Saucony ProGrid Peregrine Awarded 'Editor's Choice' By Runner's World

LEXINGTON, MA – Continuing to set the standard for innovation and performance, Saucony, Inc., a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel, today announced that the ProGridâ„¢ Peregrine was recognized with the prestigious “Editor’s Choice” award by Runner’s World magazine in the publication’s 2011 Trail Shoe Guide. The Peregrine received the highest marks from the Runner’s World Shoe Lab, the 200 wear-testers and the editors. The Peregrine is a minimally constructed, low profile trail running shoe that allows the foot to run uninhibited over the most technical terrain.

“The entire Saucony team is honored to be recognized by Runner’s World,” said
Patrick O’Malley, senior vice president of global product for Saucony. “We knew we
had something special early on when we first tested these shoes and this significant acknowledgement from the running community proves that our instincts were right. We approached this project with a different point of view, and by doing so, created a new standard in the trail running category. This award inspires all of us in our commitment to meaningful product innovation and performance for runners everywhere.”

The Peregrine is the second Saucony shoe in the past 12 months to win one of Runner’s World magazine’s prestigious awards. In the publication’s 2010 Summer Shoe Buyer’s Guide, the Saucony ProGridâ„¢ Kinvara, a minimally constructed, lightweight performance training shoe for neutral runners, was awarded “Best Debut.”

“The new Peregrine is fast and lightweight, with enough traction to climb up steep, loose trails,” said the Runner’s World review of the Peregrine. “The shoe is also built low to the ground … Our testers loved the resulting low ride and the heel fit of the Peregrine, which many referenced as ‘no slip.’ The shoe’s snug heel lock prevents foot irritation on uneven rock-strewn trails,” added the reviewers.

Runner’s World wear-testers lauded that the Peregrine is “just what a trail shoe should be: low profile, stable and light, with good foot protection.”

The ProGrid Peregrine allows runners to not only run the trail, but connect with it, thanks to its ultra-flexible, low-rider profile. The shoe’s sticky and dynamic outsole is engineered with a dual compound making it supple enough to grip on slick rock, yet firm enough to bite into dirt, snow and mud.

Louvered perimeter lugs made of a high traction rubber compound deliver both grip
and response for off-camber surfaces. Multidirectional lugs engineered with XT-900â„¢
carbon rubber in the forefoot and heel feature alternated orientation for uphill thrust and
downhill braking while providing confidence-inducing traction.

The Peregrine is designed with a midsole height differential (difference between heel and forefoot heights) of just four millimeters, allowing the foot to move naturally and uninhibited while increasing the runner’s proprioception and balance over tricky trails. Saucony’s lightest cushioning technology, Heel ProGridâ„¢ LITE, and the midsole’s super-light SSL EVA both maximize rebound while minimizing weight. An External Bedrock Outsole (EBO) protects the foot from rocks, roots and other underfoot hazards.

The Peregrine’s foot-hugging upper offers a lightweight, quick-drying mesh with no-sew minimal overlays for a secure fit. A soft, pliable, microfiber material along the medial arch helps lockdown the foot over uneven ground, and a minimal tongue with soft EVA pads protects the foot from lace bite.

The Peregrine’s higher density collar foam and a removable EVA sockliner add to the shoe’s lightweight comfort. A gusseted tongue helps keep trail debris out while a D-ring makes the shoe compatible with gaiters for snowshoeing or extreme adventure runs.

The ProGrid Peregrine, now available at select specialty run retailers, comes in men’s sizes 7-13, and 14, and women’s sizes 5-12. The suggested retail price of the ProGrid Peregrine is $90.00. To find a retailer near you, call 800-365-4933 or visit www.saucony.com.

The Runner’s World “Editor’s Choice” represents an outstanding shoe that successfully combines the highest-quality design and technology. To read the entire 2011 Trail Shoe Guide check out the April 2011 issue of Runner’s World, the worldwide authority on running information, on sale at newsstands March 8, or visit www.runnersworld.com.

For interviews, please contact Sharon Barbano at Saucony (617-824-6126), sharon.barbano@saucony.com or Jeff Lawrence at Mullen (617-226-9945), jeff.lawrence@mullen.com.

About Saucony, Inc.:
Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc., is a leading global running lifestyle brand that fuses performance, innovation and style to create compelling footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony and Saucony Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony continues to inspire runners everywhere with its award winning innovations, including Flexion Plate™, ProGrid™, Arch-Lock®, and ViZiPRO™ apparel. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.

About Collective Brands, Inc.: Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its nearly 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion®, Zoe & Zacâ„¢, the first-ever affordable green footwear brand, and designer collections Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, alice + olivia for Payless, Christian Siriano for Payless and STLP x Airwalk, among others; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand’s units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.