The tongue has a couple of elastic strips to hold it in place. I got a blister on my heel the first time I ran in them, but switching from cotton socks to moisture wicking socks fixed that. There are a couple of little padded “hydrators” on each side of the heel pod that give a firm but cushioned fit. I found the surface under the insole very hard and recommend keeping them in.
It can easily be removed and I tried running without it once. The A4s don’t have much of an arch support(which I like a lot), just a thin insole that is not glued to the shoe and. Inside the shoe there is a very thin backing to the mesh upper. There is also an ultra thin lining, elastic tongue holders and “hydrators” pad the heel. The insoles are not glued in and are easily removed. (Endless carries men’s and women’s here.) I found that the Sauconys have a smaller heel-to-toe drop, less cushion, and cost less. Initially, I was leaning toward the Mizuno Wave Universe 3, but after talking with Greg at DailyMile, who likes alternating runs with his Bikilas and the Saucony Grid Type A4s, I decided to give them a closer look. Also, I was hoping some very slight cushioning of the heel would help with my achilles problem.Īfter reading about Edward Edmond’s use of racing flats in his training, I looked at the specs of various racing flats and narrowed it down to a few possibilities. I looked for something lightweight, with a small heel-to-toe drop and low profile that would allow me to maintain my forefoot strike. So, what follows is my search for a shoe that I could alternate with my Bikilas to relieve some of the stress on my achilles tendon… Saucony Grid Type A4 However, due to either pushing myself too hard lately or perhaps the inherent frailty of my middle aged body, I have developed a mild case of achilles tendonitis. All went well for the first couple of months and my perfectly fitting Bikilas are just great. Starting out, I focused on taking it slow and developing a proper forefoot strike. These days, when I run “barefoot” in Five Fingers Bikilas I don’t have these problems and running is fun again. I had tried running on and off through the years, but was an old school heel striker and always gave up due to back and knee pain. I learned about barefoot running here on Birthday Shoes and I decided to give it a try.
Saucony builds high-tech, comfortable shoes – in medium and wide widths - for the way you like to move.Back in April, I started running consistently after about, uh, a 30 year layoff. For outings to a park or a street fair, Saucony has casual shoes that are colorful, fashion-forward, and provide all-day comfort. With its efforts in technology and innovation, it’s not surprising that Saucony also engineers great women’s walking shoes if you prefer your cardio at a slower pace. The Endorphin collection has shoes that offer specific qualities you want in women’s running shoes. If you overpronate (roll your ankles inward) or supinate (roll your ankles outward), you’ll want a stability shoe like the Tempus or the Guide. You may want cushioned running shoes like the Triumph or the Ride. From speed shoes to trail running shoes and walking shoes to casual classics, Saucony has the right women’s sneakers for running, walking, and casually strolling. When you shop, you’ll find women’s running shoes that will meet your specifications for a comfortable ride. Saucony has been creating shoes for over 125 years and has built a legacy of performance and innovation. Women’s Sneakers: Running, Walking, and Casual