One Good Performance Runner With a Little Extra Sauce

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Gone are the days of a sneaker having one “sole” purpose. In times like these, your lifestyle kicks need to be able to keep up, doing more than just looking the part. And performance sneakers? Well, If I’m putting my body through the ordeal of a long run, the least my shoes can do is look good while they’re at it.

The problem is, with so many performance-driven shoes on the market now, narrowing down the “One Good” pair is no easy feat. There’s no shortage of like-minded, equally capable runners all vying for the chance to shave a couple of seconds (or minutes, if we’re lucky) off that PB. But when the dust settles, I want a shoe that can put in the work without looking like it was designed exclusively for the finish line. 

Enter the Saucony x Highsnobiety Endorphin Pro 5. Before you roll your eyes, this may scream bias, sure, but hey, we’d argue we have pretty good taste in sneakers at this point. The collaboration takes Saucony’s existing performance model and gives it a fresh lick of paint, which, if you ask me, is a rather good-looking excuse to get out and put one foot in front of the other. We might be a little too close to this one to claim total objectivity, but at least the shoe itself does most of the talking.

If there’s one thing Saucony knows, it’s speed. The lightweight foam sole is a big part of what makes these so good for longer runs. When I’m several miles deep, the last thing I want is to feel like my shoes are working against me. These keep things light on their feet, so to speak. My main appeal, though, (besides the fact that I have a little more skin in the game), is the full English-inspired colorway. No, that’s not a misprint. You’ve got your brown sauce and ketchup all served up, minus the baked beans. Shockingly, as someone opposed to most condiments, this actually floats my boat. 

Comfort-wise, I was pleasantly surprised by how well these things mold to my feet. They have this snug, almost glove-like fit that makes the laces feel a little redundant. Obviously, I’m not about to start running around with them untied, but it’s a pretty encouraging sign when a shoe feels this secure before you’ve even had to fiddle with the lacing.

Of course, no Highsnob collaboration comes in only one form. For the less athletic minded amongst us, or those who prefer more of a sturdy dad shoe, there’s also the Saucony x Highsnobiety ProGrid Paramount. This one’s made for the city, where my daily mileage comes from running late, missing the metro, and pretending I meant to take the scenic route. A little more heft, a little less Lycra (depending on the day). With its oatmeal mesh upper, this one’s serving up a more wholesome kind of comfort food. A hearty porridge. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a reluctant 10K to train for.

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