Why Is the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 So Popular?

The Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 has gone through somewhat of a resurgence in the last 12 months. It has gone from a forgotten 2010 stability runner to one of the most talked-about trainers in menswear.

So the answer to the question "why has it become so popular", well the short answer is that it sits in the same "chunky retro runner" lane that has dominated fashion in the past few years. It followed on from the success that New Balance saw with its 530 and 9060. It comes in an unusually wide range of colourways for a re-release, and several limited collaborations have kept it in front of a streetwear audience rather than just a running one.

Here's the full story, the colourways to know, and how to actually wear them.

In this article

• What is the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9?
• Why has the ProGrid Omni 9 become so popular?
• What colourways does the ProGrid Omni 9 come in?
• How do you style the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9?
• Frequently asked questions

What Is the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9?

The ProGrid Omni 9 is a stability running shoe that Saucony first released in 2010. It was built for runners who needed extra support underfoot, using the brand's ProGrid cushioning system and a set of rubberised cage overlays that wrapped around the upper for structure. It was a performance shoe first and a fashion shoe second, which is exactly why it looks the way it does: chunky, technical, and a bit over-built for walking to the shops.

That original run sat quietly for over a decade before Saucony brought it back as part of its Originals lifestyle range. The re-release keeps the layered mesh, suede and leather upper, the rubberised overlays and the Grid cushioning underfoot, but it's tuned for all-day wear rather than mileage.

Why Has the ProGrid Omni 9 Become So Popular?

Three things have driven the ProGrid Omni 9's rise. First, timing. It landed right in the middle of the Y2K tech-runner revival that's already made shoes like the New Balance 530 and 990 into everyday staples as we touched on in the introduction. The Omni 9's chunky silhouette and layered panels fit that mood perfectly, and it gives shoppers who feel New Balance is everywhere now a genuinely different option with the same energy.

Second, the build quality. The Omni 9 has a reputation for being very durable, with heel cushioning that suits long days on your feet, which matters when a trainer is being worn five or six days a week rather than saved for best.

Third is the collaborations. Limited releases with names like Jae Tips and Sneaker Politics have put the Omni 9 in front of a streetwear audience that might never have looked twice at a 2010 running shoe otherwise. Once a shoe starts turning up on sneaker accounts and in outfit videos, demand tends to outpace supply, and that's exactly what's happened with several Omni 9 drops.

What Colourways Does the ProGrid Omni 9 Come In?

This is where the Omni 9 stands apart from most retro runners. Saucony has treated it less like a single silhouette and more like a canvas, releasing it in everything from muted, wear-with-anything tones to loud, collaboration-only colourways. Broadly, they fall into three groups:

• Tonal and neutral. Matte black, matte grey and matte green editions with minimal contrast. These are the easiest to build a wardrobe around and the best starting point if you're new to the shoe.
• Mixed-material and seasonal. Editions that pair a light mesh base with contrast leather or suede overlays, often released around a season or occasion, for example softer pastel-accented colourways for spring.
• Collaboration and limited runs. Bolder, more graphic colourways produced with partners such as Jae Tips and Sneaker Politics, usually released in smaller numbers and the quickest to sell out.

If you only buy one pair, a neutral colourway earns its place in rotation fastest. If you already own a black or grey pair and want a second, a mixed-material or seasonal edition is the natural next step before chasing a collaboration release.

How Do You Style the Saucony ProGrid Omni 9?

The Omni 9 is a chunky, technical-looking shoe, so it works best with outfits that either lean into that sportswear feel or deliberately contrast it with something smarter. A few approaches that consistently work:

• Baggy jeans or wide-leg denim. The most common pairing right now. A looser leg balances the bulk of the shoe and keeps the proportions relaxed rather than top-heavy.
• Joggers and sweats. Straightforward and comfortable, and it plays to the shoe's original identity as a performance runner.
• Shorts in warmer weather. Cargo shorts or plain jersey shorts with the Omni 9 read as an easy off-duty look, particularly in a lighter or mixed-material colourway.
• Smart-casual contrast. A neutral colourway under slim chinos or tapered trousers can work if you want the technical detailing without a full sportswear outfit, though this is the trickier option to get right and works best with a matte black or grey pair.

Stick to one loud element in an outfit. If the trainer is a bold collaboration colourway, keep the rest of the fit simple, plain tees, a single-colour hoodie or overshirt, and let the shoe do the work.

Keeping mesh and suede panels clean matters more on a shoe this detailed, so a proper trainer cleaning kit is worth having in rotation alongside a pair like this. You can browse care products from Jason Markk if you want to keep colourways looking fresh.

If you're after the ProGrid Omni 9 alongside the rest of Saucony's lifestyle range, including the ProGrid Guide 7 and Shadow 5000 covered in our piece on Saucony landing at Ragazzi, you can browse current stock in our Saucony collection.

Frequently Asked Questions