Gear Geek: Saucony Peregine 6


Saucony Peregrine 6

Men's 9.4oz

Women's 8.5oz

More runners than ever are testing their fitness on the trails, so shoe brands are increasingly turning their attention toward footwear to keep trail runners happy. Looking to capitalize on this trend, Saucony just added a sixth edition to its Peregrine series for trail-inclined runners. The Peregrine 6's minimalistic approach to its predecessor's upper portion and redesigned outsole provide a healthy blend of traction and stability for both short- and long-distance trail runners.

Upper:

With a clear reduction in the Flexfilm system, the overlays are more strategically placed to stabilize without hindering flexion. Similar to the Kinvara 7, the forefoot area has been increased to allow for more splay room. But the most noticeable change is the heel counter. The TPU external heel cup now provides a solid fit that holds the foot in the back half of the shoe. 

Midsole:

Maintaining the same stack height from previous version, the 4mm offset sets the foot in a natural position. New to the midsole, the Everun TPU cushion heel pad is undetectable due to the combination of the outsole-midsole system. On impact, the compression holds without providing spots that crater.

Outsole:

The Peregrine 6 sports a new traction system. Ditching the XT-900, the PWRTRAC outsole is softer and much more comfortable. The 5mm directional lugs work like cleats to grab from the forefoot when ascending and prevent slipping when descending. Designed for single-track trails that cover a lot of elevation, the lugs grip hard and fast. The downside to this new pattern is the inability to ditch mud on soft, wet terrain or pick up debris on dry, dusty gravel.