Saucony Hurricane 23 Multiple Tester Review
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Senior Contributors David Salas and Nathan Brown
The Saucony Hurricane series is a long standing premium stability shoe. Generally featuring plush cushioning and a high level of stability, version 23 returns almost completely redone. The previous version suffered from an identify crisis (REVIEW), while the Hurricane 23 makes a clear statement. Featuring massive upper and outsole updates with traditional posting, the evolution of the ride of this shoe is quite dramatic and further emphasizes Saucony's performance focus.
Saucony Hurricane 23
Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 11.4 oz (men's size 9), 9.8 oz (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 33.5 mm/ 25.5 mm
Drop: 8 mm drop
Classification: Premium High Stability Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 23 returns as a vastly improved premium stability trainer. Featuring a full length PWRRUN + midsole, a dramatically improved ride, improved stability and a secure fit, this shoe checks off all the boxes. For those wanting traditional stability shoe with a new age protective and responsive ride, this may be your stability trainer of the year for 2021.
David: The Saucony Hurricane 23 is a premium daily trainer with aims at being at the top of the stability category. The shoe utilizes Saucony's PWRRUN+ midsole that leans on the softer and bouncier side of things. The shoe utilizes a plastic posting along the medial aspect of the foot extending from the rearfoot through the midfoot. The result is a highly stable but still forgiving and responsive ride.
Nathan: There are shoes that I look at and think "shoot...I really don't think I'm going to like this shoe". Typically I'm right, and that was my first thought with the Hurricane 23. But boy was I wrong. For fans of the PWRUN+ foam, you will get plenty of it here with some rigidity added through the medial TPU guidance frame which provides a stable yet non-intrusive ride.
FIT
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 23 fits me true to size in my normal men's size 10. The upper fits very secure and is a little on the snug side throughout the full length of the shoe. There is a heel counter in the rearfoot, but there is enough protection that it kept my heel secure without irriating it. The security of the upper is good enough that I never had to lace lock the shoe. The upper is thinner and more streamlined that the previous version. The heel fits slightly snug but locks the foot down well without excessive pressure. The midfoot also fits medium to slightly snug, with additional overlays to secure the foot. The tongue is attached to the upper on the medial and lateral sides, with no noticeable translation during running. The thick laces do secure the midfoot very well, allowing for customization of the midfoot fit. The forefoot is also snug especially at first, but disappears while on the run. I initially had some pressure on my 5th digits, but this quickly went away. The best I can describe this upper as is a secure, performance leaning but premium upper that will accomodate medium to narrow feet very well. For those that need more width, a wide version will be available.
David: The Saucony Hurricane 23 fits true to size in my normal 9.5. Everything about the upper screams premium and is incredibly "cozy". The heel collar is padded well along with the tongue. The upper is a tad bit thicker than some of the other training shoes but still breathable and locks down well. The shoe feels padded throughout but still reinforced well. The laces are stretchy and help me with getting an even better lock down when lacing. The length is perfect and the toe box has enough room for toe splay. It isn't overly wide, but should be enough for the large majority of people. This is one my favorite uppers that I have worn in a premium line daily trainer. The width overall runs normal and isn't overly narrow or wide in any particular region.
Nathan: The Hurricane seems to follow the typical Saucony fit for me, which means that it is slightly more snug in the heel and midfoot, but opens up a bit in the toe box. In my typical size 9 I had no problems with slipping in my typical thin running socks and I also had ample room for my thicker winter running socks. The gusseted tongue is very comfortable without being too plush for a premium trainer. You'll notice that the construction of the upper on the inside of the shoe through the midfoot is thicker and more rigid which the lateral side is a typical mesh material. Both are comfortable, and we will dive into that more in the stability section. I'm personally appreciating this soft, premium upper during the winter months in Wisconsin.
