The Saucony Freedom ISO brings together the best of technology and function

The reinvented Saucony Freedom ISO is the most technologically-advanced shoe that Saucony has ever offered. It could very well also be its best shoe yet. 

The signature feature is a full length EVERUN midsole that provides subtle cushioning and superior energy return that is felt with every stride. EVERUN cushioning was first introduced in the spring and instantly made the already-popular Triumph ISO 3 and Guide 10 models even more coveted as they have been vastly improved. The reaction was overwhelmingly popular and reviews have been undeniably positive.

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But that was just a preview of what EVERUN had to offer. Saucony has since bumped things up a notch by taking that technology and making it the basis of the Freedom ISO design. In addition to the reinforced heel pad, there’s also an entire extra layer of EVERUN cushioning directly under the sock liner. This makes for an extremely soft and smooth ride.

Both the TRI-FLEX outsole (made of crystal rubber) and the EVERUN material disperse impact over a greater surface area making for a softer landing. The grips on the bottom of this shoe also offer better traction, foot flexibility and superior durability.

The upper is made of a lightweight and super-soft mesh material which comfortably wraps around the foot to adapt to its individual shape and motions. Rather than giving runners a stiff and potentially blister-forming heel counter, the Freedom uses a minimal-support frame which further reduces the overall weight of the shoe.

Heel-toe drop: 4mm (19mm heel/15mm forefoot)
Weight: 9.0 oz (men’s size 9); 8.1oz (women’s size 9)
MSRP: $200
Available: December 1st
Similar models: Adidas Boost, Nike Free, New Balance Zante

Though it’s functionally irrelevant, we must admit that the shoe also strikes a chord aesthetically. The all-black colourway we received was both striking yet subtle in it’s simplicity. An all-black shoe like this can be worn with simple colours for a more classic look or this pair can be worn with bold colour or prints and not run the risk of clashing. An equally eye-catching neon blue colourway will also be available soon. 

The shoe fits very true to size–our review of the Triumph ISO found that it fit about a half-size small–and while not specifically wide or narrow, the flexible upper will adapt to fit almost any foot type.

The Freedom ISO is an impressively versatile shoe that feels good on everything from easy runs, tempo sessions through to speedwork. For many, it could become a go-to racing shoe in lieu of a true flat. The shoe is extremely comfortable to wear and feels soft with minimal structuring. It maintains its fresh and springy feel even after a few hundred kilometres. Our testers found that it also held up on runs as long as 25K–and we’re sure it could easily have gone longer.

Make no mistake, this is a game-changer for Saucony and for running shoe development in general. At $200, the shoe isn’t cheap, but given the abundance of features both in technology and function, we’d say it’s well worth the investment.