Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3...

By Frank

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I first saw the Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3 a few months back when one of my running friends wore them. The sleek looking bright yellow colour shoe was something a runner won’t be able to miss. And not only that it is bright in colour, it sure was one shiny shoe thanks to the amount of reflective materials used. It sure was an attention grabber. However, I know that the rule of thumb in buying a shoe especially for runners like me is not to judge it by its appearance. Therefore, I went and did my homework and lucky enough, I found that the shoe actually suits me.

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The Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3...

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The Grid Fastwitch is one of the very successful racer series in Saucony’s lineup. Entering into its third generation now, the Fastwitch 3 is made different from its predecessor. Instead of having 2 different models to suit different feet types, the third offers only 1 type. And it’s this one type that it is able to suit all feet types, from pronators to supinators. The secret lies with the low profile outsole that yet still provides the necessary support for pronators with the included medial post support although very minimal which is just perfect for mild pronators like me. A very innovative design indeed. And being low profile, the sole is almost in contact with the ground, something which elite runners will really like as it provides a very fast yet effective toe off.

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Pronation support...

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And being a racer, it sure was light, weighting at only 205 grams for a US size 8.5. The outsole was made of carbon rubber and EVA which felt really good. It offers great flexibility and the response is one of the best that I have ever experience. The cushioning system on the heel was of the Saucony’s Grid technology while the mid-foot uses SSL EVA. Although I would have prefer the ProGrid technology to be used instead where it offers full cushioning for the entire outsole, I guess what is used on the Fastwitch 3 is sufficient enough considering the weight, flexibility and responsiveness of the shoe. Anything more advance will probably cause some sacrifices.

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The arch support...

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Though most of the shoes body is built pretty thin, it felt sturdy. For example, the tongue which is of a separate construction felt so thin and flimsy but yet it stayed on its place during my runs doing its job shielding my upper feet. The collar too was rather thin but yet support was there though it’s advisable not to push it. I’ll prefer if it was slightly thicker with memory foam used. But most importanly, the shoe felt like that it was "formed" around the feet. I do not know how to explain it, but it's something like the shoe being moulded to the feet hence the perfect fit.

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The heel counter...

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Another thing that is worth praising is the ventilation of the shoe. The upper air mesh to the overlays has the largest holes I have ever seen in a shoe with another layer of it at the below with smaller holes. Don’t be fool by it though as it is constructed ingeniously. It was put together with minimal stitching and it felt solid, yet offers great breathability. And it goes all the way down to the sockliner although the holes there are much smaller to prevent pebbles from entering.

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The excellent air mesh (notice the amount of reflective materials)...

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Ventilation for the forefoot...

The downside of the Fastwitch 3 is probably that it is a low profile racer shoe. And being it, I believe that it wouldn’t last long especially for those who land on mid-foot. And also, this shoe is rather narrow. Although stated that it is of normal width, I felt that it was slightly tighter than others. No worries on the toebox though as it had sufficient room for my toes, at least for me.

As a conclusion, the Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3 is one fantastic shoe. Retailing at a recommended price of RM230, it’s one of the most valued for money shoe around. It’s so light that I can’t believe that I’m actually wearing a pair of shoes, which in the same time providing me with all the necessary support and protection. And with the unpredictable weather here in Malaysia, it sure did justice to my feet with its superior breathability. 2 halluxs up (my running version of 2 thumbs up) for the Fastwitch 3! Thus, my rating below sums it all up on how much I like the shoes.

Comfort: 8.5/10
Cushioning: 8/10
Design: 8.5/10
Flexibility: 9/10
Weight: 9/10
Overall: 8.6/10

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