Koa TR

In3 months of owning these I have run at least 7 miles several times a week over treacherous Pennsylvania, Appalachian terrain - ranging from grass, dirt, mud, asphalt, gravel, fist sized rocks up to boulders. I feel none of them. It's a smooth ride the whole way. The insole and midsole provide optimum stiffness with ample cushion and a very comfortable arch. I feel like I'm gliding. The outsole has a large surface area which offers plenty of traction; and with proper mindfulness, core strength and agility - rarely will I slide. The upper is brilliant as well: excellent breathability and lightweight construction while not compromising integrity. Flat laces and well made tongue allow optimum comfort across top of foot (this is a big one for me and most shoes hurt the top of my foot). I change 1600ft elevation several times and the shoe stays exactly where I've positioned it - even on the steepest descent. I believe these shoes to be a conduit to getting myself even more harmonious with the earth. I plan to try them out backpacking. The new red looks fantastic!

Over the past several months in my first paur of Koa TR I have run the Rim2Rim2Rim at the Grand Canyon, climbing King's Peak in Utah in a day, run laps around the peaks in the Wasatch Front, and these shoes keep rocking!! Fantastic feel, solid grip, smooth flow...and the tread on both shoes is still in near perfect condition. I will definitely buy another pair once my current pair is done.

just got my second pair, out of the box on a 16 mile trail run. so confortable. can’t recommend them highly enough.

Overall, the Saucony Koa TR is a solid shoe for trails and the occasional road run. The upper is well constructed and allows for ample breathability. The tongue is well cushioned and helps the Koa provide a comfortable fit. For some reason it took the Koa a bit longer to break in than previous Saucony shoes I have run in (mostly the Peregrine 6). However, once broken in, the ride was very comfortable on trails or road. I did experience some sliding when running on technical trails, but overall the traction is sufficient for the trails I run on. My one major complaint and reason for a 3 start review is the almost unbearable squeaking that has started in both shoes (after approximately 50 miles). When wet (or sweaty), the insole seems to be moving slightly causing the squeak. If I can't figure out a way to fix this (maybe spray on adhesive on the underside of the insole?) then the Koa TR's will be retired.

My expectations were not super high but they were exceeded. I was impressed with how much difference the shoe felt with the EVERUN topsole in as opposed to out. I have been able to run comfortably in the KOA TR on pea gravel, fairly technical trails and even some roads. The toe box is perfectly roomy and the fit was nearly true. It was slightly small length wise but only noticeable after very long runs. I will say this shoe restored my faith in Saucony and the new technology is all it is hyped up to be.