Best Saucony Trail Running Shoes: Four Models Worth Knowing

Introduction

Saucony’s upcoming trail lineup leans into a clear theme: weight savings without giving up the protection and traction trail runners actually use. Four shoes headline the update cycle, each aimed at a different kind of trail runner, from fast and nimble day runs to fifty and hundred mile ultras.

Saucony Peregrine 12: The Nimble All-Rounder

The Peregrine has long been Saucony’s staple trail shoe, and the 12 focuses on getting it back to its quick and nimble roots. The headline change is a significant weight drop: from 10.8 ounces in the Peregrine 11 down to 9.7 ounces, all while keeping the five millimeter lugs and PWRTRAC outsole traction the line is known for.

Stack heights stay the same at a 4 millimeter offset, and the PWRUNPLUS sockliner is new for the season. Dropping the TOPSOIL is seen as a smart move, since the cushioned underfoot feel now comes from that sockliner on top of the PWRTRAC midsole. The upper aims to be as protective as possible without being overbuilt, balancing breathability and coverage in the right areas. It is priced at $130 and expected to launch around early February.

Saucony Exodus Ultra: Built for Big Distance

The Exodus is the big pivot of the season. Traditionally a heavily cushioned, chunky tank of a shoe at 11.8 to 11.9 ounces, the new Exodus Ultra drops to 10.4 ounces and shifts its focus squarely toward the ultrarunner, hence the new name.

Construction is the biggest story. A thick, full-length layer of premium PWRRUN PB foam sits directly underfoot, surrounded by PWRRUN, paired with the PWRRUNPLUS sockliner for a plush, protective cushioning package that stays comfortable, minimal, and breathable over long miles. The offset also moves to 6 millimeters, a departure from the 4 millimeter range most Saucony trail shoes have used for years. Early athlete feedback has been nothing but positive. It launches June 21, 2022 at $150, unchanged from the previous version’s pricing.

Saucony Ride TR 15: Road-to-Trail Hybrid

The Ride TR 15 is an autumn-winter 2022 update that takes the legacy of Saucony’s flagship road franchise and adapts it for the trail, targeting the growing road-to-trail runner. It uses a PWRTRAC outsole with 3.5 millimeter lugs, making it very runnable on road and comfortable, while still capable on light trail.

The cushioning comes from PWRRUN foam plus the PWRRUNPLUS sockliner, mirroring the inline road Ride 15. The upper uses breathable yet durable protective mesh, lightweight protection in the toe and foxing, and ripstop material, with an exposed ghillie lacing system that gives a snug fit and a distinct trail look. It is priced at $130 with a September 16 release.

Saucony Endorphin Edge: A Flexible Carbon Plate for Trails

The most anticipated model is the Endorphin Edge, a new addition rather than an update to the Endorphin Trail. Developed with CARPETEX, it uses a flexible carbon plate shaped like a wishbone, bifurcated underfoot so it stiffens in one direction and flexes in the other. That means propulsion and a shelf-like support for the foot on climbs, sparing the calves and quads over long repetitive miles, while flexing on descents for adaptability and control. The plate ends before the heel so landings land on PWRRUN PB foam instead of a hard stiff plate.

It comes in at 9 ounces, making it the lightest trail shoe in the line, with 4 millimeter lugs for versatile terrain coverage, a 6 millimeter offset shared with the Exodus Ultra, and a breathable, durable upper in a mesh that is more absorbent and faster wicking than a traditional mesh to keep feet cool and dry over long miles. It launches August 2 at $200.

Buying Advice

If you want one shoe for everything, the Peregrine 12 remains the safe, versatile pick. If your goal is fifty or hundred mile races, the Exodus Ultra’s plush PWRRUN PB stack is built for that. The Ride TR 15 suits runners who mix pavement and light trail, while the Endorphin Edge targets the go-fast long-distance athlete willing to pay for carbon-plated performance.

Conclusion

Across the lineup, Saucony is making its trail shoes lighter, more cushioned, and more distance-oriented without overbuilding them. Pick the shoe that matches your terrain and race distance, and each of these four has a well-defined reason to exist.