There’s a unique magic in leaving the pavement behind. It’s the crunch of leaves underfoot, the challenge of a winding dirt path, and the feeling of connecting with nature one stride at a time. For years, I’ve sought out shoes that can handle this transition seamlessly. The search often leads to a frustrating crossroads: do you invest a small fortune in a high-tech, armored-up trail shoe, or do you take a chance on a more budget-friendly option that might not withstand the rigors of the trail? It’s a common dilemma for weekend warriors and new trail runners alike. The fear is always that a lower price point will translate to blisters, poor traction, or worse, a shoe that falls apart just when you’re starting to build momentum. This is the very problem the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe aims to solve, promising rugged performance without the premium price tag. The question we had to answer was simple: does it deliver?
- Versafoam cushioning for more comfort than ever before
- A cushy stack of VERSAFOAM cushioning feels responsive to provide every level of runner comfortable strides
What to Consider Before Buying a Trail Running Shoe
A trail running shoe is more than just an item of footwear; it’s a key solution for protection, stability, and confidence on unpredictable surfaces. Unlike their road-running counterparts, which are built for consistency and cushioning on flat asphalt, trail shoes are engineered to be your first line of defense against rocks, roots, mud, and inclines. Their primary benefits include aggressive outsoles for superior grip, more durable upper materials to resist snags and scrapes, and often a firmer, more stable platform to prevent ankle rolls. They allow you to move with greater speed and security than a standard hiking boot while offering significantly more protection and traction than a typical sneaker.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing varied terrain on their runs or walks. This includes beginner to intermediate trail runners, day hikers who prefer a lighter shoe, and even individuals who need a sturdy, reliable shoe for outdoor work or walking the dog on unpaved paths. However, a dedicated trail shoe might not be suitable for those who run exclusively on pavement, as the aggressive lugs can feel awkward and wear down quickly on concrete. Similarly, elite ultrarunners might seek more specialized features like rock plates or maximalist cushioning. For pure road runners, a shoe designed for that specific purpose would be a better alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Fit and Sizing: This is the most critical factor. A trail shoe should lock your heel in place to prevent slipping on hills, but offer ample room in the toe box for your toes to splay, especially on downhills. Pay close attention to width and consider that your feet may swell during longer runs. Trying a shoe on at the end of the day can provide a more accurate sense of fit.
- Traction and Outsole Performance: Look at the lug pattern. Deep, widely spaced lugs are excellent for shedding mud and gripping soft earth. A stickier rubber compound provides better traction on wet rocks. The design of the outsole directly impacts how secure you’ll feel on the trail, making it a non-negotiable feature to scrutinize.
- Cushioning and Support: This is a matter of personal preference. Some runners prefer minimal cushioning to “feel” the trail, while others need substantial foam to absorb impact over long distances. Also, consider the level of arch support and overall stability the shoe provides, especially if you are prone to overpronation.
- Materials and Durability: The shoe’s upper is constantly battling trail debris. Look for a balance between durability and breathability. A tight-weave mesh with supportive synthetic overlays is a common combination, designed to keep out grit while allowing air to circulate. Reinforcements in high-wear areas like the toe and heel are a huge plus for longevity.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe stands out in several areas, particularly with its aggressive outsole and protective upper. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe is an excellent choice for some, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at top models that prioritize support, especially for specific foot types, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: A Promising Start Straight Out of the Box
Unboxing our pair of the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe in Black, size 8, the first thing we noticed was its surprisingly light weight. For a shoe billed as rugged and durable, it didn’t feel clunky or overbuilt. The aesthetic is classic trail runner: a sturdy profile, a prominent outsole, and a breathable mesh upper reinforced with supportive overlays. The trail-specific mesh felt robust enough to handle encounters with twigs and rocks, and the supportive overlays seemed strategically placed to provide a secure lockdown around the midfoot.
Flipping the shoe over revealed its most impressive feature at first glance: the triangular-lugged outsole. The lugs are deep and appear aggressive enough to bite into loose dirt and gravel, promising the “rock-solid footing” advertised. The VERSAFOAM midsole felt firm to the touch but offered a slight give, suggesting a responsive rather than a plush, pillowy ride. Lacing them up for the first time, the fit felt accommodating and true to size, with a generous amount of room in the toe box. Our initial impression was of a well-designed, no-nonsense trail shoe that seemed to offer incredible value for its price point. It felt ready for anything we could throw at it.
