Lifestyle

Light and Supportive, Saucony’s All-In-One Free Crossport Is My New Run-to-Gym Shoe


Even though I live a mile from the gym (and I kinda hate driving), the running-for-work strategy has always felt unattainable. Why? What I look for in running shoes—even for short distances—is almost the exact opposite of what I look for in shoes for lifting weights or taking a HIIT class.

Like many runners, I like to have a tall foam pile to cushion my ride (seeing bottom? Even better!). But the idea of ​​lifting a single weight in such a shoe is enough to make most trainers cringe: For strength training, you generally want minimal cushioning and a flat bottom to create a comfortable fit. stability, plus a wide toe box so your toes can spread out and land. floor when lifting.

Sure, brands have released a ton of shoes over the years that aim to be versatile enough to take you from jogging to cross-training. But so far, only one person has let me jog to the local gym to do BODYPUMP, jog home, then run another mile or two because I don’t want to stop. That’s Saucony’s new Freedom Crossport ($150), a shoe designed for both the road and the gym.

Saucony Freedom Crossport — $150.00

Size: 5-12
width: just average

Color: 4
Type: Neutral
Drop from heel to toe: 4mm
Weight: 7.4 oz
Sustainability: This model is vegan and made with recycled materials

Advantage:

  • Versatile design for running and strength training
  • Responsive, with a subtle restorative
  • Light
  • fresh air
  • Fit, sure
  • Wide, stable toe box

Defect:

  • Not much padding
  • Not as stable as traditional training shoes

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What Saucony’s Freedom Crossport Feels Like Running In

No, the Freedom Crossports doesn’t have the smooth, cloud-running feel I usually love in a shoe. Even though they have a thin stack of PWRRUN PB (the same foam that makes Saucony’s race shoes so bouncy), I didn’t really feel it. Instead, the shoe feels pretty solid and responsive, with a very subtle bounce.

I probably wouldn’t want to run long distances without a little extra cushioning, but I don’t mind the low sole and 4mm heel-to-toe deviation for the shorter distances I’ve run in these shoes— most are two miles round trip to the gym, or over three to four miles of easy runs. (On the softer surface of the treadmill, I noticed even less stiffness.) Plus, it’s probably a good thing for a cushion-loving runner like me to have a more minimalist shoe in the loop, as most podiatrists agree that versatility form will be good for your feet.

I’m not sure how the shoe’s additional stability for cross training (it has both lateral and mid-cushion guardrails) feels like running, but the Freedom Crossport is a real shoe. neutral and gives that feeling.

Other features I appreciate for running: The shoe is relatively light at 7.4 ounces (light for running shoes and very light for a cross-training shoe), and I found the mesh upper to be super breathable, and the sock-like fit and tight fit.

Photo: Lauren Wingenroth

Check out Freedom Crossports at the gym

In addition to trying on the shoes at some of the BODYPUMP classes (high reps with moderate to light weights), I also tried on the shoes at the dance cardio classes at AKT, which feature weight training as well as step and dance sections. up and down from a box. (I didn’t get a chance to go to Barry’s or Orangetheory in the shoes, but I think they’ll excel in treadmill-style classes to that power.)

For the most part, I felt stable and supported in Freedom Crossports during both of these workouts, with the wider sole providing a firmer base than a typical running shoe. The shoe really shines in its plyometric work and explosive movement, where I feel the feedback foam giving me extra energy.

However, in certain movements, the Freedom Crossport still feels a lot like a running shoe: I sway a little more than I would like during balance exercises, for example. And since the shoe still has a bit of curvature in the toe, it doesn’t give you the feel of pressing your toes into the floor that more serious weightlifters might want.

Who is Freedom Crossports suitable for?

If you’re looking for a traditional running shoe or a traditional training shoe, you might want to look elsewhere. While Freedom Crossport works just fine for both types of activities, the compromises it makes to being versatile mean it doesn’t. rather perfect in either.

But if you’re like me and often find yourself in need of a pair of shoes that can transition from running to other forms of exercise, or you’re a casual runner/gym player and don’t want to invest in two separate pairs of shoes. , Freedom Crossports is more than enough.

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