Saucony Echelon 10 Review
By Matthew Klein
Saucony Echelon 10Price: $155 at Saucony
Weight: 10.8 oz, 308 g (men's size 9), 9.6 oz, 273 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 35 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Straight-Lasted, Orthotic-Friendly Daily Training Shoe
Pros: Stable Neutral, Durable Outsole, Secure Upper
Cons: Lower Volume than Last version, Tongue slides, Heavier than previous version
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Echelon 10 is an stable neutral shoe for those who want a stable and secure shoe meant specifically for holding orthotics. A stretchy but normal volume upper sits up top, providing a slightly adjustable fit and with a deep footbed for orthotics. A firmer but stable midsole of PWRRUN EVA sits below with a decent but not excessive rocker. A consistent, stable shoe for walking and slower running, the Echelon gets a little more stable at the expense of being a little heavier.
SIMILAR SHOES: Brooks Ghost Max 3
PAST MODEL: Saucony Echelon 9
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Saucony Echelon 10 fits me true to size in my normal men's size 10. The volume is normal to slightly lower with a normal width. The toe box is tapered but opens wider in the forefoot. The upper sits low across the toes but does have a decent amount of stretch. The stretch takes 15-20 miles to break in but provides a mildly snug hold. This transitions into normal width midfoot with a normal to slightly higher instep. The tongue is slightly thicker and ungusseted. This has cause some slipping during running but not walking. The heel features a stiff and prominent heel counter with mild heel padding. The counter is far more present than the last version and while it has bothered my haglund deformity, it is quite secure. So those with heel sensitivities will not do well but those wanting a secure heel will do great. The inner liner is fairly comfortable against bare skin except for the prominent toe guard. For that reason, I suggest at least thin to moderate thickness socks with this shoe.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly
How Flexible is the Shoe: No
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Saucony Echelon 10 is a stable daily walking and slower running shoe. The midsole is full-length PWRRUN, which provides a firmer ride that is softened by the thicker insole (which will change if placed by whatever orthotic you may use). The weight is on the heavier side, gaining half an ounce from the prior version. This makes version 10 a little better as a walking shoe, although running still can be done. The heel drop stays at 8mm and that is exactly what it feels like. The heel bevel is centered, which creates extra lateral heel flare that makes for a clunky transition at first. This breaks in after 20 miles but is still a little rigid while running. The forefoot is stiff but breaks into mild flexibility with additional miles. Those with toe mobility deficits will be fine here unless you have extreme needs. There is a decent forefoot rocker but almost no toe spring.
Purpose-wise, the Echelon 10 is best for walking and slower running. The shoe transitions slowly and its larger size, weight, width and slightly clunky heel make it feel terrible for faster running. It does feel great during longer walking and slower running given the easier transition. It is not a sexy shoe but is certainly consistent. The traction is fairly good on dry and wet road due to the extensive outsole. I would not use this on technical trail and did get a rock stuck in the central outsole groove. However on road this shoe is a tank. I have 30 miles on my pair and not a dent in the outsole. Those wanting good outsole durability will find a fantastic shoe here. The midsole is EVA and while it has not changed at all, I suspect it will still live out a fairly normal lifespan. However, the fantastic durability of the outsole will help this shoe hold on for many miles, even if they are slow.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Saucony Echelon 10 is a stable neutral shoe. While there are no traditional methods of stability, the Echelon 10 perfectly demonstrates stable neutral. The base is wide from heel to toe with a filled in midfoot. Guidance lines run through the length of the shoe providing some degree of centeredness. The Echelon 10 has large sidewalls that run on both the medial and lateral sides of the heel into the posterior forefoot. The ride is also fairly stiff with a high level of torsional rigidity. Overall this creates a highly centered ride through the length of the shoe. While not a stability shoe, those needing some central guidance will do well from heel-to-toe.
Thoughts as a DPT: What makes a shoe Orthotic friendly?
