It is rare when we get a whole new shoe added to a brand lineup and also very exciting at the same time because you’re just not sure what to expect. Going into a review of the Saucony Tempus there was a touch of trepidation along with that nervous excitement. Not only because we didn’t know a ton about the shoe but also because we weren’t sure how this shoe would play against other models in the Saucony lineup. Even as we get into this review, we still have some question marks but where we don’t have questions is on the performance of the shoe and its quality. While this is billed as a stability shoe, it is way more than that and will surely be one of the daily runners we recommend quite a bit this year. It also changes the game within Saucony because shoes like the Ride or the Triumph are now going to feel a little threatened by these.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- A lightweight stable daily runner that anyone can use, PWRRUN PB for the masses!
- Weight – 8.9oz or 252g for a US Men’s 9, 7.9oz or 224g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 36.5mm of cushion and an 8mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $160.00 USD
- Colors – 5 options
Construction and Materials
- Upper – The Tempus uses a lightweight breathable mesh along with their FORMFIT design which feels like a traditional cage that maps to the geometry of your foot. The adaptive lacing system enhances medial/lateral stability and the well-padded/structured elf with elf-ear keeps you locked in.
- Midsole – The midsole is composed of a full-length core built on their PWRRUN PB cushioning to provide responsiveness. They then have a contoured PWRRUN-based (more traditional EVA) frame that starts above the midsole to support your foot upon landing, and then curves around the foot providing cushion where you need it and some pop in other spots. Deeper contouring lets you sit deeper into the midsole to provide more medial and lateral support.
- Outsole – The outsole uses Saucony’s durable XT-900 rubber which provides ample traction while also handling weather well.
Performance Review
What we loved
From the time you slide the Saucony Tempus on your foot, you will immediately be drawn to them. The internal gusset and FORMFIT support system holds your foot well but also doesn’t feel too tight on top which is something we felt with the Ride 15 for instance, so you never feel too snug in there. The to ebox is nice and wide and gives you ample toe splay while also breathing really well. They have a fairly standard Saucony lacing system, feeling similar to the Ride with the addition of an adaptive stability element right around the third or fourth eyelet. While we have seen this before in their racing shoes, it is an interesting addition here because it just gives you a touch of lateral and medial support without being really structural.
The midsole is where things get real and by that we mean exciting. It is the first time we get PWRRUN PB implemented in an interesting way outside of the Endorphin lineup. However, instead of going 100% with it, they mixed it with more traditional EVA (PWRRUN) almost curving around portions of the underfoot into the areas where it’ll be most beneficial. What this leads to is a more structured shoe in the right areas, while delivering performance in those areas where you don’t need the support. It also allows a shoe to be lighter than you might expect, but not too light that it doesn’t support the foot well.
They have also contoured the footbed which allows you to sit a bit further into the midsole as those sides come up and kind of cup your foot in place. This increases that feeling of stability overall but also dials up the comfort. You feel taken care of by the shoe and you don’t feel like you’re going to over-rotate one way or the other. It is a clever trick we are starting to see on more and more shoes and it allows the midsole to perform some of that support work without the need for additional heavier elements.
The outsole on here is solid, we have run these in numerous weather types and just like the ride there is plenty of rubber for traction and the durability on here will not be a problem.
What we didn’t
As for what we didn’t like, it is really hard to find something. Saucony has done a really good job with the Tempus and given it is the first of its generation, it’s even more surprising. I think the one thing we don’t like is how it complicates the Saucony lineup for us. Just saying, we haven’t run in our Ride 15s all that much since reviewing the Tempus.
Overall Conclusion
Saucony has really crushed it with the Tempus and I think the only problem they’ve created for themselves is how some of their other shoes are going to fight back against it. People who traditionally might have gone for something like the Ride might find themselves gravitating to the Tempus because this is way better than a traditional stability shoe. The support elements are so simple and the midsole is phenomenal both in terms of feel and performance. This is a shoe that most runners will enjoy quite a bit with both its roomy toe box, its performance, and really just the overall feel. The Tempus can take on a ton of miles, while also being solid enough for an easy 5K. Definitely a shoe worth your time.
Learn more on the Saucony website
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Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