Key Benefits
- Excellent traction from the aggressive triangular-lug outsole
- Lightweight design feels nimble on the trail
- Comfortable fit with a spacious toe box
- Budget-friendly price point makes it accessible for beginners
Limitations
- Severe and widely reported durability issues with the upper fabric
- Cushioning is minimal and may be insufficient for some users
- Colorways may not accurately match online descriptions
Deep Dive: A Performance Analysis of the Saucony Excursion TR13
A shoe’s true character is only revealed on the trail. We took the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe through a variety of conditions—from well-groomed dirt paths and gravel fire roads to more technical singletrack with roots and rocks—to see how its features performed under pressure. What we discovered was a shoe with distinct strengths and one critical, undeniable weakness.
The Trail-Ready Outsole: Grip You Can Trust
The standout feature of this shoe is, without a doubt, its outsole. Saucony equipped the Excursion TR13 with a grid of grippy, triangular lugs made from durable carbon rubber. In practice, this translates to exceptional traction. On loose dirt and gravel, the lugs dug in confidently, preventing any unnerving slips or slides, especially during ascents. We felt secure and stable, able to push off with power. On descents, the heel lugs provided reliable braking power, allowing for more controlled and confident downhill running. We even tested them on some lightly muddy patches, and while they aren’t a dedicated mud shoe, the lugs did a respectable job of shedding muck and maintaining their grip.
This reliable traction is a massive confidence booster for anyone new to trail running or hiking on uneven terrain. Many budget shoes skimp on the outsole, but we found Saucony delivered here. This performance aligns with feedback from loyal users who have stuck with the Excursion line for years, valuing its dependable footing. The outsole feels like it belongs on a more expensive shoe, providing a solid and trustworthy foundation for every step you take off-road.
A Closer Look at VERSAFOAM Cushioning and All-Day Comfort
Cushioning in a trail shoe is a balancing act. Too much, and you lose the feel for the ground beneath you; too little, and your feet pay the price on longer runs. The Excursion TR13 utilizes Saucony’s VERSAFOAM technology, which we found to be on the firmer and more responsive side of the spectrum. It provides essential protection from sharp rocks and roots underfoot, but it doesn’t deliver a plush, cloud-like experience. This isn’t necessarily a negative. The firmness offers excellent stability and allows you to react quickly to changes in the trail surface.
During our initial runs of 3-5 miles, the comfort was perfectly adequate. The shoe felt supportive and energetic. However, on longer excursions, the minimalist nature of the cushioning became more apparent. This finding was echoed by one user who noted they “had to add insoles to make comfortable.” Another user with more modest needs, a 74-year-old focused on stability for walking, found the support to be excellent, stating they “fit like a glove.” This suggests the VERSAFOAM is sufficient for general walking and shorter runs, but those seeking maximum comfort for long distances or who are sensitive to impact might want more padding. For those who find the fit and traction ideal, the option to add a preferred insole makes this a versatile starting point.
The Elephant in the Room: A Critical Failure in Durability
Here we arrive at the shoe’s tragic flaw. While the outsole is tough and the initial comfort is commendable, the upper material proved to be astonishingly fragile. Our experience, sadly, confirmed the reports of a vast number of users who have been disappointed by this shoe. After a very short period of use—less than a month of moderate walking and trail running—we began to see signs of premature wear. Specifically, we observed fraying and the beginnings of small holes forming in the mesh fabric near the ankle collar and at the main flex point where the shoe bends near the toes.
This was not an isolated incident. The user feedback is overwhelming and consistent on this point. One user reported the sneakers were “ripping on the sides” after only three wears. Another, a long-time Saucony loyalist, was “extremely disappointed” when holes appeared on the inside top near the ankle after just five days of wear during a trip. More reports flood in: “falling apart after wear them for about a month and a half,” “used…5 days a week indoors for 1 month and already falling apart,” and “ripped already around the ankle…had them for a little over two months.” One reviewer summed it up perfectly, noting that a second pair “did the same thing” as the first, suggesting “it’s a stress point and a fabric issue.”
This is a fundamental failure in a product designed for the trail. A trail shoe’s upper must be able to withstand abrasion and flexing. The material used on the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe simply does not meet that standard. It’s a profound disappointment because the shoe gets so much right, but its short lifespan makes it impossible to recommend for anyone seeking a durable, reliable partner for their adventures.
