Saucony Liberty ISO 2 Review
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By Tara Summerville Editor’s Conclusion
The Saucony Liberty ISO 2 strikes that perfect balance between stability running and neutral running. If you are on the fence about taking the plunge on stability trainers because you want something that is a little more versatile and can transition from the track to the gym with ease, this shoe is worth a look. I love this shoe because it provides advanced stability features, such as a TPU guidance system (perfect for overpronators like me!), but clocks in at just under 10 ounces, which is rare for stability trainers.
It has a low profile which is great for speed and flexibility and has a soft and cushioned ride that is marathon-ready. Whether you have a need for speed or want to put miles behind you, this trainer is incredibly versatile and up to whatever you can throw at it. It’s a great entry point for new runners or veteran runners that want something lightweight while helping to correct gait issues that can cause injuries over time.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 a really great and versatile running shoe.
It has a low profile which is great for speed and flexibility and has a soft and cushioned ride that is marathon-ready. Whether you have a need for speed or want to put miles behind you, this trainer is incredibly versatile and up to whatever you can throw at it. It’s a great entry point for new runners or veteran runners that want something lightweight while helping to correct gait issues that can cause injuries over time.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 a really great and versatile running shoe.
Saucony Liberty ISO 2 Review Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
ISOFIT upper for excellent lockdown
TRIFLEX outsole for enhanced flexibility and traction
Great for sidewalks or modest trails
Everrun midsole offers a bright and springy run
Incredibly versatile - great for speed or distances
Cons
Narrow toe box
Key Features
Key Features
MIDSOLE
This midsole in this shoe is composed of a full-length Everrun foam compound that comforts your foot from toes to heels. Everrun is one of Saucony’s most popular midsole materials because it offers modest step-in feel with explosive energy return. It’s not as soft and squishy as other stability trainers, but it really shines when it comes to impact absorption when running on hard surfaces.
The midsole also boasts a TPU guidance system along the heel, which is a real lifesaver for overpronators. Unlike other guidance systems found in other brands, the TPU material flexes with the shoe, to give you a smooth and comfortable ride while naturally guiding your foot into a nice and even gait cycle that limits leg and back pain at the end of a long run.
What I love most about the Everrun midsole is that it provides a good deal of cushioning and energy return with a low drop around 4 mm for a great ground feel, and it’s incredibly flexible and made to move.
UPPER
Like a true neutral trainer, the upper of this design is incredibly lightweight and fits securely to your foot. Other stability trainers work to lock your feet in place with heavy synthetic materials that are stiff and bulky, but the Liberty ISO does things a little bit differently to promote lockdown and control.
The upper is composed of an ISOFIBER system that ditches synthetic mesh materials and replaces them with light knit materials. This material is insanely breathable, which makes it a great pair to wear on hot days. While it has a wide heel collar, the stretchy knit materials stretch securely over your feet for excellent lockdown.
One of the very first things that we noticed about this shoe is that it has a very wide heel cup that, at first glance, may seem like it is too wide for your foot. However, the insane stretch of the knit upper and unique lacing system really lock this shoe into place without feeling too tight along the midfoot.
OUTSOLE
I’ve mentioned before that this shoe provides runners with surprisingly explosive movements. Part of it is due to the construction of the midsole, and it’s also due to the outsole as well. This outsole is composed of Tri-Flex materials that are incredibly flexible and made to move. When you press your fingers into the rubber on the outsole, you can feel the rubber give under your finger. While it is designed to be worn on the track or treadmill, the outsole of this design performs surprisingly well on trailheads as well.
The flexible feel of the outsole also offers runners a slightly tacky finish. This means that running on slippery sidewalks won’t cause you to lose any traction. When I said that this shoe is incredibly versatile, I meant it! It’s a great fit for rainy sidewalks and rocky trailheads. It also boasts modest lugs that make it ideal to wear to the gym for your next CrossFit class!
PERFORMANCE
What I love most about this shoe is that it is built for just about anything. If your workouts take you from running the trails to hitting the track or the weight room, this shoe is able to keep up with your versatile schedule. The lower drop of 4 mm gives you an excellent ground feel, so you can pick up the pace or make quick and snappy movements with ease.
