Test: Saucony Paramount Max: Perhaps the peak of an era

The goal of a max-cushioning shoe is to have vast amounts of soft foam without feeling like running in a swamp. The shoe should offer comfort while propelling you forward, no matter how slow you run. This is achieved with Paramount Max .

I've mainly used the shoe for jogging. But it has also taken me through various intervals. One morning at Viby Athletics Stadium, I decided to ditch the shoes I had planned to run intervals in. Instead, I used Paramount Max. And I didn't regret that decision.

The shoe shares foam material with Saucony's Endorphin Elite . Both this and the last two generations of Elite use Saucony's IncrediRUN foam, which I'll return to later, but the bottom line is: The foam has both bounce and speed. You're not missing anything here. I ran 6 × 1,000 meters at about 3:20 pace, and when I finished, both the shoe and I felt ready for more.

However, it's during jogging that the shoe truly shines. I've really started to appreciate easy runs this year, and Saucony Paramount Max feels like a gift from bounce heaven.

After races or hard intervals, when I jog off, something my mom will never understand, and mostly feel like lying in a fetal position, it's a Paramount Max I need. It helps me from walking to easy jog and up to threshold pace.

Saucony Paramount Max

Specifications are based on standard size and may vary slightly between colors/models.

Maximalism from inside out

When we first saw the shoe at the office, there were many opinions about its look. It's certainly not a shoe that goes unnoticed.

The sole is enormous, and the print highlights the heel. The upper isn't subtle either, but it didn't take long for me to realize that I actually find Saucony's retro look quite appealing. The shoe isn't shy about being max-cushioned. You can see that.

And what you see is what you get. The max look is also felt when you step into the shoe. It's not just soft; it's also incredibly spacious. If you have a wide foot, you'll love Paramount Max. My foot is about average width, but that doesn't mean the shoe feels too loose. I've still had plenty of opportunities to lock my foot in place even during intervals.

Part of it might also be due to one of my favorites in the Paramount Max: a distinctively soft, anatomically shaped 3D heel cap. This heel was on the shoe I was wearing when I truly fell in love with running. If you know it, you know it.

If you've read more of my articles, you know I have a peculiar habit of removing the insole after the first few runs. It gives extra space, and my feet appreciate it. In the time I've tested shoes, I recall only one shoe where I haven't done this. Now there are two. The upper is simply so roomy that I don't feel it makes sense. And actually, the shoe's insole is quite impressive.

Max cushioning without swamp feel

When I first removed the insole, I gasped. It's the thickest insole I've seen in a shoe. Saucony doesn't settle for a stack height of 43 mm in the heel. I'd guess the insole adds about 5 extra mm.

The 43 mm in the heel becomes 37 mm in the forefoot, leaving us with a 6 mm drop. I think this is a crucial factor for the feel the shoe provides during jogging. The slightly low drop helps activate the foot, and when combined with IncrediRUN foam, you have a combination that equals propulsion.

For the shoe shares the TPEE-based foam material with Endorphin Elite and Endorphin Elite 2. However, there's a difference from the two aggressive race shoes. The version of IncrediRUN that Paramount Max is equipped with feels more stable and durable. It makes sense when you think about the shoe's purpose: You should be able to grind out mile after mile in this shoe.

Yet, the foam's key characteristics are still present in Paramount Max: IncrediRUN is bouncy and responsive.

You don't feel like the shoe is draining your energy. It's not a wet and spongy swamp you're running in. It's more like a rain-soaked track on a late August evening.

And actually, I find the feel quite impressive when I think about the midsole's size. As previously described, the shoe doesn't hide its max personality. The midsole platform you land on is very wide, creating an element of stability, but it doesn't compromise the sense of propulsion.

The wide platform is paired with "sidewalls" that wrap your foot in a frame, and I dare say the shoe stabilizes heavy runners quite well.

Even the underside is maxed out

Looking under the midsole, you'll see it's well wrapped in Saucony's XT-900 rubber. It's the most durable rubber the American brand has to offer.

I've previously criticized Saucony for skimping on the outsole along the midsole's edges, which can result in a shoe that looks more worn than it is. Fortunately, that's not something I need to worry about when it comes to Paramount Max. Here too, it's maxed out: The outsole continues across the shoe's full width. Thank you.

Who is Saucony Paramount Max made for?

Paramount Max from Saucony is a tribute to an era. An era where sole heights are maximized and combined with supercritical foam materials: an era we may have seen the peak of. Max-cushioning shoes are best when they balance bounce and weight. And I believe Paramount Max might be the most balanced of them.

Theis in a sweet spot between a shoe I wear when my legs feel their worst and need relief, and a shoe I wear when I want to run at an easy pace by feel.

If you started running in the last five years, there's a good chance that Saucony Paramount Max is just right for you. If you've felt at home in the era we've run through the past five years, Paramount Max is the crowning achievement.

More from Saucony?

You can find all running shoes from Saucony right here. If you're looking for running apparel, you can find running shoes here and running apparel here .