Like Lady Liberty standing outside Ellis Island welcoming the tired and the poor, the Saucony Liberty ISO 2, with its full-length Everun midsole, redesigned medial support, and knit upper, is here to welcome the tired runner. But at $160, maybe not the poor.
Read on to find out if this shoe is your American dream.
I must—oh yes, I must—mention the tongue first. (Haven’t heard that sentence since my middle school days and spin-the-bottle recaps).
The thin tongue in the original Liberty ISO kind of sucked. It repeatedly fell down despite my ongoing attempts to secure it with tight lacing configurations. That issue is history as the new tongue is modestly padded for added protection across the instep.
Another update is the new knit upper with (ISOKNIT with ISOFIBER stitching, of course). Whether knit uppers are superior to mesh uppers is based on preference. Truthfully, I didn’t notice one feeling more comfortable than the other. The Liberty ISO 2 weighs pretty much the exact same as the original (9.9 ounces); the stack height remained the same as well (22 mm in the heel and 18 mm in the forefoot).
The Liberty ISO 2 ride is nice, though it feels less responsive than its predecessor. I dwelt on the ride sensation every run and kept returning to the more noticeable pop in the original. You may not notice a difference. This may seem minor in scope too, but I kept sensing the change.
The crystal rubber configuration on the outsole of the Liberty ISO 2 is new too, and I wonder if this accounts for the disparity I sensed. You’d think not since the full-length EVERUN midsole and topsole are unchanged, but proprioception is funny like that.
Toe box space is excellent, and despite the retooled heel counter, I didn’t notice any slippage.
And please pay attention to this most wondrous detail, which is easily taken for granted: in an era of shoelaces that can circle the moon and back, Houston— we have a shoe with appropriate-length laces.
On a related note, I’d be remiss not to point out that July 20th, 2019, is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Oddly enough, the rear upper of the black and blue colorway looks like stars draped across the night sky. Or as John Oliver puts it, “Cool.”
I scrutinize every shoe I test for irritations, heel slippage, hot spots, and pressure, and the Liberty ISO 2 scores points for not exhibiting any minor or major issues in this regard. I know, every running shoe should have one hiccup or two, but I’m not one for nitpicking version two. The version one ride pops a little more, but version two is solid nonetheless.
If you love the idea of a Saucony shoe with a full-length EVERUN midsole but require a little stability, the Liberty ISO 2 might be the one. It’s similar to the design and composition of the Saucony Freedom ISO 2—plus the TPU guidance frame (i.e. medial post) for extra support.
Cool.
You can pick up the Saucony Liberty ISO 2 at Running Warehouse for $159.95 using the shop link below.
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