The Guide is a mainstay that has been around longer than I have been a runner. The 15th edition is full of updates. Most significant is a revamped upper and a new stability system that promises to be subtle. It is also an ounce lighter than last year.

It is Saucony light stability model; sitting below the Omni and well below the Hurricane. It competes with the likes of the Hoka Arahi, New Balance 860, and Asics’ GT-2000.

Saucony Guide 15 First Impressions

picture of Saucony Guide 15

I hadn’t run in any of Saucony’s stability shoes in a few years so I was excited to give the Guide a whirl.

Unboxing, I wasn’t too impressed with how it looked. I feel like stability shoes can be on the bland side of things. The mostly grey profile with blue accents didn’t stick out to me. Looking at the 14, it does look like it got some good colorways so I’m sure more colors will come eventually.

The shoe was very comfortable putting them on for the first time. It felt comfortable on my feet and walking around in them. My first run was a little stiff but I was recovering from a harder effort the day before so I was fine with running at a relaxed, dialed-in pace.

Saucony Guide 15 Sole Unit

picture of Saucony Guide 15

The outsole keeps things simple and doesn’t try to be more complicated than it needs to be. It isn’t complex but provided great traction and control. Very durable with minimal signs of wear at the end of testing.

On the medial side, the stability element is Saucony’s new “HOLLOW-TECH” system. it is a medial post that curves up like a semi circle instead of being a large post that overtakes half the medial side. This is great for someone who just needs light stability, but I can see it being an issue for someone who needs more support.

picture of Saucony Guide 15

This is another fresh breath of air to the stability shoe model. People have been upset with brands for ditching postings and dual density principles for more dynamic support systems (Brooks GuideRails immediately comes to mind). HOLLOW-TECH is enough of a change that doesn’t feel too drastic to where it will turn away loyal wearers of the Guide.

The PWRRUN midsole is quite stiff and doesn’t have the best energy return. It did great for shock absorption on landing, but it never felt fast on lift off. It makes the shoe feel heavier than it actually is.

The shoe’s 8mm drop and midsole geometry had me landing and lifting off on my midfoot. This really allowed the stability aspects to shine. It was guiding (roll credits!) my foot into the right place on landing and I could really dial into a steady pace on these. These really excelled on long runs thanks to this.

Saucony Guide 15 Upper Unit

picture of Saucony Guide 15

The upper is a comfortable engineered mesh. It breathed great and fit well on my foot. It provided ample protection and dried quickly when I took these out on rainy days.

The booty construction with a gusted tongue gave no concern over issues with the laces digging into my skin. The heel locked in great and never slid.

The laces were comfortable, but the construction of it was cumbersome at times. On the midfoot is pieces of material that wrap down the sides of my feet. It added to the comfort, but I was always having to spend more attention tying my shoes because of this.

The overall fit is very true to size. The toebox isn’t roomy by any means, but it didn’t press down on my toes or cause any discomfort. If your feet are on the wider side, definitely get it in a wide but I saw no need to size up.

Saucony Guide 15 Conclusion

picture of Saucony Guide 15

I think this is a great shoe for recovery days and long runs where you just want to dial into a pace and zone out. The stability elements weren’t overdone and I really like seeing what different brands are doing to the stability shoe in the last couple of years.

I was somewhat let down at how the ride didn’t match the weight and profile. This was very apparent when I tried taking these out on faster efforts. I can appreciate a shoe with a firm ride, but this just didn’t have any pep to get me moving off my feet. I did not run in the 14s, but I can’t imagine how heavy feeling these used to be.

Overall, I would still recommend this shoe if you are looking for an everyday trainer with moderate support. It is quite durable and I can see myself running it into the ground and easily getting a few hundred miles out of it. That said, If you are looking for something for race day I’d steer clear.

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Saucony Guide 15 at Running Warehouse with our own money.