This is going to be a really easy review to write because the Saucony Ride 15 is the best daily trainer Saucony is producing right now, hands-down. The shoe is incredibly simple in many respects but also feels really well thought out. Every element just seems to hit on the right function and I guess this is what you get when you hit 15, but it’s just a complete package and this shoe will work really well for a broad spectrum of runners. So whether you are tackling a short 5k or taking on your first half-marathon, this may just be your next daily runner.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Saucony’s best daily road running option so far this year features a well-balanced midsole and comfortable step-in.
- Weight – 8.8oz or 249g for a US Men’s 9, 7.8oz or 221g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 35mm of cushion and an 8mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $140.00 USD
- Colors – 10 options!!
Construction and Materials
- Upper – The Ride 15 features a breathable multi-layer mesh built on Saucony’s FORMFIT design which is designed to analyze every point of contact with the foot, hopefully improving comfort overall. It also features a PWRRUN+ cushioned sock liner which accounts for that hug-like experience on the foot. Saucony has also delivered a well-padded heel collar and an internal TPU heel cup for maximum lockdown.
- Midsole – This midsole uses a softer PWRRUN which should be lighter and more responsive. They also implemented a new geometry overall in hopes of proving a smoother ride including more flex upfront which should help with toe-off. Lastly, you sit down in the midsole a bit more which again contributes to that supportive side-to-side feel.
- Outsole – The outsole on the Ride features ample rubber for durability and traction while not making them feel bottom-heavy or overweight.
Performance Review
What we loved
The Saucony Ride 15 is one of those shoes we’d like to describe as a warm hug. The breathable mesh upper coupled with that gusseted sock liner along with a well-padded heel and secure heel cup leads to an experience that feels just like a gentle hug, a light squeeze for your foot. There’s plenty of side-to-side width allowing for a nice amount of toe room also making them suitable for wider feet. When we say comfortable, that upper is just banging and that heel cup and tongue hit on all the right notes. The Ride 15 feels more like a slipper than a performance racer which is perfect for those easy days.
The midsole on here isn’t revolutionary. It is a softened version of their traditional PWRRUN EVA midsole and while it isn’t breaking any barriers what it does well is to deliver a well-balanced ride. It is soft where it needs to be, but not something that feels like it’s breaking down or not supporting you well as the miles tick on. It just makes a really nice middle ground where you feel supported when you hit the ground and then you’ve got enough firmness to propel you forward during the stride. Saucony has also angled out the midsole providing for a larger more stable landing platform so while this is not a support shoe, that subtle change provides more lateral and medial stability. As your legs get tired, that design element becomes really helpful as your feet start to become tired and crash inward or outward.
The outsole on the Ride 15 uses a solid amount of Saucony’s rubbery technology. They have done a good job of not overwhelming it and causing increased weight or making them feel bottom-heavy. Yet they are still highly durable, track and grip well, and definitely handle the elements. We tested on some rainy Portland days and can tell you we had no issues whatsoever. Overall, durability scores for this shoe are going to be pretty high and you can expect them to last you a fair bit.
What we didn’t
As for areas of improvement, there aren’t a lot but the one that got us is something we also felt was positive so it’s going to be case-by-case. The upper and especially the tongue lacing column is the area of contention. And that hug sensation we mentioned earlier, sometimes it’s just too tight of a hug. It can start to feel a little restrictive and almost leads to too much pressure on the top of your foot. This can be resolved by lacing differently, but for those with a little beefier feet, something to think about when you’re trying them on.
Overall Conclusion
Overall, the Ride 15 delivers exactly what Saucony was shooting for, a highly runnable daily trainer for almost everyone. This is a simple shoe, but well thought out and well-intentioned. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, slow or fast, light or heavy… this shoe will function well for you. It will work great for single shoe runners but also for those runners looking to add a slower recovery shoe to their lineup for those easier days.
Learn more on the Saucony website
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Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
