This is the 13th iteration of Saucony's Peregrine range and its longevity is a reflection of the great mix of features that make it a good choice for an all-round lightweight and nimble trail shoe.
What’s the traction like?
On first glance, the rugged PWRTRAC outsole with chunky lugs grabs your attention and almost shouts at you that this shoe is ready for all you can throw at it. Mud, wet grass, technical downhills – bring them on.
Changes to this 13th addition have included spacing out the lugs and making them smaller.
This seems to have added even more grip and gave me confidence testing on a variety of trails and weather conditions.
Is the Saucony Peregrine 13 comfortable?
Cushioning is focused around the midsole and is definitely on the side of agile trail running rather than long day, long distance running.
But that said, it very much depends on the type of terrain, as the Peregrine 13 can deal with lots.
With 28mm at the heel and 24mm at the forefront, the stack and drop are relatively low but the feeling of comfort isn’t.
A midsole rock plate provides protection from sharp rocks. While this can sometimes make a shoe feel less responsive, this wasn’t the case with the Peregrine 13 and it felt dynamic to run in.
Also worth a mention, as it’s often a rarity in trail shoes these days, is a thicker than normal sock liner. This cushioned feature adds an extra bit of comfort and gave the feeling of a little slither of luxury.
The gusseted tongue is made of the same mesh material and there is padding around the heel helping it feel comfortable and secure.
How does it fit?
While the toe box is relatively wide, I found the fit snug. This isn’t a bad thing depending on what you’re asking the shoe to do.
We want to lock down our feet to provide more stability on more technical terrain and have less movement than if we were running more hard-packed, groomed trails.
For those who prefer a roomier fit, a wide fitting is available.
The straightforward lacing means that adjustments are easy to make for those with higher insteps than others.
I tested this shoe on a variety of trails and found I could focus on the run rather than each foot placement.
What’s the ride like?
The Peregrine 13 has a forefoot rocker that helps increase foot turnover and therefore the ability to pick up the pace when trails flattened off.
As an addition, good flexibility through the forefoot means that wearers can easily go up onto their toes for uphill running and on more technical terrain.
The mesh upper is soft and drains well. Structure and therefore foot stability is provided by film overlays that run the length of the shoe on both sides.
Compared to other trail shoes, the Peregrine 13 is at the lower end of the weight category 238g (UK5.5), which makes it feel agile to run in.
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What else should I know?
The addition of a gaiter hook at the forefoot means the Peregrine 13 can quickly be upgraded to be even more versatile in wetter or snowier conditions.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Peregrine 13 is described as a vegan shoe and contains recycled materials.
Our only real niggle is the colour. Why, when you have such a great trail shoe as the Peregrine 13 built for muddy adventures, do you make it in white. However, there are several other colours to choose from.
The Peregrine 13 is not the flashiest of shoes, but it is quietly confident at delivering a good-value trail shoe packed with features to get you running, no fuss.
Overall, if you’re looking for an all-rounder trail shoe and it fits well than this is it.
Verdict: If you’re looking for an all-rounder, the Saucony Peregrine 13 is it.
Score: 85%