Saucony Omni 22 Introduction
Omni hits the “sweet spot” in Saucony’s stability line up as it sits between the max-plush Hurricane and trimmed down Guide. Hurricane is definitely more cushioned, which may be your preference, but I would go with Omni any day over the Guide, at least the Guide 14 I ran in a few years ago.
In my experience Omni has a smoother ride and more propulsion than Guide, but this is likely due to some updates in Omni for this latest version. A new PWRRUN sockliner increases comfort, and an updated HOLLOW-TECH GUIDANCE SYSTEM takes weight out of the heel while still providing needed push-back to early pronation.
The 22 is a full ounce lighter in a men’s 9 (10.1 oz) and weights 8.9 oz for a women’s 8.
Offset is 8 mm. from heel down to toe, up 1 mm. of midsole with a 35 mm. heel to 27 mm. forefoot, and list price remains at $140 USD.
Omni feels nicely stable upon foot-plant and supports the heel well, which is my favorite part of this shoe. The transition is smooth and toe-off is “meh” – it’s OK but not as propelling as you’ll find with HOKA’s rocker-base and adidas’s energy rods.
Omni competes with the Brooks Adrenaline and ASICS GT-2000 as a mid-level stability running shoe.
Both GT-2000 and the newest models from Brooks accommodate a slightly wider forefoot-to-heel ratio better than does Saucony, as does the Lululemon Blissfeel, a shoe designed particularly with this common feature of a woman’s foot in mind.
The solid base in Omni reminds me of the much less expensive Nike Downshifter 12, the key difference being flexibility.
Omni rolls forward with a smoother ride, while Downshifter is better for runners who need a shoe that is stiff from heel to ball of the foot.
Saucony Omni 22 First Impressions
The look out of the box makes me immediately think of a lone runner out braving the road—maybe because many don’t buy such a bright shoe simply for casual wear!
Slipping it on I could tell this was a narrow shoe throughout but fits long. Would I need to send it back for a wider forefoot? I decided to try a few runs first.
Walking around I was happily surprised by a quicker transition than I was expecting.
On the first run my heel felt so good snugly supported in the back. It took about 40 miles for the forefoot to stretch enough to fit comfortably.
Saucony Omni 22 Upper
This version’s engineered mesh upper is flanked by “windows” on both sides offering a lighter weight and increased breathability.
Without this the shoe would get warm given it’s sturdy, reinforced construction and partially gusseted tongue. Perforated, flexible material attaches both sides of the tongue to the base.
The sturdy, narrow-fitting upper is a plus for durability and lock-down but also means a long break-in for some foot shapes. Omni fits long for its size, so order “wide” rather than sizing up to accommodate medium to wide feet.
The shoe is narrow throughout, with a cozy and well-supported heel. This is my favorite aspect of the shoe.
The midsole extends up to frame the heel and reinforce an internal heel counter that offers support around the back of the shoe.
This is like the Brooks GuideRails only more centered around the ankle versus extending into the midfoot.
Saucony Omni 22 Sole Unit
Omni’s midsole is made of Saucony’s long-running PWRRUN foam, a standard EVA foam that offers structured cushion. On the positive, it is durable; on the negative it lacks responsiveness / spring. Weight is on the lighter side of average.
The support in the Omni 22 has changed from a dual-density midsole in the 21 to the plastic “HOLLOW-TECH” system that was introduced in 2022 with the Guide 15.
HOLLOW-TECH is a medial post that curves up like a semi circle through the medial heel in place of a large post of dense foam that overtakes half the medial side. This change is a big part of the shoe losing weight this year – one ounce lighter depending on the size.
HOLLOW-TECH does its job; the shoe continues to offer sufficient support.
Patches of XT-900 carbon rubber cover high-wear areas of the outsole with a vertical grove cutting weight and transfer of torsional force.
The shoe is decently stiff with a slight bend past the halfway point, under pressure. The TRI-FLEX design attempts to find the balance between stiffness and lack of support, and it does a decent job for moderate support needs.
Saucony Omni 22 Conclusions
Omni continues to bring the faithful support beloved by faithful followers for over two decades.
The heel support and solid feel upon foot-plant stand out as key features of this shoe. A narrow fit makes the “wide” option necessary for manyp runners.
This model brings a more smooth ride than in the past and feels good to run in. What keeps it from being “great” is lack of propulsion which so many shoes offer these days.
If you have run in past models of Omni let us know what you think of the new HOLLOW-TECH medial post.
If you are new to Omni like me, how does it compare with your past shoe? Let us know in the comments!
