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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Saucony A6 Review}} The Saucony A6 is a fine shoe, and is not far behind my favorite in this class, the Asics Gel Hyper Speed. While the A..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Saucony A6 Review}}
The Saucony A6 is a fine shoe, and is not far behind my favorite in this class, the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. While the A6 is marketed as a 'racing shoe', I view it as an optimal shoe, providing everything most runners need without the weight that comes with the over engineering of traditional running shoes. The A6 provides good cushioning and the upper has the comfort of shoes weighing far more. It's only significant flaw is that the toe box is not designed for the human foot, a failing shared by most running shoes. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The A6 is surprisingly comfortable given its weight, and it has a good cushioning-to-weight ratio.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The A6 is well cushioned for its weight, and while not quite up to the cushioning-to-weight ratio of shoes like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], it comes close. The heel is nicely cushioned, but I did notice a very slight unevenness in the forefoot cushioning. It was minor, and I only really noticed it when swapping shoes mid run, but watch out for it when you try it out. The forefoot is a little less cushioned than I'd like in a shoe of this weight.
* {{H:drop}}. The A6 has 4mm of drop when loaded, which is a tad more than I'd like, but it shouldn't cause any biomechanical problems. The main issue with that level of drop on a lightweight shoe is that it puts more of the cushioning in the rear and less in the forefoot, rather than balancing it out.
* {{H:structure}}. The A6 is a nice simple shoe that does not attempt to manipulate your stride. There's a single density of foam and only a slight rise under the midfoot that shouldn't create undue pressure on your arch.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The A6 has good flexibility with gaps in the outsole to allow the shoe to move naturally.
* {{H:outsole}}. The A6 has harder wearing rubber outsole under most of the contact area, providing reasonable longevity. There are three drainage holes under the middle of the foot that can catch stones, which may be an issue.
* {{H:shape}}. The A6 is not designed to fit a human foot, so I [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]] so my toes would not get crushed and so my foot could move naturally.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible, but somehow seems to mold itself around the foot, providing a nice level of comfort. I noted on several runs how much my feet appreciated the A6's upper when I swapped to them from other shoes. The upper is largely seamless, with some soft padding around the rear of the foot, plus more softness around the ankle opening. It's one of the most comfortable shoes I've tested in this weight class.
* {{H:tongue}}. The A6 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue has yet more soft padding.
* {{H:lacing}}. The A6 has flat laces that have a bit of elasticity in them that also contributes to the overall comfort of the shoe and I never had them come undone.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The A6 has only a vestigial heel counter that won't cause any problems.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=How Far Can I Run in the A6? =
Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Minimax]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different.
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Saucony A6 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The A6 and the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] are close, but the Hyper Speed provides better cushioning for the weight. On the other hand, the A6 has a more comfortable and padded upper.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==Saucony A6 and New Balance RC5000==
Compared with many shoes, the A6 is lightweight, but it's nearly twice the weight of the [[New Balance RC5000]]. The RC5000 provides just enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]], so it will be a faster shoe than the A6. However, I suspect most folks will appreciate the extra cushioning of the A6.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|}
==Saucony A6 and Asics GT 2000==
I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the [[Asics GT 2000]]. The GT 2000 is over engineered and these features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]], causing more problems than they solve. The GT 2000 has more padding in the upper than the A6, but I find that the A6 is more comfortable in practice. In every other area there is no doubt that the A6 is a better shoe. The A6 is just over half the weight of the GT 2000, but provides better cushioning in the heel and nearly as much in the forefoot. Compared with the A6, the GT 2000 feels like you're running in a wooden clog.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The Saucony A6 is a fine shoe, and is not far behind my favorite in this class, the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. While the A6 is marketed as a 'racing shoe', I view it as an optimal shoe, providing everything most runners need without the weight that comes with the over engineering of traditional running shoes. The A6 provides good cushioning and the upper has the comfort of shoes weighing far more. It's only significant flaw is that the toe box is not designed for the human foot, a failing shared by most running shoes. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The A6 is surprisingly comfortable given its weight, and it has a good cushioning-to-weight ratio.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The A6 is well cushioned for its weight, and while not quite up to the cushioning-to-weight ratio of shoes like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], it comes close. The heel is nicely cushioned, but I did notice a very slight unevenness in the forefoot cushioning. It was minor, and I only really noticed it when swapping shoes mid run, but watch out for it when you try it out. The forefoot is a little less cushioned than I'd like in a shoe of this weight.
* {{H:drop}}. The A6 has 4mm of drop when loaded, which is a tad more than I'd like, but it shouldn't cause any biomechanical problems. The main issue with that level of drop on a lightweight shoe is that it puts more of the cushioning in the rear and less in the forefoot, rather than balancing it out.
* {{H:structure}}. The A6 is a nice simple shoe that does not attempt to manipulate your stride. There's a single density of foam and only a slight rise under the midfoot that shouldn't create undue pressure on your arch.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The A6 has good flexibility with gaps in the outsole to allow the shoe to move naturally.
* {{H:outsole}}. The A6 has harder wearing rubber outsole under most of the contact area, providing reasonable longevity. There are three drainage holes under the middle of the foot that can catch stones, which may be an issue.
* {{H:shape}}. The A6 is not designed to fit a human foot, so I [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]] so my toes would not get crushed and so my foot could move naturally.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible, but somehow seems to mold itself around the foot, providing a nice level of comfort. I noted on several runs how much my feet appreciated the A6's upper when I swapped to them from other shoes. The upper is largely seamless, with some soft padding around the rear of the foot, plus more softness around the ankle opening. It's one of the most comfortable shoes I've tested in this weight class.
* {{H:tongue}}. The A6 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue has yet more soft padding.
* {{H:lacing}}. The A6 has flat laces that have a bit of elasticity in them that also contributes to the overall comfort of the shoe and I never had them come undone.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The A6 has only a vestigial heel counter that won't cause any problems.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=How Far Can I Run in the A6? =
Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Minimax]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different.
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Saucony A6 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The A6 and the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] are close, but the Hyper Speed provides better cushioning for the weight. On the other hand, the A6 has a more comfortable and padded upper.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==Saucony A6 and New Balance RC5000==
Compared with many shoes, the A6 is lightweight, but it's nearly twice the weight of the [[New Balance RC5000]]. The RC5000 provides just enough cushioning to improve [[Running Economy]], so it will be a faster shoe than the A6. However, I suspect most folks will appreciate the extra cushioning of the A6.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
|}
==Saucony A6 and Asics GT 2000==
I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the [[Asics GT 2000]]. The GT 2000 is over engineered and these features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]], causing more problems than they solve. The GT 2000 has more padding in the upper than the A6, but I find that the A6 is more comfortable in practice. In every other area there is no doubt that the A6 is a better shoe. The A6 is just over half the weight of the GT 2000, but provides better cushioning in the heel and nearly as much in the forefoot. Compared with the A6, the GT 2000 feels like you're running in a wooden clog.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Type-A6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Type A6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
