Saucony Paramount Max Review
By Matthew Klein
Saucony Paramount MaxPrice: $199.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.6 oz, 302 g (men's size 9), 8.8 oz, 250 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 43 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Max Stack Height Non-Plated Super Trainer
Pros: Soft and bouncy midsole, wider fit, more stable than expected, great for long runs, takes orthotics well
Cons: Early outsole wear, low pace versatility
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Paramount Max is a bouncy, non-plated super trainer for those who want a wider fit and a soft ride. A full-length IncrediRun midsole provides a soft and bouncy ride that is best over daily and longer miles. A wider fitting, engineered mesh upper sits up top, providing plenty of room for those who need it. A thick insole and deep footbed also provides a surprising amount of room for orthotics, while a wide platform and high sidewalls provide a more stable ride than expected. A unique, premium daily training option within the Saucony lineup, the Paramount Max has both a familiar and different feel.
SIMILAR SHOES: Mizuno Neo Vista 2, Hoka Skyward X 2
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Saucony Paramount Max fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. Most of the upper is a thinner engineered mesh with thicker overlays for structure. The fit is wider with a more rounded toe box. The volume is on the lower side, but the upper does have some stretch. The toe box is rounded with a wider forefoot. I had plenty of room to spread my toes but less room to wiggle them up and down due to the slightly lower volume. This transitions into a more normal width midfoot with a strongly gusseted tongue. The tongue is a bit thicker, which was great as I did have to tighten down the laces a little to get a secure fit. The instep is a bit lower, so those with sensitivities or high arches may need to loosen the laces slightly. The security is fair in the front half of the shoe, but I did have to lace lock my right shoe as I experienced some heel slippage. The heel is unique as it features a thin and flexible heel counter at the posterior section and reinforcements on the medial and lateral side. This would be great for those with heel sensitivities as it is on the flexible side, but the upper is angled inward. This made it dig slightly into my Achilles tendon, which was uncomfortable on my tendinopathy side until it broke in. The Achilles lip is good and prevents this from getting worse, however it makes security a little challenging.
My Haglund deformity actually helped with the heel fit for my left foot, but my right side (which doesn't have Haglund issues) had some heel slippage that had to be fixed with a lace lock technique. It was fine after that even on 12-14 mile long runs, but may take some adjusting and breaking in to optimize. The last part that is rare for shoes is that the footbed and insole are deep and thick. I have been testing some orthotics and heel lifts to offload my improving Achilles tendinopathy and the Paramount has taken them well. The heel was actually more comfortable with the heel lift and insole in, so those wanting to use orthotics will find plenty of room and accommodation.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Hoka Gaviota 6, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Saucony Azura, Salomon Aero Glide 3
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: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Somewhat
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Moderate
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Saucony Paramount Max is a non-plated super trainer. It features a full-length midsole of IncrediRun, which provides a soft and bouncy ride underfoot. The weight is fairly average for a daily trainer, coming in at 10.1 oz or 286 grams for my men's size 10 (this is much lighter than the listed weight). This helps this shoe less bulky than it is, although it is a noticeable large shoe. Classic to many maximal trainers, the heel drop is on the lower side at 6mm. This feels even lower to me as a heel striker given the midsole compression, although the bounce out of it takes some pressure off my Achilles tendon. The cushioning underfoot is soft and bouncy. This is one of the softest shoes I have tried and fortunately the foam does rebound. This makes for a bouncy and soft heel that transitions really smoothly combined with the heel bevel and extra lateral heel midsole grooves. The heel bevel is sharp but combined with the soft foam and lateral grooves, the transition is smooth. The forefoot features a slightly late forefoot rocker with a tiny bit of forefoot flexibility. The forefoot is also quite soft and those with cushioning needs up front will definitely enjoy this shoe. The ride is more bouncy than rolling, but as the foam breaks in more it transitions smoothly not matter where you land or transition.
