The Saucony Freedom ISO 2 keep the same lightweight, energetic feel of the previous version with an even smoother ride.
Saucony makes our list again with a neutral shoe called the Freedom ISO 2, an upgraded version of the revolutionary Freedom ISO. A few small changes were made to the original version, resulting in a more comfortable and natural feeling ride. The added comfort makes this shoe even more ideal for everyday runs than its predecessor. It can handle both speed work and long runs with ease.
The midsole of the Freedom ISO 2 is made entirely out of the bouncy material known as Everun. Saucony has been using this thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in other shoe models, including the Saucony Peregrine 7, but this is one of the first running shoes to use it for the full length of the midsole.
The Freedom ISO 2 has some similarities to the lightweight Saucony Kinvara, but the addition of the full-length Everun midsole is what gives the shoe a bouncier, more energetic feel that not only makes it effective for speed work, but also keeps you feeling fast on those longer runs.
While the Everun midsole creates a slightly heavier platform, but any weight it adds is offset by the sleek, stripped-down design of the upper. The ISO 2 features an upper made from a Saucony material called ISOKnit for even more breathability and comfort — a nice addition to the ISOFIT technology which is designed to give runners a comfortable fit.
They are slightly heavier than the Freedom ISO, but the men's model still weighs in at 9.1 ounces, keeping them well within the lightweight range. The stack height of the ISO 2 has been raised by 3mm because of the increase of Everun in the sole, but this is what makes for the more comfortable ride. The outsole features a grooved crystal rubber, a transparent and durable rubber that masterfully handles the abrasion of road and track alike.
While some feel that the Freedom ISO 2 sacrifices a little of the snappy response for the added comfort, most didn't notice a difference between the two. This reviewer from Running Shoes Guru who says, "to be frank, on my first run if I was not told that the shoe on my foot was a different version of the Freedom, I'm not sure I would have noticed the difference."
The best kind of running shoe update is one you don't notice at all, or if you do it's because of the benefits — not any drawbacks. In this sense, the Freedom ISO 2 is a successful update to a successful original. This amazon reviewer says, "If you liked the first edition of Freedoms, you'll like these. Sizing is truer and there is more padding on the upper ISO."
If you want to make a statement on the road, these shoes will deliver with fun colors and a two-toned outsole. It has a fun design, but even more importantly this shoe is also fun to wear. It has a responsiveness that begs you to push the tempo, and the versatility to handle speed work as well as longer runs.
You can even pretend you're Usain Bolt as you're flying around the track. We won't tell anyone.
Pros: Full Everun sole for an energetic feel, ISOFIT Technology and an ISOKnit upper for added comfort and breathability, durable outsole, versatility to handle different types of training, fun design
Cons: Higher price compared to some competitors, some feel that the increased amount of Everun in the sole of the ISO 2 sacrificed some of the snappy response found in the first version