Saucony Freedom 3 Review
The Freedom to Enjoy Your Run
Likes
- Lightweight
- Snappy ride
- Soft underfoot
- Great fit
Dislikes
- Poor color choices
What's New
Dropping both the EVERUN midsole and ISO upper in exchange for Saucony's new PWRRUN+ foam and FORMFIT upper design, the Freedom 3 retains its lively ride and secure fit while also shaving off nearly an ounce of weight. The new PWRRUN+ midsole foam is 25% lighter than EVERUN foam, but it does not compromise the springy energy return that the previous midsole was famous for. On the contrary, it is now more responsive and softer than ever. The FORMFIT mesh upper features a soft knit that has just enough stretch to allow for natural foot movement without sacrificing a secure fit when it's time to pick up the pace. Finished off with a full-length, crystal rubber outsole with a denser rubber in high abrasion areas, the Freedom 3 offers durability, grip, and the freedom to run without anything holding you back.
The Bottom Line
Those who desire a running shoe that's more nimble than the Triumph and more durable than the Kinvara will love the Freedom 3. Our testers felt that this shoe's bouncy ride and plush cushioning allowed them to have fun on their runs without being held back. The flexible design of both the tooling and upper allowed for natural freedom of movement while offering enough security for confidence when picking up the pace. Although the Freedom 3 may not be their first choice for track days or long distances, our testers agreed that shoe offers enough comfort and versatility to work for most of their running demands, and more importantly, they had fun running in it too!
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to narrow | Height: Medium to low (Both Medium in Women's) | |
| Midfoot Volume | Men's: Medium to low | Women's: Medium | |
| Heel Width | Men's: Medium to Narrow | Women's: Medium | |
| Arch Height | Men's: Medium to high | Women's: Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 7.7 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 23mm (Heel), 19mm (Forefoot) | 4 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
Thanks to the all-new PWRRUN+ cushioning, the Freedom 3 now offers both a softer and more responsive feel. Our testers found that it felt plush enough for daily training and that many folks may enjoy longer distances in the shoe as well.
Liese: "I wouldn’t call it soft, but it is in no way hard or unforgiving. The PWRRUN+ cushioning is springy, lightweight, and responsive."
Mark: "The Freedom 3 is surprisingly plush underfoot. It has a reassuring softness to it that most lightweight trainers lack."
Ride/Energy Return i
With a 25% increase in energy return, the PWRRUN+ midsole has a lively ride that surprised our testers. They appreciated the shoe's plush cushioning and felt that it didn't slow them down during faster efforts.
Liese: "This shoe gets a perfect 10 in energy return. I found myself enjoying my run due to the bouncy nature of the shoe. My favorite types of runs in this shoe are strides and intervals."
Mark: "The Freedom 3 has a nice spring to it. Doing strides and accelerations in these shoes felt natural and effortless."
Underfoot Protection i
Despite its low to the ground feel, our testers felt that the Freedom 3 offered plenty of protection for most runs. Those that want a versatile daily trainer that can handle longer miles while still offering the responsiveness that they need for uptempo workouts will love the Freedom 3.
Liese: "The medium stack height on this shoe provided enough protection for my daily runs. Although Triumph 17 is still going to be my long run and recovery shoe, I love the lightweight feel of the Freedom 3, and I think that the rubber outsole may last longer than the exposed EVA on the Kinvara."
Mark: "The shoe has great protection for what it is. It definitely doesn’t have the cushion of a daily trainer, but it has enough to where I feel confident that I can log some real miles in them and trust them as a key player in my shoe rotation."
Underfoot Flexibility i
The Tri-Flex rubber used in the Freedom 3 offers a blend of durability and grip while maximizing the shoe's flexibility. Our testers felt that the flexibility combined with the Formfit upper allowed for natural freedom of movement throughout their stride.
Liese: "The new knit upper allows the shoe to bend with my foot in a way that the overlays on last year’s model wouldn’t allow. The sole is full-length PWRRUN+ and it transitions smoothly through each stride."
Mark: "The upper material is pretty thin and hugs the foot nicely. This shoe is capable of matching your foot’s movement due to its natural flexibility."
Upper Feel i
Where the ISO fit of the previous model caused issues for some runners, the new FORMFIT upper was a hit with our testers. The knit mesh design provided a snug hug of the foot while stretching to accommodate natural foot movement.
Liese: "The new FORMFIT mesh upper is pure gold. It’s more breathable and more accommodating for my slightly wide forefoot than the previous ISO upper."
Mark: "The upper wraps the foot nicely and is flexible enough to match your foot's movements. It’s also tight enough to prevent sloppiness when things start to heat up."
Individual Thoughts
I liked this shoe when it came out a couple years ago, and I like it even better this year! The bouncy underfoot experience is so fun, and the updated upper makes the fit much more comfortable than its predecessor’s.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Freedom 3 serves nicely as a lightweight training option in my rotation. I like to incorporate strides into a few workouts each week. Having a lightweight shoe with ample protection and plush cushioning comes in handy for notching down the pace on those pickups without compromising my comfort for the rest of the run.