Saucony Grid Type A5

Name: Saucony Grid Type A5
Brand: Saucony
Rating: 4.6 (9 reviews)

Racing · Neutral · Road · 5.8 oz · 4mm drop · 16/12mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Saucony Grid Type A6 replaced it

How it ranks

The Saucony Grid Type A5 is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Comfort and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 9 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Grid Type product line. Another 3 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

Excellent

96/100

Overall

Excellent 96

Comfort

Exceptional 97

Appearance

Excellent 94

Value

Very good 91

Cushioning

Good 83

Durability

Below average 63

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

84/100

Moderate 84

What runners say

“Perhaps the best all-around road shoe that I own. Comfortable, light, and enough cushion up to the marathon distance.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Hyper Speed 6

“It is the most comfortable flat I have ever ran in.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“The seams on the side begin to tear apart.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“The right shoe fits a little large and makes me curl my toes.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon

“It lacks much durability.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Very comfortable, except the upper dug into my ankle.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon

“It's a great, really light shoe.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon

“After a lot of miles the sides of the shoe tear and the shoe needs to be replaced.”

4/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon

“It falls apart quite easily.”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for sprints

“You can feel the ground a bit, which I like.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

67% 2/3

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers call it among the most comfortable racing flats they have worn.
At 5.8 oz on a 16mm heel, one reviewer notes real ground feel.
One reviewer finds it has enough cushion up to the marathon.

Cons

Three reviewers report the upper seams tearing after heavy training miles.
Durability is the weakest dimension at 3.7 out of 5, and one reviewer wears a pair down within a couple of months of daily training.
One reviewer cut part of the upper away where it dug into their ankle, and another found one shoe of the pair ran large.

Grid Type A5 rates 96. This shoe has moderate certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Saucony Grid Type

Each dot is one version of the Grid Type, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

97 2011 96 2014 99 2014

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Grid Type A6

2014 · 18 reviews

99 Exceptional

97 Confidence
Grid Type A5 This shoe

2014 · 9 reviews

96 Excellent

84 Confidence
Grid Type A4

2011 · 2 reviews

97 Exceptional

83 Confidence

Reader Ratings

9 ratings

5/5 5

4/5 4

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 5.8 oz
Release: 2014
Stack Height: 16mm heel - 12mm toe
Drop Height: 4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Serves its purpose well, but after a lot of miles he sides of the shoe tear and the shoe needs to be replaced.

Anonymous runner · Sep 13, 2014

85 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Took out the insoles, which I always do with shoes if possible. Used for everyday runs, track workouts, tempos, anything. Very comfortable, except the upper dug into my ankle so I cut a bit of it out with scissors, then it was fine. Soles are somewhat soft but not too much like a pillow and you can feel the ground a bit, which I like.

Anonymous runner · Aug 29, 2014

60 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Reader review

5/5

Overall

This is a continuation of a earlier post. I have 4 pairs of the Saucony A5 that I run in regularly. I also have 6 pairs in in my closet for later use. Since 2007, except for the Saucony A5, I buy running all of my running shoes in Japan. I go there two or three times a year. I prefer Japanese style running shoes because, for elite, fast, or serious runners, all of the Japanese models have low heals. They recently started manking big box shoes for the masses but I don't like them the same as I usually never buy shoes in the US these days. For example i have bought 7 pairs of a Nike zoom trainer in Japan with a low heal. You can't buy it in the US. I have the Asics Sortie Magic, 3 pairs, bought in Japan, 2 pairs of Adidas for the Japanese market etc. Also 2 pairs of Nike Zoom racers from Japan. Not counting other Japanese models, mostly Asics made for the Japenese market that I have given away. I give my shoes away to churches etc after I use them and they are still good for someone. I rotate my shoes. I usually never wear the same shoe twice in a row. I am relatively injury free, a midfoot striker, with a very short stride. Also I take the insoles out of most shoes, as I like the feel of the road or surface. Granted I haven't raced alot recently but I don't consider myself a hobby jogger. I take running seriously even though I don't race. I might be considered an outlier for your survey but its my shoe style. I recently tried the new Nike Pegasus in a Japan running store and it felt like a big box on my feet. I just couldn't see running in them after running in low-healed Japanese style shoes except for the Saucony A5.

Anonymous runner · Aug 27, 2014

45 mpw

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

5/5

Overall

I run mostly in racing flats. From the US I run in Saucony A5. I also have the Asics Sortie Magic that I bought in Japan. In fact most of my running shoes are from Japan. Why? They mostly have low heals and I don't like big bulkly shoes. I tried the new Nike Pegasus and it felt like a boat, even a size 9. It tried the Japan Boost, an Adidas Shoe made for Japan just like a few of the other Adidas shoes. Its ok, but not worth the price. So except for the Saucony A5. I got Asics Sortie Magic from Japan, 3 pairs, Adidas Japan Boost, Adidas Hagio from Japan, two Nike Zoom training flats made specifically for Japan, 2 Nike zoom racing flats made specifically for Japan, I Just prefer running shoes made for the Japanese market.

Anonymous runner · Aug 27, 2014

40 mpw

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

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Analyses

Saucony Grid Type A5

Excellent