SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Guide 13
All of the updates to one of the staple stability shoes in Saucony's line up
The Saucony Guide 13 is the stability counterpart to the Saucony Triumph 17. Both of these shoes were released on November 1, and if you’re in the market for a new stability shoe, the Guide should be on your radar.
Shoe category: Stability
Drop: 8 mm
Price: $170
Cushion: Responsive
Weight: 264 grams for women’s 9
Surfaces tested: Road, trail
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What’s new
The Guide has a few key updates, many of them similar to the updates made on the Triumph. Their new foam, PWRRUN, which replaces EVERUN, is lighter and snappier than the previous midsole material. It’s 25 per cent lighter, to be exact, with a more responsive cushioning. PWRRUN is still an EVA blend (the same as EVERUN). The posting through the midsole (which is what puts the shoe in the stability category) is also made of a TPU guidance frame and runs from the middle of the foot through the heel.
The EVA midsole and posting makes for a very responsive shoe, maybe even more responsive than the Triumph. The shoe has good snap to it and was great for an easy day run–but based on how responsive the foam is, I could see the Guide being great on a hard long run as well.
The upper also got a pretty significant update, removing the ISO Fit laces that Saucony used on their previous models. The company has gone back to a traditional lacing system, and the upper on the Guide is breathable but a little more dense than the upper on previous models, keeping the runner’s foot in place really well.
RELATED: SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Kinvara 10
What’s the same
The heel collar is similar, keeping it nice and padded to prevent chafing. The outsole is also similar to previous models. The Guide provides some support for mild over-pronators, but it’s not for the strongest overpronators among us. If you’re looking for a high-stability shoe, check out the Saucony Hurricane.
This shoe is ideally used for anything from a long run to an easy day. While it’s advertised as a stability shoe, I usually wear a neutral trainer, and wasn’t at all uncomfortable in the Guide. This could certainly be worn by both mild over-pronators and neutral runners alike. This shoe is one of the most responsive stability shoes I’ve used, and the details were obviously considered thoughtfully. The stability section, once reserved for clunky shoes never to be worn by those who didn’t need them, has opened up. It’s now filled with light, responsive shoes that are attractive to all kinds of runners. The Guide fits perfectly into this category and is definitely worth trying out.
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