Saucony Peregrine 15 Review
The Saucony Peregrine 15 is a versatile trail shoe designed to handle a variety of trail conditions. It’s cushioned enough for long runs but nimble enough to pick up the pace. Grippy enough for wet, slippery bridleways, including sections of mud. A few years ago, Saucony made two versions of the Peregrine: one for hard, compact trails that was light and nimble, and one with longer lugs and more cushioning for softer, muddier ground. The recent versions, including the Peregrine 15, merge these two models into one versatile shoe.
While the concept remains the same—the Peregrine 15 is still designed to be a nimble, versatile trail shoe—Saucony has changed many materials in this version. The upper is made from tough, engineered mesh designed not to retain moisture and to easily let water escape. The heel cup is a firm plastic that holds the heel onto the midsole, with adequate padding around the heel, cuff, and tongue. This offers good comfort without excessive padding that could trap water.
The tongue is gusseted to help prevent debris from getting into the shoe, and the laces thread through two tabs to prevent it from slipping to one side. I found the fit snug and secure. The heel is comfortably held, and the laces effectively pull the upper around the foot. The toe box is equally comfortable, with a straight big toe line and enough room for my feet to spread on impact. The toe bumper is firm, offering good protection when running on rocky or rooty surfaces. An overlay runs around the base of the upper between the midsole and the upper for abrasion protection.
There’s an additional lace hole to make the heel fit snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes.
The insole is the same Power Run footbed as in the previous version. This sealed foam insole prevents air from escaping and dirt from entering, which helps it last longer and maintains bounce. It’s thin (7mm), providing cushioning and underfoot protection without sacrificing ground feel, allowing your feet to react to the terrain.
The midsole foam is new for the Peregrine 15. The Power Run foam is slightly softer without losing ground feel, as it doesn’t compress too much on impact. It’s also more flexible, giving the shoe a natural feel that follows the ground’s contours. This flexibility provides a smooth ride on rough terrain, allowing you to maintain forward progress without being pushed side to side by bumps.
The outsole has been improved for better traction on wet rock and slippery surfaces. The 5mm lugs aren’t long enough for a traditional British Cross Country race, but they provide excellent traction on most mixed trail conditions. I found they gripped well, and the flexibility of the sole helped shed mud, even in all but the stickiest conditions.
During my winter Saturday sessions, which involve running around a hilly grass field, most trail shoes with long studs are too stiff, making it hard to make forward progress. Remarkably, the Peregrine 15 handled these conditions perfectly, showing how versatile they are. They’re also cushioned enough to handle a mile or so of tarmac comfortably.
Between the outsole and midsole is a thin rockplate made from nylon, preventing sharp rocks or thorns from penetrating the midsole. This adds some stiffness to the forefoot but doesn’t affect the overall flexibility too much, maintaining the Peregrine’s natural feel. The stack height is 28mm in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot, which seems thick for a nimble shoe but still allows enough ground feel for rough trails. The 4mm heel-to-forefoot drop encourages a midfoot strike, reducing overstriding and making the runner more stable on uneven ground.
Trail runners who use gaiters will appreciate the loop at the bottom of the laces, allowing for easy gaiter attachment. Gaiters help seal the shoe, keeping warmth in and debris out, particularly on muddy runs. Saucony shoes are similar in length to Brooks, Altra, Topo, and 361. If you wear Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8, or La Sportiva, consider trying half a UK size larger in Saucony shoes to get a similar length.
I found the fit of the Saucony Peregrine 15 to be very comfortable. Compared to previous versions, the Peregrine 15 has a straighter toe box and a snugger heel and midfoot fit, making it a highly functional trail shoe. The cushioning and underfoot protection were sufficient for nearly three hours of mixed running.
In summary, the Saucony Peregrine 15 is a very versatile trail running shoe that can handle everything from short sections of tarmac to all but the muddiest, sloppiest conditions.
Other Considerations
Inov-8 TrailTalon: A broad rounded toe box allows the feet the room to spread and function inside the shoes. Available in two widths Men’s and Women’s. The cushioning offers a good level of underfoot protection while allowing ground feel. Not quite as soft underfoot as the Peregrine 15 similar level of traction. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailtalon-review/
Altra Lone Peak 9+: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function. Available in two width fittings. Firmer underfoot which some runners find a bit too firm for short sections of tarmac. The Megagrip rubber offers good traction on wet surfaces but, the lugs are a bit short for really soft ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-lone-peak-9-review/
Topo Athletic Terraventure: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread on impact. Not as flexible as the Peregrine 15 and for that reason doesn’t cover broken ground as easily but, very comfortable on firmer tracks and trails. The lug length offers some traction on softer terrain. Available in a waterproof version as well as a mesh upper. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-terraventure-4-review/
Altra King MT 2: A 6mm long lug on the outsole of the King MT gives them a good level of traction on softer trails. A rounded toe box gives the feet room to spread although there isn’t as much width and volume in the toe box as there is in the Altra Lone Peak. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-king-mt-2-review/
VJ Maxx 2: A rounded toe box gives the VJ Maxx 2 enough room in the toe box for the feet to spread on impact. The midsole is nitrogen infused which offers a bit of bounce but feels firmer than the Peregrine 15 midsole. The 4mm lugs offer good versatile traction. Not quite as grippy as the Peregrine on the softer mud but close. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-sport-maxx2-review/
La Sportiva Mutant: A 10mm heel to forefoot drop makes the La Sportiva Mutant more of a heel strikers shoe. The EVA midsole is firm compared with the Peregrine 15 but flexes up after a few miles to feel very comfortable. A bit firm for most runners to use as a road to trail shoe. The grip on soft ground is good but the large lugs don’t bite quite as well as the more pointed lugs on the Peregrine 15. The built in gaiter helps stop debris from getting into the shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-mutant-review-new-version-for-2023/
Hoka Speedgoat 6: A much more cushioned and stiffer shoe. Not as versatile as the Peregrine 15. The Speedgoat 6 is more at home on harder tracks and trails although the lugs offer some grip on wetter surfaces. The rocker shaped midsole will help keep you moving with good posture as you tire but, feels less natural and nimble on shorter quicker runs. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-speedgoat-6-review/
Brooks Cascadia 18: A 10mm heel to forefoot drop makes these more of a heel strikers shoe. The traction is OK on soft ground but, the stiffness through the midfoot and in the heel means that they don’t ride broken ground well and are best used on harder tracks and trails. Available in two width men’s and women’s and a Gore-Tex version. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-18-review/
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