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This article contains a review of the Saucony Shadow 6000 and updates when I get new pairs. The latest pair I purchased are the Shadow 6000 x ALIFE “NYC Subway Maps”
How Do Saucony Shadow 6000 Fit?
When it comes to Shadow 6000 sizing, true to size is a good choice. The fit is slightly on the snug side but breaks in quickly to adapt to the wearer’s foot shape.
Overall these are very comfortable underfoot, bringing a casual retro runner base level of support. For those that love retro runners, the fit and feel here will be no surprise for an early 90s casual shoe. The typical material combo of suede and mesh works perfectly on the model to bring a pliable, breathable upper.
Saucony Shadow 6000 History
The Shadow 6000 originally released in 1991 as a successor to the Shadow 5000 that debuted 2 years earlier.
The model was intended as a long-distance runner. While the Shadow 5000 featured a TPU stabilizer towards the back, this was dropped from the 6000 in favor of more midsole cushioning.
Are The Shadow 6000s Good Running Shoes?
Technically, one could run in the Shadow 6000. However, the midsole and construction is more suited for casual wear when compared to modern running shoes.
Are Shadow 6000s Good For Collectors?
The Shadow 6000 is typically produced in limited numbers, but often do not sell out. This makes the sneaker rare yet attainable.
Where To Buy The Saucony Shadow 6000?
The Shadow 6000 can be found on Saucony’s website, as well as sneaker boutiques and eBay.
For links to individual pairs, see below:
Shadow 6000 x ALIFE “NYC Subway Maps” Review
Colorway: White / Multi
Style Code: S70679-1
Year of Release: 2021
Retail: $130
Buy: eBay
ALIFE and Saucony have teamed up before on kicks and this time we get it on my favorite model from Saucony, the Shadow 6000.
This ‘NYC Subway Maps’ version draws from Alife’s close association with the Lower Eastside of New York and related MTA subway lines. If you’ve ever seen a subway map before, the different colors on the shoe make a lot of sense. The sneaker also features Alife branding on the insole and tongue tag as well as debossed near the toe. We get some exposed padding around the eyelets and tongue as well as the back panel. The shoe also features a copyright symbol with a 2021 near the ankle and NEW on the heel of the left shoe and YORK on the heel of the right.
As far as quality goes, we get some very nice suede on the overlays (including the tongue) and some nice mesh on the base layer. Plenty of 3M is seen on the river logo and backtabs and we get some leather on the ankle liner. Overall the suede quality here is quite good, the leather in the ankle is soft and the 3M is bright. What more could you ask for?
How about the shoe coming with 3 sets of laces? Great extra if you ask me. We get a set of white laces as well as blue and red sets. The blue set sports yellow aglets and the red set has green aglets.
Overall I’m very happy with this pickup and in my opinion this is the perfect close to the 30th anniversary year of the Shadow 6000!
Shadow 6000 x Extra Butter “White Rabbit” Review
Colorway: White / Black / Red
Style Code: S70603-1
Year of Release: 2021
Retail: $130
Buy: eBay
The Shadow 6000 White Rabbit is a collaboration with boutique Extra Butter. These kicks use the Alice in Wonderland character as an obvious inspiration. However, they also borrow some details from the Matrix movie which also is about going down a rabbit hole to some degree.
The colorful box and insoles definitely have a psychedelic vibe with custom Extra Butter branding and mushroom graphics that seem straight out of Wonderland. The tongue tags also feature a rabbit graphic for an additional reference to the character.
The mismatched red and blue all over the shoe represents the blue and red pills from the Matrix movie. This is seen on the aglets for the white and black sets of included laces, and top eyelets on either sneaker. The back of the sneaker also has a red hit on the left and blue on the right. When these hits are torn away, a binary code “1s and 0s” graphic from the Matrix is revealed.
As far as materials, these are not quite as good as the Sweet Street or Food Fight below, featuring what appears to be a basic smooth leather. However the suede portions are quite nice; very soft with backstrokes and everything.
The sneaker also includes Extra Butter-branded paper and keychain to round off the package. Overall, this collab seems well thought out and delivers better quality than many sneakers at this price point!
Shadow 6000 Sweet Street Review
Colorway: Liquorice
Style Code: S70588-1
Year of Release: 2021
Retail: $130
Buy: eBay
The Shadow 6000 Sweet Street is influenced by candy shop treats and inspired by black licorice.
I grabbed these as part of a Shadow 6000 binge, spurred on by a bunch of dope releases surrounding the 30th anniversary of the model. Some cool features on this pair are the candy striped river logo and outsole. These also come in a special box reminiscent of a candy wrapper and include some nice rope style laces with 3M hits.
The materials on these seem great, with very soft suedes and a relatively rugged feeling mesh covering a bulk of the upper. The black parts have a bit of subtle 3M reflectivity to them.
