Women’s Saucony Peregrine 14 Review

Bottom Line

Our testers have been running in the Peregrine’s for years. This iteration continues to be an ideal shoe for trails of any type. Comfortable right out of the box, the mesh uppers are breathable, fast drying, and have plenty of give for wider feet – although some may find a slight pressure point on the pinkies even in the wide version.

We ran it on sandy trails, through slippery autumn leaf litter, and up muddy ascents. We liked the slipper-like feel and found there to be exactly the right balance between soft cushion and ground feel making it adaptable to a variety of tread—from hard-packed surfaces to soft sand or mud. With its versatility, the Peregrine 14 is a fantastic value—especially for runners who only want to have one trail shoe. While we’re not certain the mesh upper will hold up to prolonged wear in extremely rugged conditions, it will certainly be a great choice for daily training. See more in our guides to the best trail running shoes for women and hiking shoes for women.

Traction

No more slipping and sliding on wet leaves or mud in the Saucony Peregrine 14! The extra-grippy PWRTRAC outsole combined with burly 5 mm lugs make for an extremely aggressive tread on a wide variety of trails.

During test runs on muddy trails in the Chuckanut Mountains of Washington state, we had no problems maintaining traction—even when negotiating steep grades. We were also impressed with the level of grip on the notoriously slippery wet leaves covering the trails during October training sessions in Michigan. 

Unlike some of the other models tested, the Peregrine 14 provides excellent traction without feeling stiff or too confining. They also transition well to harder surfaces such as gravel trails, although there tended to be an issue of small rocks getting stuck in the exposed midsole. Trail runners looking for a trail shoe that goes the distance comfortably for a lower than average price point will find a lot of value here.

comfort

These were the most comfortable shoes we tested, having a slipper-like feel right out of the box. Available in two widths, these will accommodate a majority of people, although those with very wide feet may not find the wide width to be wide enough. We noticed a tad bit of pressure on the pinky toes. The flexible mesh allowed for foot expansion and didn’t constrict us without stretching so much that it became sloppy. 

While only moderately cushioned, these shoes provided the perfect balance of comfort and ground feel, with the midsole being softer than most models we tested. The soft foam midsole allows you to maintain trail awareness but will keep you comfortable on hard surfaces, rocks, and roots.

We appreciated the secure midfoot and heel, ensuring that we felt confident on all terrain types. We found the narrower platform stable, but it may feel too narrow for some, especially on off-camber or steep terrain.

Weight

The Peregrine 14 is a mid-weight trail running shoe that won’t weigh you down. While not the lightest shoe we tested, the extra couple of ounces weren’t noticeable during testing. Its overall impressive performance in all other metrics are worth the trade-off.

Durability

Saucony has added reinforcement overlays to key high-wear areas and potential fail points, which help correct previous issues with the mesh uppers. However, we feel like there could be even more reinforcement, especially along the sides. 

We have some reservations that—even with the current improvements—the Peregrine 14 will hold up to extremely rugged conditions such as abrasion or repeated snagging. Excessive lateral movement may also create a fail point where the upper meets the outsole. To prolong the life of these shoes, we recommend avoiding off-camber terrain or high abrasion situations. We mainly took these on clear trails and paths and did not note any issues with durability throughout testing.

Otherwise, we were impressed by the elasticity of the mesh, which accommodated wider feet without permanently losing shape.

Breathability

The mesh uppers on the Peregrine 14 breathe easily. The excellent breathability and airflow in these shoes outperforms every other model we tested. Our feet were never too warm, no matter the temperature or the intensity of the run, even wearing black shoes in hot weather. Moisture build-up was never an issue either. We never dealt with hot spots or blisters.

The uppers dry rapidly, making them a solid choice for daily runs—even in wet areas like the Pacific Northwest. However, we did note that the thicker padding in the heels was a bit slower to dry than the rest of the shoe, but it didn’t affect our runs. 

The only drawback to the extreme permeability of the uppers was that sand from the singletrack trails in Michigan did manage to work its way in, which could lead to some chafing issues in the long run.

Responsiveness

The mesh uppers on the Peregrine 14 breathe easily. The excellent Among the shoes we tested, the Peregrine 14 stood out as having nearly the perfect balance between cushion, ground feel, and traction. These shoes do not compromise responsiveness when adding cushion and don’t trade traction for comfort. 

The PWRRUN foam feels soft and squishy underfoot. Despite this, it promotes impressive energy return no matter the pace. The Peregrine 14 propelled us down the trail without a loss of connection. We appreciated feeling the trail without feeling like our feet were getting banged up.  

While some runners with very wide feet may find that the sole feels slightly too narrow, diminishing stability; we found it to increase agility and pivot. This gave us confidence on more sinuous singletrack and winding trails in the Pacific Northwest.

Should You Buy the Saucony Peregrine 14?

These shoes are a fantastic value for the casual trail runner or hiker and those logging double-digit distances per session. At home on a broad range of trails, they will provide many miles of comfort and performance. 

However, it is important to note that they may not hold up to high abrasion, snags, or excessive lateral movement. Runners who stick to well-maintained trails free of extremely rocky sections or other major obstacles will find these shoes to be ideal. 

With two width options available, most people will be able to find a good fit. Their accessibility and overall performance across all metrics make them an all-around winner.

What Other Women’s Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?

If the Saucony Peregrine 14 isn’t for you, check out these trail runners that can handle rugged trails.

Brooks Cascadia 18 Review: If you’re looking for more space in the toes and more durability without compromising breathability, these trail runners may be just the ticket. Choose from two widths.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Review: If you’re looking for an even wider toe box and chassis, check out this former Editor’s Pick. These shoes are at home on rugged trails and have the most room in the footbox of everything we tested. Choose from two widths.

La Sportiva Bushido III Review: If you’re looking for an aggressive trail shoe with a narrower profile, more durability, and less cushion, these trail runners check all the boxes.