Saucony Ride TR 2 Multi Tester Review: 7 Comparisons

Saucony Journey TR2 ($140)

Introduction

Sam: The Journey TR2 is Saucony’s entry within the “door to path” class of trainers. It’s derived, as street to path sneakers usually are, from the street model Journey 17 For 2024 as with the street Journey, the most important change to the TR is to midsole foam from PWRRUN EVA mix to PWRRUN+ an expanded TPU beads foam.

The sneakers on this class are designed to transition from street to trails. They often differ from street sneakers in development with extra deeply lugged outsoles and a considerably ruggedized higher. 

Some lean extra street in focus and others extra path. The Journey TR2 leans extra street with a excessive stack of 35 mm heel /  27 mm forefoot and the tender and energetic PWRRUN+ foam.  Let’s examine the way it carried out.

Professionals:

Comfy higher: Renee/Sam

Protecting/comfy/deeply cushioned midsole: Renee/Sam

Stable choice for sloppy street circumstances, clean trails and properly groomed forest paths: Sam

Cons:

On the heavy aspect: Renee/Sam

Greatest for mellow terrain: Renee/Sam

Not very steady on rougher trails: excessive stack top. 8mm drop, not very torsionally inflexible and softi(sh) bouncy foam doesn’t fairly sustain with safe higher and outsole: Sam

Considerably quick and pointy at true to measurement: Sam 

Most comparable sneakers

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2

Nike Pegasus Path

Stats

Spec Weight: ladies’s 8.9 oz / 254g US8, males’s 10.4 oz / 296g US9

Prior Model Spec Weight:  males’s 9.2 oz  / 261 g (US9)  /  ladies’s 8.5 oz / 241 g (US8)

Pattern Weights: 

         ladies’s 9.17oz / 260 g US8, prior model weight: 8.36 oz /237g

         males’s  10.32 oz / 293g US ,  oz / g US

Stack Peak: males’s  35 mm heel /  27 mm forefoot, 10mm drop 

Earlier Model Stack Peak: 35 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot, 8mm drop 

Platform Width: ladies’s US8  85mm heel / 65mm midfoot / 112mm forefoot

First Impressions, Match and Higher

Renee: I loved the primary model of the Journey TR. The shoe was comparatively light-weight at 8.36 oz in my ladies’s measurement 8. On path, the midsole was tender and bouncy, but with a safe higher it was controllable on mellow grades. On rolling gravel roads, the journey felt wonderful though it was a bit gradual.  The Journey TR 2 updates the midsole with PWRRUN+ expanded TPU beads foam from the prior PWRRUN EVA mix which provides weight to turn out to be a 9.17 oz shoe in a ladies’s measurement 8. Whereas I are inclined to frown on weight achieve, the midsole of the unique Journey TR went flat after my preliminary testing. The up to date extra resilient TPU  midsole foam is an effective transfer by Saucony.

The higher is comfy and caters to the shoe’s street to path use. The heel counter is agency which helps with safety, and the toe field overlays provide some safety. In any other case, the higher is extra street than path. The shoe has a gaiter hook on the laces and a lace tuck strap. The tongue is properly padded. The heel tab and tongue tab aren’t actually wanted because the shoe is straightforward to get on and off. 

Sam: Renee describes the texture and higher properly. I might say the higher leans extra path than street with a safe and comfy match. It isn’t notably roomy upfront with considerably of a taper on the very entrance however has a really safe maintain there. 

The higher is typical of a path shoe in being a particles resistant single materials with overlays and a stable inflexible heel counter. The tongue has a gusset.

And higher safety is required right here because the tender and bouncy foam and comparatively low torsional rigidity (for a path shoe) requires such a stable maintain on any sort of non clean path.

The match is true to measurement for my slim to medium ft.

Midsole & Platform

Renee: The  new PWRRUN+ midsole foam is the explanation the shoe is now heavier than the primary model. That stated, it makes the midsole extra sturdy. The shoe has sufficient stack for lengthy runs, though due to the load it’s not a quick shoe. The 8 mm drop right here rolls properly on flat or rolling terrain. The shoe’s flex isn’t nice for trails or climbs, and it’s not your best option for pace work. 

Initially, I used to be bummed by the load, however ended up having fun with the shoe for my early morning, 90-minute straightforward effort runs with strides. The insole can be a thick PWRRUN+ foam , measuring 7mm on the forefoot. The insole provides to the load, however it helps with safety. Saucony’s TPU insoles are amongst my favorites. 

