Saucony Razor Jacket Review
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Saucony Razor Jacket
The Saucony Razor Jacket Introduction
Saucony is a well established name in the running industry. I have worn their shoes, and was truly excited to give the Saucony Razor Jacket a run for its money. This is a higher end jacket, and will need to perform and function to justify its price tag. I for one, don’t want to have to pick up any other coats to deal with the extreme weather patterns here in Colorado. The Saucony Razor Jacket comes advertised as versatile and lightweight with top notch technical features. The jacket will provide warmth, wind protection and keep you dry with sealed interior seams. Saucony also proudly proclaims that the Razor is “the lightest waterproof running jacket on the market”. I wanted to test that claim by purposefully finding bad weather in which to go running.
Saucony Razor Jacket Waterproof Zipper
Wind and waterproof
The waterproof features are what puts the Saucony Razor Jacket in a league of its own. Constructed with a two-way waterproof front zipper with very fine teeth. It has a plastic coating that almost completely seals as the zipper teeth close. It’s pretty slick in my opinion. The one thing I am curious about as the seasons pass is the longevity of this zipper system. The teeth are very small, and I’ve encountered some resistance a few times trying to close it. I would have to assume Saucony did their fair share of durability testing, so this will hopefully not become an issue down the road.
Logo stretched several inches and conforms back without any noticeable difference
The Saucony Razor jacket has a laminate called Flexshell which allows it to truly stretch beyond what I thought capable. I stretched the fabric and it pulled apart about 1.5 to 2 inches. I didn’t think the jacket would conform back into place without showing stretch marks, but it looks as new. In addition, the interior seams are sealed to keep the weather out, and allow the heat to stay in during the colder runs.
Saucony Razor Jacket Spine Ventilation close-up
Saucony Razor Ventilation
Four underarm grommets underneath each armpit allows for some venting. What really intrigued me was what’s officially called “shingle venting.” Spinal ventilation is what came to my mind initially. There are 5 vents that run along the back of the jacket. They’re positioned and stitched so that it will be quite a challenge for water to come up. On the flip side, it allows for breathability as running movement will open those vents for air flow.
A nice compact package.
Lightweight
The Saucony Razor Jacket is a pleasure to wear. During a quick burst thunderstorm I stayed dry. Afterwards, I was able to fold up the jacket to a small pouch, stuff it into my hydration pack, and continue on. As a matter of fact, on my morning runs when the sun does come up I quickly warm up. I simply fold the jacket, and carry it the rest of the way.
Matte and Muted Saucony name flanked by reflective strips
Saucony Razor Jacket Reflective Features
The jacket has a simple classic look to it without any flamboyant or distracting features. Several silver reflective lines provided visibility during my night and early morning runs. This is coming in handy as daylight is getting shorter. The Saucony logo and a single horizontal line grace the front of the jacket. Double reflective silver lines frame the spine and the Saucony name.
Collar and Zipper “Pocket” to Protect Chin
Performance
We’ve had a fantastic fall here in Colorado. 80 degree temperatures well into October. This is great for enjoying the outdoors, but not so much for trying to test a jacket made for adverse conditions. Cooler morning temperatures did provide opportunities to take the Razor Jacket for many runs. I quickly realized that minimal layering was necessary to provide adequate warmth. Even with temperatures in the 30’s, a simple tech tee underneath is all I needed to stay warm.
Running and hiking the trails in Colorado can bring such a mixed bag of conditions. You need to be flexible with your gear, but also be prepared for just about anything. Temperatures can plummet quickly, and rain/snow storms can come out of nowhere. I feel completely comfortable going for longer mountain runs wearing a base, mid layer, and the Saucony Razor Jacket. Small enough to pack when climbing on sunny exposed hills. Versatile enough to handle gusty winds and chillier descents in the shaded canyons. During my run at altitude with morning frost, the Razor performed great. I never felt cold, and as the sun rose, I simply unzipped and the shingle venting provided adequate ventilation. I will report back in a few months with an account of how the jacket handles the cold and snow. Feeling confident though that I will thoroughly enjoy my runs without having to worry about the conditions. The one thing I will say is that I think the Jacket does run a little large. I went with a Medium, and the fit is still rather loose even with some base layers. I don’t think I’d actually go for a Small, but would have thought a Medium would fit just fine.
Good fit, but a little larger than I would have liked.
Final Thoughts on the Saucony Razor Jacket
If you are looking for just one running jacket, you should seriously consider adding the Saucony Razor to your closet. The notion that something is ventilated and waterproof sounds like a bit of a stretch (pun intended). The vent holes under the arms and shingle venting allow for the right amount of air flow without compromising the waterproof aspect. I’m impressed with the Saucony Razor, and will continue to put this jacket to the test this winter. Conditions, weather, time of day, and pace will determine how comfortable I can be while out on the roads and trails. This Jacket will be my perfect companion because of its versatility. Add a base layer, and the Ridge Runner Sportop, and I feel confident that I can face temperatures that reach well into the teens. For additional information on the Razor jacket and other Saucony products visit www.saucony.com or www.amazon.com/saucony.
MSRP: $175 – This is slightly on the higher side, but keep in mind that the Razor functions as a 3 in 1 Jacket (wind breaker, rain jacket, and even as a warmer insulated jacket).
