Shoe Review: Saucony Xodus ISO 3
※ Download: Saucony xodus iso 3
The open mesh toe seems to draw lots of air in, and the upper handles moisture impressively. This outsole is rugged and durable. Subtle grooves in the forefoot allow the wearer to bend the toes easily, especially when gearing towards the toe-off phase of the gait cycle.
The semi-curved shape of this running shoe follows the natural curve of the human foot. Wider toe box feel than the Peregrine 8s. The external pad features the PWRTRAC + XT-900 dual-compound configuration which offers hard-wearing traction over the outdoor topography.
Shoe Review: Saucony Xodus ISO 3 - RUNDRY Collar Lining is also integrated to simultaneously secure the heel whilst keeping the interior foot-chamber from moisture.
Saucony starts with a dual compound outsole with massive 6mm lugs. Resting on top of the outsole is a generous layer of plush Everun material. The Xodus sports a plastic heel cup for support, and Saucony uses their ISO upper which gives a sock like fit. Some improvement over the previous version include: more toe protection in the form of plastic overlays, updates to the heel counter, and more Everun material in the midsole. Right out of the box the Xodus feels great on the foot. The ISO upper is tongue-less, and has no seams or material overlaps that can cause chaffing. Coming in at 366g, the Xodus is no lightweight. However, the gnarlier the trail gets, the more the Xodus starts to shine. I took the Xodus up to my cottage where I knew I could test the capabilities on lightly traveled snowmobile and ATV trails. The trails are seldom used and as a result are often quite overgrown and covered in debris. The 6mm lugs paired with a dual compound sole leave little to desire when it comes to traction. Loose leaves, greasy clay, and boggy mud were all handled well. Even when things got really slippery, I could regain control before having a banana peel moment. The plastic heel cup is quite stiff. This may be a deterrent for some, however I found it helped to keep my ankle supported when the ground was uneven or undulating, which helped me focus on moving forward. I really appreciated the overlayed toe shell on the Xodus. The shell covers the whole front of the shoe, and even extends to the inside of the shoe to give more big toe protection. Small sticks and rocks are handled well, and I have yet to see wear on the hardened toe shell. Surprisingly for a shoe with so much protection the Xodus breathes quite well. The open mesh toe seems to draw lots of air in, and the upper handles moisture impressively. The downside of the breathability is the lack of water resistance. One wrong step in the Xodus and you might be squishing your way home. The more you run in the shoe, the more you feel like you are sinking into the sweet spot of cushion. The Everun material pairs well with the Pwrertrac sole, which gives you enough trail feel to gauge traction, but also that plush cushioning to help maintain comfort on long runs. I would even consider the Xodus for some light hiking thanks to the extra supportive heel cup, and plush cushioning. No matter where or what you place your foot on, the Xodus gives you a solid platform to push off of.
Cheat Sheet: check out our Cushioning The underfoot feel and amount of impact protection provided by the compressing materials between the foot and running surface. Small sticks and rocks saucony xodus iso 3 handled well, and I have yet to see wear on the hardened toe shell. Plus, thinned out the sole a bit for a lower profile that keeps you closer to the trail. The semi-curved shape of this running shoe follows the natural curve of the human foot. The updated EVERUN midsole makes the Saucony Xodus ISO 3 one of the most responsive trail shoes in this round of testing. Add in ISOFIT for comfort, PWRTRAC for grip, and it's time to go discover new views. Outsole The outsole unit of the Saucony Xodus ISO 3 utilizes the PWRTRAC + XT-900 compound. The Everun material pairs well with the Pwrertrac sole, which gives you enough trail feel to gauge traction, but also that plush cushioning to help maintain comfort on long runs. Best for runners with a low arch.
