Saucony Peregrine 12 Review: Table Of Contents

2022 will see the launch of the 12 edition of the Saucony Peregrine trail running shoes. Named after the fastest bird on the planet, you’ll be expecting a trail shoe made for speed – and with the Saucony Peregrine 12, you won’t be disappointed. We’ll offer you a complete and in-depth Saucony Peregrine 12 Review in the following guide. If you are short of time, no worries; we’ve provided you with a quick overview and listed the key features at the beginning of the article.

Saucony Peregrine 12

Saucony Peregrine 12 Review

The Peregrine 12 has dropped in weight due to the total reworking of the shoe’s upper and a new outsole. While the midsole is unchanged, the drop in weight and the changes mentioned above bring the Peregrine back to being a quick, technical trail racing shoe.

The Peregrine 12 are also more flexible without losing any underfoot protection. The lug spacing and patterning on the shoe’s outsole have changed; however, the difference is not huge, and the grip is on par, if not better, than the previous model.

Overall, the Saucony Peregrine 12 is a fast, agile and well-balanced shoe that will allow you to run quickly on the trails. You get faster times over shorter distances, yet they are equally suitable for longer ultra races, as the weight reduction will help pull back the onset of fatigue.

Key Features & Specifications

  • Soft, springy PWRRUN cushioning for added comfort on trail routes.
  • Redesigned traction-rich PWRTRAC outsole allows you to connect to the terrain, push off and shed mud quickly on the end of the leg turn over.
  • The Peregrine 12’s minimal upper with overlays helps to protect against trail elements such as stones roots twigs.
  • Enjoy an extra coating of comfort with a new sock liner made with PWRRUN+ cushioning.
  • A new protective rock plate offers you a smooth and flexible ride and quickly sheds mud.
  • Contoured EVA sock liner for a personalized feel
  • Trail outsole lug height: 5mm
  • Gaiter compatible
  • Contains recycled upper materials
  • Heel-to-toe Offset: 4mm (26.5mm heel/22.5mm forefoot)
  • Weight: Men’s 9.7 oz. (275g)

Where To Buy Saucony Peregrine 12

Find out where to buy the Saucony Peregrine 12 trail running shoes – we list both the men’s and women’s options as well as the 12 ST version. The Peregrine 12 ST version has bigger and deeper lugs on the outsole of the shoe. As a result, it can grip on to the mud and shake it off as your move through your stride on the trail.

Men's Peregrine 12 Options

Women's Peregrine 12 Options

Saucony Peregrine 12 Full Review

Saucony Peregrine 12 Upper Fit

Upper & Fit

The Peregrine 12 has undergone a dramatic improvement over the previous version. Don’t get me wrong, the upper of the Peregrine 11 is excellent, incredibly comfortable, padded and secure. Still, Saucony has trimmed the fat, so to speak, reducing a lot of the extraneous padding in the tongue the heel collar and overall replacing it with thinner, lighter, more flexible and breathable materials.

By shedding the shoe of unnecessary weight, they reduced its weight without compromising comfort or foothold. The lighter, more responsive, and flexible upper materials deliver the bit of flex you need in a trail shoe. In other words, less stiff and confining, which delivers the sensation of more room in the shoe whilst still feeling secure. While the foothold has a slightly different feel than before (read our Peregrine 11 review), the new upper provides an equally secure, predictable and confidence-inspiring feel when running fast on technical terrain.

Midsole

Saucony states that the midsole is a “soft, springy PWRRUN cushioning,” I would not class it as “soft” or “springy”; the midsole is more on the firm side but not hard. Thanks to the dramatic weight drop, the Peregrine 12 works well during short, fast, or long runs. Compared to the earlier version, the shoes now function as racing and training shoes. Another fantastic improvement over the previous version is the upgrade to the TPU sock liner, which improves the general ride cushioning and enhances the overall feel of the midsole through the gait cycle.

Outsole, Grip & Lugs

The 5mm PWRTRAC rubber lugs work to dig into different terrain, delivering dependable traction and versatile grip for any off-road surface you might come across. The lugs on the Peregrine 12 sheds mud quickly, and the spacing between each lug ensures mud does not stick to the bottom. This patterning and spacing of the lugs are slightly different from the Peregrine 11 version, but not noticeably, and if you enough the grip on the 11, you will be pleased with these minor changes.

Saucony Peregrine 12 Outsole

With the Peregrine 12’s grip, it’s not all about mud, though. Whether pavement, gravel, stone, grass, slush, ice or snow – you’ll be served up a safe underfoot connection when out running. All-in-all, you get a shoe with a hugely versatile grip, which works so well and a myriad of terrains.

Who's The Shoe Suitable For?

A comprehensive section of runners looking for a speedy trainer that will
allow you to run a pace on shorter, faster trail routes will appreciate the weight reduction. Lovers of the longer distances will also be able to take advantage of the Peregrine 12’s weight reduction and secure fit. The Saucony Peregrine 12’s ability to stick, grip and respond on various terrains and in varying weather conditions make this a multi-purpose, year-round trail running shoe.

Saucony Peregrine 12 Video

Advantages

  • A marked drop in weight compared with earlier versions, now racing-class weight for such a capable shoe.
  • Excellent fit; soft materials, plenty of space which aid comfort, but keeps the foot locked in and secure.
  • Stable with a good ground feel from the fairly firm midsole combined with a substantial TPU bead sock liner.
  • The style of the shoe is streamlined, bright, and fun but not overly flashy.
  • Excellent traction on a combination of terrains.
  • Nearly 100% recycled content in the upper.

Disadvantages

  • Some might find it too firm on harder surfaces such as pavements and road segments. It is a trail shoe, though – remember that.

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