Saucony Axon Review
Quality Performance at an Impressive Price
Likes
- Propulsive transitions
- High value
Dislikes
- Basic upper
- Slappy feel
What's New
The Axon is an all-new everyday trainer in the Saucony lineup that features a PWRRUN midsole foam along with speed-driven geometry to provide a lively yet protective running experience that is well worth a try. This shoe is also outfitted with a durable carbon rubber outsole and a lightweight engineered air mesh upper that deliver a surprisingly high level of performance quality at an affordable price.
The Bottom Line
Saucony has released the Axon at an eye-catching price of just $100, which is practically unheard of these days, but at such a low price, do these daily trainers still deliver a worthwhile running experience?
As an everyday trainer, the Axon is designed to perform well over a variety of runs, yet surprisingly, these shoes worked best on faster-paced efforts. Saucony outfitted the Axon with a high stack of PWRRUN foam in the midsole, but these shoes sit on the firmer side and are not as plush as one would expect. It should also be noted that runners may experience the Axon differently depending on their specific type of footstrike. These daily trainers are best suited for forefoot or heel strikers, while midfoot strikers may find the Axon to be unpleasantly slappy underfoot. To answer the question initially posed above, the Axon is a high-value daily training shoe that provides a quality underfoot experience any runner could benefit from.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium to High |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.9 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.8 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 35 mm (Heel), 31 mm (Forefoot) | 4 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Jonathan: "The Axon is on the firmer side but feels different depending on where you strike. The ride is firm, but not too firm for midfoot and forefoot striking. Heel strikers will experience more compression at impact."
Ride/Energy Returni
Jonathan: "The Axon feels better at faster speeds where the somewhat firm feel translates to a quick, responsive ride."
Underfoot Protectioni
Jonathan: "Even though the Axon is a taller shoe, the firmness makes it feel like it has less protection. That being said, there is plenty of cushioning for long runs without feeling beat up afterward."
Flexibilityi
Jonathan: "The Axon has a pronounced toe spring that is fairly stiff. The result is a smooth roll while heel striking and a propulsive feel for midfoot and forefoot striking."
Upper Supporti
Jonathan: "There is not much structure to the simple upper of the Axon. That being said, it delivers a satisfactory, somewhat adaptable fit."
Saucony Men's Axon
Saucony Women's Axon
Individual Thoughts
The Saucony Axon is a great, affordable shoe. I call it a utility shoe because it's useful for lots of different runs. The thick midsole provides plenty of cushioning for long runs, while the SPEEDROLL-inspired shape delivers a smooth feel for faster runs. If you don't want to run long or fast, this shoe performs well for simple runs as well. Overall, it's not perfect. I felt it was a bit slappy with my midfoot strike, and the upper is pretty basic but caused no issues. However, if you are a heel or forefoot striker, there are not many faults in this shoe.
