Saucony Freedom 4 Performance Review

What You Need To Know

• Weighs 7.5 oz. (213 g) for a US M9 / 6.5 oz. (184 g) for a US W8
• Ultra-lightweight design makes it feel speedy
• PWRRUN PB is an elite midsole, now in a daily trainer
• Saucony is bringing over the mutant colors to 2021

NICK: The first Saucony shoe I ever laced up takes me all the way back to high school when I ran cross country for two seasons in the Kilkenny XC5. I have fond memories of that pair and still have them somewhere at home. When I saw the Saucony box at my door, the memory of those weekend races came flooding back, and the Freedom 4 gave me some pep to my step.

The Good

NICK: The Freedom 4 sports a thin engineered mesh upper that’s buttery soft and feels amazing on foot. Saucony really knocked it out of the park with this one. A few suede overlays give the upper a bit more style as well as durability. And because of how few overlays there are, there isn’t a lot interfering with the fit of the shoe. 

I can’t decide if I like a gusseted tongue in my running shoes. Thomas may want to fire me for that, but they’ve been pretty hit or miss in my experience. This tongue is solid, wrapping neatly around the foot without suffocating. The heel also has me feeling locked in with a stiff counter that has just enough padding to give a bit of a premium feel. 

Underfoot of the Freedom 4, we’ve got a full-length PWRRUN PB midsole, the same compound used in the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Endorphin Pro. I never ran in either of those shoes, but I can totally see why our reviewers went crazy for them. This midsole is a winner. The PWRRUN PB is ultra-lightweight and uber responsive, which when combined create a snappy, fun ride for miles of smiles. I cannot get over how much I like this midsole. It’s definitely up there with New Balance’s FuelCell as my favorite foam in the game right now. Saucony took what worked in the two Endorphin shoes and simplified it into a daily training package. Not often do companies keep doing things that work, and Saucony did just that. 

Looking at the outsole, the Freedom 4 has just enough rubber to for solid traction and to give the PWRRUNPB some added durability. I had a hell of a time running in this shoe, and I feel like these will last 400 miles easy.

The Bad

NICK: What’s up with the rope laces @Saucony? The last shoe from the brand I reviewed, the Hurricane 23, also sported these, and I just don’t get it. They’re thick and often apply unnecessary pressure to the top of my foot. Now, the upper is so good that said pressure is mitigated enough for the fit to be awesome regardless, but the Freedom 4 would be so much better with some flat laces. 

Also, why doesn’t this shoe have a flared heel counter? The more traditional mold here is actually alright, but the heel flare feels like an industry-standard nowadays. Just not sure why it doesn’t show up here. 

One more thing: I wanna see some more colorways.

Saucony Freedom 4 Conclusion

NICK: I know I just whined about the laces for five sentences, but the Saucony Freedom 4 is a badass trainer that is sure to make your daily miles more inspiring. The star of the shoe is by far the peppy PWRRUN PB midsole. If the Endorphin Speed or Pro are a little too pricey for you, this shoe is a great opportunity to experience that midsole in a daily training package.  

You can pick up the Saucony Freedom 4 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) in March 2021 by using the shop link below.