Saucony Blaze TR First Run: A Budget Trail Shoe That Punches Above Its Price

Introduction

Saucony’s trail line already had strong foundations with the Peregrine and Exodus families, and the Blaze TR now slots in beneath them as a more affordable option. The pitch is simple: top-performing trail shoe construction at a genuinely accessible price. It retails for £105 in the UK, and it has already been spotted below £100 at some online retailers, which is refreshingly reasonable in today’s running shoe market. Add in a competitive weight of 275 grams in a UK 9.5, an 8mm drop with 37.5mm of stack at the heel and 27.5mm under the forefoot, plus a vegan-friendly build with plenty of recycled materials, and there is a lot to talk about before the first step.

Spec and Construction

The midsole uses a full Power Run foam, the same family used in the Peregrine 13. The notable difference sits inside the shoe: the Blaze TR comes with a standard insole rather than the deeply cushioned Power Run Plus insole found on the Peregrine, which does take away some of that plush, bouncy underfoot feel. Saucony has also left out the flexible forefoot rock plate that gives the Peregrine and Exodus such strong underfoot protection on rocky trails, another sensible cost saving. The spec still stacks up well for the money, though, and the vegan-friendly construction and recycled material content are welcome touches at any price.

First Run on the Trail

Straight out of the box, the shoe ran well. Around two and a half miles in, it was already clear this does not feel like one of the cheaper-feeling budget options some brands have produced, where cost savings show up in both look and performance. Instead, running in the Blaze TR felt very similar to running in the Peregrine 13, which is high praise given the price gap.

Fit is where the two shoes genuinely differ. The Blaze TR carries a bit more volume through the midfoot and a bit more width in the toe box, while the Peregrine offers a more precise, fitted feel. For runners who need extra room up front, that wider fit could be a real selling point rather than a compromise.

Outsole and Grip

The outsole design closely mirrors the Peregrine and Exodus, with a 4.5mm lug pattern and a slightly different rubber compound. Where those shoes use PowerTrak rubber, the Blaze TR moves to XT900. On a dry first run, the outsole did a solid job, and based on lug depth and layout, the expectation is performance in the same territory as the Exodus Ultra. Wet, rocky conditions remain untested, so grip in the rain is a question for the full review.

Upper, Fit and Lockdown

Saucony builds the upper from a lightweight, breathable mesh with plenty of substance where it matters. A sturdy heel cradle gives structure at the back, and overlays wrap the midfoot, lace eyelets, and toe box for support. The gusseted tongue offers moderate padding along with the ankle collar and heel cup, and a midfoot lace-locking system plus two extra eyelets at the top give room to fine-tune the fit. Heel and tongue pull tabs make entry easy, and a small gaiter attachment sits at the bottom of the laces.

On the move, though, there was a small fit niggle. Indoors, the midfoot and heel felt secure, but once running began there was a little movement inside the shoe, enough that a couple of stops to re-tie the laces were needed. It was not uncomfortable, and it may come down to individual foot shape, but the Peregrine and Exodus both deliver a firmer lockdown.

Performance Summary

By the end of the run, the distance sat at 9.57 miles, a strong first outing for a new trail shoe. The Power Run midsole felt comfortable and responsive across the terrain, and the missing Power Run Plus insole and forefoot rock plate were noticeable but never made the shoe uncomfortable. The Peregrine 13 still edges it on overall comfort, but the gap is smaller than the price difference suggests.

Buying Advice

If you want a new trail shoe on a tight budget, the Blaze TR deserves a close look. At a £105 RRP and with online prices already dipping to around £95, it looks and feels like a quality product rather than a stripped-down filler. Choose it over the Peregrine 13 if you want a roomier midfoot and toe box or you are simply watching your spend; pick the Peregrine if a precise fit, plush insole, and rock plate protection matter more to you.

Conclusion

The Blaze TR is an encouraging first entry into the affordable end of Saucony’s trail range. It borrows the right things from its more expensive siblings, the foam feel and the lug pattern, and cuts the right corners to hit the price, the insole and the rock plate. For budget-conscious trail runners, especially those who find the Peregrine too snug, this is one worth trying on.