Our team tests 120+ running shoes for at least 50 miles. These are the best Saucony running shoes.
Updated: December 31st, 2020
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DAILY TRAINING
DAILY TRAINING
DAILY TRAINING
Saucony Ride 13
Saucony Ride 13
The just right amount of soft responsive cushioning and accommodating upper make it a solid single shoe choice for the neutral runner.
The Cohesion 13 removes any frills and delivers possibly the best running shoe for the price of any brand.
Sarah Dean
5k Runner, Personal Trainer
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1898 and relocated to Cambridge, MA in the 1960s, Saucony is one of the oldest running shoes brands.
Over the past couple of years, Saucony revamped most of their shoe designs thanks to two main innovations: the FORMFIT upper construction and from this year the PWRRUN PB sole material.
Saucony classifies their shoes in a very traditional way based on Pronation support, Road vs Trail and Racing/Track shoes.
Within each of these categories live different shoes for different runners. We are going to break the line down to make it easy to understand, and don't forget to keep reading for an overview of Saucony’s main technologies.
Saucony Neutral Daily Trainers
Some of Saucony's neutral running shoes have become incredibly successful staples in the running word. They are amongst Saucony's most popular and best selling shoes.
Shoes in this collection are characterised by not having a medial wedge or similar support feature.
“The Saucony Ride 13 expands the well-received line of Ride shoes, bringing a few changes to the previous model to come in an updated upper, redesigned fit, and adjusted outsole. ”
Recommended for
The Saucony Ride 13 is a versatile shoe for neutral runners that want a reliable trainer with higher than average cushioning in a durable package.
“The Saucony Triumph 18 is a top of the range, max-cushioned, neutral trainer deserving of its $150 price tag. It provides long-distance comfort and bottomless cushioning while having excellent energy return. Version 18 has a more streamlined upper, snappier ride transitions and softer landings due to the omission of crystal rubber on the outsole, making it an overall improvement over the Triumph 17.”
Recommended for
If you're a runner looking for a durable workhorse which specialises in slow-paced, long-distance workouts, the Triumph 18 is the shoe for you. The Triumph 18 manages to have a plush ride without feeling mushy and has the bounciest ride of all the max-cushioned trainers.
“The Saucony Kinvara 11 feels similar to last year’s Kinvara 10 and retains many of the improvements that occurred as part of the shoe’s ten-year overhaul. The ride and soft responsiveness remain the same with the addition of a new midsole foam and a few premium details to the upper. Also noticeable, is what Saucony eliminated from this model to continue streamlining the functionality of the Kinvara as a performance shoe. Updates include removal of the center...”
Recommended for
Neutral runners seeking a reliable daily trainer with unrivaled versatility and comfort; marathoners seeking the perfect lightweight race shoe that balances cushion with responsiveness to produce optimal performance over long distance.
“The Freedom 3 is a lightweight running shoe, redesigned and revamped from the Freedom 2. Key updates in the Freedom 3 include new upper pattern, and a lighter weight and more responsive foam sole. The Freedom 3 combines many of Saucony's new technologies to give an all around good performer and versatile running shoe. ”
Recommended for
The Freedom 3 is recommended for neutral runners looking for a plush yet lightweight running shoe. It's ideal for daily use and also for uptempo runs. Fans of the Saucony Triumph range may also enjoy this running shoe if they're looking for a more lightweight option. If you're not looking for a...
“The Saucony Cohesion 13 is a great, budget friendly running shoe that ticks all the boxes for runners who want to protect their feet and enjoy a comfortable ride for their first 5km or 10km run. ”
Recommended for
The Cohesion 13 is a simple, entry level neutral running shoe for runners looking for their first pair of running shoes, or to replace another pair of trust Saucony’s. For runners looking to keep costs down but get a shoe that they can trust to do the job, mile after mile, the Cohesion 13 is...
In 2020, Saucony introduced a completely new range of shoes, the Endorphin series. Consisting of the Pro, Speed and Shift, the Endorphin series is a complete running shoe rotation meant for preparing, training and racing long-distances.
They all have SPEEDROLL technology to create a forward-rolling feel while the Speed and Pro have PWRRUN PB foam for a bouncy running experience.
High High performance midsole, springy and energetic but balanced and not overly soft.
Stable, consistent, and easy to lock in and hold a fast pace.
Reduced muscle fatigue.
“The Saucony Endorphin Pro is aggressive enough for the elite while being stable, well cushioned, and smooth for the masses. If you want a smooth, responsive, and enjoyable ride for longer races or your next PR, this is your shoe.”
Recommended for
Those who want a comfortable, cushioned distance racer for 10k and upward.
“The Saucony Endorphin Speed is perhaps the best overall shoe in which I've ran for the website. This shoe is fast, cushioned, designed to log miles and to be able to log long runs. I found it hard to truly difficult to find negatives for this shoe. It's nearly perfect.”
