Saucony Profile Review

by Stephanie Smith · Published May 17, 2012 , 10:47 am · Updated March 15, 2023 , 6:35 am

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Technology has allowed just about every piece of outdoor gear to get lighter while still improving performance and running shoes are certainly no exception. At 7.6 oz (women’s) the Saucony Profile may not be the lightest running shoe on the market, but for the weight, it comes with more cushioning than most shoes in this weight range.

The Saucony Profile appears as if it is a traditional running shoe, while it actually fits better into the minimalist category as it has a 4mm heel toe differential. The upper of the Saucony Profile includes a lightweight mesh which I found to be very breathable while running, but if I hung around in them for too long before or after I ran they seemed to make my feet feel a little damp and clammy. An interesting feature of the uppers is the bootie style construction. There is no movable tongue, so you slide your foot in like you’re putting a sock. At first, this was a tad difficult to manage but after a the shoes loosened up a bit I had no trouble getting my foot in or out. The interior and exterior materials are very soft and there is extra cushioning built into the top portion under the laces (traditionally the tongue), and around the ankle. I found that although the tongue area seemed cushioned it wasn’t very dense and didn’t really hold up or provide much protection when I tightened the laces down. The HRC Strobel board is said to increase cushioning and step-in comfort, to be honest, it was not a noticeable feature to me.

The midsole of these shoes is designed for extra cushioning without the extra weight and I think it achieves that goal. The Profile features a non-visible grid system that offers additional stability and cushioning and injection molded EVA which decreases attenuation and provides responsive cushioning. I feel as though both of these features were a bit lost in the shoe. Yes, it was very stable and provided cushioning, but I do not feel as though the shoe was exceptionally responsive. The Profile features a 4mm heel toe offset which encourages mid-foot strike. Many shoes with a 4mm differential are geared toward transitioning to a more “natural running” style, but Saucony does not mention that about the Profile and I would not consider them a transitional shoe at this point.

The outsole of the Saucony Profile is constructed of XT-900 carbon rubber which is lightweight and durable. I have run on all kinds of surfaces and in all kinds of conditions in these shoes and I haven’t noticed any visible wear to the soles. The material seems to barely even hold dirt; the soles hardly even look dirty. The lugging on the Profile is a low triangular shape which I thought was unique. The material and the lugging pattern seem to provide excellent traction even in wet conditions.

Overall, I think the Profile achieves the goal of providing excellent cushioning while being very lightweight, but I think the shoe lacks a little in other areas. I think the upper is good, but not great and that it could be improved but possibly at the cost of extra weight. Saucony’s website mentions that these shoes are responsive and flexible underfoot, but I found them to be quite stiff and didn’t feel like I was getting full motion out of the shoe as I transitioned through my foot-strike and stride. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t feel like the responsiveness was holding me back or felt dead, it just wasn’t as quick as other shoes in a similar category.
I think the look of the Profile is unique and eye-catching. The Profile is available in a variety of colors for men and women.