Sam: Saucony goes with PWRRUN+ foam right here, a tender and bouncy expanded TPU beads foam additionally discovered of their standard Triumph collection sneakers and now within the street versionof this shoe the Journey 17. This new foam is a change from the denser (and lighter) PWRRUN foam discovered within the prior model with PWRRUN seen at the least as an outer service in Saucony’s extra path targeted sneakers.

With a 35 mm heel 27 mm forefoot stack top, comparatively excessive for path sneakers, the froth delivers a luxurious, bouncy and energetic journey on clean surfaces together with street. 

It’s for my tastes is a bit too tender and unstable on any sort of rougher path and this regardless of the stout outsole and safe higher. However to not fear in the event you path runs are of the graceful gravel and properly groomed forest paths selection. 

For a extra path leaning choice with nonetheless wonderful street manners, at about the identical weight  and identical stack top look to the Xodus Extremely 3 (RTR Evaluation) with its PWRRUN outer service foam, internal supercritical PWRRUN Pb core and mildly propulsive woven rock plate

Outsole

Renee: The outsole options 3.5mm lugs. I had some mud wedge on the cutout/uncovered midsole space, however it dropped out finally. 

As a street to path shoe, the outsole provides some traction with out being uncomfortable on street. The dense midsole provides the foot safety from any giant gravel. 

Sam: The outsole is properly matched to the shoe’s door to path functions with lengthy flat chevrons to clean the street journey and greater than enough grip on average trails. I additionally see this outsole (and shoe) being very appropriate for winter street runs on snow and in sloppy circumstances. This can be a path worthy outsole that doesn’t get in the way in which with an excessive amount of firmness, stiffness, and isn’t slappy on firmer smoother surfaces, even street. This final helped by the general flexibility of the TR2

On path, it doesn’t have fairly the sharp chew that extra disconnected multi dimensional lugs would have however it’s an appropriate tradeoff to supply the great street journey manners right here.

Journey, Conclusions and Suggestions

Sam: The Journey TR2 provides gentle trails and sloppy circumstances versatility to what’s a street leaning plush and pleasant midsole and platform. Primarily, given the PWRRUN+ foam, we do haven’t a trails targeted Journey however a lightweight lrails succesful Triumph in journey really feel. Nothing improper with that as in order for you a better efficiency extra trails leaning “door to path”succesful from Saucony one can think about the Xodus Extremely 3. 

To assist stabilize the tender and never that torsionally inflexible platform, and likewise give it extra pop and response,  I feel Saucony could be sensible so as to add its nice woven rock plate to the shoe in a subsequent model. 

I do suppose PWRRUN+, whereas an amazing foam for its energetic bounce and really feel,  isn’t excellent for a path shoe as a result of its relative lack of stability and likewise as it’s on the heavy aspect. Door to path, street, and path sneakers are quickly shifting to supercritical, lighter and springier foams and Saucony ought to think about these for a subsequent model. 

Comfy, clean and nice to run (or stroll) the Journey TR2 gives the safety of a trails outsole and a considerably extra trails targeted higher to what’s basically a really properly cushioned street shoe. It’s a nice alternative for simple trails, roads, and sloppy circumstances come fall and winter.

Sam’s Rating: 9.0 /10

(-0.3 Deductions for weight, and -0.7 for my tastes,  overly tender and considerably unstable trails journey.)

😊😊😊1/2

Renee: The Journey TR 2 is an effective choice for gravel or mellow terrain when consolation is the main target. Many street to path sneakers work simply as wlll on path as they do mellow terrain or my gravel roads. For me, the Journey TR 2 works for gravel however not a lot path. 

The shoe is heavy and never very nimble or versatile for switchbacks or steep up and downs. I do like the sturdiness and safety of the PWRRUN+ midsole, though I want the shoe was a bit lighter. In a bonus, the shoe works properly for strolling or climbing mellow terrain, so it has potential makes use of for extra than simply working. As somebody who most runs hilly, gravel roads, I’ve a use for the shoe. Those that frequent technical terrain won’t discover the shoe to be your best option. 