Recommended for
This shoe is for a serious runner. This is NOT for new runners. Plenty of cushion for larger runners, light weight enough for the speed demon.
“The Saucony Endorphin Shift is the high-cushion, daily trainer from the Endorphin line. It's a perfect compliment with the Speed, and gives tons of cushion for long runs or recovery runs.”
Recommended for
This shoe is really for anyone wanting max cushion but still wanting an aggressive toe off for speed. This shoe is even better when paired with the other offering from the line.
Shoes in this collection are characterised by having a medial wedge or support feature and are designed to prevent over pronation. Some of these supportive trainers have mild support features while others have maximum support features.
“The redesigned and rebuilt Saucony Guide 13 is an exceptional everyday moderate stability trainer. The additions of PWRRUN cushioning and a new upper turned a great stability trainer into one of the best.”
Recommended for
I recommend the Saucony Guide 13 to those looking for a mid stability trainer for either a half or full marathon.
“The Saucony Omni 19 is a moderate stability shoe that is incredibly comfortable both in fit and in the ride. It is a reliable, daily driver trainer that will give lots of life.”
Recommended for
This is a shoe perfect for someone looking for a daily trainer and needs some over pronation support.
Jon Ober
Serial Marathoner and Stability Running Shoe Expert
“The Saucony Hurricane 22 hits the sweet spot where soft cushion meets moderate stability, providing a smooth and supported yet slightly heavy and warm ride. The plush stability plus durable sole unit make this shoe worth the higher price tag.”
Recommended for
Wear this shoe for recovery and long runs. Runners who do well in a med-heavy shoe will enjoy Hurricane's smooth ride for faster-paced efforts as well.
EVERUN cushioning makes it very comfortable at each step
“The Saucony Redeemer ISO 2 is so close to be a great stability/motion control running shoe for runners with flat feet (or particularly unstable gait) but a very heavy and warm upper and an issue with heel slippage ruined the fun for me.”
Recommended for
Flat footed runners and runners looking for a lot of stability.
Saucony makes one of the most popular trail running shoes: the Peregrine - but the other models in the lineup are not to be ignored and they all feature better grip and added durability to conquer all types of terrains and conditions.
“The Saucony Peregrine 10 offers some updates that will keep this popular style in the rotations of many trail runners. The 10th version of the Peregrine includes the typical smooth cushioning, sticky traction and a solid upper.”
“The Saucony Xodus 10 is a maximal trail running shoe designed to provide the highest level of protection on the most difficult terrain. Completely overhauled from previous versions, the Xodus 10 is much lighter and more comfortable than before. ”
Recommended for
The Saucony Xodus 10 is recommended for trail runners looking for a versatile running shoe which offers maximum protection and cushioning. The Xodus 10 is designed for neutral runners who cover a variety of different terrains in their training and looking for a shoe that can handle all of this and...
ISOFIT is the relatively new upper construction that Saucony places on all their higher-end models.
It is such a drastic change according to Saucony that once a model gets the “ISO” treatment, the numbering starts from 1. For example after the Triumph 12, there is the Triumph ISO and after that one the ISO 2.
What is ISOFIT?
(image from Saucony.com)
It’s an ultra-soft inner sleeve made of stretchable air mesh, that morphs to the foot for a sock-like feel with a floating support cage around it that cradles the foot.
There’s a little more to it. The inner mesh sleeve is actually made of 4 different kind of meshes, on the midfoot, midfoot sides, toebox, tongue…
The external support cage is where the 4 eyelets are and locks the foot securely to the shoes. The cage extends over the heel, leaving a window open.
ISOFIT is quite a substantial change to Saucony’s previous models and it commended a $20 to $30 price increase, depending on the model.
FlexFILM
FlexFILM is what Saucony calls their new overlay tech. Instead of sewing plastic pieces to the upper to provide support and structure, the overlays are now melded to the upper in order to both save weight and reduce possiblities for irritation and blisters.
Powergrid and Powergrid+
Powergrid+ is the evolution of Powergrid, which in turn is the evolution of the original Progrid technology.
In a nutshell, the “grid” system is a perforated layer between the insole of the shoe and the midsole that acts as a net. Landing your foot over a net design helps spread the shock of the impact on a wider surface.
Powergrid evolved on the Progrid system by utilizing a lighter material.
Powergrid+ differs from Powergrid in the way that instead of being a separate layer on top of the midsole, now the midsole itself incorporates the holes that create the grid system.
EVERUN
EVERUN is the newest Saucony technology and it’s slowly but surely being incorporated in all new premium Saucony running shoes.
As you can see from the image above, EVERUN is an additional layer of cushioning material that lives close to the foot, providing a more immediate cushioning. According to Saucony it provides an 83% energy return and it does not break down with usage.
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