The Best Saucony Trail Running Shoes in Summer 2023

On-road, off-road, wherever it is, Saucony's got a shoe for you. The Boston-based running brand's lineup of performance running shoes runs the range from speedy marathon road racers to knobby mud-flingers for the trails. Below, we've broken out all of Saucony's shoes in that latter category and explained what each is best to accomplish. Oh and by the way, it's pronounced Sock-A-Knee.

The Best Saucony Trail Shoes

Saucony's trail lineup ranges from the budget-oriented $100 Blaze TR to the beefy and bouncy $200 Endorphin Edge. In the mix, there are specialized shoes for water, mud, ice, mild trails and ultramarathons. If you're looking to tackle your next trail outing equipped by one of the top names in running, here are the best options for you.

1. Saucony Endorphin Edge ($200): Best for Fast Trail Races

The Endorphin Edge is a max-cushioned trail racer that brings the road-racing super shoe formula to the trails. It has a 35mm stack of PWRRUN PB foam, the same compound in the Endorphin Pro 3 marathon racer and Endorphin Speed 3 uptempo trainer. In the Edge, the bouncy and energetic foam is reinforced by a slotted Carbitex carbon fiber plate that adds pop to the stride. And as part of the Endorphin family, the Edge has a rockered forefoot for fast toe-off. The result is a fast and furious ride that can feel a bit like trying to drive a turbocharged Jeep through a mountain pass. If you're a thrill-seeking speed masher on the trails, this one is for you. 

2. Saucony Peregrine 13 ($140): Most Versatile Saucony Trail Shoe

The Saucony Peregrine 13 standard version sits at the core of Saucony's trail lineup as a versatile, do-it-all trail shoe that can tackle everything from light gravel paths and forest service roads to the muddy and rutted out single-track. The Peregrine has Saucony's durable EVA-based PWRRUN foam in the midsole (28mm heel, 24mm forefoot, 4mm drop), which is also in popular road daily training models like the Shift 3 and Ride. Protecting that foam and providing traction underfoot is a set of 5mm lugs built into the grippy full-length PWRTRAC outsole. This is a great option if you don't need something waterproof and you're looking for a shoe that you can take out for technical trail runs as well as the occasional hike. Plus, the white and yellow colorway looks pretty great.

3. Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 ($150): Best Saucony Trail Shoe for Ultra Marathons

The Xodus Ultra 2 is Saucony's purpose built ultra-distance racer. For comfort and support over the long miles, the Xodus combines the bouncy and soft PEBA-based PWRRUN PB super foam with the durable and protective EVA-based PWWRUN foam. The lighter and more responsive PWRRUN PB sits in the center of the shoe, protected by a cradle of PWRRUN. Underfoot, this creates an experience that's soft, cushioned and responsive while still protecting the feet from roots and rocks over the course of a long race. The outsole is a PWRTRAC rubber covering that's split into three sections for greater flexibility. If you're looking for a soft and cushioned ride, this is a great option.

4. Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX ($160): Best Waterproof Trail Shoe

The Saucony Peregrine 13 GTX is the waterproof version of the Peregrine. It retains the same features as the standard version but is covered with a Goretex membrane to keep water out. This is a good option if you're looking for a versatile and waterproof shoe that is grippy and can handle technical terrain. If looks matter to you, the one downside here is that it only comes in one drab gray colorway, unlike the standard Peregrine which has a bunch of fun options.

5. Saucony Ride 15 TR ($140): Best Saucony Road-To-Trail Shoe

With the Ride 15 TR, Saucony took a great thing and made it beefier. The standard Saucony Ride is the brand's popular everyday road running shoe; here, they slapped on a TR to the end of the name, gave it some lugs and—voila!—it's a trail shoe. It has the same PWRRUN cushioning and comfortable upper as the road Ride, which provides a comfortable platform for both running and long days hiking. The Ride TR is designed with an outsole and upper construction for less technical terrain than something like the Peregrine, so it's a good option if you're looking for a shoe that you can use from your house to some nearby trailheads. 

6. Saucony Ride 15 TR GTX ($140): Best Waterproof Road-To-Trail Shoe

The Saucony Ride 15 TR GTX is the waterproof variant of the road-to-trail Ride 15. It has the same cushioned and responsive PWRRUN foam midsole as the road and standard trail variants of the ride, but the upper is encased with a protective Goretex outer shell to keep your feet dry. If you live in a climate with rainy summers and you like getting out on the trails, this is a great option for you. For the fashion-forward among us, the unfortunate note here is that like the Peregrine 13 GTX, the Ride Goretex also only has one colorless colorway, a heavy monochromatic black better suited to an orthotic shoe than a trail romper.

7. Saucony Peregrine 13 ST ($150): Best for Muddy Trails

The Saucony Peregrine 13 ST is the third and final variant of the Peregrine alongside the standard and waterproof versions, filling the hole in Saucony's lineup as the dedicated muddy trail runner. Compared to the other two in the Peregrine family, the ST, which stands for soft terrain, has longer lugs (6.5mm vs 5mm) and a gaiter-like fit around the ankle to keep mud from creeping in. This is a great option for runners looking for a dedicated trail shoe to handle flooded and rutted out trails. Because of the longer lugs, the Peregrine 13 ST will not be as friendly on the roads as something like the Ride 15 TR, but it's mission is to eat up muddy trails.

8. Saucony Blaze TR ($100): Most Affordable Trail Shoe

The Saucony Blaze TR is one of the newest additions to Saucony's rapidly expanding trail line-up, playing the important role of the high-quality, low-frills options. As the Saucony Axon 3 is to the roads, the Blaze TR is to the trails. Both have the firm, cushioned and durable PWRRUN midsole and come in at $100. The Blaze TR also carries through the design language of Saucony's other trail options, bringing the good looks and performance downmarket. If you're on a budget or need a trail runner that you can beat up for the summer, this is a great pick for you.

9. Saucony Endorphin Rift: Best Non-Plated Trail Racer

The Saucony Endorphin Rift takes the bouncy plated performance of the Endorphin Edge and tones it down by about 20%. That's because the Rift is Saucony's plate-free high-performance option, retaining some of the Edge's best qualities, like the PWRRUN PB foam, but getting rid of the plate. The ride on the Rift will feel slightly more planted and controlled compared to the plated trail Endorphin, but still fast due to the PEBA foam, lightweight construction and forefoot rocker. If stability on trail is a concern for you, and you don't like the bouncy, propulsive feeling of a plate, then the soft, cushioned and fast Endorphin Rift is the right trail-racer for you.

10. Saucony Peregrine ICE+ 3: Best Winter Trail Shoes

The Peregrine ICE+ 3 is the winter weather version of the previous model year Peregrine 12. In comparison to the original, it has a PWRTRAC ICE outsole that's formulated specifically to grip on wet and icy surfaces, plus a Runshield upper that's water resistant (not as waterproof as Goretex but will keep most everything out except for the direct foot submersion in water). The stack (25mm heel, 21mm forefoot, 4mm drop)  is lower than other Saucony trail shoes like the Rift and Edge, which contributes to a planted, controlled feeling.

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