You asked whether Saucony is a good brand and which shoe to buy. We answer both: a verdict built from six reviewed models, then one winner per runner type with prices, fit notes and flaws. Saucony has built running shoes since 1898, and the modern lineup runs on four PWRRUN foams, SPEEDROLL rocker geometry and FORMFIT uppers, all explained in our technology guide.
We combined hands-on wear notes with side-by-side comparisons and 4,800+ verified user reports across these six models. Editorial scores run from 4.1 to 4.7 out of 5. What follows names the verdict, the shoe, the runner, the fit, the price and the flaw.
Is Saucony a good brand?
Yes, with one honest shape to its strengths. Our six picks average around 4.5 out of 5 editorially across 4,800 verified user reports, and the range from 4.1 to 4.7 shows depth rather than one lucky hit. Saucony does three things well: balanced daily trainers that disappear on the run, bouncy tempo shoes led by the 4.7-rated Endorphin Speed 5, and modern stability that guides instead of shoving. Where it trails is softness theater: nothing here pads as deep as a Hoka Bondi, and wet traction draws complaints on road outsoles. The lineup also skews narrow in performance models. Runners who want maximum marshmallow or guaranteed rain grip should shop elsewhere. Everyone else gets a brand that earns its shelf space.
Saucony running shoes reviewed: the best models by runner type
Saucony Ride 18: Best daily trainer
Saucony
Saucony Ride 18
Best for: Best daily trainer
$145 retail · Amazon $107.95 - $145.00
4.5/5 (200 user reports)
- Lightweight feel
- Excellent breathability
- Responsive cushioning
Fit: True to size, but snugger than Ride 17; consider sizing up half size if preferring roomier fit or for wide feet Sizing guide →
The Ride 18 is the one-shoe answer. It suits beginners and daily trainers who want a single pair for easy miles, long runs and the occasional tempo, with reformulated PWRRUN+ foam that rides lighter and softer than before. At 259 grams and a 4.5 editorial rating, it balances cushioning and response without drama.
Sizing runs true to size though snugger than the Ride 17, so roomy-fit seekers should go half a size up, with wide options available. It lists at $145 retail, usually $107.95 to $145 on Amazon. Premature wear on the outsole and upper is the known issue at 70 percent durability approval, and wet traction disappoints. Max-cushion seekers should pass. Our full Ride 18 review has the mileage notes.
Saucony Triumph 22: Best max cushion
Saucony
Saucony Triumph 22
Best for: Best max cushion
$160 retail · Amazon $110-$160
4.6/5 (300 user reports)
- maximum cushioning
- comfortable upper
- durable construction
Fit: true to size; consider half size down if between sizes Sizing guide →
The Triumph 22 is the luxury sedan. It suits recovery days, long runs and runners who want the softest landing Saucony makes, with a PWRRUN PB superfoam midsole stacked 37 mm in the heel and 27 mm in the forefoot for a classic 10 mm drop. It holds 90 percent cushioning approval across 300 reports at a 4.6 editorial rating.
Fit is true to size with a roomy toe box and wide options, though between-size runners may size down half. It lists at $160 retail, usually $110 to $160 on Amazon, at 286 grams. Breathability is limited and the bulk feels clunky at faster paces. Tempo runners should pass. Our full Triumph 22 review has the softness notes, and the sibling rivalry is settled in Ride 18 vs Triumph 22.
Saucony Kinvara 16: Best lightweight trainer
Saucony
Saucony Kinvara 16
Best for: Best lightweight trainer
$130 retail · Amazon $120-$140
4.4/5 (250 user reports)
- Lightweight design
- Responsive cushioning
- Breathable upper
Fit: True to size, but consider half size up for wider feet Sizing guide →
The Kinvara 16 suits ground-feel fans who want light and flexible over plush. At 206 grams it is the lightest pick here, with PWRRUN foam over a 29 mm heel and 25 mm forefoot for a 4 mm drop that keeps the road close. It carries a 4.4 editorial rating across 250 reports with 85 percent weight approval, and the breathable mesh works for speedwork and short races.
Sizing runs true to size with a tapered toe box, so wider feet should go half a size up. It lists at $130 retail, usually $120 to $140 on Amazon. Cushioning runs thin for long runs at 70 percent approval, and outsole durability on rough pavement worries. Max-cushion lovers and overpronators should pass. Our full Kinvara 16 review covers the low-drop feel.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5: Best tempo shoe
Saucony
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Best for: Best tempo shoe
$180 retail · Amazon $150–$180
4.7/5 (3,600 user reports)
- Soft yet responsive cushioning
- Exceptional durability (>300 miles)
- Versatile for multiple paces
Fit: Runs true to size; order your regular running shoe size Sizing guide →
The Endorphin Speed 5 is the do-it-all speed shoe. It suits marathon trainers and one-shoe runners who need a pair for easy days, fast days and race days, pairing a responsive midsole with a propulsive plate and SPEEDROLL geometry. The numbers lead this guide: 4.7 editorially with 3,600 user reports, 96 percent cushioning, 88 percent stability and 92 percent durability approval at 276 grams.
It runs true to size in a standard D width. It lists at $180 retail, usually $150 to $180 on Amazon. Foam compression past 300 miles is the known issue, wet grip is average, and minimalists will find the plush stack mushy. Elite 5K chasers should look to lighter racers. Our full Endorphin Speed 5 review has the versatility verdict.
Saucony Guide 18: Best stability
Saucony
Saucony Guide 18
Best for: Best stability
$150 retail · Amazon $140-150
4.1/5 (220 user reports)
- stable ride
- cushioned
- breathable
Fit: true to size Sizing guide →
The Guide 18 is the modern stability standard. It suits mild to moderate overpronators who want support without a hard post, using CenterPath geometry with a wider platform and cradling sidewalls over dependable PWRRUN foam. The stack runs 35 mm in the heel and 29 mm in the forefoot for a 6 mm drop, at 272 grams and a 4.1 editorial rating across 220 reports.
