This Saucony model has been flying under the radar. Although in its third iteration you don’t see it very often. You don’t read about it much. It's so infrequently written about I might recommend it be called the Phantom or the Ghost, except Asics and Brooks (respectively) own those names.
To be honest I missed this model too. I knew of its existence, but never paid attention to it since most attention was on the Kinvara, Mirage and Hattori. I came to try this shoe when I experienced very tired legs for the last 4 to 5 months while running. For the last 4 years I’ve been running mostly on my Newtons, Altras and other lower ramped light shoes. So I wondered if my tired legs could just be from running without adequate cushioning and that after 4 years it became just too much for the legs to handle the impact. Or I’m just getting older.
Although it’s really hard to say that it is just the shoe I must admit that after the first run I had the impression that my legs didn’t feel as bad as usual. Then I ran some more in them for the next couple of weeks and switched between them and the other, much lighter, shoes. After every run in the Cortanas my legs felt fresher and less tired than in the other shoes. So it appears that at this moment I need apparently more cushioning than before. What the exact reason for this is I’m not sure, but my body is telling me this, so I’m starting to wear shoes with more cushioning. But I like the 4mm to 6mm drop, offset, ramp or whatever we’re all going to call this.
The Cortana 3 is like a Kinvara on steroids. It’s the same 4mm drop, but with much more cushioning. The fit feels the same. It’s not that wide and for my personal preference I would love to have them a little wider in the forefoot. I also wish the upper wouldn’t narrow down so fast in the toe box. But they feel light and they are flexible.
The shoe’s upper for this edition is upgraded with FlexFilm and SupportFrame. FlexFilm means fewer layers on the upper to keep the weight down and there are no seams, but it’s still strong and breathable. SupportFrame is the part that puts the heel securely in position and adds stability.
Saucony measures the sole at 22mm heel and 18mm forefoot, the same as for the Mirage. The inside of the upper is partially made from HydraMAX, the fast moisture wicking material to keep your feet dry and to reduce friction, especially in the heel. I run in them sockless, and without any blisters.
For you lovers of the Kinvara or the Mirage, if you’d like that little extra comfort and protection on longer training runs or during your Ironman race, this might be your shoe. They still feel light enough at 9.5oz in a men’s size-9 to race in them.
The Saucony Cortana comes in men’s and women’s specific sizes and colors.
[Editor's note: Our capable editor-at-large for footwear Jeroen van Geelen owns Total Running, one of the more important running and triathlon retail establishments in The Netherlands.]
