Wear Omni for regular runs up through about 10 miles. Runners who overpronate may benefit from the extra-secure heel to minimize excess movement. The regular fit is best for narrow feet; medium to wide-footed runners should try the wide fit.
Omni is not the best option for runners wanting a trainer/racer combined. While it rolls forward with a comfortably-smooth transition, the shoe lacks the spring into toe-off desired in speed work and racing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 many 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!
1 day ago
I was wondering how these compare to the Saucony Guide series? Are they more stable, or would they be better suited for overpronators?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.2 months ago
I’m worried about the breathability. Does it get too hot? I tend to overheat in shoes that don’t vent well.
2 months ago
In the breathabilty area this is an average shoe. I do not have problems with it but it is not better than Omni 20, Hoka Arahi 6 or Hoka clifton9
3 months ago
At this point in time, I reached 250 miles on the shoe and I think I will make my target of 500 miles.
When you are training and you will not go faster than 7:45/mile, you could use this shoe as your only shoe.
What Amos mentioned, the stability is more prevalent and this has to do with the TPU plastic which becomes more flexible over time but will keep its form and stays more prevalent. The softer plastic in the Omni was more forgiving certainly after some time.
The good thing of the shoe is you do not need to worry about your foot stability. Are there better shoes out there? yes but this shoe should still have some users that benefit from a medial post. Unfortunately, there are not many comments on Guide 16 users who tried the Omni 22 as these shoes like more similar.
Much appreciated that at least this platform is reviewing the shoe. Unfortunately, the shoe does not have much coverage and is also less available in shops.
3 months ago
Thank you for sharing your experience!
5 months ago
I have been in Omni’s for over a decade. I just got the 22’s today – and in my opinion – the shoe is ruined. The new arch support is just less forgiving and more pronounced. This is the model that will now force me to look for another brand or model….oh well. That’s progress!
5 months ago
Have the same that I need to find some alternatives after I have enough miles in the Omni. I have doubts about the Guide 17. Not sure if it is just not a Hoka Clifton lacking stability. Another potential issue with the guide 17 looks to me the lack of outsole rubber making it not such a versatile shoe as you can only use it on paved roads. Strong doubts on durability there probably won’t last for 500 miles. Need to wait on the first reviews on the hurricane 24. The only other alternative on the saucony route is then the tempus. Maybe need to find a sale on that one when the tempus 2 launches. Why do they make these shoes so expensive nowadays?
5 months ago
Thank you for your opinion on the shoe after wearing the line for so long, Amos. You might like the Brooks Glycerin GTS 21 since the arch is less pronounced in this shoe.
7 months ago
I ran in all omni versions between the Omni 16 and 20 and ran marathons and a couple of ultras in them. The Omni 22 is certainly not like the original Omni series. It is more like an updated and rebranded guide series.
1) The wide base in the midsole and heel is replaced by the tpu frame. That is not the biggest problem as the tpu hollow tech still delivers a stable base although it needs some time to get used to.
2)A big thing to take into account is that the outsole rubber does not role into the nose of the shoe. It just stops when the outsole starts bending to the nose. As a result the nose does not have any structure and you can even press it with your pink after 60 miles. I think this construction caused that I suddenly experienced pain in my big toe. This construction is inherited from the previous guide but there the rocker was not present so it may not have much impact. You may need to consider sizing up 1/2 a size or more
7 months ago
Forgot to add the following in my comment:
Original omni had a powerrun+ layer on top of the sole and on top of that a “standard” factory insole was delivered. This made it easy to use your own custom soles as you still kept the supplied powerrun+ layer. In the omni 22, this layer is gone and the powerrun+ is integrated in the thicker delivered insole. So when you use your own custom sole you loose the powerrun+. So when you use your own sole, this shoe is probably not for you.
7 months ago
Thank you for adding your experience after running in multiple versions of this shoe. It is especially helpful to know three change underfoot for those who have supplied their own inserts in the past.