Introducing the Saucony Mirage 3, a personal choice of lightweight trainers in-built with comfortable cushioning and suitable for high-mileage. Adding greater flexibility and a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, the Mirage 3 has proven to be a responsive trainer suitable for trails and road running.
First Impression
The luminous fusion of lime-green and fuchsia pink was certainly eye-grabbing and I personally favour how the shoe doesn’t appear “overly-feminine” despite the loud tone of pink. The hint of neon-green brought zest and I was all excited to lace up and hit the trails. Don’t be fooled by the thickness of the sole, the cushioning provided a snug fit and there was sufficient ankle support.
First Go!
A day after I received the Mirage 3, I took them out to hit the trails for a hearty 18km run-in. The run was smooth! The wide-fit at the toe box made it comfortable and despite the long distance, I was blister-free. I then decided to challenge the stability of the shoe by thrashing the uphills and downhills and I was surprised by effectiveness of the heel counter. Great support! Likewise, being someone who is really particular about the achilles notch, I was contented with the well-designed feature of the Mirage as I did not experience any discomfort at my achilles tendon.
Terrain
Tested on both road and trails under rain and shine weather conditions, on the frequency of 4 runs per week. The comfort of the shoe was consistent and satisfying. Likewise, the 4mm heel-to-toe feature assisted the constant mid-foot strike with every stride I took. However, by the 3rd week when I took the shoes out for some speed-work in the trails, the soles of the shoes have been a little more seasoned and the traction of the soles did not bite as well on wet gravels. Moving on to road running and treadmill running, the Mirage 3 has reflected its versatility both indoor and outdoor.
Distance Handling
For all mileage fanatics who doubt the “chunkiness of the shoe,” fret not. This 3-week old here has weathered a total of 217km to date and the smoothness of my runs and the motion of my strides have been progressively constant. Despite the new features, the Mirage 3 still stays true to its design principle of providing essential pronation support for runners while achieving speed.
I enjoyed my experience with the Mirage 3 and I personally encourage this option for runners who are seeking for a happy medium between stability and neutral shoes. I was contented with the overall feel of the shoe, but I am a little disappointed by how the outsoles wore down slightly faster than expected, however otherwise, the shoe has served me well.
Runner’s Boon
- Flexibility of shoes bends according to terrain
- Wide toe box for comfort
- Lightness of the shoe
Runner’s Bane
- Grip of sole wears out faster than expected
- Running on wet gravels may oppose a challenge on the soles of the shoes
