REVIEW: Saucony Peregrine 14 GORE-TEX

For those who live on the edge. The Peregrine is back providing the ultimate off-road experience. With a reimagined GORE-TEX upper for ultimate weather protection and an all-new eye-row construction for the perfect fit and feel.

Our German Ambassador Tobias has tested the Saucony Peregrine 14 GORE-TEX for us.

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First Impressions

The first impressions out of the box were positive. The shoe looks and feels well-built and durable. The lug depth looks aggressive for the tough and especially wet conditions that the shoe is intended to be used for – given the GORE-TEX upper. The orange color-way brings some eye-catching visibility, especially during the dark winter months.

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The Upper

The main upper feature of this version of the Peregrine 14 is its GORE-TEX membrane. There is nothing else to say than: it meets all the expectations that you can have for the protection from water, snow and mud. After miles and miles in nothing but the toughest conditions you can find while trail running in the Alps I’ve never returned home with wet feet. Nevertheless, the membrane brings some stiffness to the shoe which reduces the feeling of overall comfort. This might be the same for nearly all GTX versions of trail running shoes – no matter the brand and model – but the effect was recognizable anyhow, so be aware that these shoes will need 'breaking in'.

On the other side, this rigidity reducing the comfort still helps with the overall protection the shoes give from snow, little branches and stones. The lacing system is another point to mention as I have been struggling to find the sweet spot for the lockdown: unfortunately, my feet were either getting numb in the uphills from lacing up too tightly or not locked down enough to allow for precise downhill running in technical terrain. Maybe a different lacing scheme can help to prevent that in a future version of the model.

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The Midsole

There are three main technology units implemented in the midsole – the PWRRUN main compound, the FormFit technology and the PWRRUN+ sockliner. The sockliner itself provides nice comfort right from the first step-in. The FormFit technology helps with a comfortable feeling in the foot bed and is wrapping neatly around the bottom of your sole. Unfortunately, these promising comfortable features get reduced when you actually start running as the combination of the PWRRUN compound with the GORE-TEX protection layer makes it a very firm ride without all too much responsiveness. While agreeing with the shock-absorbing capabilities on slightly uneven terrain – you won’t feel any stones pinching through the midsole – I cannot confirm enough cushioning when using the shoe for distances above 8-10 kilometers and/or dynamic downhills sections. As a result, I would still recommend the shoe for classic uphill mountain running, also thanks to its lightweight feeling on the feet. But if you are a trail runner searching for a winter trainer which can bring you through a high weekly volume including longer downhill sections, you might want to have a look at other options. To close with a positive note, the comparably low stack height (28-24mm) and resulting drop of 4mm guarantee for a stable ride with very low risk of rolling your ankles. All in all, I would wish for a little more of the well-cushioned sensations I get from Saucony’s Triumph 22 GTX road running option.

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The Outsole

The outsole and grip it’s providing is where the shoe is really standing out positively compared to other brands and models. As mentioned above, I’ve been testing the model through some of the most severe conditions you can imagine and felt securely connected to the surface at any time. The 5mm lug depth which is set up in a bi-directional pattern provides nothing less than the perfect amount of grip you can wish for in a GTX trail running shoe. No matter the terrain under foot, from short and wet asphalt sections when commuting to wet and snowy rocks as well as anything in between, the shoe gives you a level of security I’ve barely seen in any other models. Saucony’s PWRTRAC rubber outsole lives up to its name without any concern. Additionally, after weeks of running in the Peregrine 14 GTX I cannot see any wear and tear despite the tough trails that my pair has seen, so I can only imagine a high level of durability. The outsole will definitely stand the test of time.

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Sizing - Fit and Feel

For the sizing of the shoe I went true to size and it was the perfect decision. For someone like myself who enjoys a snug fit around the toe box, you might feel just a little too much room for movement in the front of your foot but regarding the length of the shoe, I felt perfectly fine right from the start. Despite being the GORE-TEX version of the model, the shoes feel quite lightweight once you’ve laced up which makes them a suitable option for uphill mountain racing or even an all-out vertical effort. As mentioned in the midsole section above though, I really struggled to find the perfect level of tightness of the laces. Still today, the point where my feet won’t get numb in steep uphills and won’t slip in the downhills afterwards seems to be non-existent. This might be related to my own anatomy but still needs to be mentioned as I have to re-lace once the gradient of the terrain changes significantly and for more than just a few minutes.

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Performance

For my own use case as an ultra trail runner, the shoe is only performing well for a small niche of my training and racing profile. Based on the low level of perceived cushioning over longer distances which also include downhills, the Saucony Peregrine 14 GTX will not become my new everyday workhorse for collecting miles over miles over miles. They get my full recommendation though for shorter adventures of up to 10 kilometers where you have to cope with tough underfoot conditions and wet surroundings. Both the grip of the outsole and the GORE-TEX membrane live up to nothing but the highest expectations. Being comparably lightweight for a GTX shoe, you might even want to consider it for short and intense uphill racing during winter. Both soft and hard terrain can be handled magnificently with this model. The low stack height and drop also cater for a very beginner-friendly shoe. So if you’re up to hitting the trails for the first time and have a fear of rolling your ankle, there are only few shoes on the market which will provide you with a similar feeling of security and stability. All in all, not my personal new favourite, but a valid option that I will keep in my winter rotation for the use cases mentioned above. For future updates, I would prefer the level of cushioning and long-term comfort that I know from the likes of a Saucony Triumph or even the Endorphin line-up.

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Summary/Conclusion

The Saucony Peregrine 14 GTX in summary:

• Very good option for shorter trail and mountain runs which do not include too many downhill sections or necessity for high cushioning

• Perfect grip for the most severe underfoot conditions – on soft and hard surfaces in dry, wet or even snowy conditions

• Bi-directional 5mm lug pattern for accelerating and stopping immediately

• True to size with a little more space in the toe box for anyone who likes it

• Difficult to find the perfect lockdown for a mix of uphill and downhill running

• Beginner-friendly based on the low stack height and the stable ride

• Perfectly suited for winter weather and extreme conditions thanks to the GORE-TEX membrane implemented in the upper

• Durable and protective

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