Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
12 mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Trail-specific rubber outsole with triangular lugs for improved traction• IMEVA midsole foam is lightweight, durable and responsive• Raised midfoot arch support for neutral runners• Memory foam conforms to the user’s foot• GRID technology in the heel absorbs shock, improves transitions, and stabilizes landings• Upper has synthetic textured rugged overlays and breathable mesh• 12mm drop
Upper
The upper is made of synthetic textured overlays and breathable mesh. The mesh is more securely constructed than the previous edition, which improves durability. The overlays provide support and structure around the midfoot as well as protecting against debris. It has a soft interior lining that provides an irritation-free, sock-like feel. The tongue and collar have more padding than the previous version for better stability and support. The laces allow the user to fit the shoe as snug or loose as they like according to their taste. The toe box is average-sized. The toe cap protects against accidental stubbing and the heel counter adds light stability to the heel in order to prevent the ankle from rolling or the foot from sliding, especially while going downhill.
Midsole
The midsole is made of IMEVA foam on the bottom layer and memory foam as the top layer. The IMEVA foam is lightweight, responsive, and durable, cushioning landings and giving the user a springy step. The memory foam conforms to the shape of the foot as it cushions landings, giving a customized and supportive fit. The GRID technology in the heel absorbs shock to protect joints and improve transitions, and the raised area in the midfoot gives a nice amount of arch support for neutral runners. The 12mm drop means a little extra cushioning to the heel, which is nice for heel strikers and runners with plantar fasciitis, and promotes forward momentum.
Outsole
The outsole is made of trail-specific rubber. It’s thicker than the previous edition for better durability and protection against objects on the trail. It has triangular lugs that grip a variety of surfaces such as roads, trails and gravel, and also allow users to go uphill and downhill. It is very responsive and its grooves give it just the right amount of flexibility to be both comfortable and stable while going over technical terrain.
Breathability
Testers found that this shoe has good breathability. The mesh has a secure construction with small holes, but air can still freely flow in and out of the shoe. The textured overlays are sewn on but do not take away from the overall breathability, and the soft interior lining prevents irritation, blisters, or hot spots. The upper allows the foot to stay cool and dry in hot weather and also prevents the foot from getting too cold or too wet on a cold, windy, or rainy days.
Comfort
Reviewers found the Saucony Cohesion TR 9 to be very comfortable, with great cushioning and shock absorption. The midsole has IMEVA foam that cushions landings and adds spring to the runner’s step, memory foam to give a custom-fitting cushioning, and a small amount of foam in the arch to give support and improve the fit. The GRID technology in the heel absorbs shock. The heel is a little higher than the forefoot, which helps cushion landings especially in heel strikers and makes the shoe more comfortable for runners with plantar fasciitis. Some testers with plantar fasciitis recommended this shoe for runners with their condition. The upper gives a snug and supportive fit with its securely constructed mesh, padded tongue and collar, and laces that allow the user to fit the shoe as snugly as they like. The toe box is of average size. The interior lining is very soft, prevents irritation, and provides a sock-like fit. Most reviewers found the fit to be very comfortable, and there are both regular and wide sizes available to accommodate runners with different-width feet. Some testers found the length to run about a half-size small, and a few testers found the fit to be too narrow around the toes.
Style
The Cohesion TR 9 has a classic look in black or grey with an accent color to appeal to runners who like bright colors on their shoes. The padding is thicker than some other shoes and the mesh is more securely constructed for improved durability and protection. Most testers thought the shoe looked fine, although some thought it looked too bulky and made their feet look big. The men’s shoe comes in Black /Royal, Grey/Black/Lime, and Grey/Black/Orange. The women’s shoe is available in Grey /Beer/Pink or Grey/Berry/Coral. A later edition of this shoe is available, so not all styles are available in every size.
Durability
The Saucony Cohesion TR 9 has received mixed reviews on durability. The outsole is thick and uses trail-specific rubber to be able to go over high-abrasion surfaces without wearing down or pieces breaking off. The midsole uses durable foams, with the bottom IMEVA layer being especially designed to last for many miles while maintaining its shape. The upper uses textured overlays and securely-constructed mesh for improved durability against wearing and tearing, and the toe guard improves durability on trails. While many users were able to go a few hundred miles without any problems, a few reviewers experienced the shoes falling apart after a couple months of daily running, in particular, the outsole coming apart and the memory foam in the midsole wearing thin.
