SCORE:  9.28 / 10

  Weight: 9.25oz/ US9

  Shoe Type: Trail daily trainer 

  Terrain: Less technical trail and road

  Style: Looks better than its predecessor

  Pace: moderately high speed 

  Distance: long races

  Use: Daily training and long races

Take Away 

While it has been designed for long-distance trail running,Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 is fantastically a versatile running shoe. It is responsive and thus can pick up speed.

Pros

• Sufficient protection
• Secure fitting with good midfoot hold and wrap
• Breathable mesh upper
• Comfortable over a long-distance of trail running
• Responsive ride
• Excellent traction and stability
• Durable due to strong new upper
• A better lacing system/ non-stretch laces for improved dialing
• Lightweight
• Versatile

Cons

• Forward oriented, hence less flexible 
• those who loved the previous version will not like the fitting

Introduction 

I rank the Saucony Xodus Ultra v1 one of the top, even if not the best trail running shoes of 2022. The Asics Trabuco 10 has one of the best performances exhibited by a trail running shoe. However, I think the Hoka Speedgoat 5 was exceptional, going by the big praises from most runners. The Saucony Xodus Ultra v1 is also an excellent long-distance trail running shoe with an exciting ride. It is also more of a technical shoe since it can tackle anything thrown at it besides giving you a reasonably fast and comfortable ride across miles.

As I put more miles into the previous version, Saucony released its new iteration Saucony Xodus Ultra 2. Though surprised, it is understandable that Saucony intends to ride on the success of the previous version. Saucony hasn't disappointed because its designers improved on what needed improvements and left the best of Exodus Ultra 1 untouched. 

Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 Upper Design and Performance

The Xodus Ultra 2 has the best upper I have ever seen in a trail shoe. No upper in the market is even close to what we have here. It is the most significant update in this new iteration. Saucony invested immensely in the upper, so it's a big shift from the soft and bulgy upper of the previous upper to a rigid and more structured one. The mesh is still light but with a lot of reinforcements.

Still, it doesn't have an overbuilt upper design besides having an inner layer that Saucony calls "an internal foot brace." which is a large underlay section around the midfoot. Some reinforcements are in the toe box and the front end for protection. Hence, this shoe comes with underlays and overlays reinforcements to handle the trail terrain.

The gusseted medium-thin tongue has a neoprene feel. It is also pretty stretchy. It combines with the collar to provide a secure fit. The gusseted tongue fits well on top of the foot and prevents debris from entering the shoe.

The heel counter has two sections. The bottom half is rigid and encircles the heel from both sides. The upper half is less rigid, with a generously padded heel collar to prevent irritation from the stiff heel counter and guarantee a comfortable, snuggly lockdown in the rear section.

The Xodus Ultra 1 had lacing problems; which Exodus Ultra 2 has addressed. Saucony has replaced the stretchy lace and lace rails with a non-stretchy lace system for better lockdown.

The is an overly stitched continuous fabric piece of lace loops encircling the entire lacing system to form a perimeter. The stitches give the loops a robust and secure appearance. The flat, non, stretchy laces are tied through the loops instead of the traditional eyelets. There are only two lace holes closest to the ankle for more dial-in, which is also not necessary.

While the upper fits true-to-size, it runs quite narrow. It is snuggly in the midfoot and heel with sufficient room in the toe box. Some runners may feel disappointed about the change in toe box volume. It is 100% secure and breathable, and the all-around fitting is on point with a bit of flex in the right places.

Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 Midsole Design and Performance

The midsole features a combination of two foams, the PWRRUN PB and PWWRUN. The PWRRUN PB super foam is the core of the midsole, and then surrounded by a more firm PWRRUN foam. The two foams go together to create a compressing and comfortable underground feel suitable for long-distance running.

The combination of the two foams may create an impression of inconsistencies or instability on uneven terrain. However, the opposite is true. The ride is exceptionally stable. The PWRRUN frame does enough to secure the foot.

Additionally, there is a feel of a raised stack height despite a slight 1.5mm stack difference between the Xodus Ultra 2 and 1.

The forefoot is flexible but not like the previous versions. It is still favorable, especially on steep trails. There is a moderate rocker accompanied by a toe spring which makes transitioning and the final push-off effortless and exciting.

The PWRRUN offers a soft, consistent bounce, especially when leaving the floor. The bounce and toe spring is a well-measured package with a sufficient ground feel.

The midsole of Xodus Ultra 2 feels good when running both downhill and up-heel. It can do both slow and fast pace. The best ride is at an easy and steady pace, but it is also compliant when attempting acceleration. That means a trail fartlek or ultra-training is possible with Xodus Ultra 2.

Overall the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 has a well-cushioned and balanced bounce to it, responsive and relaxed for prolonged running. This shoe is fairly agile for a fast pace and has excellent underfoot protection for easy trails to technical trails and dirt roads. Besides a feeling of the high stack, there is a significant connection to the ground.  

Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 feels lightweight. It is lighter than Nike Invincible Run 3

Outsole

The outsole is concocted with a PWRTRAC outsole rubber with a bendy rock plate embedded in the forefoot. The flexibility of the rock plate is to make it adapt to the terrain or stay unnoticed while offering underfoot protection.

The multi-direction lugs devour the trail surface to provide sufficient traction. The grip is impressive across running surfaces, wet wood, grass, sand, mud, and rocks, but it is outperformed by Peregrine 13 on deep mud. The reason is that Peregrine 13 has outsole lugs measuring 6.5mm while Xodus Ultra 2 has 4.5 mm.

Stability

The stability is incredible. The firm PWWRUN frame, moderate 32.5mm/26.5mm stack height, the rock plate, aggressive lugs, moderate rocker, and flaring sole combine to provide consistently fantastic stability.

Whom is Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 Best Suited for?

Anyone who has run in Endorphin Edge will love Xodus Ultra 2, especially if the runner has standard foot size. Hence, Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 is a great companion to the Endorphin Edge.

Xodus Ultra 2 also fits someone looking for an ultra-training shoe that has moderate underfoot cushioning, responsiveness, and sufficient protection. This shoe is better suited for less technical trails even though it is versatile for all types of training, including easy and fast paces or longer and prolonged trail runs. It also rides nicely on the road, better than some road running shoes.

I also use my Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 as a running and commuting shoe. It also feels nice as a walking shoe. I have donned it at work, and my workmates have commented on how sleek Xodus Ultra 2 looks. Hence, it fits as casual wear.

Final Thought

I have nothing to dislike since the updates are well thought out. The fitting has improved; it is lighter now with balanced underfoot cushioning and maximum protection. The impact of these changes will be felt individually. Those who love the voluminous upper of the previous version may feel disappointed with the new updated upper. Overall, I am satisfied with the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2.

Reviewd by Charles Allen

Allen lives in Honokaa, Hawaii, with a wife and three kids. He is a regular trainer and has been running for the last eight years. Sometimes he competes in short marathons. He also provides personal training services to spice up his training sessions, especially on weekends.