Saucony Redeemer ISO 2
The Saucony Redeemer ISO 2 is a high stability road shoe with generous midsole cushioning. It’s high stability construction actually puts it in the motion control category of shoes, so it’s best suited for those with serious overpronators. What’s different in this second edition of the Redeemer?
The upper is completely redesigned with some significant changes that didn’t please fans of the original shoe. In fact, this second version of the Redeemer wasn’t too well liked by reviewers. They had very few nice things to say about the shoe. Below, you’ll find our in-depth review of the ISO 2 which goes into the significant changes made to the high stability trainer and what went wrong with the update, according to those who tried the Saucony brand trainer.
- Great traction
- Stretchy upper
- Protective outsole
- Decent cushioning
- Heavy
- Lacks support
- Poor durability
Outsole
The IBR+ material also adds a bit of additional padding to the shoe. The shoe also features XT-900 rubber which provides both durability and traction. In addition, TRI-FLEX technology in the outsole promotes a flexible ride. Reviewers seemed to feel that the outsole was lower in quality than the original version of the Redeemer pointing out its thinner, flimsier construction.
Midsole
Many found the shoe didn't feel as well cushioned as before. The supportive medial post is still there (it's still a high stability shoe, after all) and this aspect of the shoe performed just fine.
Upper
The new mesh material is lighter and stretchier and provides a snugger fit. The mesh is engineered to provide a better fit and is combined with ISOFIT technology to ensure each runner feels great wearing the shoe.
There are also numerous overlays intended to provide additional support. That's the intention, but do the changes to the upper really provide a better fit and improve support?
According to reviewers, that's not the case at all. Only a handful of reviewers had anything nice to say about the upper design change. Many reviewers did not like the updated upper and said it lacked support.
Users also complained of a significantly narrower fit with a toe squeezing forefoot area. Overall, reviewers said, the fit was less comfortable. Some also noted that the instep was much tighter fitting.
Weight
The extra weight was hard to ignore. The shoe actually shaved off some weight compared to the original version of the Redeemer, but users didn't seem to feel or notice the difference. This might have something to do with the overall poor fit of the shoe.
When a shoe doesn't fit right and pressure points are stubbornly attacking your feet, it's hard not to aggressively feel the weight of the shoe hanging off your foot.
Breathability
A too snug toe box also reduced the chance for air to circulate inside the shoe. The thinner design of the upper material does help with breathability but reviewers also noted the material felt noticeably flimsy because it was so thin. Inside, there's a foundation sock liner to wick away sweat, which you'll likely need because of the tight fit.
Comfort
Style
Durability
Protection
The midsole also provides protection from impact, although some users noted the cushioning felt less significant than in the previous ISO model. The fit is supposed to be snug to protect against instability, but the result is an overly tight feel that doesn't provide as much support as you'd think and users were none too happy with the new upper design. On paper, the stretchy, light upper sounds like a dream, but in reality, it's overly snug and even with a tight fit doesn't provide enough support to wearers.
Responsiveness
Support
Terrain
Price
The thin outsole and badly fitting upper are the things that stood out the most in terms of user complaints but in general, most reviewers weren't pleased with the shoe and didn't feel it was a worthwhile purchase.
Traction
Flexibility
The medial post doesn't budge to ensure wearers don't roll inward excessively. That means a ride in the shoe is pretty rigid overall and while that's usually the case for this type of shoe, the ISO 2 could use a bit more flexibility to improve its comfort factor.
Stability
The fit is somehow too snug without feeling secure. The fairly heavy shoe is tough to control, too. Everything fits tightly but all the components together don't add up to decent stability. It's a bit of a puzzle, but reviewers just didn't find the ISO 2 an impressive model in terms of stability.
Drop
Key Features
- Interior sock liner wicks away sweat, controls moisture
- EVERUN midsole cushioning
- ISOFIT technology for a very snug fit
- TRI-FLEX outsole for slight bit of flexibility
- IBR+ rubber adds lightweight protective cushioning on the outsole
- XT-900 rubber provides durability and traction
- Medial post for stability
Bottom Line
Reviewers picked at the shoe's fit (apparently uncomfortably snug yet somehow incredibly unsupportive) and remarked that the well-cushioned midsole of before felt flat as if the padding had been reduced. Reviewers also noted the shoe's lack of durability thanks to a very flimsy feeling outsole.
Overall, most commenters found the Redeemer to be an uncomfortable, ill-fitting shoe with very few redeeming qualities. The second edition is not the best choice for a runner seeking high cushioning and high stability because the shoe just doesn't deliver.