Saucony Fastwitch 9 Women’s

The Researcher’s Take: Why We Like It

If you are a runner who needs a touch of stability but wants to go fast—really fast—the Saucony Fastwitch 9 Women’s is a rare find.

Based on our analysis, most stability shoes are heavy and bulky. The Fastwitch 9 breaks that mold. It is a legitimate racing flat that happens to have support features. This means you get the snappy, lightweight feel of a racer, but with just enough guidance to keep your form efficient when fatigue sets in during a 5K or a marathon.

Key Features Breakdown

• Lightweight Stability: The shoe includes supportive elements like outsole wrapping at the midfoot. It provides guidance for overpronators without the weight of a traditional stability shoe.
• Updated Cushioning (PWRRUN): This version features a thicker bed of Saucony’s updated PWRRUN cushioning. In plain English, it offers a ride that is super soft and forgiving but stays incredibly light, giving you protection for longer distances.
• Improved Ride Mechanics: With increased toe spring and heel beveling, the shoe encourages a faster turnover and a smoother transition from landing to takeoff.
• Breathable & Secure: The high thread-count marled mesh upper looks premium and breathes well. It retains the roomy last shape runners love but locks the foot down securely.

Deep Dive: A Racer with Support?

The Fastwitch occupies a unique niche: the “Stability Racer.” Most racing shoes are neutral and unstable. The Fastwitch 9 solves this by using a firmer medial post (or supportive wrapping) that prevents the arch from collapsing under the high impact of racing.

• The Upgrade: The shift to a thicker bed of PWRRUN cushioning is significant. It makes the shoe versatile enough to handle the marathon distance, whereas previous versions were often limited to 5K/10K for many runners due to firmness.

Who Should Buy This Shoe?

• The Overpronating Racer: If you race 5Ks, 10Ks, or Half Marathons and need stability, this is arguably the best option on the market.
• The Speedworker: Perfect for track intervals or tempo runs where you want to simulate race pace conditions.
• The Minimalist Stability Runner: If you find standard stability shoes (like the Guide or Adrenaline) too clunky for daily runs, this serves as a lightweight alternative for shorter distances.

Sizing and Fit Advice

• Snug Feel: As a racing shoe, it is designed to hug your foot tighter than a daily trainer to prevent sliding at high speeds.
• Roomy Toe Box: Despite the snug midfoot, it retains a surprisingly roomy toe box (last) for a racer, allowing for toe splay.
• Recommendation: Stick to your standard running shoe size. If you prefer a very loose fit, consider going up half a size, but for racing, standard size is usually best.

Technical Specifications

• Category: Stability / Racing Flat
• Cushioning: PWRRUN (Updated & Thicker)
• Upper: High Thread-Count Marled Mesh
• Drop: 4 mm
• Usage: Racing (5K to Marathon) / Speed Workouts