A potential true allrounder, with a caveat. 

Saucony’s Freedom 3 is a relatively difficult shoe to categorize. It’s well cushioned without being plush, durable without being a tank, and light but not a featherweight. If I were to hazard a guess, this would be the Triumph’s wilder sibling, incorporating much of that premium shoe’s technology including a Powerrun+ midsole and crystal runner outsole—though the latest Triumph swaps blown rubber for the crystal—mated to a thin, breathable mesh upper. 

The result is a shoe that weighs in at a mere 17.8 ounces per pair in a men’s size 10. Lighter than most daily trainers and more durable than most shoes designed for raceing and intervals. the Freedom occupies an interesting niche and promises to do many things well, with a catch—anyone needing or simply wanting stability should look at the Freedom’s stability sibling, the Liberty, which adds a modicum of support for the price of an extra ounce. 

Technical Information

The Freedom 3 has a stack height of 23mm at the heel and 19mm, giving the shoe a low 4mm drop. Though relatively thin compared to the ever-expanding midsoles as of late, the Freedom uses Saucony’s TPU Pwrrun+ midsole seen in a much thicker form in the Triumph 17. The new material promises a cushioned, springy ride compared to previous iterations and older materials. It’s also remarkably flexible.

Saucony has released a myriad of vastly updated models over the past year, and though I don’t have the Freedom 2, the changes between the 2 and 3 are similar to those seen in the Triumph—namely the replacement of Everrun with the aforementioned Pwrrun and Saucony’s wholesale abandonment of its Isofit strap-based fit system. The result is that the Freedom is a vastly different model than last years ISO 2 model. 

Instead of straps, the Freedom adopts a soft, breathable upper (Formfit, in Saucony’s parlance) with a gusseted tongue, well-padded heel, ample breathability, and comparatively little structure. The look is clean and simple, with a squiggle of thread mid foot, possibly to add structure, a TPU heel counter, and thick laces like those seen on the Triumph. 

The outsole is girded with a durable mix of crystal rubber, with harder rubber in high-wear areas. A wishbone cutout adds stability and probably sheds a bit more weight from an already light shoe. The extensive use of crystal and blown rubber should make this a durable shoe; I’ve seen very little wear on similar outsoles on my Triumphs. 

Impressions and Application

I’ve been laid-up with knee problems lately, so my impressions are based on a few short runs. I’m anxious to heal, rebuild, and take these out for a faster group run, because that’s where these shoes are likely to shine. 

Simply put, these shoes are a blast to run in. They’re light, flexible, and soft enough to be comfortable but with enough bounce to be energetic. This makes them versatile shoes in an era of increasing specialization. That makes them a unique shoe that is difficult to categorize. 

The fit is true-to-size, with ample room in the toe box for my bland, decidedly average-sized 53-year-old feet. I noticed a little slippage in the heel, but this could easily be eliminated with more judicious tightening of the laces. The tongue was comfortable and unobtrusive. 

As I’ve stated before, the crystal rubber should last hundreds of miles, and the Pwrrun midsole will also hold up to quite a bit of abuse. Another Pwrrun benefit: it’s quite resistant to the cold, meaning that it shouldn’t lose its cushion and spring in the winter, based on my experiences with the Triumph 17. 

The heel counter and rubber outsole add some stability, but these are supremely flexible shoes—I’ve seen photos of reviewers twisting the shoes in half—without a great deal of support. The result is a fun, almost wild ride very different than any other shoe I own. The lack of structure or a rocking sole probably make the Freedom less-then-ideal for long races, but they should excel a middle-distance tempo work and intervals. 

At $150, these aren’t cheap shoes, but for a runner who is looking for a light, durable do-it-all shoe, the Freedom could be a viable option. Few shoes sport a combination of responsiveness, comport, light weight, and durability as well as the Freedom. 

Uses: Daily trainer, tempo runs

Weight: 17.8 ounces. Pair, men’s size 10

Drop: 4mm

Cost: $150

Link: Freedom 3

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