Trail and Scramble Shoes

Saucony Xodus 6.0 Shoe | Review

This trail shoe is designed to get the runner off the tarmac and into the wilds with a light and flexible construction.

Overview

The Saucony Xodus 6.0 trail shoe is overall a very impressive off-roader. Designed to get the runner off the tarmac and into the wilds, it performs excellently on the more extreme terrain as well as keeping up to expectations on regular routes. It is very light and flexible, and moulds comfortably to the foot without feeling loose or uneven.

Performance

This incredibly versatile specialist running shoe performs fantastically against everything which is thrown at it. Whether you’re taking it out running in the local park or sending them into the trails of the Peak District, it will keep you locked to the trail and sure-footed on even the most rugged of paths.

Excellent grip on varied terrain

The construction of the shoe itself is great. The roll of the impressive looking Vibram sole is comfortable and forgiving when moving at different speeds and the large protruding lugs give them excellent grip on wet and loose surfaces.

The cross-hatch lug design gives 360 degree directional grip, meaning that no matter the angle of the shoe, the steepness of the terrain or the variation of surface, you will always feel comfortable and able to trust it.

I ran on several types of ground over the month that I tested them, from soft muddy woodland to rough gravel/rocky trails in northern England. They performed perfectly and I never once felt I was let down by any particular aspect of their construction.

Power Grid midsole gave excellent comfort
The Power Grid midsole gave excellent comfort when running for extended periods of time, and I didn’t feel as though my feet were tiring in any one particular area, as you can find with some running shoes. The burn was even, and even then felt it after a greater distance than I would usually.

Through mud they held well, though the large tread did have a tendency to hold clumps of mud after moving on. This could cause the shoes to become a little heavy and need scuffing off occasionally. This also applied to gravel running, with stones getting caught between the lugs. Though again, it wasn’t a major issue.

The flexifit material moulded well to my feet and stretched and adapted with the movement of my foot as I went round corners or ran on sloped surfaces. They felt supportive and adaptable.

Comfort and fit
It can be tricky getting the size right for running shoes unless you try them on several times and test them. I ordered mine online and followed a few guides suggesting I get the same as my usual shoe size.

When they arrived I was very impressed with the snug fit. And when running they didn’t rub or feel uncomfortable at all. Though I do feel that perhaps I could have done with a half size smaller on the very rough areas as my feet did move vertically a little on steep inclines. But again, it really didn’t change my experience too dramatically.

Verdict

This is an incredibly effective trail running shoe. It is light, technically advanced and performs just as described on a multitude of different terrains. It is comfortable and stable and is both practical as an everyday running shoe (though they may turn heads with their slightly over-the-top design) but off road is when they really come alive.

Take them into the wilderness and set them loose on a 20km trail in the mud and on rock and they will keep you moving without a backwards glance. They really are a very impressive shoe and as their tag line suggest, they really can run anywhere.