So, yeah, the Saucony Freedom ISO 2 came out like 9 months ago and somehow I never knew a thing about it or gave it the time of day. But, I’ve finally been enlightened and am enjoying every minute of it. The Freedom ISO 2 is Saucony’s top tier daily trainer and provides an enjoyable ride with premium materials along with a great deal of longevity. The reviews on this shoe are slightly mixed, but the majority rule is that this is a top 5 choice trainer for 2018 and still remains in this standing in 2019.
The Specs
Model: Freedom ISO 2
Mens size: 12
Weight: 11.52oz (mens 12)
Offset: 4mm (18mm toe / 22mm heel)
Support: Neutral
Type: Premium daily trainer; cushioned, responsive
Use: Daily runs / long runs
Color: Black
Style Number: S20440-1
Style Rating: 19/25
Style Creativity: 3.5/5
Color Combinations: 3.5/5
Physical Lines: 3.5/5
Choice of Materials: 4.5/5
Graphics & Overlays: 4/5
Pros
The style is clean and low key, even in the brighter colors, the lines of the shoe provide a classy style that doesn’t scream for too much attention. While remaining clean, the upper does have a lot of variations to it, but they’re subtle and only noticeable upon a closer look. I also really appreciated the addition of the “Everun” print under the outsole, not something you’ll see often, but an attention to detail that I have a lot of respect for.
Cons
While the shoe looks great, it felt to me like it was lacking a little creativity in the design of the upper pattern as well as the implementation of the color combos. I don’t think it’s off by a lot, it’s just missing a special touch.
On-Foot Feel Rating: 28/30
Toe Box Fit / Comfort: 5/5
Midfoot Fit / Comfort: 5/5
Tongue Fit / Comfort: 5/5
Heel Fit / Comfort: 4/5
Midsole Feel: 4.5/5
Outsole Feel: 4.5/5
Pros
This damn thing is suuuuper plush and feels like a smooth and comfy slipper. The entire upper has plenty of room, but still remains stable and supportive, likely due to the ISO Fit technology. The combination of materials and structure of the upper make for a very enjoyable experience which doesn’t go away no matter how long I wore the shoe. Also, the addition of the Everun topsole makes for a fantastic under foot feeling because this allows the midsole material feeling to translate better into your foot.Also, the fact that this shoe has a 4mm drop made it naturally feel more stable and natural while walking and running.
Cons
Strictly from an on foot feel stand point, there’s not really anything I felt was a con. I do have cons related to the feeling from a performance standpoint, but that’ll be covered in the next section.
Performance Rating: 94/110
Forefoot Stability: 4.5/5
Heel Stability: 4/5
Weight: 4/5
Weight Balance: 3.5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Lock Down: 4.5/5
Responsiveness: 4/5
Outsole Traction: 5/5
Upper Ventilation: 4/5
Longevity: 5/5
Worth the Money (at the retail price)?: 3.5/5
Performance as a Total Package: Cushioned, Daily Trainer: 48/50
Pros
The shoe performed great for the category of shoe that it is. The upper felt fantastic with no hot spots or discomfort. The Everun midsole was bouncy and cushioned, while providing a stable and responsive structure. The overall combination of materials made for a shoe that can be worn comfortably for a long time, and the sole provided for a long lasting ride that never stopped feeling lively.
Cons
Talking performance, there were 2 main downsides. One was the weight and balance of the shoe. The weight was a tad higher than I prefer, and coupled with the bulk of the weight residing in the midsole, it made the shoe feel a little bottom heavy. The second problem was the heel counter. The heel counter is almost non-existent and has almost no structure to it. This didn’t provide too much of an issue since the lower drop made the heel feel stable, but when making lateral moves, the heel would slide side to side more than I prefer it to.
Overall Score
Should You Buy This Shoe?
This shoe is very good for a all around trainer. Should you buy this!? Maybe. At the retail price, I’m iffy on whether it’s worth it, to me it sort of is, but if you absolutely love the materials or style, then I’d say it’s worth the $160. now that the shoe has been out for awhile, you can get it for low $100s, and at that price, I’d say it’s probably one of the best trainers you can buy.
Full Review
For the full review, checkout the video on my YouTube channel!
Show the OG’s of the review game some love by checking out their channels as well! No single review is sufficient, it’s best to see multiple opinions in order to see what resonates most with you.
Jami’s Reviews
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWPzT9H7dH5i7FaI9-BuUmA
Kofuzi
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe43pe3w4L6w3tNMRkWiJBA
