Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
0 mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Track
Type
Racing
Key Features
• 10-pin spike plate• Synthetic Sole• Flex Film Material• ISOFIT equipped• Very Lightweight• Rigid built
Upper
The uppersole is made out of Flex Film, which is a lightweight yet strong material that allows for fewer layers in the upper section of shoes. It also allows for the shoes to have no-sew overlays. This results in a seamless and flexible feel after lace-up and you will be able to tell the difference when you feel how flexible yet light these shoes truly are. It is a very tight feel for any runner or athlete that needs to be quick on his or her feet.
Midsole
The shoes come with an ISOFIT technology that is crafted out of stretchable air mesh and morphs onto the foot for a sock-like feel. It also offers a floating support cage that cradles the foot for a comfortable, yet lightweight, feel. The sole is very synthetic. It offers a custom feel and fit for each foot that is inputted into the shoes. The laces tend to be a bit long so you may need to tie them twice. The tongue is also part of the shoe and doesn’t feel like a separate piece of material attached.
Outsole
This is where the shoes truly shine. The spike technology that the outsole is equipped with offers a 10-pin spike plate that is one of the most aggressive spikes among any shoe you can get. It is called a Pebax spike and offers a 1/4” pyramid built. The shoes feel both rigid and lightweight in usage due to the spike and other technologies within. Spikes are very useful when it comes to particular surfaces in the track & field sports and sprints across the tracks at very high speeds. You will also feel the impact at high speeds when the spikes hit the track as you turn and twist around the track. This gives runners the feeling of control and efficiency.
Breathability
Due to their lightweight nature and Flex Film overlays, the shoe is very breathable and ventilated in use. The shoes offer various small little opening holes (pin-sized) to let air inside around its uppersole and sides. The backstay or heel section is low and tight as well, so the foot stays rigid.
Comfort
Due to being so lightweight, and offering a tight grip, the shoes are very comfortable to put on and use. The Flex Film is very well put to use when it comes to comfort as are the way its overall design is. The tops of the shoes offer a tight shoelace for a secure fit. The rigidness around the foot and grip to the ground due to its spike technology as well as other grip features allows for great track & field feel.;The shoe’s lower section at the sole, thus the outsole and midsole, come to the size of your foot as Saucony has made them to match the size of the wearer depending on the size of your foot. There should be no looseness or feeling like your toes are touching something at the end. The tongue of the shoes is also connected to the shoes and is part of the upper’s package, rather than a separate piece of material. This keeps them compacted.
Style
The shoes offer great style, which is standard for performance sprinters and runners that are of a high or professional caliber. You will want to look and feel great on your runs as you make it across the finish line and these shoes will fulfill their role in this regard. The fact that Saucony is a very respectable brand for sprinters, as well as track & field athletes, says a lot about what to expect when it comes to style. The way the shoes are designed also oozes style. They come in two colors of red/white or black/citron. They both look great. There is a cool design on the front with a back heel that also makes them look great. The combination of two colors works really well.
Durability
The shoes may suffer in terms of durability over long-term use, due to them being designed to be very lightweight and flexible in use. However, they will get the job done in terms of overall performance and will offer sprinters many chances to race ahead to the finish line. The shoes, however, are meant for sprinting and not for outside the track use. They are not comfortable to walk around in or wear with spikes outside high-speed sprinting anyway, and this is what they were designed for.
Protection
These are not shoes aimed at going on hikes on the mountains so the protection may be lacking in this regard. They are designed for short or quick sprints across track & field pathways or standard track & field sports. For anything else you will need shoes more robust, which are not as light or offer such a spike grip. Some runners complained the side walls of the shoes are not robust after long usage so keep that in mind as a potential pitfall.
Responsiveness
The shoes are very responsive to abrupt stops and take offs due to their spike built on the outsole. They are also responsive during turns due to their tight wrap around the foot and will get a runner to the finish line in no time. They stick to the surface for a great grip and stick to the foot for a rigid feel.
Support
The Showdowns shoes come with Isofit and Flex Film materials for support of their base and support of the foot staying in place during sprints. They are rigid, lightweight and very flexible in use. Support may be lacking a bit on the side walls.
Terrain
These are track & field shoes, not shoes you want to take on long runs or marathons, although as long as you keep it on the road or track you should be fine. They are really designed for sprints and dashes due to the spikes that they come equipped with on the outsole. They are for performance athletes or the serious sprinters who want quality equipment for best performance. For short sprints, they excel and the spike really feels like it is made for fast tracks.
Price
The shoes are not the cheapest out there for even athletes runners or sprinters. In fact, Saucony has many cheaper offerings for the budget athletes out there such as its Spitfire series. However, with these shoes you really get what you pay for and you will see the difference in performance. You get a great price per performance ratio where truly quality shoes with spike handling, lightness, and a breathable material will feel like it belongs on your foot. Keep in mind you are getting some accessories for the price like some users mentioned getting an extra pair of laces in the box.
Drop
It is hard to find the drop of these shoes listed anywhere, but analyzing and looking at them, they appear to have a zero drop. This again may be because they are meant for ultra-fast sprints and not distance running, so performance ratio over long-term comfort is paramount. In fact, with these shoes and many others in this type of track & field specialization, it is the front section, or toe cap and box, which actually lifts up at an angle and not the reverse. So unlike shoes with a drop where the heel is higher than the toes, these shoes reverse the trend and there is a rear drop instead of a standard front drop.
Stability
Due to the tight mesh and design in upper sole, above the mid-sole cushion, the shoes will wrap around your foot as if you were born with them on and not tend to loosely move around as some other shoes do. They will not move around during usage so you will not have to keep readujsting them once on in a comfortable fit. The spike is very stable during high-speed and sprint-type runs, but you may not feel so stable walking around with them on in everyday usage.
Flexibility
The shoes are very flexible due to the Flex Film material they come designed in. They will allow for smooth bending and this will be put to use as you turn during runs on a field. They are flexible in nature and light, which is a combination and runner and sprinter want to hear. They will offer a very custom-type of fit with minimal wear around the top of the shoe. The laces come long and the tongue doesn’t hinder your foot in any way.
Traction
Due to the previously mentioned 10-pin spike sole on the shoe’s bottom, you are getting an incredible grip during runs and athletic maneuvers. They will keep any runner stuck on that track like rubber. This is what they have been designed for and excel in. The spike is really revolutionary, but not comfortable on really any terrain outside the track, nor is it even effective to walk in overall. The shoes are definitely built for the track.
Bottom Line
If you regularly participate in dashes or sprints of about 100-400 Meters, this is where these shoes excel. They will keep you gripped to the surface and running all while making your foot feel as lightfoot as if there were almost no shoes on at all. They are designed for track & field outings and will provide you with all the support and cushion you need on runs where abrupt stoppages and take-offs can make the difference between losing and winning.
