Most of Saucony SILO's plans for this year and beyond remain largely under wraps, but the experimental division of the original running brand continues to tease new work via its social media accounts. Recently, the imprint shared a close look at the Grid X Ultra S, a new take on Saucony's trail heritage.
As with the 586i indoor football trainer, photos of the impending silhouette fall in line with SILO's avant-garde aesthetic. Led by Paul Ruffles, the modern branch of the century-old institution aims to take Saucony's expansive lineage into a new dimension. The Brand Director for the equally-experimental Merrell 1TRL looks to accomplish this goal by tweaking some of the company's most beloved performance products from the past to fit in with the current sneaker zeitgeist, in addition to retroing long-forgotten styles.
The Grid X Ultra S by Saucony SILO delivers "a harmonious fusion of Saucony design codes," according to marketing copy. From its profile angle, the design features a clear through-line to the brand's expansive trail-running legacy. Mesh bases similar to those found across the Ultra Ridge and Xodus Ultra series are reworked for improved breathability and a more aesthetically jarring presentation. A mix of high-quality materials fill in the gaps across the upper, which includes a knit collar. Another update by Ruffles and team arrives in the form of a leather cover atop the tongue that replaces traditional lacing with Velcro straps.
Underfoot, the model reverts to a familiar tooling setup. Saucony's reliable PWRRUN PB foam—which cushions the Triumph 22 workhorse—makes up the midsole, while an industry-leading Vibram Traction Lug system provides tried-and-proven grip. The licensed outsole on the Grid X Ultra S is a big deal given how other trail products by the brand feature in-house technologies that deliver decent grip while keeping manufacturing costs down. This move showcases Saucony's belief in the SILO project.
Official release details for the latest experimental design from the North American institution have been confirmed for a launch on Thursday, April 17.
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