Saucony Exodus Ultra 3 First Impressions: A Familiar Favourite, Rebuilt From the Ground Up

Introduction

The original Exodus Ultra earned a reputation as one of the most dependable trail shoes around, racking up hundreds of training miles and even an 80-mile race straight out of the box with no blisters and no hotspots. The second version kept that momentum going, clocking a 110 km ultra over tough terrain with the same complaint-free experience. Now the Exodus Ultra 3 arrives, and it is not a subtle refresh: it is essentially a brand-new trail shoe from the ground up, with a new upper, a new midsole setup, and a new outsole layout.

After a first run of just under nine miles across road, compacted trail, and rocky sections, the picture is a familiar mix of genuine progress and a couple of open questions. Here is what to expect.

Who This Product Is For

The Exodus Ultra 3 is aimed squarely at distance-focused trail runners. If you want a well-cushioned, protective shoe that can handle long ultras, mixed terrain, and long road approach sections without destroying your feet, this sits firmly in that category. Like its predecessors, it crosses over well between firm ground and trails, and it should appeal to anyone who values comfort and durability over race-day speed.

Main Strengths

The biggest change is the midsole. Saucony has kept the dual-compound formula from the original and V2: a core of Power Run PB foam, the same performance foam found in road shoes like the Endorphin Speed and Endorphin Pro, wrapped in a slightly more durable and stable Power Run foam. On top of that, the stack grows to 36mm at the heel and 30mm at the forefoot on the same 6mm offset, giving a deeper cushioning platform than before.

The midfoot is also wider this time, with deeper sidewalls that sink you lower into the shoe. That is clearly aimed at stability on technical trails, and on the first run the shoe felt grounded and planted. A more aggressive rocker geometry works into the profile too, helping forward momentum and efficiency over long distances.

The upper is comfortable and well-executed. A padded gusseted tongue, good padding around the ankle collar and heel, a flared heel design, structural overlays around the lace eyelets and toe box, and a protective toe bumper give it substance. There are pull tabs on the tongue and heel, plus a gaiter loop at the base of the laces, which is genuinely handy for gaiter users. The engineered mesh breathed well and offered good airflow on a dry evening run.

Out on the trails, traction held up nicely on soft sand and gravelly loose trails, and the flexible rock plate poking through the midsole under the forefoot delivered strong underfoot protection on rockier ground. Sizing is true to size, with toe box width very similar to the previous versions.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few details are worth weighing up. The new Power Track outsole uses a rubber blend claimed to offer better grip in wet conditions, but the lug pattern stays at a familiar 4.5mm, so very muddy conditions will likely remain a weak spot. The first test run happened in super dry conditions, so wet-weather grip still needs proving.

The midsole also felt slightly firmer on first run than the bedded-in V2, with a little less bounce, though some of that is down to comparing a brand-new shoe against one with hundreds of miles on it. The wider midfoot profile divided opinion: the shoe felt stable and planted, but also slightly less responsive and less nimble than the previous two versions, almost a touch flatter.

Midfoot lockdown needs a firmer lace pull than before, and one run included a stop to retie after the lockdown initially felt loose. Finally, the retail price has crept up by £5 to £155 in the UK, and a UK 9.5 pair came in at a surprisingly heavy 323g, even though the shoe feels lighter on foot than that number suggests.

Buying Advice

If you loved the original Exodus Ultra, set expectations carefully. The updates make the 3 feel and perform slightly differently, and the first run did not deliver quite the same wow factor as lacing up the original for the first time. The extra width and firmer ride may suit some runners and put others off.

If, however, you want maximum cushioning depth, a more stable platform for technical trails, and a proven comfort formula for ultras, the 3 is shaping up well. The wide toe box, plush collar, breathable upper, and rock-plate protection make it an easy shoe to recommend for long days out. Note that a gaiter loop, durable overlays, and a protective toe bumper add practical long-distance touches that many competitors skip.

Conclusion

The Saucony Exodus Ultra 3 is a considered, substantial update rather than a safe copy of what came before. Deeper cushioning, a wider and more planted midfoot, a plush comfortable upper, and solid traction on dry trails are clear strengths, balanced against a firmer early ride feel, slightly reduced nimbleness, a midfoot that needs tight lacing, and a small price increase. This was only a first run, so the verdict will firm up with more miles, but the foundations remain exactly what made this line a long-distance favourite in the first place.