cushioned. Saucony ultra or peregrines - ultras are more cushioned and great road to trail but peregrines are find for short road sections and have a slightly deeper lug and deal with mud and wet grass really well. Peregrines are also my choice of mountain shoe so work well, did a 100k in them and only had some foot pain from minimal cushioning at 50ish miles in! Just got the Nike Zegama 2 and they are fab so far! Managed well in mud, snow, slush and are really cushioned. Need to try them out on more technical terrain but all good so far. They have the react foam so they give a lot of bounce on packed trail and road. Inov8 trailfly i find good on rock and grass, less so on mud, and a bit firm on road, but not terrible.

Had the exact same problem and also got the Xodus instead. The guy at the shoe store said Hoka has a plastic edge on the inside of the shoe on all their models, and it’s a fairly common issue that people get blisters from them. The shoe salesman also gave me the best shoe-advice I’ve ever gotten: “If you plan on running mainly trail, the technical specifics of the shoe won’t matter as much as it does on hard surfaces, because each step will become unique due to the ground. What shoes do you wear at work? If you’ve never had any issues with those, get a trail shoe from the same manufacturer”

Love my many Peregrines, but I would not pay full price. 12s fray, and 13s split. Exodus Ultra are narrower than the Peregrine but far more durable, watch them ankles.

Second the xodus ultras. Has a more generous toe box I find as well. They worked well for me in all conditions (Canyons conditions with dustier looser stuff to Squamish 50 conditions with steep rocks and roots, rain or not).

I’ve used whatever my current rotation trail shoe is on any and all hikes - Scottish munroes in full winter conditions with YakTrax spikes over the outsole, to running down snowdon in summer. Hoka speedgoats are good (latest iteration seems to have divided opinion), Salomon Sense Ride 5 for more technical stuff (find them super grippy), Saucony Xodus Ultra for longer stuff (nice cushion). Haven’t tried the NB’s you linked but I’m sure they’ll be fine! 👍

Big fan of saucony peregrines and xodus ultras. I will say they aren’t great in slippery conditions. Have used both for non tech 100s.

If the Peregrine fit perfectly, have you tried the Xodus Ultra? Same brand, same last, same fit just more cushioning and designed for long distance. I have both and have done 50 milers in the Xodus without any issues at all. Just another option.

I have chronic knee issues from torn ligaments coupled with weak glutes. I have issues with patella tracking and some damage to the area. I usually run in ASICS or Saucony (and use KT tape and strength training). I’ve taken ASICS Trabuco Max, Novablast/ Novablast Trail or Gel Nimbus on trails like this. Saucony Xodus Ultra and Peregrine too. I prefer the higher heel drops and max cushion for my knee. Some of my trail shoes rec might be a bit overkill, but the road versions would work.

I think the shoe I’m looking for is basically an Endorphin Speed with a wide toebox, a trail outsole, and lugs. It may not work for extremely technical trails but it would feel amazing underfoot for almost everything else. The closest I’ve seen in trail shoes is the Saucony Xodus Ultra, which has a combination of EVA and PEBA but no flexible plate and a standard toebox. I managed to do R2R2R in these without ever really thinking about my feet (for whatever that n=1 is worth.)

Team Xodus! That shoe got me across the Grand Canyon twice.

I picked up some Gel Trabucos here recently and love them. Other shoes I have been wearing are xodus ultras, mtn racers and brooks catamount. Fit wise I love them, they feel stable and enough cushion while not being clunky like my catamounts.

My go to for 50k and under. The xodus is also a great shoe with some more cushion, they are bulkier and you’ll want to heal lock them if your heal is rolling on downhills.

Wha! Megagrip on Xodus? I gotta get some duck tape to make my current pair last til June now.

I highly recommend going to a specialist running shop that offers fitting services such as gait analysis. They will help you with getting the right fit for you. Adidas shoes tend to be on the narrow side, so worth having a look at brands that have a wider last(mould) like Brooks or Saucony. If the only run that’s on the trail and in the mud is your Saturday Parkrun and the rest of your runs are on road, you can consider road to trail shoe such as the Saucony xodus or the Altra Olympus. They has smaller lugs (the grip blocks on the bottom) but are harder wearing and more cushioned for running on roads.

Depends.on many factors. I retired back then my Saucony Xodus with almost 700km and had this guy in the gym who brought the same model to pieces in just 200 bc he punished them over blade-like granite ridges. So far, the Salomon Genesis is my go-to shoe and it's behaving excellent.

Saucony xodus is fits the bill for what you’re looking for. Very underrated shoe imo

I love the Xodus, I have to agree they're very underrated.

The Xodus is just slightly wider too. Peregrine is my main shoe and fits me perfect, but everyone has different feet and your fit in Xodus may vary from mine. Just something to look for when buying.

There isn’t a shoe that will work well in fells and road. You’ll have to sacrifice one or the other. There’s unfortunately no shoe that does it all. NVII Terra TT, VJ Xtrm have a bit nicer protection than Inov8s while being a proper hill shoe with superb grip. Various Scott Supertrac versions have more cushioning but they often have a very “dead” feeling on the road. Saucony Peregrine ST are very decent in mud but not so good on the rock and feel a bit burly. More than decent on the road as far as shoes go. Hoka Mafate/Tecton are great on more groomed trails but wouldn’t be my choice for most hill races in Scotland. Ditto on Saucony Xodus.

I haven’t tried the ultrafly, but hear good things about it. Unfortunately, cost is a factor for me. My go-to long distance shoe has been the Saucony Xodus. I’ve liked a few iterations. The Edge is a fun racer.

My feet swim in the Altras. Sloppy running is the perfect word. I liked my Soloman’s but the lugs felt too aggressive on west coast packed dirt. Hokas are comfy but the stack feels unstable. Enter Saucony Xodus. Plenty of cushion but a much more stable feel. Fits my foot well but nice room in the toe box (fit reminds me of saloman )

I love the peregrines, been running in them for the last 1.5 years in rugged Arizona terrain. Sturdy and grippy. Ran my first trail marathon with them and got third. But they definitely don’t have much cushion. I just ran in the Saucony Xodus for the first time this morning and the cushion was sooooo much better. Normally the sole of my foot gets stabbed with a couple rocks but I didn’t feel a thing jutting into my foot today. Still good responsiveness and super lightweight

Totally agree. I've worn Xodus runners for years on class 3/4 scrambles in the PNW, in addition to leading a few low class 5 routes with them as well.

I scramble all summer on gabbro in a pair of Peregrines or Xodus' and they do *not* look like yours, even though the lugs and rockplate windows look similar; they have a few cuts in the lugs but nothing as bad as those you have. Either the rubber on your outsole is a different compound to my shoes or you have a lemon, IMO. Saucony rubber is a bit shit but that looks wrong, even for Saucony.

- Waterproof isn’t a plus - stability generally isn’t really a thing for trail shoes - if you’re female looking for a wider fit, get the men’s model - if you’re happy with saucony, brooks and NB, try out their cushioned trail offerings, like a Saucony Xodus