HOKA Zinal 3 vs Saucony Peregrine 16

Zinal 3 or Peregrine 16? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.

The short answer

Want a light, fast trail shoe for shorter races? Get the Zinal 3.

Want a grippy, versatile trail shoe? Get the Peregrine 16.

Get the Zinal 3 if

• You want something for race day
• You’ll use it for tempo runs and workouts
• You like a less rigid forefoot
• You want the lighter shoe, by about 0.6 oz

Get the Peregrine 16 if

• Long runs are your thing
• It’s mostly for easy days
• You like a stiffer, rocker-style forefoot that rolls you forward
• You need a wide width

On the run

Zinal 3: The light, fast trail shoe. Light, low and quick, for speed-focused trail runs and races up to about a half marathon. Aggressive multidirectional 5mm lugs.

Peregrine 16: The versatile trail workhorse. Stable and secure, with comfortable foam and a new Vibram Megagrip outsole that grips and lasts. Shallower lugs make it better on gravel and easier trails, with a little less bite in deep mud.

The Zinal 3 hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from the Zinal 2 lab test (RunRepeat) plus Running Warehouse’s description of the 3.

Specs side by side

Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.

Fit

Zinal 3. Runs slightly short (like the Zinal 2), so consider a half size up.

Peregrine 16. Runs slightly short, so if you’re between sizes, go up a half. Secure, confidence-inspiring fit, though the toebox tapers. Wide available.

Try them on

Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.

Shop the Zinal 3 · Shop the Peregrine 16 · Compare other running shoes