I had read how this trail shoe was completely redesigned, and indeed it was all for the better. Nice cushioning and includes a rock plate but weighs just over 10 oz. So it’s light enough for racing but substantial enough to handle technical trails. I’m a low heel drop guy, so the 6mm heel drop is right for me as well. Plus I have a wide foot and these fit just fine. And these are not just for ultras either in my opinion. I recently used these shoes in a very technical 10K trail race full of roots, rocks, and knee-deep puddles from a steady rain and these shoes performed great! I felt nimble on my feet but with great support as well.

This is my new go-to trail running shoe. I'll start with the one minor negative, which probably has as much to do with my foot and my gait, but the outside left ankle collar puts weird pressure and is a bit uncomfortable on my foot. I've played with different lacing patterns and tightness and once I get going it's much less noticeable. But still that's the one knock. And I've run in Saucony for years and never had that same issue. But on to the good. The room in the toe box is great for me without feeling too big. My right foot is just a bit wide and these fit great. But not sloppy on the left foot which isn't as wide. The upper is fairly light, if maybe a bit more substantial then the Peregrine. But comparable. But the cushioning compared to the Peregrine is incredible. I'm a bigger guy at 6'3'', 240lbs so a bit more cushion is so helpful. But don't lose the feel of the trail at all. My home trail is only semi-technical but these work great. I enjoy the Peregrine but these are definitely my go to if I'm putting in anything more than just a few miles. They also seem significantly lighter than the New Balance Hierro, although I do have that in the Wide GTX version so that's at least part of it. But the Xodus definitely feel faster. I also run a bit in the Nike Pegasus trail and this has a bit more lock down, ready for technical feel, although I do enjoy both midsole foams.