Details
Brand
Saucony
Breathability
6/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Track
Type
Racing
Key Features
• Lightweight synthetic/textile upper helps stabilize the foot• Rubber outsole• Lightweight molded quarter cage adds support• 7-pin Pebax Spike Plate provides excellent traction• Designed for speed, comfort, and control in track events• Men’s shoe weight: 5.4 oz / 153 g• Women’s shoe weight: 4.7 oz / 133 g
Upper
The synthetic and textile upper provides some lightweight stability to the foot as it sprints around tracks in order to prevent rolling or sliding. The lightweight molded quarter cage adds some support around the foot for increased comfort. The thin laces help secure the fit around the midfoot. There material around the toes is slightly harder to protect against bruising. The heel, collar, and tongue have a small amount of padding for support. The tongue has a loop that can be laced through to prevent it from sliding into the shoe. The tongue, heel, and outside of the shoe are covered in mesh for breathability and the overlays and heel counter help stabilize the foot to help prevent injury in neutral runners.
Midsole
The midsole is a thin and lightweight full-length piece of EVA foam. It cushions landings, protects joints and returns a small amount of energy back to the wearer. Although its shape matches the foot, it does not provide a lot of arch support and is best suited for neutral runners who do not over-pronate. It does not have as much support or cushioning as other shoes because it was designed to be as light as possible for speed and control.
Outsole
The outsole is made of rubber that is lightweight yet durable. The heel and midfoot have tiny triangular treads provide traction and control, allowing precise motion and landings from any direction. The forefoot features a Pepax Spike Plate with 7 pins around the perimeter for excellent traction when sprinting around tracks. The outsole stabilizes landings, provides light protection from feeling the impact and is flexible enough for natural motion.
Breathability
The upper has breathable mesh in the tongue, heel, and outside midfoot and rearfoot. This allows air to flow in and out of the shoe, which is especially important during sprints and events that could cause overheating without proper ventilation. There are some overlays on the outside that do not take away from breathability and have minimal stitching to prevent blisters and irritation. The inside is all synthetic material except in the heel. There are five ventilation holes in the outside near the toes and eight in the same area on the inside. The level of breathability is good, but the shoe is best suited for sprints and other short distance races.
Comfort
According to testers, this shoe has a comfortable fit. The width is medium, the length runs a full size small, and the fit is slightly narrow. The midsole has a thin layer of full-length EVA foam to soften landings and keep the bottom of the foot cushioned. The upper has light padding in the tongue, collar, and heel for more comfortable movements. The laces provide a comfortably snug fit, although a few testers thought they were too thin, which can cause some pressure on top of the foot. The tongue has a loop for lacing through to prevent uncomfortable sliding and folding into the shoe. The lightweight molded quarter cage adds a comfortable layer of support around the foot. The low weight and good ground feel help make sprints more comfortable, as the foot does not feel weighed down.
Style
The Saucony Spitfire 4 has a look that was popular with testers. The logos and the pattern of the overlays make it look like a racing shoe. The forefoot curves upward where the spikes go for better transitions and control. The laces are thin, which was liked by some testers and not by others. The men’s shoe comes in Black /Red, Red/White, and Royal/White. The women’s shoe comes in Pink/Grey and Teal/Blue. The colors are bright, which may not be liked by people who prefer neutral colors, but was popular with track and field runners who enjoy sprinting and racing.
Durability
The Spitfire 4 is made from durable, sturdy, high-quality materials. The outsole’s rubber has great durability in the triangular treads, the Pepax Spike Plate, and the spikes. The midsole’s EVA foam is thin but also designed to maintain its shape without wearing down or tearing out. The upper is also durable with its high amount of synthetic material, and the mesh is durable as well. The toe area and heel have thicker material for extra durability in those areas. This shoe is able to run for many races without any sign of wearing out.
Protection
As a sprinting shoe designed for one kind of surface, this shoe provides only a small amount of protection. The sole unit is thin to keep the weight low, which is fine for running around dirt tracks but does not protect against feeling debris on the ground. The spikes protect against sliding on the track. The thin EVA foam in the midsole protects joints even when the wearer picks up speed. The upper has thicker material in the heel to protect against bruising, and the synthetic material in the overlays, the inside of the shoe, and the heel counter help prevent rolling or sliding. This shoe does not protect against over-pronation or slipping when running or walking on different types of surfaces other than tracks.