What Other Users Are Saying
The sentiment surrounding the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe is sharply divided, creating a clear picture of a product with a wonderful initial experience but a deeply flawed execution. On the positive side, many users rave about the immediate comfort and fit. One happy 74-year-old customer celebrated it as her perfect brand, saying, “These fit like a glove. As a 74-year-old it’s very important I give my feet good support.” Another loyalist who has “bought about 10 at this point” continues to return to the Excursion line for its familiar feel and performance, highlighting its established fan base.
However, this praise is tragically overshadowed by a chorus of complaints about durability. The issue is specific and recurring: the fabric upper tears near the ankle and flex points with alarming speed. As one frustrated user stated, “I’ve had the sneakers about a month, wore them 5 times and the fabric is ripping on both sneakers.” Another long-time fan of the brand expressed their shock: “I have purchased this brand for over 10 years and have never had this problem… Something is wrong with this product. Don’t buy!” Secondary complaints often mention that the colors are not as advertised, with one user expecting a “darker ‘berry’ color” but receiving “hot pink.” This feedback paints a consistent picture: a shoe that feels great but simply does not last.
How Does the Saucony Excursion TR13 Compare to Alternatives?
While the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe occupies the budget-friendly trail running space, it’s important to see how it stacks up against other popular footwear options in different categories, which may better suit your needs.
1. adidas Cloudfoam Pure Sneakers
- Women's shoes keep your feet feeling good all day long
- SNUG FIT: Adjustable laces provide a secure fit
The adidas Cloudfoam Pure is built for a completely different purpose: ultimate step-in comfort and casual, everyday style. Its strength lies in its soft, sock-like upper and plush Cloudfoam cushioning, making it feel like a slipper you can wear outdoors. Compared to the Saucony, it offers virtually no trail-specific features. It lacks the aggressive outsole for traction on dirt and the durable, protective upper needed for off-road use. Someone should choose the adidas Cloudfoam Pure if their priority is lightweight comfort for walking on pavement, running errands, or casual wear. It is a lifestyle sneaker, not a performance trail shoe.
2. New Balance Fresh Foam X More V5
- Fresh Foam X midsole foam with approximately 3% bio-based content delivers our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort. Bio-based...
- Engineered mesh for breathability and a supportive fit
The New Balance Fresh Foam X More V5 sits at the opposite end of the cushioning spectrum. This is a maximalist road running shoe designed to provide the highest level of shock absorption possible. Its massive stack of Fresh Foam X is engineered for ultimate comfort over long miles on hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete. While incredibly comfortable for road running, its high stack height and road-specific outsole would feel unstable and lack the necessary grip on technical trails. A runner should choose the New Balance Fresh Foam X More V5 if they suffer from impact-related pain or simply crave a supremely cushioned ride for their daily road runs, and have no intention of venturing off-road.
3. ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Running Shoes
- Breathable engineered jacquard mesh upper
- Tongue wing construction: Added stretch helps improve the fit while reducing tongue movement
The ASICS NOVABLAST 5 is a performance-oriented daily trainer for road running. It’s known for its bouncy, energetic ride, thanks to its advanced FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam. This shoe is for runners who want a responsive feel that helps propel them forward during their workouts on pavement. While durable for its intended use, its design is not suited for trails. The outsole isn’t designed for dirt, and the lightweight upper isn’t reinforced against abrasion from rocks and branches. The NOVABLAST 5 is the ideal choice for a dedicated road runner looking to inject some fun and energy into their training, prioritizing speed and responsiveness over rugged, all-terrain capability.
Our Final Verdict: A Great Shoe Marred by a Fatal Flaw
The Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe is one of the most frustrating products we have reviewed in a long time. It gets so much right: the fit is comfortable and accommodating, the weight is impressively low for a trail shoe, and the outsole provides tenacious, confidence-inspiring grip on a variety of surfaces. For the first few wears, it feels like an unbeatable bargain, a shoe that punches well above its weight class.
Unfortunately, all of that is rendered moot by its catastrophic lack of durability. The consistent, widespread, and rapid failure of the upper material is not just a minor issue; it’s a critical design flaw that undermines the very purpose of the shoe. A trail shoe must be tough, and this one simply is not. We can only recommend this shoe under very specific circumstances: for someone who needs a comfortable, grippy shoe for a single event or for extremely light, infrequent use, and is willing to accept the high probability that it will not last. For everyone else, especially those looking for a reliable partner for consistent trail running or hiking, we have to advise looking elsewhere. The initial promise is alluring, but the inevitable disappointment is too great a risk.
If you’ve decided the unique short-term benefits of the Saucony Women’s Excursion TR13 Trail Running Shoe are the right fit for your specific, limited needs, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API