Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
12 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Saucony Cohesion 9
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• XT-600 rubber outsole with triangular lugs for traction on trails• Reflective material for visibility in low-light conditions• Heel Grid system absorbs shock, cushions and stabilizes landings, and improves transitions• IMEVA foam cushions landings and adds spring to the user’s step• Removable foam insole• Arch support technology for neutral runners• External heel counter stabilizes the heel• Open mesh and synthetic tech overlays with breathable fabric lining• 12mm drop
Upper
The upper is made of open mesh for breathability with stitched-on synthetic tech overlays for structure and support. The interior lining is soft and breathable and prevents irritation. The plush tongue and collar are padded. The laces provide an even fit. The shoe has an external heel counter that stabilizes the heel and a toe guard that adds durability and protection to the front of the shoe. The toe box is narrow to average-sized. The overlays use reflective materials to make the user visible in low-light conditions, such as early mornings, evenings, or foggy weather.
Midsole
The midsole is made of two layers of foam. The bottom layer is lightweight IMEVA (Injection Molded Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam that cushions landings and improves responsiveness. The top layer is a removable foam insole that can be replaced with a medical orthotic or a gel insole, depending on the needs of the wearer. The midsole provides some arch support for neutral runners as well as 2mm of foam support for under-pronators. It also has a Heel Grid system to cushion and stabilize landings, absorb shock, and improve transitions. The 12mm drop promotes forward momentum.
Outsole
The outsole is made of XT-600 rubber. It is durable enough to go over high-abrasion surfaces without breaking off or wearing down. It has triangular lugs to give traction on roads or trails and help stabilize landings. It also has grooves for flexibility that make the shoe easier to move in and help with transitions. The outsole is thick enough to protect the wearer against feeling objects on the ground.
Breathability
Reviewers found that the Saucony Cohesion TR 8 has good breathability. Open mesh covers most of the upper, and the holes are big enough to allow air to easily travel in and out of the shoe so that runners don’t have to worry about blisters or hot spots. The stitched-on overlays do not take away from the shoe’s breathability. The soft interior lining prevents irritation under the stitches and is breathable enough to allow air to travel around the foot to keep it cool and dry.
Comfort
The Cohesion TR 8 is very comfortable. The midsole has good cushioning in its IMEVA foam layer, and the removable insole is comfortable on its own but can also be replaced with a gel insole or medical orthotic that is even more comfortable to the wearer. The midsole has extra cushioning in the arch and outside of the foot to support neutral runners and under-pronators. The upper’s breathability allows the foot to stay cool and dry. The soft interior lining prevents irritation where the stitches are, and the tongue and heel collar are padded to prevent irritation on the top of the foot. The laces and overlays provide an even fit, but testers noted that the fit is not as snug as some other shoes. Most reviewers found that the shoes were true to size, although a few thought it ran a half-size large or small. No wide sizes are offered, so some testers found the toe box fit to be too narrow.
Style
This shoe has a classic Saucony look. It has open mesh covering most of the shoe with synthetic overlays for support and structure. It has reflective material for visibility in low-light conditions, which allow runners to stay visible early in the morning, in the evening, or in foggy weather. The shoe is available in Grey /Black/Yellow for men and Grey/Pink/Citron or Grey/Black/Coral for women. While many testers thought the shoe looked fine, some of them didn’t like the muted colors. The shoe has been discontinued, so not all sizes and colors are still available.
Durability
The Saucony Cohesion TR 8 received mixed reviews on durability. Testers found that outsole has great durability and is able to go uphill or downhill on a variety of types of surfaces without wearing down or breaking apart. The midsole’s IMEVA foam is very durable, able to maintain its shape while cushioning landings and springing the foot back into the air. The removable insole has good durability in the forefoot and midfoot, but some testers experienced poor durability in the heel area of the midsole. The upper has good durability in its mesh and overlays. They give a snug and supportive fit for many miles without wearing out or losing their form. Testers were usually able to run at least two hundred miles without experiencing any problems with wear and tear.
Protection
The Cohesion TR 9 offers great protection. The thick outsole protects runners from feeling objects on the ground, which could cause blisters or bruising. The midsole has IMEVA foam and a removable insole to cushion landings and protect joints. The IMEVA foam was designed to have good shock absorption, and the Heel Grid System absorbs shock in and adds extra cushioning to the heel, which is especially beneficial to heel strikers or runners with plantar fasciitis. The breathable mesh and interior protect against the heat, and the upper itself protects against cold or windy weather. The supportive fit and the heel counter protect against rolling and sliding.