Responsiveness
The Saucony Spitfire 4 has good speed. The zero drop and thin sole unit with triangular treads provide great control and ground feel, allowing fast movement in any direction and making it a good choice for sprinting and track and field events. The outsole’s treads and Pepax Spike Plate provide smooth heel-to-toe transitions. The midsole adds a slight bounce to the wearer’s step. The upper is flexible enough to move freely in and light enough that it does not weigh the foot down.
Support
The Spitfire 4 provides a thin layer of support around the foot, although it does not provide enough arch support for flat feet or slowing over-pronation. The EVA foam supports the underside of the foot. The lightweight molded quarter cage adds support to the upper. The padding in the heel, collar, and tongue provide some support around the rearfoot. The padding in the mesh adds provides some support around the midfoot.
Terrain
This shoe is designed for track and field events. The treads and spikes are ideal for running on hard dirt tracks and allow the wearer to easily pick up speed and control movement during sprints and other events. It does not have enough padding and protection for ascending, descending, or going on trails. It was not designed for going on gravel or wet, snowy, icy, or slippery terrain.
Price
At around 65% of the average running shoe cost upon its initial release, the Saucony Spitfire 4 is very affordable. It is a lightweight, minimalist-like shoe with spikes for running on tracks. It is comfortable to wear and allows movement in any direction, which makes it a popular shoe choice for sprinting and other track and field events. Current pricing ranges between 80% off its original price and 50% more than the original price, depending on the color, size, and vendor.
Drop
This shoe has a 0mm drop and a low stack height. The low stack height provides a good ground feel, although it means less protection and cushioning than shoes with a higher stack height. The low drop means greater control for takeoffs and landings, which is great for sprinting and going around obstacles. The standard drop has more cushioning in the heel, which means the cushioning is not evenly distributed throughout the foot and it can push the foot forward when the wearer wants to move in a different direction. A zero drop can take some getting used to, and can cause soreness while muscles are getting stronger, but long term it is a better choice for a sprinting shoe.
Stability
The Saucony Spitfire 4 is categorized as a neutral shoe, which means it is stable enough to prevent rolling or sliding in neutral runners so they do not get injured during their sprints, but it does not have extra features to slow over-pronation. The outsole helps stabilize takeoffs and landings, with the treads in the heel and forefoot for landings and the spikes stabilizing takeoffs for precise movement and greater control. The EVA foam in the midsole provides cushioning that prevents some slipping and sliding. The upper’s textile and synthetic material helps secure the foot in place. The overlays around the midfoot help prevent the ankle from rolling and the heel counter keeps the foot from slipping and sliding inside the shoe.
Flexibility
This shoe has a good level of flexibility for a track sprinting shoe. Testers found that sole is slightly stiff, especially in the forefoot, but it does not affect transitions or gait. The EVA in foam in the midsole bends easily so that the foot can push off and land, and the foam is able to absorb shock and cushion. The overlays and heel counter keep the foot in place but still allow it to move quickly.
Traction
The Spitfire 4 has great traction on its intended surface type: dirt tracks. The treads have a good grip on dirt and the spikes prevent slipping so that the wearer can move quickly and precisely during sprints, around obstacles, and in other track and field events. It does not have a good grip on rough surfaces like gravel, and testers noted that it may become slippery on floors. It can also be slippery on hills, trails, mud, snow, and ice.
Bottom Line
The Saucony Spitfire 4 is a great sprinting and track and field shoe. It is very lightweight, having a minimal amount of features in order for the weight to be as low as possible for speed and control. It is comfortable to wear, despite not having as much padding or cushioning as other shoes. It has good breathability during short distance runs and sprints. It has a popular racing shoe look with bright colors. It is made of high-quality, durable materials that do not fall apart easily and provide good protection for runs around tracks. It has good speed and ground feel and is flexible enough for natural movement. The stability and support are good enough for neutral runners. It has good grip on dirt tracks but tends to be slippery on floors and other surfaces that it was not intended for. The drop and low stack height improve speed and control but may cause injury or soreness for those who are new to a zero drop or minimalist shoe. The price is very affordable, making it a good investment for both entry-level and experienced track and field runners alike. Overall, the Spitfire 4 is a good choice for neutral track and field runners who want lightweight speed and control, but not a good shoe for over-pronators who need stability, injury-prone runners who need extra cushioning, or people who want to run on a variety of terrain types.
