Sole Searching: How Saucony Updated Its Most Rugged Trail Running Shoe

Author

Tanner Bowden

Photographer

Tanner Bowden

Sole Searching: How Saucony Updated Its Most Rugged Trail Running Shoe

Behind the design of the Xodus Ultra 4, a new distance-ready design with Vibram Megagrip sole and a springy midsole foam normally seen in road running

Published: 07-01-2025

About the author

Tanner Bowden

Tanner Bowden is a Vermont-based writer, editor, photographer, former wilderness educator, and Field Mag Editor-at-Large. He also contributes to the likes of GQ, Men's Journal, Gear Patrol, Outside.

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This article is the latest in an ongoing series of deep dives into past, present, and future icons called Sole Searching, made in partnership with Vibram. Earlier features outline the founding history of Bedrock Sandals, how Arc'teryx is creating a new category with the Vertex Alpine, and more.

Today's never-ceasing hype loop puts running shoe companies in a tricky position. The need for newness demands that they update their models every year or two, but a misplaced stitch or some too-firm foam can tank the reputation of even the most beloved brand. Still, no company makes it to its 100th birthday by playing it safe. Saucony didn't, and, at the ripe old age of 127, the footwear OG keeps its place in the lead group by changing tack when necessary. That's what it did with the Xodus Ultra 4, the newest version of the company's most adventure-ready trail running shoe, which now features more premium foam and sees the return of legendary Vibram Megagrip to the outsole.

For those keeping track, the Xodus Ultra 4 is actually the fifteenth iteration of the shoe; after version 11, Saucony adjusted the recipe so much they felt the name needed changing, too. "The Xodus has always been our most rugged and protective trail shoe," explains Katie Pyle, senior global product manager at Saucony. "Over the years, the intent has remained the same but we always strive to innovate and elevate with each iteration."

The intent behind the Xodus Ultra was always to provide trail runners with a rugged shoe for big days. The design focuses on comfort and protection, with a thick layer of soft, responsive PWRRUN PB foam—the same stuff most commonly found in high-end road racing shoes—that's surrounded by a more durable foam chassis of the same make. Building on this platform, the new Xodus Ultra 4 now has even more of that famed super shoe foam.

And then there's the new Vibram Megagrip outsole. Earlier versions of the Xodus had Vibram soles, and bringing the material back—this time with Traction Lug, which adds small, grippy micro features to each individual lug—fits the shoe's design goals. "Saucony set out to create a lightweight, durable, and trail-ready model with a streamlined upper that sets it apart from previous versions," explains Vibram design lead Sean Gayle. "Megagrip delivers on that vision, providing reliable traction in any terrain, such as wet roots, rocks, mud, and anything else you might find in a 100-mile race in the mountains."

Model updates, Pyle explains, focus more on applying learnings from previous iterations to elevate the functional performance of a shoe than meeting marketplace gaps and trends the way an entirely new model might do. Adjusting the foam construction and adding Megagrip to the Xodus Ultra might seem like small changes. But a little extra grip, a bit more bounce, drawn out over hours and hours of time on the trail, make a major impact on a runner's time in the mountains. That's always the goal, says Pyle. "We are always looking for ways to provide the best experience possible for the runner."

With Saucony regaining ground in the road community in recent years, and the warm reception of the Xodus Ultra, its exciting to see the storied brand rise to the occasion.

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