Saucony Xodus Ultra vs. Peregrine 12 (2022 Comparison)
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
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9.1  |
9.3  |
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|---|---|---|
| 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. |
|
9.5
9
8.5
9
9
9
9
|
9
9.5
9.5
9.5
9
9
9.5
| |
| Facts | ||
| Terrain | Trail | Trail |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Heel stack height | 32.5 mm | 27 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 26.5 mm | 23 mm |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 6 mm | 4 mm |
| Lugs | 4 mm | 5 mm |
| Weight (men) | 281 g | 272 g |
| Weight (women) | 249 g | 237 g |
| Features | Wide feet, Heavy runner, Recycled materials, Toe bumper, Rock plate | Rock plate |
| Athletes | ||
| Release year | 2022 | 2022 |
| Technologies | ||
| Outsole | 3-Piece PWRTRAC, Flex Grooves | PWRTRAC |
| Midsole | PWRRUN PB, PWRRUN | PWRRUN |
| Upper | Engineered Mesh Upper | Engineered Mesh |
| Cushioning | ||
| Cushioning | Soft | Firm |
| Responsiveness | Medium | High |
| Use | ||
| Distance | Mid, Long, Marathon, Ultramarathon | Short, Mid |
| Speed | Moderate | Moderate, Fast |
| Workouts | Daily running | |