Protection
The Cohesion TR 9 offers great protection. The thick outsole protects against feeling objects on the ground and the lugs protect against sliding. The midsole has foam to cushion landings, and has GRID technology in the heel specifically designed to absorb shock in order to protect joints. The upper is textured and securely constructed in order to protects against the heat, cold, wind, and rain, as well as debris in the road. The toe guard protects the forefoot against accidental kicking or stubbing objects in the road. The small arch support, secure fit around the midfoot, and the heel counter protect neutral runners against rolling or sliding. Reviewers stated that this shoe has great cushioning and shock absorption.
Responsiveness
This shoe is very responsive. The outsole was designed to go over trails: its lugs give great grip on many types of surfaces and the grooves give the shoe light flexibility to go up and down hills. The midsole has IMEVA foam that adds bounce to the runner’s step, and the memory foam conforms to the exact shape of the foot for responsive cushioning. The drop promotes forward momentum. Transitions are smooth. The upper also moves with the foot, giving a supportive and soft, glove-like fit. The shoe’s light weight makes it easier to carry over long distances while maintaining energy, good for everyday on- and off-road runs or long-distance trail runs.
Support
The Saucony Cohesion TR 9 provides great support for neutral runners. The outsole lifts the foot off the ground and provides some lower support. The midsole has IMEVA foam at the bottom layer and memory foam as the top layer, which gives a customized, supportive fit to the bottom of the foot. The arch support improves the fit for runners with medium to high arches, but does not slow over-pronation. The upper has supportive mesh and overlays that support the sides of the foot, the padded tongue and collar support the top of the foot, and the heel counter supports the heel.
Terrain
The Cohesion TR 9 is a trail running shoe. It has a trail-specific outsole with triangular lugs that is designed to go over technical terrain and high-abrasion surfaces. Testers have successfully used this shoe on trails as well as dirt and paved roads, gravel, paths, and up and down hills. This shoe can go on wet terrain but was not designed for slippery, snowy or icy terrain.
Price
One of the most popular features of the Saucony Cohesion TR 9 is its price. When it was initially released, it was around half the cost of an average running shoe, which is an especially great deal for a supportive and cushioned shoe that can go offroad. A newer version is available, so this shoe currently ranges in price to less than half its original price to slightly more than its original price, depending on the size, color, and retailer.
Drop
The heel height is 29mm and the forefoot height is 17mm, giving this shoe a drop of 12mm. A standard 12mm drop favours heel strikers, as it has more cushioning in the heel. It also promotes forward momentum and takes the strain off the Achilles tendon. The extra cushioning in the heel also benefits runners with plantar fasciitis.
Stability
The Cohesion TR 9 is stable enough for neutral runners and can also be used by under-pronators or light over-pronators. The outsole is firm enough to go over technical terrain and the lugs help stabilize landings. The midsole has some stability in its IMEVA layer, although the memory foam is more flexible than stable. The arch support does not slow over-pronation. The upper’s mesh, padding, and overlays provide light stability to the top and sides of the foot, and the heel counter adds just enough stability to the heel to prevent a neutral runner’s ankles from rolling. The shoe is not stable enough to slow over-pronation, moderate to heavy over-pronators will want to choose a different shoe to avoid possible injury.
Traction
Testers found that this shoe gets great traction both on and off-road, and even has a good grip on wet surfaces. The outsole has aggressive triangular lugs on all parts of the foot, which allow it to grip either soft surfaces such as paths and trails, or hard surfaces such as dirt or paved roads or gravel. The traction allows the user to have stable landings and push off in order to maintain a good pace while going on daily runs. The lugs and grooves also allow users to go up or down hills without worrying about slipping or sliding. This shoe does not get good traction on slippery surfaces such as snow or ice.
Bottom Line
The Saucony Cohesion TR 9 is a good choice for a neutral runner who wants to be able to go on- or off-road during their daily or long-distance runs. It has a really affordable price, great cushioning and shock absorption, and a comfortable fit. Its light weight and responsiveness allow runners to maintain a good pace during longer runs. It has good support and has just the right amount of flexibility and stability for comfortable trail running. Possible areas for improvement include better durability on the outsole and midsole, a less bulky look, and a roomier toe box. Neutral runners, under-pronators, or light over-pronators will like this shoe, but moderate to heavy over-pronators will need a stability or motion control shoe.