Renee’s rating: 9.1/10(-.40 mellow terrain solely, -.50 weight)😊😊😊

7 Comparisons

Index to all RTR opinions: HERE Roadtrailrun 

Saucony Journey 15 TR (v1) (RTR Evaluation)

Renee: The primary model was a lighter, extra nimble shoe for path working. The midsole did go flat after my preliminary testing, so the change to PWRRUN+ within the midsole is an improve for v2. The Journey TR 2 will likely be extra sturdy and protecting than v1, at the price of being a noticeably heavier shoe. Sizing is similar. 

Sam: I agree with Renee and would add that the TR2 is now extra street targeted because of the PWRRUN+ than v1 was.

Saucony Journey 17 (RTR Evaluation)

Sam: The street model shares the identical PWRRUN+ midsole foam and stack top with TR2 with in fact a street targeted outsole. Its higher is for certain roomier, overly roomy for me compared with the safe TR2’s.

Saucony Journey 16 (RTR Evaluation)

Renee: This older street model of the Journey,with EVA based mostly PWRRUN as a substitute of the PWRRUN + right here is lighter and with out the three.5mm lugs we have now right here. The sneakers don’t have the identical “journey” for my part. The street model has a roll from the forefoot touchdown that helps the shoe run easily regardless of not being the lightest choice for a each day coach. That roll doesn’t work as properly  on chunky gravel, and that’s the place the path model is best. Sizing is true-to-size for each sneakers. 

Saucony Xodus Extremely 3 (RTR Evaluation)

Sam: With about the identical stack top and weight, the Xodus Extremely is a extra succesful path shoe that may additionally deal with roads. It’s extra steady as a result of its PWRRUN outer service with an internal core of supercritical PWRRUN Pb supercritical foam for some pop. Its woven rock plate not solely protects however provides some response. The Xodus higher is definitely a bit roomier and extra comfy with much less of a sharp toe field. The Journey TR2 has a extra nice and straightforward going street journey however for me, selecting one, it could be the Xodus Extremely 3.

Hoka Challenger 7 (RTR Evaluation)

Renee: Whereas I don’t often like a rockered shoe, the Challenger 7 works properly on most terrain. The shoe is far lighter than most path sneakers, together with the heavy Journey TR 2. The Challenger is nimble and flexies on the forefoot, so I discovered it helpful on technical terrain regardless of its missing that a lot outsole depth. I’d solely select the Journey TR 2 for simple efforts on gravel. For every thing else, the Challenger. I put on a half measurement shorter for the Challenger as in comparison with the Journey TR. 

Nike Pegasus Path 5 (RTR Evaluation)

Renee: Neither of those sneakers work nice for technical terrain, though I counsel studying our evaluate of the Peg Path 4, as I discovered the 4 and 5 to be totally different sneakers. The Journey TR has a firmer, extra protecting midsole. For longer run consolation, I’d go along with the Journey TR. The Peg Path 5 is softer and extra versatile underfoot, and it’s quicker for climbs and descents. Neither has higher safety for technical terrain. Each work nice as informal sneakers and for street working. Sizing is comparable. 

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (RTR Evaluation quickly)

Sam: The Scrapa is decrease stack, extra agile and trails succesful whereas retaining wonderful street manners if with a thinner forefoot really feel. It’s significantly lighter as a result of its decrease stack top at 9.2 oz / 261g US9.and is extra steady on path  Its higher is safer, extra breathable and considerably broader upfront. In case your door to trails lean extra trails it’s a better option but when cushion and a extra nice street journey is your focus then Journey TR2.

Tecnica Prolox Hybrid (RTR Evaluation quickly)

Sam: Coming in 2025, the Prolox does underfoot what the Saucony ought to do in a subsequent model: a twin density, springy tremendous nice twin supercritical foams midsole: high PEBAX backside EVA. It has an progressive midsole development which seeks to separate vertical and horizontal forces and it really works with a really clean move by my stride. Surprisingly, however probably as a result of its broader platform and extra in depth outsole, it finally ends up heavier than the TR2 however is extra steady on trails Its higher is roomier total particularly upfront and on the ankle collars (could possibly be increased and safer there). 

Tester Profiles

Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of working and writing began. She isn’t that superior of a runner, however she tries actually onerous. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles happen on rural nation roads in Nebraska, which means mud, gravel, filth, hills, and the occasional discipline. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and three:26:45 for the marathon.

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Highway Path Run. He’s in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th 12 months of working roads and trails. He has a many years previous 2:28 marathon PR. As of late he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he’s not having fun with too many wonderful New England IPA’s

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