Saucony Xodus Ultra vs. Peregrine 12 (2022 Comparison)

Saucony Xodus Ultra vs Peregrine 12

These two trail shoes are complementary in the Saucony series: the Xodus is more cushioned with a soft underfoot feel. Conversely, the Peregrine offers a better ground feel, but its cushioning is firm and more limited.

The protection offered by the Xodus Ultra is slightly better. However, the Peregrine’s protection remains very good even on technical trails. Both shoes benefit from a rock plate.

The same goes for grip: both shoes provide a perfect grip with their powerful lugs and sticky rubber. However, the Peregrine does a little better with its deeper lugs (5 mm compared to 4 mm for the Xodus). Indeed, mud can be a challenge for the Xodus, but it’s the case with the vast majority of trail running shoes.

Finally, with its more stripped-down configuration, the Peregrine 12 is a tad lighter, with 0.3 oz/9 g less. Note that the Xodus used to be quite a heavy shoe with over 10.6 oz/300 g, but Saucony managed to streamline the design of the series. It’s now 9.9 oz/281 g (men’s version), which is quite impressive!

Peregrine vs Xodus: which one to choose?

It’s really a matter of preference. If you like a comfortably cushioned, soft underfoot shoe for comfortable long-distance running, then the Xodus is for you.

The Peregrine is a better choice if you prefer a good ground feel while running on trails. However, its firm cushioning may not lend itself to very long distances such as ultramarathon races. In any case, this is something that varies from person to person, depending on your preferences and experience.

Side-By-Side Comparison Table

9.1
Saucony Xodus Ultra Check Prices
9.3
Saucony Peregrine 12 Check Prices
Overview
Description The Saucony Xodus Ultra is almost a completely new shoe. It's much lighter with incredible traction for long and tough runs while retaining its signature comfort. The Saucony Peregrine 12 is a lightweight, responsive trail running shoe to run fast on the trails.
Comfort
9.5
Grip
9
Protection and foot lockdown
8.5
Responsiveness
9
Durability
9
Value
9
Design
9
Comfort
9
Grip
9.5
Protection and foot lockdown
9.5
Responsiveness
9.5
Durability
9
Value
9
Design
9.5
Facts
TerrainTrailTrail
Support NeutralNeutral
Heel stack height32.5 mm27 mm
Forefoot stack height26.5 mm23 mm
Heel-to-toe drop6 mm4 mm
Lugs4 mm5 mm
Weight (men)281 g272 g
Weight (women) 249 g237 g
Features Wide feet, Heavy runner, Recycled materials, Toe bumper, Rock plateRock plate
Athletes
Release year20222022
Technologies
Outsole 3-Piece PWRTRAC, Flex GroovesPWRTRAC
Midsole PWRRUN PB, PWRRUN PWRRUN
UpperEngineered Mesh UpperEngineered Mesh
Cushioning
Cushioning Soft Firm
ResponsivenessMedium High
Use
DistanceMid, Long, Marathon, Ultramarathon Short, Mid
Speed Moderate Moderate, Fast
WorkoutsDaily running
Kevin Le Gall

Kevin Le Gall

Kevin is the founder and editor of Runner's Lab. He started running in 2015 and completed his first marathon in Rotterdam in 2016. He's also worked for Under Armour from 2016 to 2018 and helped launch their running collection in Europe (in particular the HOVR shoes). In addition, Kevin is a 300-hour certified yoga teacher (Sivananda) and uses this experience to run more mindfully with a focus on well-being over performance.