Saucony Redeemer vs Brooks Beast

What Are Stability Shoes:

Stability running shoes vary in midsole softness, shoe weight and the footprint of the outsole. Stability shoes are designed for runners with flat feet or those who need custom orthotics.

Due to availability in various models and features, stability shoes also come in different categories. Some feature “motion-control” attributes, meaning the outer midsole is more compressible that the inside.

The second category of stability shoes resemble lightweight trainers or neutral shoes in terms of feel.

They don’t have imminent hardness due the presence of a media post. Stability shoes correct over-pronation and reduce inward foot roll.

You can see the overall differences between Saucony & Brooks here, in this detailed article.

Although some brands say that stability shoes are only for over-pronating runners, the choice of these running shoes can depend on personal preference. Whereas some runners love the firm medial post sensation under their foot, others don’t.

And, as mentioned above, stability shoes aren’t all the same.

Stability shoes can be categorized under three sub-groups. The first kind are the most popular due to mild support features for daily training.

1. The medial post is less intrusive and thus you may not feel it.
   
2. The second category offer optimal support without dimensions and weight being a consideration. They feature an over-sized medial post, high weight and extremely wide footprint of the outsole for the most stability in running shoes.
   
3. The third category of stability shoes are lightweight trainers designed to offer mild stability. 

They feature midsoles fitted with small medial posts to support fast training and runs. In this article, we review Saucony RedeemerISO 2 vs the Brooks Beast 18 to help compare the two running shoe product lines.

Saucony Redeemer ISO 2 - Overview

The sole and insole are flat without a plastic shank in the midsole. However, the thick sole offers torsional stability.

The heel is wide and your foot may slip off easily if it’s not ideal for your size. Tightening the lacing system may not help, only tightening the midfoot area.

Locking laces have proved to be an effect way to tighten laces which helps with stability.

The soft upper is warm, high quality and comfortable. The gait is natural and the inside of the shoe lacks seams. The EVERUN layer above the midsole cushions your landing to reduce impact.

The Redeemer ISO 2’s sole unit features a complete EVERUN layer beneath your feet at the top. The layer features micro TPU pallets in thousands for a bouncy effect, making the soft layer responsive. The midsole integrates a standard foam with a stable medial post for motion control.

The flat outsole has a wide base designed based on the TRI-FLEX technology for increased flexibility and toe-off. This running shoe delivers stable, comfortable rides, gently guiding your strides without restrictions.

Unlike the midsole, the heel is soft due to the EVERUN technology.

You feel the softness of the heel each time you land. However, the running shoes aren’t as bouncy as the Adidas UltraBoost ST’s midsole.

The upper unit features the ISOFIT system, giving it a bootie-structure with an outer exo-skeleton holding the lacing system. 

On the outside is a sturdy heel counter made of plastic. The flexible mesh is comfortable without seams on the inside. The padded heel features memory foam for added comfort.

The heel of some runners may keep sliding off, making the shoes uncomfortable for running or walking. This is despite the toe box fitting well into the shoe.

Is designed for men; there’s also the Ariel version for women.

It features an engineered mesh upper for increased breathability and no-sew overlays in the most recent update of the shoe. 

Designed to correct overpronation and reduce pain related to plantar fasciitis, the running shoes are comfortable.

The various width dimensions provide for a more personalized fit. With the Super DNA midsole, you’ve got extra cushioning for up to 25% more comfort.

Unlike the standard midsole in other Brooks’ running shoes, this shoe is more adaptable to your foot.

The Extended Progressive Diagonal Roll Bar corrects overpronation to align your foot in its natural position. 

The Segmented Crash Pad aligns your foot for landing in its natural position.

The Brooks Beast 18 features an updated upper for better breathability due to increased airflow. The toe box is spacious and the materials used on the upper absorb moisture and sweat for comfortable rides. The removable sock liner is easy to wash.

The structured saddle on the upper supports loosening or tightening for increased or reduced support as you deem fit. The outer heel counter is designed to offer additional stability for motion control. 

The HPR Green on the outsole is ideal for running in dry or wet conditions.

The rubber parts of the outsole reduce wear and tear for extended durability. What’s more, the Omega Flex Grooves improve shoe flexibility for natural movement of your foot.

Even so, the Redeemer ISO 2’s midfoot overlays run further forward than in the counterpart.

Unlike ISO 2, the Beast 18 opens up the bunion window and toe box areas a bit more. Therefore, Beast 18 gives more comfort.

The Beast 18 features a stitched-on toecap for increased durability while ISO 2 has a no-sew toecap. The outer heel counter at the back of both shoes offer additional support.

The uppers of both shoes look-alike, but ISO 2’s offer better support while that of Beast 18 is more comfortable. Both running shoes are padded and cushioned for comfort and support.

However, the midsole in both shoes differ. The crash pad is positioned on the lateral side and comes in a full length in the Beast 18. It also features a long medial post integrated on the side.

ISO 2 lacks the crash pad, but features extra cushioning on the top sole for softer rides from your heel to the toe area. The crash feature beneath the heel absorbs shock to reduce impact.

The midsole crash pad on Beast 18 gives soft rides with better stability than the ISO 2 running shoe. Both shoes support smooth transitions from heel to toe due good contact with the ground. ISO 2 has a long medial post.

The midfoot shank in Beast 18 runs into the medial post for reinforcement, resulting in better pronation control. However, ISO 2lacks the shank and features a triangular medial post that’s positioned at the top of the shoe.

Unlike Beast 18, ISO 2’s outer heel counter on the upper aligns with the medial post towards the midfoot area. Therefore, the running shoes have diminished heel rotation on the upper prior to medial post pronation control.

Unlike ISO 2, Beast 18 is likely to provide better pronation control support. Both shoes feature broad outsoles beneath the midfoot, meaning they’re ideal for runners with flat or wide feet.

The outsoles feature different rubber patterns. ISO 2 has more flex grooves while Beast 18 displays more small rubber pods. Although Beast 18 is more flexible than the ISO 2, both shoes aren’t so flexible.

Whereas the ISO 2 for women weighs 10.5 ounces, Beast 18 for women weighs 11.8 ounces. Beast 18 for men weighs 13.3 ounces while ISO 2 for men weighs 12 ounces.

Both running shoes offer support for extreme overpronation, soft rides and stability for runners. However, ISO 2 has a more secure fit atop being lighter than Beast 18, which offers better pronation control.