One of my favorite features of the shoe, the plush cushioning not only offers a luxe feel and serious softness, but it also provides a nice snug fit around the heel where I sometimes feel slippage. It’s not an area that needs much innovation, and yet, many shoes attempt to do so.” The majority of the Freedom’s support comes an external heel frame-sufficient for neutral feet, but it won’t do much to counter severe overpronation-that sits right beneath a super cushy ankle collar. Our testers seem to prefer simpler laces one said, “I’m happy that it has the ‘old style’ lacing system. Some runners truly love ISOfit lacing, but personally, I was happy that Saucony stopped trying to reinvent the upper. For me, the Freedom is quickly becoming my go-to for easy runs, tempos, and some longer weekend miles. Given the Freedom 3’s flexibility, I can see some runners seeking a little more structure if they wear it for long runs, or wanting a stiffer, snappier feel for speedwork.
However, in its latest version, the Freedom has a slightly firmer heel that rolls smoothly into a very soft forefoot-even in my test pair that was a half size too large, the shoe never felt clunky. Soft and pliable, the PWRRUN+ foam feels extremely flexible, which is a significant shift from the previous model’s EVERUN cushioning: The ISO2 had a heavier, very stiff sole that afforded a slightly clunky feel. According to our lab data, it has one of the most energetic midsoles we’ve seen, and that bouncy sensation pulled me out the door for recovery runs that felt more effortless than expected. More than once, I laced up the Freedom for “just a quick spin around the block,” even though I had been mulling over a rest day its astounding energy return and soft cushioning make it really a fun shoe to run in. While some might prefer the larger offset, it’s worth saying that plush cushioning and the lower drop was a unique combo that we don’t see in any other shoe in Saucony’s lineup, which is still there, but a little less pronounced in this newer version. The only aspect some runners might pick for a negative is that the 3 has more heel-toe offset than its predecessor-moving from 5.7 to 10 mm for the men’s version and from 5.2 to 9 mm for the women’s-according to our lab data. (The new, simpler setup accomplishes the locked-in, “made-for-me” feeling that the ISO2 was reaching for, but didn’t quite nail.) With less weight and a lower profile, the Freedom fills the slot in Saucony’s lineup for runners who wanted the plush comfort and bounce of the Triumph 17, but shied away from its bulk. The ISOfit upper is gone-a polarizing ghillie lacing system that was a dream for some runners but nightmarish for others-and has been replaced by traditional, old-school laces and a beefy contoured insole.
SAUCONY RIDE 3 WOMEN FULL
It now uses a PWRRUN+ midsole, an Adidas Boost-like foam made from fused TPU beads, which helps shave off a full ounce of weight and gives the shoe a seriously smooth, lively, and flexible ride.
SAUCONY RIDE 3 WOMEN ISO
But the shoe did a lot of growing up over the past year and a half, and in my opinion, its third iteration is an all-around improvement from the Freedom ISO 2.
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