Saucony is coming to Unit 17.
For our first delivery, we are starting with two shoes that show two quite different sides of the brand: the technical, early-2000s feel of the ProGrid Omni 9 and the cleaner retro-running shape of the Shadow 5000.
Both come from Saucony's extensive running archive, but they look very different on foot and work with different wardrobes. If you are new to Saucony, here is where we would start.
More than 125 years of running history
Saucony's recent rise in lifestyle footwear might make it feel like another name to emerge from the current retro-running trend, but the company has considerably more history behind it.
Saucony was founded in Pennsylvania in 1898, close to the banks of Saucony Creek. Even the familiar wave-like logo has its roots there, inspired by water flowing around the creek's boulders.
Running has remained at the heart of the brand ever since.
What has changed is the audience. Designs originally driven by performance have gradually found another life away from running, where mesh uppers, technical midsoles and archive colour palettes sit remarkably well alongside contemporary menswear.
It is this part of Saucony that caught our attention at Unit 17.
The Saucony ProGrid Omni 9
If your taste leans towards the more technical side of footwear, the ProGrid Omni 9 is probably the place to start.
The Omni 9 has the layered construction and substantial shape associated with performance running shoes of its era, complete with Saucony's ProGrid cushioning technology.
There is much more going on visually than with a traditional trainer. Mesh, overlays and the structured sole give the Omni 9 a distinctly technical appearance without pushing it into full modern running-shoe territory.
That makes it particularly good with the clothes we already wear.
Try them under relaxed Gramicci trousers, Carhartt WIP cargos or a wider work pant. The extra volume of the shoe balances a looser leg particularly well, while the running background stops an outfit built around workwear from becoming too literal.
If you have been looking at the current wave of technical runners but want something with genuine archive credentials behind the design, the Omni 9 makes a lot of sense.
The Saucony Shadow 5000
The Shadow 5000 takes us further back.
Originally launched in 1989 as a performance running shoe, it has since become one of Saucony's enduring lifestyle silhouettes.
Compared with the Omni 9, everything feels a little simpler. The profile is lower, the proportions are cleaner and the overall shape has that unmistakable late-1980s and early-1990s running character.
Underneath, there is an EVA midsole for cushioning and Saucony's XT-600 rubber outsole, but today the appeal is as much about the silhouette as the original performance specification.
It is also arguably the easier of the two to introduce into an everyday wardrobe.
A Shadow 5000 works naturally with straight-leg denim, fatigues, chinos or shorts. Put them underneath a pair of Edwin jeans and a sweatshirt and there is very little to think about. They add enough detail to make an outfit interesting without dominating it.
That versatility is a large part of why we wanted the Shadow 5000 in the first Saucony delivery.
Omni 9 vs Shadow 5000: which should you choose?
Although they carry the same Saucony name, we would not really consider them interchangeable.
Choose the Omni 9 if you want:
- A more technical running aesthetic
- A chunkier, more substantial shape
- Something that works particularly well with relaxed and wider trousers
- The early-2000s side of the Saucony archive
Choose the Shadow 5000 if you want:
- A cleaner retro-running silhouette
- An easier everyday trainer
- Something to wear with denim, chinos and shorts
- A shoe rooted in late-1980s running design
There is no better model of the two. It really comes down to the shape you prefer and what is already hanging in your wardrobe.
How do Saucony trainers fit?
Both the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 and Shadow 5000 generally fit true to size for everyday wear, so we would recommend starting with your normal trainer size.
You may sometimes see runners choosing half a size larger in Saucony and other running footwear. This is usually to allow additional room as the feet swell during longer runs, rather than because the shoes themselves run particularly small.
For casual wear, stick with your usual size unless you prefer a little extra room. If you are between sizes or unsure, we always recommend visiting us at Unit 17 in Cardiff and trying them on to get the right fit.
Saucony is coming to Cardiff
The Omni 9 and Shadow 5000 will be the first Saucony styles to arrive at Unit 17, joining a footwear selection that already includes Red Wing and Karhu.
We have deliberately started with two models rather than trying to bring in everything at once. They represent two distinct periods of Saucony design and, more importantly, they are both shoes we can see working with the clothes already in the shop.
You can shop Saucony at Unit 17 online, or visit us at 12 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff to see them properly and try both silhouettes side by side.
Sometimes the difference between two trainers makes much more sense once they are actually on your feet.
