Saucony Men’s Hurricane ISO Running Shoes
Run Oregon receives and tests running shoes from time to time. This initial post about the Saucony Hurricane ISOFIT, which is being released January 1, 2015. Matt has just received his pair and has outlined some background information about the company and the new Hurricane.
Company: Saucony
Shoe: Saucony Hurricane ISOFIT
This is my second pair of Saucony shoes (the first being the Ride 7’s). Saucony is at the forefront of the running shoe business and have been providing kicks to runners of all skill levels and running styles for years. People seem to swear by Saucony’s, and I am getting to the point that I may just become one of them.
I continually admit that I typically run on “feel” and worry less about the technical jargon (though I should probably pay more attention than I do). Here is some descriptive language highlighting the ISOFIT and PWRGRID+ technology that exists in the Hurricanes (as well as two other brand new updates of the Triumph and Zealot):
ISOFIT
Saucony designers engineered an ultra-soft, inner fit-sleeve crafted out of stretchable air mesh that morphs to the foot for a sock-like feel. A floating support cage sits like a saddle over the fit-sleeve, cradling the midfoot and adapting to the foot’s size, shape and movement, allowing the shoe to respond to the individual runner’s gait throughout the run.
PWRGRID+
The PWRGRID+ platform is engineered with PowerGrid™, a Powerfoam material that is integrated with Saucony’s GRID™ technology, creating a system that effectively centers the foot, absorbs impact and distributes pressure. The PWRGRID+ platform’s increased stack heights deliver over 20% more cushioning and 15% more resiliency than PowerGrid construction alone. The result is the most cushioned running experience the brand has ever created.
Initial Impression:
When I posted on Facebook that I received my new shoes, fellow blogger Marilyn commented that they “look cool”. My response to this was that they are a “subdued fancy – not completely out there but also not bland and boring.” I stick by that description.
I have mentioned before that I am not a runner who typically cares about flashiness or color in my running wardrobe – shoes included. The overall color of black/grey is accented with a neon yellow tongue and laces. It’s got a little flair, but not enough to be uncomfortable looking.
Initial Wear:
The shoe is described as a stability trainer. I typically like the feel of trainers – nothing too light. I typically run 6+ miles per run and if these are anything like the Ride 7’s, I am hoping for about 500 miles or so. In the few days preceding the Hurricane’s, I was getting to the point where I noticed that it was time for a new pair of shoes. The arch of my right foot was starting to get a tad sore, leading me to believe that my Ride 7’s were on their last legs.
Out of the box, the Hurricane’s slid on with ease. It was a tad odd just how simply they fit without needing to adjust the shoelaces, and how snug they remained with only a loose knot. My feet were craving new shoes so badly, that once I slipped them on, I kept them on the rest of the evening because they just made my feet feel better. They feature a 21mm forefront – obviously giving it a very cushioned feel.
I was also surprised just how well constructed the shoes set out to be and how much the new upper contributed to the subtraction of weight. The little “bootie” within the free-floating outer (or cage) of the shoe is something I haven’t seen before. The inner seems to stretch to conform to a variety of foot shapes and I suppose that is the whole goal of ISOFIT. They combined “a plush inner fit sleeve with a flexible external cage” so that it “dynamically adapts to each individual part of the foot. In other words, it moves with the runner’s foot in motion. If it truly conforms to the foot, I would expect to experience less blistering as a result – something that will be interesting to track.
I will also be looking at how this works as the miles rack up, as the design seems like it could be lacking in holding the foot in place from front to back. Only time will tell.
Specifications:
Men’s weight: 11.1 oz ; Women’s weight: 9.4 oz
Heel-to-toe offset: 8mm
Price: $150.00
