Years ago the Peregrine was my go to trail shoe. Then we hit a few years where it just wasn’t the same, you know what I mean? Too stiff, too something not the same. So here we are again ready to find out if the Saucony Peregrine 15 will win me over. (Spoiler: it did.)
My very first run in these was 10 miles on a trail with lots of vert, steep inclines, slick rock, mud and dirt roads. It performed well across everything and being lighter in weight, made me feel fast on the road!
Our trail gear tester Aimee, has also been a long time fan of the Peregrine and agrees with the grip and feel underfoot being excellent for those mid-distance runs.
The 15 might be my favorite model of this shoe yet and I think after testing lots and lots of big cushioned shoes, that’s saying something. Minimal can be really comfortable.
Who’s It Good For?
Who is the Saucony Peregrine 15 good for? Let’s break it down with some common categories:
- Wide Feet: The original model not so much, but it’s available in wide.
- Technical Trails: Absolutely great grip on technical, slick rock or mud.
- Long Runs: Up to 12 to maybe 15 miles of trails
- Front of the Pack: Daily trainer shoe that could be used for trail racing because it’s light and minimal.
If you haven’t tried them in awhile, we invite you to come on back. The updates have brought this shoe back to life.
Saucony Peregrine 15 Overview
Honestly one of my biggest issues with this shoe is I butcher the name 9 times out of 10. It’s a bird, I’m not a bird person so maybe that’s the problem. But I have no problems pronouncing sock-a-knee.
This is well priced low stack trail running shoe that can cover a lot of ground with great grip and plenty of comfort. You won’t find an overly cushioned shoe here, but something that feels a lot more traditional.
I think my initial love with the Peregrine was because of my love for the Saucony Kinvara. It started as a low drop minimal shoe and man I ran both of these in to the ground. But the Kinvara has been adding cushion each year, while the Peregrine is staying true to it’s roots. (Appropriate for a trail shoe.)
One of my longstanding reasons for loving the Peregrine remains true in the 15 thanks to the full outsole coverage of PWRTRAC rubber and 5mm lugs. I feel absolutely secure wearing it on any trail. I know that it’s going to grip and I’m going to stay upright because of it.
It’s one of the reasons you’ll find them on a our best winter running shoes list!
Also with the lower stack, it does seem like I’m less inclined to trip when I may be getting tired and the legs are coming up quite as high. Don’t let the stack fool you though, this still has cushion. It’s just not plush and bouncy like the max style road shoes.
Updated on the 15 are some changes to the upper for overall comfort and they hope improves durablity. But also a new protection wrapper around the entire shoe just above the outsole that repels moisture and guards against rough terrain.
That little bit of extra protection is nice in light snow or wet grass, but not the same as the waterproof version that’s also available.
Peregrine 15 Specs
It remains a moderate everyday cushion with a PWRRUN blend midsole. Softer than previous models, but not overly soft.
This EVA foam blend isn’t considered as durable as TPU foam’s and could be one of the reasons there have been complaints about a shorter shoe life. I haven’t experienced that, but we wonder if it would be an issue for heavier runners or those putting in higher miles.
For those who want MORE cushion, the Saucony Xodus Ultra is a win.
- Heel-toe drop: 4 mm
- Weight: 8.7 oz women’s, 9.7 oz men’s
- Stack Height: 28 mm
- Usage: Road-to-trail running, mixed-terrain adventures, gravel road running
- Available in wide
- Available in fifteen colors (that’s insane)
- Available at Saucony.com for $140
Over 60% of you told me that you love bright, bold colors in your shoes. So good news, the Peregrine is here to deliver on that!
This is also one time that we say, don’t go for the old models to save a few pennies, the new one is better.
Peregrine 15 Fit
Common to many shoes now, we have the sock liner tongue that is attached about halfway down. I love this because it’s eliminated a lot of issues. Also while the tongue and heel collar are padded, neither is huge. It just makes for a nice fit and less constricting, plus it’s not so warm.
Lengthwise it was my normal size for Saucony. The brand can run small compared to some, but I’m a women’s 11 across the board.
In terms of width, I have found some Saucony shoes to be very narrow. This feels pretty average with a pretty average toebox. It’s definitely not too shallow or too narrow, so you can use those toes to work the ground. But as always, if comparing to something like Topo it’s not a wide toebox.
There’s a front and back hook for gaiters, which makes sense. I could see this shoe in a variety of conditions.
I never know what to say about breathability anymore. I mean unless a shoe is horrendous for it…they’re mostly the same until you get to the sheer fabric of the top tier carbon plated race shoe.
Similar Shoes
All right, so you want a good technical trail, that’s not way cushioned. Here’s what we’ve got:
- Hoka Speedgoat – Same grip, maybe a little wider fit.
- Craft Pure Trail X – Same low drop, same great grip (tester Aimee literally mentioned the Peregrine while testing!)
- Merrell Agility Peak – hard to beat their traction
All right, there it is. We think for the price and the traction and the moderate cushion this is a winning shoe!
What do you think? Was this Saucony Peregrine 15 review useful? Other things you want to know when we test
Looking for additional shoe reviews?
- 9 Best Trail Running Shoes
- How to Start Trail Running
- Hoka Tecton X3 – Speed trails
- Can Anyone Run an Ultra?
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a shoe, then let us know! The team is always here to help where we can.
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