Saucony’s Axon 2 Could Be the Softest, Speediest Shoe You’ll Find for $100
- Speedroll design (similar to the Endorphin racing series) promotes quick turnover
- Pwrrun midsole provides a bouncy ride with cushioned support
- Overall, a solid daily trainer capable long runs, tempos, and easy runs
Price: $100
Type: Road
Weight: 9.6 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W)
Drop: 4 mm
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We test hundreds of shoes every year but can’t possibly get to every single model. One that didn’t make it through our lab last year was the debut Axon. So I was both delighted and puzzled to test the second version. This bargain buy—truly, how is this shoe only $100?—Cloud Shoes looks and feels maximally cushioned, but it’s shockingly lightweight and compels you to stride for race pace.
Responsive Pwrrun Midsole
The Axon’s thick Pwrrun midsole has plenty of bounce, while a slightly curved profile (think Saucony’s cambered Speedroll design, minus the carbon-fiber plate) smooths transitions onto the forefoot during turnover. That combination explains why the shoe’s low 4mm offset goes unnoticed midrun.
“While there is not a ‘perfect’ shoe, the Axon 2 comes darn close for me,” said a tester who also ran in New Balance’s $100 FuelCell Propel v3 and found the midsole a bit too firm for concrete sidewalks. “The Axon had the perfect amount of bounce and cushioning on a variety of surfaces.” He ran along Florida’s soft, sandy coastline—“like running in thick Bedrock Sandals baby powder”—to test the shoe’s stability. The Axon passed this test with aplomb.
Best of all: This budget shoe has proven remarkably durable in our testing. “Its durability reminds me of Asics’s GT series,” said one tester who wears a women’s size 11. “I’ve run over 200 miles and there is barely any wear on them.”