The smooth and bouncy midsole lends itself best to easy and long runs. The foam makes it easy to keep going over long miles and keeps the legs fresh. The challenge arises when you have to pick up the pace. While uptempo runs have been great, such as long runs where my wife increases the pace and I have to keep up while pushing a now 65 lb stroller. The IncrediRun foam and geometry respond best when you are holding a consistent pace. When attempting to change paces quickly or run faster, the foam does not respond quick enough. The larger size of the shoe becomes more apparent and the Paramount Max midsole begins to feel more like a pillow than a trampoline. This is quite different than the Triumph 24, which actually feels great when picking up the pace but isn't nearly as soft as the Paramount given it has a more responsive foam feel in general. So during long runs, easy runs and recovery runs, the Paramount Max shines best.
Surface-wise, I have tested the Paramount Max on light gravel/dirt trails, road and track. The traction is fine on all of these surfaces, although I slipped a little on the light gravel. This is a shoe meant for road and smooth surfaces and despite its thick midsole, is not the best option on softer surfaces. I have 40 miles on my pair and most of the outsole is doing well. I am seeing some early wear on the exposed IncrediRun in my normal scuffing posterolateral left side. The outsole rubber has a little abrasion, which makes me think this shoe will last a fairly normal number of miles for a maximal shoe.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Saucony Paramount Max has all the components of a stable neutral shoe. The base is quite wide, there are tall sidewalls, your feet sit into the midsole, the medial midfoot is filled in with a little cut out of the lateral side, extra medial flare and the lateral heel has grooves that allow it to collapse more than the medial side. All these factors make this shoe a surprisingly stable ride throughout the length of the shoe, particularly for those with mild medial stability needs. The soft IncrediRun midsole accentuates this at first, but helps you bounce out at a decent rate. My feet have not fatigued in this shoe even over long runs, but the softer midsole has challenged my hip muscles. Thus, this will provide a stable neutral ride, especially for those with more medial stability needs in the foot and ankle. Those with hip instabilities should be cautious, which is fairly common with softer maximal shoes.
Editor's Note on Stability: Andrea also tested the Paramount Max but had tremendous issues with the stability of the shoe due to its softness and unpredictable bouncy nature of the sole. Our team is ultimately split about the stability of the Paramount Max.
Thoughts as a DPT: Using Soft and Bouncy Shoes All the Time
By Matthew Klein
While the Paramount Max has been a fun shoe, I have avoided using shoes this soft all the time due to concerns about my ability to transition back to other shoes. Running in maximal stack height, super soft shoes cause some biomechanical adaptations that aren't necessarily negative but are things to consider. We know running in soft, maximal shoes causes reflexive joint stiffening (Kulmala et al., 2018). This may be a reflexive way to find stability due to the shoe providing more shock absorption. The challenge with this is that it can cause more internal joint loading and can make other footwear feel far firmer than it actually is. The other challenge and benefit from a tendon perspective is that softer resilient midsole foams may offload tendons, particularly the Achilles tendon (Agresta et al., 2022). While still theoretical and not fully confirmed, much of the elastic nature of the tendon may be replicated by the softer foam, reducing stress. This can be helpful for those with irritated tendons, but may not be helpful for restoring tendon function, elasticity and capacity. As someone with Achilles tendon issues, the Paramount Max feels great despite its lower drop. However, when transitioning back to "normal" shoes, I always feel like I am working harder. You might say that shoes like the Parmaount Max ruin other shoes for me. This is not a bad thing but something to be aware of. Some people are highly adaptable and can switch between shoes without noticing anything. I tend to be someone who likes to get used to things (and yet I run in constantly new and different pairs of shoes for Doctors of Running).
We know maximal shoes, super foams, etc are not bad. They are different. They do not eliminate forces but shift them elsewhere. If you are going to spend all your time in maximal superfoam shoes, be aware that transitioning out of them may require some time. Your body may need to get used to more joint excursion during landing and tendons may need to get used to more load. Even if you are using this shoe type, I would still encourage you to work on strength training and especially to work on plyometric training. While we do not yet have evidence on how these shoes impact tendons, our theories are that they may reduce load. This can be good in the short term for pain reduction and recovery, but long-term tendons respond best to load. Jumping, plyometrics, etc should be a 1-2x per week part of most runners training (carefully and low volume) to help maintain that elasticity with age and especially if you are using this shoe type. It is a new and evolving tool that I have used frequently with patients to help them. With every tool there are positives and negatives, which we need more research to understand exactly what those are and how to balance them for optimal health.