By Matthew Klein
Most running shoes on the market are not designed with orthotics in mind. While many will have removable insoles, the shoes are developed and designed with the stock insoles. Some companies spend a great deal of time working on their stock insole, including Saucony, who often uses better foams to soften or enhance the ride of the shoes. So anyone using an orthotic has to know that it will frequently change the shoe in potentially unexpected ways as it will interact with the shoe in a variety of ways. An orthotic has a few requirements to work optimally with a shoe. Firstly and most importantly, the shoe must have a removable insole. Many racing and lightweight trainers do not have a removable insole. Placing an orthotic on top of the insole may take up too much room to fit your foot in the shoe. These shoes will not work with an orthotic and buying a larger size will only make the orthotic slide.
The Echelon has a deep removable insole that can be easily replaced by an orthotic while maintaining appropriate room for the feet. The second requirement is the shoe should be stable neutral. The higher sidewalls will help center the orthotic and will keep the foot centered so the orthotic can do its job. If the shoe pushes the foot in any biased direction, this will either work against the orthotic or may cause the orthotic to overcorrect biomechanics. This is why stability shoes and extremely unstable shoes both are not good options to use with orthotics.
Finally, the shoes should not have plates. Plates stiffen the shoe and its transitions. Orthotics almost always contact stiffening agents, which create more stability for the foot. Combining an orthotic with a plated shoe may create too much stiffness, which may be irritating to some people. The orthotic should be able to work in the shoe without excessive interference and there should be enough room in your foot. The Saucony Echelon and Brooks Ghost Max series are the only shoes designed to take orthotics. Other shoes should be approached with caution. While some may be fine, you may need to test things out for yourself because companies may not check that.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I really enjoyed the Saucony Echelon 9. It helped me get through a minor toe fracture that I should not have been running on (I did take some time off but not enough) although I would not suggest anyone be as stupid I was. The fit was really comfortable, wider and it was on the lighter end for a shoe in that category. The Saucony Echelon 10 gets heavier, snugger and a little less runnable due to increase stiffness. I understand why as the market for this shoe may not be for most runners. However, even walkers deserve performance. Therefore, my suggestions are to bring the weight back down and give a little more volume in the upper. The lowered volume is odd given how much orthotics take up. While the mild stretch is nice, I'd rather have more room. Most people using these shoes with orthotics will probably want a slightly snug and more secure shoe which I get. So if Saucony could use this same stretchy upper with a tiny bit more room, especially up front that would be great.
A weight decrease would also be nice to make the shoe more efficient. A deeper center groove could help cut weight down while further centering the shoe. While the updates make the Echelon 10 a little less runnable, those with orthotic needs will still like it.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Saucony Echelon 10 is a stable neutral shoe for those with normal-width feet wanting an upper with a little stretch, a sole that can take an orthotic and a slower but comfortable. The upper fit is more traditional and will work for those who don't mind a toe box taper and an ungusseted tongue. The ride will work best for those wanting a shoe better at slower miles that is a little stiff but is stable. The almost complete lack of toe spring is great and further adds to the components that make this shoe supportive of orthotics.
My only complaints are the increase in weight and reduced runnability, but it does improve as a walking shoe. The slight price increase is disappointing with the weight increase but even at $155 this is a fantastic deal given the extensive durability. It shares the same weight as its competitor, the Brooks Ghost Max 3. The major differences are the Ghost Max 3 is smoother and softer, while the Echelon 10 is firmer but more stable. The Ghost Max 3 may work better for running but the Echelon 10 is still a solid, stable competitor for both walking and slow running. Both are great options for those with guidance or orthotic needs among a sea of other shoes with variable responses to orthotics.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Secure fit with tapered toe box, slightly higher midfoot volume and prominent heel counter)
Performance: B- (Consistent for walking and slow running. Not uptempo versatility but handles orthotics well)
Stability: A [Stable Neutral] (Sidewalls, wide base, secure fit and torsional rigidity make this a perfect example of stable neutral)
Value: A- (Great durability makes this a great deal for those searching for a shoe that can take their orthotics)
Personal: B- (Heavier and more snug than the last version with a heel counter that bugs me. May be find for others but outside of walking I have struggled to run in them due to its slower nature. )
Overall Design: B
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Echelon 10Price: $155 at Saucony
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FURTHER READING
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A super tall stacked performance shoe.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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