Saucony Sinister running shoes

The Saucony Sinister running shoe is a super lightweight, carbon plate-less running shoe for short distance (5-10 km) races or for breaking time records. There is no lighter midfoot running shoe currently on the market. The Saucony Sinister weighs just 139 grams in men’s size 42.5 (EU). The low weight is due to the thin upper, the non-thick flexible PWRRUN PB midsole, covered by a thin outsole made of softer rubber. The shoe has a narrow design with a narrower than average midsole and upper.

Saucony Sinister upper

Saucony Sinister Running Shoe Upper

The upper of the Saucony Sinister running shoe is made of a less stretchy ripstop, or ripstop mesh material that is difficult to tear, but because it is thin, it wears more easily than the average. Being thin, it has good breathability. The tongue of the shoe is not separate, it is in one piece with the upper and, unlike the upper, it is made of a thin, stretchy knit fabric. The shoe has no lacing holes, but has straps on both sides to connect the tongue to the upper. The straps hold the foot firmly and securely. The heel collar is thin and fully elastic, it has no stiffening elements, it is not padded, but unlike the upper it is made of a durable fabric. The upper is optimised for performance, holds the foot firmly and securely, is not padded, is thin and has a lower than average durability.

Saucony Sinister midsole

Saucony Sinister Running Shoe Midsole

The Saucony Sinister running shoe midfoot is made entirely of PWRRUN PB foam. The same foam is found in the Endorphin models, where the same foam feels soft thanks to the high midsole. Because the Sinister midsole is low (25 mm at the heel and 19 mm at the toe), the PWRRUN foam feels stiffer, but this is an advantage and not a disadvantage, because it is more dynamic. The midsole gives good ground feel and is responsive. Shock absorption is moderate, so not recommended for 10km runs for everyone. Its robustness is unique, it is very easy to pick up the pace. The midsole is not only thinner but also narrower than average. Running shoes with a narrower midsole usually have poorer stability, but the Saucony Sinister has good stability because it has a low midsole and is stiffer than average. Also adding to the stability is the rubber outsole that covers the entire sole. The midsole is maximally flexible, we have not seen a more flexible running shoe. If you’re looking for a flexible, carbon plate-less fast running shoe for fast runs of up to 10km, the Saucony Sinister could be a good choice.

Saucony Sinister Outsole

Saucony Sinister running shoe outsole

The Saucony Sinister running shoe outsole covers the entire midfoot, which is not common in fast and lightweight running shoes, as the rubber is heavy, adding to the weight of the shoe. The reason why Saucony uses a full outsole on the Sinister running shoe is to make an otherwise very flexible shoe a bit stiffer. The full outsole also improves traction, the Saucony Sinister running shoe has outstanding grip, even on wet ground. The good grip is further enhanced by the fact that the outsole’s rubber compound is made from a softer, softer rubber. The only drawback of the outsole is that it wears faster than average, as it is softer and thinner than average.

Summary

Overall, the Saucony Sinister running shoe is a lightweight, flexible fast running shoe that is best suited for fast runs and races of 5-10 km. The upper is thin, good breathability, keeps the foot secure. The midsole is dynamic, responsive, flexible and gives a great ground feel, the outsole also has good traction to support fast runs. The only downside of the shoe is that it wears out faster than average and is less durable, so training and preparing to break your time record may not be recommended in this shoe, but it’s worth saving for those runs where time is important.