Fit is true to size in normal to wide with options available and minimal break-in. It lists at $150 retail, usually $140 to $150 on Amazon. The midsole feels firm and bulky next to neutral trainers, foam life fades near 200 miles at 65 percent durability approval, and wet traction is weak. Speed seekers should pass. Our full Guide 18 review compares it against Brooks in Guide 18 vs Adrenaline GTS 24.
Saucony Peregrine 14: Best trail
Saucony
Saucony Peregrine 14
Best for: Best trail
$140 retail · Amazon $120-$140
4.4/5 (250 user reports)
- Versatile
- Comfortable
- Good traction
Fit: True to size, consider half size up for wider feet or toe splay Sizing guide →
The Peregrine 14 suits trail runners who want one shoe for singletrack, mud and rocky climbs. PWRTRAC rubber with aggressive 5 mm lugs bites most surfaces, a rock plate shields the forefoot, and PWRRUN foam keeps the ride responsive rather than dead. It carries a 4.4 editorial rating across 250 reports with 85 percent durability and 90 percent weight approval at 266 grams over a 4 mm drop.
Sizing runs true to size with room for toe splay, though wider feet should go half a size up. It lists at $140 retail, usually $120 to $140 on Amazon. The ride runs firm, mixed-terrain stability is average, and ultra distances want more protection. Ultra runners should look at the Xodus Ultra 4. Our full Peregrine 14 review has the grip notes.
Saucony buying guide: how to choose
Neutral or stability comes first. Neutral runners land evenly and should pick from the Ride, Triumph, Kinvara and Endorphin lines. Overpronators whose ankles roll inward should pick stability models, where CenterPath Technology guides with a wide platform and high sidewalls instead of a hard medial post. The Guide 18 covers mild to moderate needs, while the max-cushioned Hurricane 24 adds PWRRUN PB softness for runners who want support plus plushness.
Foam decides feel. PWRRUN is the dependable EVA-blend workhorse found in the Guide 18, Kinvara 16, Peregrine 14 and Endorphin Shift 3, protective and durable without flash. PWRRUN+ is the TPU-based step up, softer and bouncier for high-mileage comfort, and it powers the Ride 18. PWRRUN PB is the PEBA-based superfoam for speed and plushness, and it powers the Triumph 22, Hurricane 24 and Endorphin Speed 5. PWRRUN HG is the top-tier racing foam layered over PB in the Endorphin Pro 4 and the Elite 2. Our foam and technology guide maps every tier to its shoes, and the PB foam explainer covers the superfoam in depth.
Fit and wallet come next. Most Sauconys run true to size, and the Ride 18, Triumph 22 and Guide 18 offer wide options, so broad feet rarely need to size around the brand. Retail prices run from $130 for the Kinvara 16 to $285 for the Elite 2, with most daily trainers between $140 and $180 and frequent Amazon discounts. Racers pay the premium: the Endorphin Pro 4 lists at $250 and the Elite 2 at $285. Shoppers can browse everything on our Saucony brand page.
Are Saucony shoes good for walking, wide feet and beginners?
For walking, the Triumph 22 brings the plushest underfoot feel, the Guide 18 adds stable guidance for long days, and the Hurricane 24 at $160 covers long walks and standing days in max-cushioned stability. Road outsoles stay the limit in rain.
For wide feet, the Ride 18, Triumph 22 and Guide 18 all ship wide options with true-to-size length, and the Triumph adds the roomiest toe box of the three. The Kinvara 16 and Endorphin Shift 3 run snug and narrow, so broad feet should skip those lasts.
For beginners, the Ride 18 is the default first shoe with its forgiving balance, and the Guide 18 is the first shoe for beginners who overpronate. Both need minimal break-in and both discount well, so new runners get protection without the racing-shoe tax.
Saucony vs Brooks, Hoka and Nike
Against Brooks, the split is soft versus bouncy. Brooks DNA Loft foam rides soft and protective while Saucony PWRRUN foams return more energy, and CenterPath stability feels less intrusive than GuideRails to many runners. Stability shoppers should read Guide 18 vs Adrenaline GTS 24 before choosing a system.
Against Hoka, Saucony trades deep marshmallow for versatility. The Triumph 22 answers Hoka-level plushness, but the lineup as a whole stays lighter and more responsive, and CenterPath guides more gently than Hoka J-Frame posts. Full-soft seekers still belong with Hoka.
Against Nike, the Ride 18 meets the Pegasus 41 head-on as the do-it-all daily trainer at $145 against $145, with 259 grams against 297. Nike brings Air Zoom snap while Saucony brings a smoother PWRRUN+ cruise. The direct split is in Ride 18 vs Pegasus 41.
How to choose
Pick by run, feet and wallet:
- For one pair that does most things: take the Ride 18.
- For the softest landing: take the Triumph 22.
- For light and low: take the Kinvara 16 with its 4 mm drop.
- For tempo and racing versatility: take the Endorphin Speed 5.
- For guided support: take the Guide 18, or the Hurricane 24 for max-cushion stability.
- For dirt: take the Peregrine 14, or the Xodus Ultra 4 for ultras.
- For race day: take the Endorphin Pro 4 or Elite 2, not a daily trainer.
Final verdict
Saucony is a good brand for runners who want balance: daily comfort in the Ride 18, plush miles in the Triumph 22, light speed in the Kinvara 16, tempo range in the Endorphin Speed 5, guidance in the Guide 18, and dirt in the Peregrine 14. Start with the run you do most, match the foam to the feel you like, and check the technology guide before paying race-shoe money.
