Saucony is an American athletic footwear brand, founded in 1898 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The company takes its name from the Saucony Creek (a nearby Pennsylvania waterway). Originally a children's shoemaker, Saucony shifted focus to running footwear in the 1950s and has been a major performance running brand ever since. Saucony is currently owned by Wolverine Worldwide.
Performance running history
Saucony's technical running credentials are exceptional. The brand sponsored elite marathoners throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including winners at the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, and U.S. Olympic Trials. The brand's Grid cushioning technology (1991) preceded and influenced adidas Boost, Nike React, and Brooks BioMoGo — delivering responsive cushioning without the failure modes of traditional EVA foam.
Classic Saucony silhouettes
- Jazz — 1981 running silhouette, now a lifestyle staple
- Shadow 5000 — 1985 original, widely collaborated-on
- Shadow 6000 — 1991 evolution with improved cushioning
- Grid 9000 — 2000s Grid-equipped retro silhouette
- Triumph — 1990s+ max-cushion runner
- Endorphin Pro / Speed — modern race-day performance
- Peregrine — trail running flagship
- Kinvara — lightweight daily trainer
The 2020s lifestyle revival
Since 2020, Saucony has experienced a lifestyle-sneaker renaissance driven by high-profile collaborations:
- Action Bronson × Saucony Grid Web (2020-present)
- Bodega × Saucony Shadow 6000 — multiple successful capsule seasons
- JJJJound × Saucony — premium collab line
- Patta × Saucony Shadow 6000 — European sneaker boutique collaboration
- Stray Rats × Saucony
- Mita Sneakers × Saucony — Japanese boutique collaboration
- Packer Shoes × Saucony — NJ boutique foundational collab
- Extra Butter × Saucony — NYC boutique multi-year program
Current status
Saucony remains primarily a performance running brand but has established a solid lifestyle presence through its Originals line. Retail ranges from $90 for basic Jazz silhouettes to $180 for premium Shadow 6000 colorways and $210+ for performance running flagships.