Bottom Line
The Saucony Peregrine 14 is one of the lightest, most agile shoes on our Best Hiking Shoes for Men guide. Our team at CleverHiker has hiked thousands of miles in this shoe, from trekking in the Nepalese Himalayas to exploring Patagonia’s Torres del Paine. CleverHiker Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has climbed over a dozen 13,000’ peaks in the Colorado Rockies in his Peregrines. They’re tailor-made for active hikers seeking out-of-the-box comfort with exceptional traction and breathability.
With a responsive and flexible midsole, excellent traction, and a secure fit, this trail runner is a good choice for hikers. We like it for summer conditions due to its breathability and quick-drying knit uppers. It’s also the lightest shoe we tested.
Given its weight, the Peregrine 14 isn’t the most durable shoe out there. That said, for such a reasonably priced and incredibly low weight shoe, the Peregrine 14 is an all-around trail runner we recommend for hikers and backpackers.
Quick Specs
Men’s Saucony Peregrine 14
Best Lightweight Trail Runners for Long Distances
CleverHiker Rating: 4.4/5
Price: $140
Weight (Pair): 1 lb. 2.4 oz.
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 4 mm
Pros
- Excellent traction
- Breathable mesh uppers
- Lightweight
- Less expensive
- Flexible outsoles
- Rock plate protects arches
- No break-in period
Cons
- Not as durable as classic hiking shoes
- Limited cushioning
- Few protective features
- Laces wear out faster than prior version
Comfort
The Saucony Peregrine 14 is a comfortable trail runner with a traditional fit. The midsoles walk a fine line. There’s just enough foam to cushion our feet through the arch yet still enough ground feel for secure steps. We like the springy ride. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer found the Peregrine fits true-to-size with a pleasing, snug feel through the midfoot and heel and plenty of space in the toe box.
If you’re mostly hiking in the summer, this shoe is one of our top picks. The uppers are entirely mesh with thin TPU overlays, making them feel airy and light with excellent breathability. On warm and humid days when we needed to dump sweat and heat, these shoes were a great choice.
Our biggest gripe comes down to a significant change in the lacing system between the Peregrine 13s and the Peregrine 14s. The 14s swapped out thick, round laces and a thinner tongue for flat, wider laces and a thicker tongue. In our opinion, this was a step down in comfort. These flat laces put a bit more pressure across the top of the foot.
The lightweight construction has a downside as well. The Peregrine 14 is comfortable on most terrain, but we’d prefer more cushioning throughout the midsole and more support in the arch and heel. That would make a world of difference for general foot fatigue on long hiking days.
Traction
If you loved the traction on the Saucony Peregrine 13s, you’ll love the 14s. The pattern, foam, and feel is identical, and they offer the same tacky, reliable grip. During testing, we found the soles delivered uniform wear and consistent grip across the entire shoe. The Peregrine 14 doesn’t have an aggressive lug pattern at the heel or toe compared to other shoes, but we didn’t really notice in the field. The 5 chunky lugs at the heel gave us reliable braking when zipping down scree and packed dirt trails in the Rockies. The 10 lugs at the toe gave plenty of grip through the forefoot on most ascents and off-camber trails.
This uniform rubber is our biggest con. The outsoles provide consistent performance but don’t have specialized zones for specific situations. More technical hiking shoes often have heel braking on steep descents or a high-performing rubber composite beneath the toes and forefoot for better grip on ascents. The Peregrines don’t. That means they can feel a bit slippery on slick rocks, packed, steep dirt, and wet surfaces.
Weight
The Saucony Peregrine 14 weighs only 9.4 ounces per shoe – the lightest model we tested. The airy mesh uppers and streamlined construction are perfect for hikers whose top priorities are breathability and weight savings. The result of such a featherlight design is a nimble, agile, and fast pair of shoes that perform consistently over long miles. When Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer is heading out for a 20 to 30 mile summer hike in the Rockies, these are one of his go-to shoes for a comfortable, lightweight ride from sunrise to sunset.
Unfortunately, the airy construction and thin midsole foam can contribute to faster foot fatigue compared to shoes with more cushioning. If you need more arch support, you may also consider adding an aftermarket insole. However, if you’re looking to go as light as possible, the Peregrine 14 is as light as it gets among our top picks for the best hiking shoes.
Durability
The Saucony Peregrine 14 is not built for durability. Though we love the lightweight combination of mesh and ultralight foam for weight savings and comfort, the downside of these materials is less longevity. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer found the Peregrin showed meaningful wear after 200-250 miles. Specifically, the TPU overlays began to lift, the mesh blew out in the toes and interior of the foot, and the flat laces began to fray faster than the Peregrine 13’s round laces. Also, the tread wore down significantly faster than the durable rubber of a true hiking shoe, dramatically reducing the traction needed for rougher terrains.
The biggest issue we’ve run into during testing is with a section of exposed foam between the heel and midfoot. Over time, this foam eventually split. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer noticed this issue at the 250 mile mark and was forced to retire his pair immediately.
The key takeaway is that these shoes won’t last forever – but you’ll have a great time with them for the first 250 miles or so.
Weather Resistance
The Saucony Peregrine 14s perform best in hot and dry summer conditions. Their mesh uppers are light and airy, which makes for some of the most breathable shoes we’ve tested. These things will keep your feet cool when the sun is beating down and your feet are heating up since they’ll dump sweat and heat with ease.
They’re also a great choice for hikes with water crossings or during stormy days. Even after wading through knee-deep water, or a torrential downpour, we find the Peregrines dry out in just 45 to 60 minutes, especially when paired with thin socks, and a bit of warmth.
But the Peregrines fall short when it comes to true weather resistance, especially in wet and cold conditions. The thin, airy mesh uppers let water in almost instantly, leaving your feet soaked from even the shallowest puddles. W we don’t recommend these for cold, wet conditions. If your adventure involves wet, snowy, or windy weather, consider a more weather-resistant shoe with features like a tall cuff, Gore-Tex liner, or water-resistant materials like leather.
Should You Buy the Saucony Peregrine 14?
We recommend the Saucony Peregrine 14 for ultralight backpackers, fastpackers, trail runners, minimalists, and hikers who want lightweight, agile footwear that’s comfortable and breathable. This trail runner excels in fast-paced activities over varied terrain and is especially good for summer conditions, thanks to its quick-drying uppers. However, if you want long-term durability, this Saucony is not a great fit – and it’s not the most cushioned trail runner, either. But the Peregrine 14 is one of our favorite shoes when it comes to performance and price – and we think you’ll love them, too.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
If the Saucony Peregrine isn’t your glass slipper, please check out our guides to the best hiking shoes and best trail running shoes for men.
Brooks Cascadia 18 Review: Similar to the Saucony Peregrine 14, the Brooks Cascadia 18 offers excellent traction and a comfortable fit. Even though it weighs a bit more, it has better durability and traction.
Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Review: Like the Peregrine 14, the Topo Ultraventure 3 offers lightweight construction and breathability, but it features a roomier toe box and more heel cushioning for an extra comfy ride.
Altra Lone Peak 8 Review: The Altra Lone Peak 8 is also lightweight and grippy, but it also has an oversized toe box and a zero heel-to-toe drop for an ergonomic gait on the trail.
