Saucony Mirage
First Impressions
Last year, Saucony introduced the ProGrid Kinvara, a minimalist shoe designed for neutral runners. Saucony enhanced the Kinvara this year and also introduced a new product – the ProGrid Mirage – for those that require a stability shoe.
Out of the box, the Mirage is dynamite looking. I received the white and blue combination which was nothing short of dazzling. The quality of construction was top notch. Like the Kinvara, the Mirage employs a minimal heel-to-toe drop of just 4mm. Under-heel cushion is 23mm and forefoot 21mm. And the shoes were very light weight at just around 9 oz.
Features
Saucony designed the Mirage for everyday training and speed work. Its so light weight, you might also consider it for racing. Like the inov-8 255 (also reviewed), the Mirage is true to the minimalist ethos while packing in a number of features that belies the light weight approach.
For instance, there’s a special foam grid placed under the heel to provide additional shock absorption. Inside the shoe and under the sock liner, Saucony placed special rubber compounds to improve comfort. The sock liner itself provides a nice extra bit of spring while blown EVA provides the bulk of the cushioning. Carbon rubber is used to improve the wear of the outsole.
Finally – and this is where the stability comes in – Saucony placed a supportive plastic arc under the arch to improve over pronation. In my runs, I found this provided just enough control.
Fit
The Mirage fit was perfect, completely true to size. The upper feels light and nicely ventilated. The toe box is tighter than the inov-8 255 but I found it flexible enough to accommodate any needed expansion as I ran. No complaints here.
Final Verdict
With the Mirage, Saucony delivered a great lightweight trainer. It provides just enough cushion and control to make those used to a more traditional shoe (me) feel right at home while still easing into the minimalist movement. These are definitely worth the look if you’re headed in that direction too.