Kulmala, J. P., Kosonen, J., Nurminen, J., & Avela, J. (2018). Running in highly cushioned shoes increases leg stiffness and amplifies impact loading. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1-7.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Paramount Max has challenged me. I like it for specific purposes, but find it too soft and bouncy to want to use all the time. I have therefore kept it mostly for long runs, making it a little less versatile than I would like. It has some redundancy with shoes like the Triumph 24, while still being quite different. The major win for this shoe is its ability to accommodate orthotics, something not mentioned by Saucony but confirmed through testing. This makes it one of the few shoes with superfoams that can do this, making for a fun alternative to shoes like the Echelon. It's highly stable despite its softer ride, unless you have hip instabilities. That said, there are a few things I would still suggest for improvement.
The main thing is the heel upper design. I have complained about this recently with many shoes, but would suggest that the upper not curve in toward the foot. This creates extra pressure at the Achilles tendon, which for those of us with tendinopathy (and 50% of runners have this without knowing it) can be a bit irritating. It did break in with time, but I would like to suggest what I initially thought this design was going to be: remove the counter from the posterior-most aspect of the heel and reinforce the medial and lateral sides. This will create a little extra flexibility without sacrificing security, which will come from the sides. I'm already getting a little heel slippage, so this current design is not completely working. Given the already slight orthopedic tendency of this shoe, it would only further make it accessible for those with certain pathologies.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Paramount Max is a soft and bouncy non-plated super trainer for those who want a wider fitting, weirdly stable shoe for long miles. The upper will do best for those with wider feet but not for those with high volume or narrow feet. The midsole will work best for those who want a soft and bouncy ride, but not for those who want a firm underfoot feel or moderate stack height. The ride will work best for those who want something for long miles while keeping their feet fresh but not for those who want a shoe that can handle pace changes and faster efforts.
There seems to be an ever-increasing number of people who have a special shoe for their long runs. Many people use the ASICS Superblast 3, Mizuno Neo Vista 2, Hoka Skyward X 2 and others for this and the Paramount Max fits in with that ground. It is more similar to the Skyward X 2 given its weirdly more stable ride but wins due to its far more bouncy nature. This is the opposite with the Neo Vista 2, which is also soft but slightly less responsive with a higher volume upper. The ASICS Superblast 3 is lighter but is far less stable, making it a better marathon shoe compared to the potential ultramarathon feature of the Paramount Max.
$200 is pretty steep, but somewhat justified given the type of shoe and amount of foam. It's a challenge to choose between this and the Triumph 24, which comes in at $30 cheaper and much lighter. The major differences are the fit, with the Triumph having a lighter upper that is slightly more snug, the weight, with the Triumph being lighter, the midsole, with the Triumph being slightly firmer and more responsive but the Paramount being far softer and bouncier and the pace versatility, with the Triumph having far more speed capacity but the Paramount feeling far better over longer runs. The Paramount is also more stable despite its softer ride, something that comes in handy over longer miles. There is a place for both shoes, particularly the Paramount. It sits among the maximal crowd without being nearly as tall as the >45mm crowd yet comes in far softer than the majority of the other offerings. It still sits in a niche/unique space, but so do all these shoes. Its ability to take orthotics sets it further apart from others and may be the hidden gem of this shoe. Like the Hurricane 26 which finally brings a responsive ride to those with stability needs (the Omni 23 ST is good too), the Paramount Max may finally be the bouncy orthotic friendly shoe many have secretly hoped for.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Wider fitting, slightly lower volume, comfortable upper. Heel angles in slightly and has some heel slippage which is easily fixed with lace locking the shoe and breaking it in)
Performance: B+ (Incredibly bouncy and soft ride that is best for easy and especially long runs)
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral, Medial] (Wide shape, high sidewalls, filled in midfoot, medial sole flare and lateral grooves create a medially stable shoe that is surprisingly stable for how soft and bouncy it is)
Value: B (Slightly early wear makes the $200 price tag less tolerable, but unique design and ability to take orthotics may make this worth it to some people. The bouncy ride is quite comfortable and something that many other maximal shoes miss)
Personal: B (I like this shoe but it is too bouncy for me to use all the time. Great for long runs or when my legs are trashed)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Paramount MaxPrice: $199.95 at Running Warehouse (available July 1)
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FURTHER READING
Softest Triumph ever (by far).
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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