![]() ![]() ![]() Maybe a bit firmer with the added rubber, maybe a bit stiffer. I need a refresher run in the A5 for a more thorough comparison (will do that soon!), but the A6 feels a bit more like a rocket to me. And in that sense, yes, it does feel a bit different than the A5. The A6 is not a shoe built for casual jogging. My plan was to just run 5 easy, but that didn’t happen. It’s OK for an almost 40-year-old guy to publicly admit feelings like this about a shoe, right? The A series holds a special place in my heart. It’s not that the Connect is a bad shoe (I’m actually liking it a lot even given its funky fit), it’s just not the A6. I could take the Brooks Connect 3 out for a final pre-review run, or skip that and try out the A6. I did a little happy dance when I opened the box, but I had just gotten back from a killer Taekwondo workout (sparring = rubber legs), and no way was a run gonna happen last night. I’ve waited a year to find out, and yesterday the A6 arrived on my doorstep ( Disclosure: these shoes were media samples provided free of charge by Saucony). Would this change the ride for the worse? Would the shoe be heavier as a result? In particular, Saucony had added a much more substantial rubber outsole. I was wary of the changes made to the A6. One of the biggest sources of angst for a runner is the update that kills the shoe they love. The Saucony Grid Type A6 was one of them. And if you can do all of that for under $100, all the better.Ībout a year ago I was down at Saucony headquarters in Massachusetts for a visit, and at lunch they brought out some of their next generation shoes. I like shoes that aren’t stuffed to the gills with dubious “technology.” Give me a wedge of foam, an upper that doesn’t cause blisters or fall apart, and a toebox that fits just right and I’m happy. I’m not exaggerating.Īs I wrote in my review of the A5, what I loved about the shoe was its simplicity. I might go so far as to say it’s the best shoe I’ve ever run in. A cut out arch means a narrower platform, smaller base of support and thus a more unstable platform.I loved the Saucony Grid Type A5. Essentially if you have some pronatory issues due to weakness, you may be able to get away with the Saucony Type A6 due to the filled in arch and broader and thus more stable platform versus many that cut the arch out. Certain shoes get away with this like the Brooks T7 Racer (a personal favorite: Review HERE) but others like the original New Balance Minimus Road do not. ![]() This to me leaves the shoe feeling very unstable as my foot has nothing to rollover. Many racing shoes do not have the arch filled in at all and instead leave the space completely empty to save weight. Saucony does this with many shoes, especially the Kinvara series and some people may find the arch irritating but I tend to enjoy from a point of guiding the foot without forcing it to do anything like many traditional stability features do. To me it feels like a prioprioceptive cue due to the mild touch of EVA to the arch to remind some of my muscles to continue working with a little extra to cushion medial movement. Saucony simply put a little more midsole material in the arch. It is not posting or a different density of foam. The A6 and Kinvara both have EVA built up under the arch, which is not intrusive, but due to the pattern of EVA creates a mild feeling of arch support. Thoughts as a DPT (Student): Saucony uses many aspects that I have discussed previously that other companies don't necessarily take advantage of for creating a stable shoe. My favorite part is that despite the lack of outsole nubs, they still have great grip on roads even after rain. They are larger than previous versions, however they still perform well on XC courses. The Type A6 also has drainage holes are a little annoying in terms of picking up rocks. The heel to toe drop is low at 4-5mm which is typical for racing flats in this range. Additionally, the ride is consistent from heel to toe, which definitely contributes to the smooth ride. I expected the simple EVA midsole to not provide a great deal of cushion, but the ride is cushioned for a racing flat. ![]() With over 50 miles I am seeing very little wear despite tough workouts and races on a variety of races. Now without the nubs and the additional EVA pads on the bottom, the outsole is much more durable than in the past. In the past, the Type A series used nubs for additional grip on the road that fell off very quickly. Sole/Ride/Drop: The sole is made of a simple EVA sole. ![]()
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