Saucony Zealot Review

Shoe review time! I haven't written a running shoe review before, but with the new Zealot release, I definitely wanted to weigh in.

About the Zealot

Saucony released it's new model, the Zealot, on February 1st as the third member of its ISO Series following the neutral daily trainer, Triumph ISO, and the stability trainer, Hurricane ISO. Zealot was also meant as a replacement for the prior Cortana, and as a lightweight but cushioned neutral trainer. It has a 4mm heel-toe drop, same as the Kinvara and Mirage. It retains the characteristically light PWRGRID+ and Ibr+ sole technologies of other Saucony models, but the ISOFIT upper is new to the series. You can read up on the Zealot specs here.

About me

Since the running shoe experience is a very individualized thing, I thought it useful to provide some information on the reviewer.

I am currently marathon training and maxing out at 55 miles / week, averaging about 8:30/mile easy pace and a 7:30/mile marathon race pace. I train in Brooks Glycerin 12's as my daily trainer and Saucony Kinvara 5 as speed trainer & racers. Though I do overpronate slightly, I tend to wear neutral shoes, as I am a mid to forefoot striker and prefer moderate to high cushioning in the midfoot region. I wear an 8 to 8.5 and my feet run a tad wide, but I don't necessarily wear wide sizes - both the Glycerin and Kinvara have inherently wider toe boxes than their predecessor models, as many manufacturers are making more room up front for toe splay.

Why did I buy the Zealots? (And yes, I bought them...alas Saucony did not send me a free pair for review). 

I was looking for a shoe that is ideal for the marathon race distance. While I love the supportive, soft, "hugging" feel of the Glycerin, it is too heavy for racing. While I love the light, nimble feeling of the Kinvara, and have enjoyed PRs in them from the 5K through the half marathon, they aren't quite enough shoe for me on longer distances. I prefer a wide toe box but with a snug, secure fit in the heel and midfoot. I wanted a lightweight shoe, comparable to a racer but with more cushioning underfoot.

Fit and Feel

The Zealot fit this bill perfectly, and continues to impress me with each run. My first impression was the wonderfully secure feeling of the ISOFIT upper. The mesh really does conform to the top of the foot, flexible yet snug, without any of the bunching from overlays (which can sometimes happen when there is that much fabric on the upper). And yet the shoe is fairly breathable in hot weather; remember, I live in Florida. The toebox is perfect for me - though I do prefer wide, and those with narrower feet might find it a little too roomy in the front. But, ISOFIT definitely allows for a custom feel on the midfoot. Best of all, the heel is soft feeling and very secure - I don't have to put runner's loops in my laces to keep my heels from sliding up.

Performance 

The PWRGRID+ midsole and Ibr+ outsole allows for this shoe to be exceptionally light (7.4 oz women's / 8.3 oz men's) yet provide a substantial amount of cushioning. I felt a nice spring in the midfoot at the toe-off - a similar feeling as the Triumph Iso, but less spongy. Initially, it feels similarly cushioned as Kinvara, but the more substantial midsole becomes evident over longer runs. I had also previously tried the Mirage 4 as well, which was too firm for my liking. Zealot is truly more cushioned than either Kinvara or Mirage. It feels like a standard neutral cushioned trainer at easy / conversational pace, but responsiveness really takes off the faster you go. At tempo and interval paces, the shoe performed beautifully, with great pep and snap, yet still cushioned on landing in the midfoot. I can't comment too much on how it would feel for heel-strikers, but the outsole seems to provide a very smooth transition across the entire stride. I recently did a 22 mile run with the last 10 miles done at my marathon race pace (7:30/mile) and the shoes held up flawlessly. They definitely fit the bill for my needs. My marathon is at the end of March, after which time I will update my review if need be.

Summary and Recommendations

The Zealot ISO is a wonderful neutral, daily or uptempo trainer, that could also serve as a long-distance racer. It continues the comfort of the ISO series, but is lighter and more responsive than Triumph or Hurricane. It would be an ideal choice for mid to forefoot strikers looking for a fast but smooth ride on longer runs, without sacrificing cushioning. It is likely to be more comfortable on normal to wide feet that on narrower feet, but that is definitely for each to decide. So far, I am loving these shoes and cannot wait to race in them soon!