Collective Brands Inc. : Saucony(R) Guide 5 Captures Runner’s World Editor’s Choice Award

Brand charges into 2012 with a whole new angle on running: Revolutionary 8mm heel-to-toe offset defines next generation running performance

LEXINGTON, MA (January 19, 2012) - Introducing a whole new angle on running, global performance running footwear and apparel brand , featuring the brand's groundbreaking Geometry of Strong™ technology, has been named "Editor's Choice" by the worldwide authority on running, Runner's World. In the magazine's Spring Shoe Guide, the Guide 5, Saucony's go-to training shoe for runners seeking lightweight stability, received the highest marks of
the 23 shoes reviewed by the publication'sshoe lab, its wear-testers and the editors.

The Guide 5, one of three shoes in Saucony's newly released Geometry of Strong™ collection, arrives nearly two ounces lighter than its predecessor. The brand's exclusive ProGrid™ foam, running from heel to toe, provides the ideal blend of cushioning and responsiveness. The Guide 5's revolutionary heel-to-toe offset, reduced from 12mm to 8mm, positions the foot during impact in a way that creates a greater range of motion for the Gastrocnemius-Soleus-Achilles tendon system, allowing for a more powerful running stride. Additionally, the shoe's lower offset makes it easier for the runner to land midfoot, resulting in a lower impact strike.

"Talk about a weight-loss program: The Guide 5 shed almost two ounces from it's
previous version, but didn't lose a shred of cushioning while keeping all of its stability
features," said the review of the shoe. "Saucony got more with less by lowering the heel-to-toe drop and using lighter rubber on the shoe's outsole."
One wear-tester stated that the Guide 5 "was the lightest Saucony I've
ever tested, yet it was easily the most comfortable."

"This award marks not only a significant win for Saucony but sets a new benchmark for the running industry," said Pat O'Malley, senior vice president of global footwear for Saucony. "Combining specific insight from runners with the latest research from our lab, we discovered that engineering an 8mm heel-to-toe offset would maximize control, alignment and suspension, creating an unrivaled running experience. This is an exciting time for Saucony, and this recognition proves that our relentless commitment to innovation allows us to deliver the industry's best performance product to runners," added O'Malley.

The Guide 5 is lighter, more flexible and provides increased cushioning, thanks to Saucony's IBR+ Outsole™, a new injection-blown rubber compound that is 33 percent lighter in weight than traditional blown rubber. IBR+ is also proven to absorb twice as much energy than traditional blown rubber, providing amazing and long-lasting forefoot cushioning.

The Guide 5 also features a Comfortride™+ Sockliner and SRC (Super Rebound Compound) Impact Zone. The superior open cell foam sockliner not only wicks moisture away from the foot, but a soft memory foam layer conforms to the foot when stepping into the shoe, delivering exceptional comfort and performance. The SRC Impact Zone provides shock attenuation and sets the foot up for a smooth transition from heel to toe-off.

"In the process of creating the award-winning Kinvara® with a 4mm offset, we realized the possibility of literally challenging the foundation of our traditional running shoes by reengineering their lasts to an 8mm offset," said O'Malley. "Saucony now has a range of shoes that offer runners a choice between 0mm, 4mm, 8mm and 12mm offset."

Besides the Guide 5, the newly released Geometry of Strong, the brand's premier neutral cushioned training shoe featuring Saucony's innovative PowerGrid™ technology, and the Hurricane 14, a stability shoe that's a full ounce lighter than its predecessor.
The Guide 5 is the second Saucony shoe over the past year to be crowned "Editor's Choice" by . was named top trail shoe in the publication's 2011 Trail Shoe Guide.  

The Guide 5, now available at select specialty run retailers, comes in men's sizes 7-13, 14, 15 and 16, and women's sizes 5-12. The Guide 5 is available in widths. The suggested retail price of the Guide 5 is $100.00. To find a retailer near you, call 800-365-4933 or visit .

To read the entire 2012 Spring Shoe Guide, check out the March issue of .

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 .

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 & Zac™, 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 .