While I do like this pick up a lot, I feel like I was expecting them to be even brighter/flashier in real life than in pics online. Maybe I’m used to flashy kicks at this point, but for some reason this wacky pair seems relatively low key in hand. Or at least, moreso than I thought they would be. Perhaps this is just when viewed in comparison to the Food Fights I picked up previously.
In any case I find these to fit like other recent 6Ks; true to size and very comfortable although a bit on the snug side. Going up a half size might help with this if you don’t like a more snug fit.
Shadow 6000 Food Fight Review
Colorway: Foodfight
Style Code: S70595-1
Year of Release: 2021
Retail: $140
Buy: eBay
The Saucony Shadow 6000 Food Fight is a “what the” type of sneaker, combining several of the brand’s food inspired kicks into one pair.
The materials on this sneaker are top notch! Saucony really delivered a premium product with this sneaker. These consist of soft suedes, leathers that vary from sturdy to supple, a yarn-like material for the “ramen”, all topped off with pearlescent 3M hits. My mind was blown by these in person! Pictures online do not convey how impressively this shoe is built.
I find the fit on the Shadow 6000 Food Fight to be on the snug side. I missed out on getting my true size and purchased a half size up. I’m glad I did, as these definitely fit smaller than other 6000s in my collection. Otherwise, they still deliver the same level of comfort I’ve come to expect from the model.
The sneakers come in a special box with “Food Fight” on the lid in letters shaped like various foods. These come laced up with white laces but also include orange & white checkered laces as well as a grey speckled set.
According to the Saucony website, the pairs included in the mash-up are:
- Play Cloths X Shadow 5000 “Cotton Candy
- End. X Shadow 5000 “Burger”
- G9 Shadow 5 & 6 “Scoops Pack”
- Grid SD “Pumpkin Spice”
- Grid 8000 “Shrimp Scampi”
- Shadow Original “Cannoli”
- Feature X Courageous “Bacon and Eggs”
- Premier X Grid 9000 “Saltwater Taffy”
- Feature X Courageous “Belgian Waffle”
- Grid 8500 “Ramen”
- Shadow 6000 “Oktoberfest”
- End. X Grid 8500 “Lobster”
- Shadow 6000 “Avocado Toast”
- Sneaker Politics X Café Du Monde Shadow 5000 “Beignet”
Shadow 6000 x Up There “Doors To The World”
Style Code: S70570-1
Year of Release: 2021
Retail: $150
The Saucony Shadow 6000 collab with Austrailian store Up There celebrates travel, specifically the brightly colored doors & tiles throughout Europe. These also help commemorate the 30th aniversary of the Shadow 6000.
Special features include a special passport inspired insole, tongue tag and tissue paper graphic, 4 sets of laces, dustbag and special box. These are made out of patent leather, mesh, and a leather liner with some of the butteriest suede i’ve felt on a shoe all year!
Shadow 6000 OG White/Purple
This pair of Shadow 6Ks is a retro of an original colorway from 1991.
Read the full review here.
Oktoberfest
These celebrate the popular German holiday with a hop-inspired design.
Read the full review here.
Feature “Living Fossil”
Here we have a dinosaur-inspired pair of Shadow 6Ks done in collaboration with Feature.
Read the full review here.
WestNYC “Freshwater”
Another collab, these Freshwater fishing inspired kicks were created in part by WestNYC
Read the full review here.
Easter Egg “Emerald”
Part of a 3-pack of Easter-inspired all-suede colorways.
Read the full review here.
Easter Egg “Purple”
Part of a 3-pack of Easter-inspired all-suede colorways.
Read the full review here.
Packer “Olive”
Part of a 2-pack of exclusive colorways with retailer Packer Shoes.
Read the full review here.
Packer “Burgundy”
Part of a 2-pack of exclusive colorways with retailer Packer Shoes.
Read the full review here.
Betta “Coral”
Part of a 3-pack of colorways based on the popular Betta fish.
Read the full review here.
Betta “Yellow”
Part of a 3-pack of colorways based on the popular Betta fish.
Read the full review here.
Betta “Blue”
Part of a 3-pack of colorways based on the popular Betta fish.
Read the full review here.
Irish Coffee “Cream”
Part of a 3-pack of colorways based on components of an Irish Coffee. This pair represents the “Cream” element of the recipe.
Read the full review here.
Irish Coffee “Whiskey”
Another part of a 3-pack of colorways based on components of an Irish Coffee. This pair represents the Whiskey portion of the recipe.
Read the full review here.
Bermuda Pack
Part of a pack of different Saucony models based on the Bermuda Triangle.
Read the full review here.
Toothpaste
The colorway of these has earned the nickname “Toothpaste” although this is just a regular General Release pair.
Read the full review here.