Responsiveness
The Saucony Cohesion TR 9 is responsive enough for daily and long-distance running. The light weight makes it easy to carry over long distances. The outsole has lugs to grip roads or trails and grooves that are just flexible enough to comfortably bend with the foot and the terrain without losing stability while going over technical terrain. The midsole has a Heel Grid system that provides smooth transitions, as well as an IMEVA foam layer that bounces the foot back into the air after it lands. The 12mm drop promotes forward momentum. The upper provides a snug fit and moves easily with the foot and maintains its shape as the wearer goes up and down hills or over technical terrain.
Support
This shoe offers a good level of support for neutral runners and under-pronators. The outsole lifts the foot off the ground and helps support the bottom of the foot. The midsole has foam that uses arch support technology that supports medium to high arches without slowing over-pronation, as well as 2mm of support on the outsides of the foot for under-pronators. The upper’s mesh and overlays provide a supportive fit around the midfoot, the padded tongue and collar support the foot around the top of the ankle, and the heel counter supports the heel.
Terrain
The Cohesion TR 9 is a trail running shoe. Testers have used it successfully on light and technical trails as well as paved roads, dirt roads, paths, and gravel. The lugs allow the shoe to go over a variety of surface types and can even go over wet terrain without worrying about slipping or getting injured. This shoe was not designed to go on slippery terrains such as snow or ice.
Price
The Saucony Cohesion TR 9 has a very affordable price. When it was initially released, it sold for around half the price of the average running shoe. This is a very good deal, considering it has enough stability to go on trails, a supportive fit, and a high level of cushioning. Later editions of this shoe are available, so the price currently ranges from half its original price to a little over the original price. Because the shoe has been discontinued, not all sizes and colors are available anymore.
Drop
The heel height is 29mm and the forefoot height is 17 mm, giving this shoe a standard drop of 12mm. This drop level favors heel strikers and promotes forward momentum. Extra padding in the heel also takes the strain off the Achilles tendon and makes it a good shoe for runners with plantar fasciitis because of the overall level of high cushioning.
Stability
The Cohesion TR 8 has enough stability for neutral runners and under-pronators, but over-pronators will need a stability or motion control shoe. The outsole is stable enough to prevent the foot from rolling and the lugs help stabilize landings as runners go over technical terrain. The midsole has a light amount of support in the arches, but it does not control over-pronation. The upper has some stability in the midfoot to keep the ankle from rolling while going downhill or over rocks and debris. The heel counter stabilizes the back of the foot to keep it from rolling or sliding.
Flexibility
The Saucony Cohesion TR 8 has a light amount of flexibility. The outsole has grooves that allow the shoe to bend with the runner’s foot as they go over hills and technical terrain. The midsole’s IMEVA foam and removable insole are flexible enough to allow the foot to move comfortably as it pushes off and lands. The upper also bends enough to allow the foot to move but not so much that the ankles will roll if the wearer goes on rocks or down hills. Compared to the previous edition, the TR 8 has extra flexibility in the forefoot, which helps to allow the toes to push off in order to pick up speed or maintain a comfortable pace.
Traction
Reviewers found that the Cohesion TR 9 has excellent traction on many types of surfaces. The lugs allow it to grip roads or trails, and the shoe even gets good traction on wet pavement as long as it’s not slippery. Runners can go uphill or downhill on technical terrain without worrying about slipping or sliding. The lugs do not grip slippery surfaces well, so users should avoid going on snow or ice.
Bottom Line
The Saucony Cohesion TR 8 is a good shoe for entry-level runners who want to be able to go on- or off-road during their daily runs. It has a good level of cushioning and shock absorption to protect joints of runners who are just starting out. It is light enough to carry on longer runs and breathable enough to not let the foot get hot or sweaty. It is flexible enough to allow the toes to push off but stable enough to go over technical terrain. The removable insole allows runners to either use it or replace it with a more comfortable or customized one of their own. It has a great grip on many types of surfaces and is an affordable price, making it a good shoe for new runners who want to try going on different kinds of terrain. Possible areas for improvement include offering wide sizes, making the accent colors brighter to appeal to more people, and better durability in the midsole.