While it performs like a neutral trainer, inside it is packed with advanced and lightweight stability features to help cut down on impact to comfort your legs and joints, and help with pronation issues.
FIT
Nothing quite compares to the fit of this shoe. Whether you have high or low arches, the ISOFIT materials are made to really contour to the shape of your foot. If you have a hard time finding trainers that fit your foot without creating hot spots or rubbing in all of the wrong places, this shoe is worth checking out.
One thing worth noting is that some runners feel that this shoe runs a little small. I suggest taking the time to measure your foot and compare it against their sizing chart to ensure that you get the perfect fit for your feet. There are some runners that feel that the toe box is a little snug, and doesn’t provide adequate room for natural toe splay, which is a hallmark of any stability trainer.
While it sets out to be a trainer that can do just about anything, the fit of the toe box makes this shoe fall just a little short of that elusive 10-star rating.
COMFORT
Many runners report that this trainer feels like you are running on air. It doesn’t provide that soft and squishy step-in feel that is found in many stability trainers but instead swaps out plush cushioning for unmatched energy return. This springy feel to the midsole and TRI-FLEX outsole helps to significantly reduce impact absorption when running on hard surfaces to help you push yourself harder without putting undue strain on your legs and joints.
While it is the perfect marathon-ready shoe, it’s also great for quick trips around the track or nice and easy tempo runs. In fact, many users wear their shoes as casual everyday shoes when you have to be on your feet all day.
PRICE
I am a big fan of the price tag of this shoe. While it provides runners with advanced stability features, those features are not reflected in its price tag. I am a big fan of cushioned stability trainers that helps with my overpronation issues, but the higher price point of these types of shoes is always a bit painful.
The price of the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 almost lands it in the budget running shoe category. When you take into consideration the advanced features, as well as the versatility of this shoe, it really is an amazing value.
This midsole in this shoe is composed of a full-length Everrun foam compound that comforts your foot from toes to heels. Everrun is one of Saucony’s most popular midsole materials because it offers modest step-in feel with explosive energy return. It’s not as soft and squishy as other stability trainers, but it really shines when it comes to impact absorption when running on hard surfaces.
The midsole also boasts a TPU guidance system along the heel, which is a real lifesaver for overpronators. Unlike other guidance systems found in other brands, the TPU material flexes with the shoe, to give you a smooth and comfortable ride while naturally guiding your foot into a nice and even gait cycle that limits leg and back pain at the end of a long run.
What I love most about the Everrun midsole is that it provides a good deal of cushioning and energy return with a low drop around 4 mm for a great ground feel, and it’s incredibly flexible and made to move.
UPPER
Like a true neutral trainer, the upper of this design is incredibly lightweight and fits securely to your foot. Other stability trainers work to lock your feet in place with heavy synthetic materials that are stiff and bulky, but the Liberty ISO does things a little bit differently to promote lockdown and control.
The upper is composed of an ISOFIBER system that ditches synthetic mesh materials and replaces them with light knit materials. This material is insanely breathable, which makes it a great pair to wear on hot days. While it has a wide heel collar, the stretchy knit materials stretch securely over your feet for excellent lockdown.
One of the very first things that we noticed about this shoe is that it has a very wide heel cup that, at first glance, may seem like it is too wide for your foot. However, the insane stretch of the knit upper and unique lacing system really lock this shoe into place without feeling too tight along the midfoot.
OUTSOLE
I’ve mentioned before that this shoe provides runners with surprisingly explosive movements. Part of it is due to the construction of the midsole, and it’s also due to the outsole as well. This outsole is composed of Tri-Flex materials that are incredibly flexible and made to move. When you press your fingers into the rubber on the outsole, you can feel the rubber give under your finger. While it is designed to be worn on the track or treadmill, the outsole of this design performs surprisingly well on trailheads as well.
The flexible feel of the outsole also offers runners a slightly tacky finish. This means that running on slippery sidewalks won’t cause you to lose any traction. When I said that this shoe is incredibly versatile, I meant it! It’s a great fit for rainy sidewalks and rocky trailheads. It also boasts modest lugs that make it ideal to wear to the gym for your next CrossFit class!
