Shoe Of The Week: Saucony Zealot ISO

Surprisingly light and energetic for such a well-cushioned shoe, the neutral-oriented Zealot earned rave reviews from our wear-test team for fit and comfort. Part of Saucony’s new ISOfit line, the Zealot’s integrated upper and lacing system lock down the midfoot to create an adaptive, near-custom fit for any foot shape. (The slightly wider forefoot profile accommodates wider feet and allows a little bit of wiggle room in the toe box, but it’s not so wide that it’s too wide for runners with narrower feet.) A two-layer, almost-maximal foam midsole and plush interior combine to serve up a sublime, buttery-soft ride—not springy and not mushy, but a happy medium in between—and seamless heel-to-toe gait cycle, while the lightweight sensation and lower profile of the heel (4mm heel-toe offset) facilitates a quick stride turnover. All that adds up to a shoe that’s great for long runs at any pace, but it’s also light, flexible and spunky enough to do some up-tempo running. As for detractors, there really aren’t many. Our wear-testers liked it for tempo runs and fartleks, but reported it wasn’t quite agile enough for faster turnover sessions on the track. Several wear-testers remarked about how a shoe with this much cushy foam could be so light and almost every tester loved how this shoe fit their feet. “The fit is so coheisve,” said wear-tester Mark Eller. “It cradles the feet from all directions.” Added wear-tester John Tolbert: “Great fit, great ride! This is my new favorite shoe for the spring.”

This is the ideal shoe for you: if you’re looking for a well-cushioned for longer training runs, including race-paced distance workouts and progression runs.

Price: $130
Weights: 8.3 oz. (men’s), 7.4 oz. (women’s)
Heel-toe offset: 4mm; 25mm (heel), 21mm (forefoot)
Info: Saucony.com

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