SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Ride 15

The Saucony Ride 15 is the perfect example of today’s shoe trends: it’s light and has a soft, bouncy midsole and a cushiony sock liner to give you a responsive, comfortable ride, mile after mile. This version of the Ride is a noticeable departure from the previous edition (the Ride 14) in terms of looks, but doesn’t lack support or cushioning in any of the key areas. If you’re training for a half-marathon or marathon, this shoe may just become your preferred choice for long training runs, and even on race day.

Category: Neutral cushioning
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 32.5 mm
Weight: 221 g (women’s) 249 g (men’s)
Price: $170 CAD

The upper

As we said, the Ride 15 is noticeably different-looking from its predecessor. The poofy tongue and collar and thick, round laces of the 14 have been replaced with a sleeker, more minimal design, without sacrificing comfort or cushioning. Saucony has pared down the upper for this model and removed a few of its mesh overlays for a less-cluttered look and sleeker fit, and has a higher heel to give you a more supportive fit.

I was concerned the higher heel might cause some uncomfortable rubbing around my ankles, but was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was. The forefoot also provided plenty of flexibility, which allowed my foot to move easily and comfortably in the shoe.

The midsole

Saucony has been gradually softening its PWRRUN cushioning in the last couple of Ride and Guide models, and the Ride 15 is no exception. The brand has made the PWRRUN cushioning even softer, less dense and more responsive than the 14, which also means there’s more of it — the stack height in the 15 is 2 mm higher than the 14 with 18 per cent more total midsole volume. If you’re concerned the extra foam is going to add weight to the shoe, however, don’t be: thanks to the lower density, the 15 is actually lighter than its predecessor.

While this shoe doesn’t give you quite the push forward that some of the carbon-plated, mile-high shoes on the market do, I found it had a springy feel with a good toe-off, and the heel and forefoot bevelling made transitions feel smooth and effortless.

The outsole

The outsole now has a vertical rather than horizontal tread pattern, and the brand has removed some of the rubber where it’s not needed to lighten the shoe up, without sacrificing durability and still giving you some decent traction on the road.

Final thoughts

Overall, I found the Ride 15 to be light, springy and comfortable, and it just might become my go-to long-run shoe and daily trainer. It could also double as a race shoe for a longer race like a half-marathon or marathon, thanks to its lightness and cushioning. As a bonus, the Ride 15 is also much more affordable than many of the performance shoes on the market, making it a great option for the recreational runner looking for a comfortable shoe that performs well and stands up to many miles.