PERFORMANCE
What I love most about this shoe is that it is built for just about anything. If your workouts take you from running the trails to hitting the track or the weight room, this shoe is able to keep up with your versatile schedule. The lower drop of 4 mm gives you an excellent ground feel, so you can pick up the pace or make quick and snappy movements with ease.
While it performs like a neutral trainer, inside it is packed with advanced and lightweight stability features to help cut down on impact to comfort your legs and joints, and help with pronation issues.
FIT
Nothing quite compares to the fit of this shoe. Whether you have high or low arches, the ISOFIT materials are made to really contour to the shape of your foot. If you have a hard time finding trainers that fit your foot without creating hot spots or rubbing in all of the wrong places, this shoe is worth checking out.
One thing worth noting is that some runners feel that this shoe runs a little small. I suggest taking the time to measure your foot and compare it against their sizing chart to ensure that you get the perfect fit for your feet. There are some runners that feel that the toe box is a little snug, and doesn’t provide adequate room for natural toe splay, which is a hallmark of any stability trainer.
While it sets out to be a trainer that can do just about anything, the fit of the toe box makes this shoe fall just a little short of that elusive 10-star rating.
COMFORT
Many runners report that this trainer feels like you are running on air. It doesn’t provide that soft and squishy step-in feel that is found in many stability trainers but instead swaps out plush cushioning for unmatched energy return. This springy feel to the midsole and TRI-FLEX outsole helps to significantly reduce impact absorption when running on hard surfaces to help you push yourself harder without putting undue strain on your legs and joints.
While it is the perfect marathon-ready shoe, it’s also great for quick trips around the track or nice and easy tempo runs. In fact, many users wear their shoes as casual everyday shoes when you have to be on your feet all day.
PRICE
I am a big fan of the price tag of this shoe. While it provides runners with advanced stability features, those features are not reflected in its price tag. I am a big fan of cushioned stability trainers that helps with my overpronation issues, but the higher price point of these types of shoes is always a bit painful.
The price of the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 almost lands it in the budget running shoe category. When you take into consideration the advanced features, as well as the versatility of this shoe, it really is an amazing value.
Comparisons to Previous Versions
Comparisons to Previous Versions
The Liberty ISO series is the new kid on the block, with only one version to compare it to. At face value, there aren’t a whole lot of changes made between the Liberty ISO and the Liberty ISO 2. Many of the changes made between these two different shoes are small tweaks and adjustments. However, these small changes really make a world of difference.
One of the most notable tweaks made to the Liberty ISO 2 is the construction of the midsole. It is still made of the same Everrun foam padding, just amped up a notch. It provides runners with an extra 2 mm of padding, while keeping the weight low and dialing up its overall flexibility.
Another small change lies in the fit of the upper. The Liberty ISO 2 includes a redesigned ISOfit sleeve that really locks your foot in place. The updated fit of the upper is able to accommodate more sizes and shapes of feet while still offering excellent stability and movement.
One of the most notable tweaks made to the Liberty ISO 2 is the construction of the midsole. It is still made of the same Everrun foam padding, just amped up a notch. It provides runners with an extra 2 mm of padding, while keeping the weight low and dialing up its overall flexibility.
Another small change lies in the fit of the upper. The Liberty ISO 2 includes a redesigned ISOfit sleeve that really locks your foot in place. The updated fit of the upper is able to accommodate more sizes and shapes of feet while still offering excellent stability and movement.
Verdict
Verdict
If it weren’t for that slightly narrow toe box, the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 would have easily won that coveted 10/10 rating from me. What I love most about this shoe is that it does a little bit of everything, and it does it well. It provides runners with a strong and stable midsole and outsole that is great for overpronators, without feeling overly heavy or bulky.
I often toggle between various styles of running. One season, I’m working to shave seconds off of my time, while in the next I’m setting my sights on long distances, as well as hitting the weight room. The Saucony Liberty ISO 2 is able to keep up with my slightly schizophrenic workout schedule without skipping a beat! Plus, you can't beat that affordable price point.
I often toggle between various styles of running. One season, I’m working to shave seconds off of my time, while in the next I’m setting my sights on long distances, as well as hitting the weight room. The Saucony Liberty ISO 2 is able to keep up with my slightly schizophrenic workout schedule without skipping a beat! Plus, you can't beat that affordable price point.
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