RIDE
Matt: The ride of the Hurricane 23 takes note from the Triumph series. Featuring a full length PWRRUN + midsole and new outsole and a similar performance last, the ride overall is far smoother, stable and more responsive. From heel to toe, the cushioning is both soft and responsive. The previous version felt heavy, clunky and fairly uninspiring. Version 23, featuring a lighter outsole, a far better integrated heel bevel and a smoother toe off makes the ride smooth from heel to toe. The slight weight decrease is notable, but the change in outsole material and upper security may make for the biggest changes. The ride is very smooth at heel contact. The heel bevel provides a wonderful place to land that combined with the PWRRUN + nicely rolls you forward. The plastic medial post is integrated well into the midfoot and broke in nicely during the first run. The midfoot transition is stable and smooth. The forefoot features a well integrated toe spring combined with the perfect combination of stiffness/flexibility for a protective toe off. The softness of the midsole is paired very well with the firmness of the post which provides both a smooth and supportive ride. There is an 8mm drop listed, but this was not noticeable at all given the smooth heel bevel and protective/soft cushioning. Those who are sensitive to drop will likely be very comfortable even in this shoe while those who need that perfect middle amount (6-10mm) will be quite happy.
David: The ride was very surprising for me. Being a highly cushioned stability trainer I was expecting the ride to be plush and potentially not very responsive. I was very wrong. The shoe was fluid through all of its transition points and has a pretty good amount of responsiveness. On some of my runs I was running a lot quicker than I felt/thought I was. The bevel in the heel is done really well and the posting is integrated well with soft foam as well. The posting is plastic, but does not come off as overly harsh by any means. The post is felt, but it just feels like a stable extension of the shoe from the heel through the midfoot. The forefoot has some stiffness built into it while still maintaining the soft platform. The toe spring is also integrated very well. The result is a soft yet still snappy toe off. The firmest part is the heel, but it still comes off smooth with the bevel and soft midsole. The firmness is more a play between the midsole and posting.
Nathan: This is where I was expecting to start losing favor with the shoe. I expected the TPU guidance frame to contrast too starkly with the softer PWRUN+ foam, but this simply wasn't the case. The heel bevel is really well integrated as it was in the Triumph 18 which provides a smooth landing for those who land in the heel. I personally have been doing more mid/forefoot running lately, and the PWRUN+ continues to be a pleasant platform to land on. The midfoot, due to the TPU frame, is soft on landing from rigid front to back. However, it maintains a smooth transition to the forefoot which is comprised of 25.5mm of PWRUN+. Thanks to that amount of stack and the lack of flex grooves in the outsole, the forefoot is not remarkably flexible, which helps transition from the rigid TPU guidance frame. If it were too flexible, the transition likely would have been more harsh. Alas, what you get is a cushioned, bouncy, smooth ride throughout without interference from the guidance frame.
STABILITY
Matt: I was disappointed in the stability design of the Hurricane 22 as I found the sole too soft and the stability too minimal for a premium stability shoe. This has been completely fixed in version 23. While version 23 features several methods of stability, it remains a stable AND responsive shoe for its weight class. The stability comes mostly from the well integrated plastic post in the heel and midfoot. This well integrated TPU guidance frame is immediately noticeable upon putting the shoe on and provides a high level of stability in that area. It is designed to interact with the upper, which is also quite secure and does a great job of locking the foot in at the heel and midfoot without being overbearing. There is also a guidance line in the outsole and mild sole flare that provides very subtle stability throughout the length of the shoe. Finally, the heel bevel feels like it is offset perfectly, with a nice guided transition during heel contact. The level of stability is quite high in this shoe, but adapts quite quickly to the individual. Unlike the previous version, the stability is much more present, yet emphasizes rather than detracts from the ride.
David: The Saucony Hurricane 23 is very stable for as plush as it is. The geometry of the shoe is very well thought out and it integrates very nicely when pushed through a gait cycle. The heel has a very nicely done posterior lateral bevel that drops you into the posting that sits just below some topsole/midsole. The landing feels a little firm, but still protective and stable. The shoe also has some sole flaring built into it along the medial and lateral aspect that help with increasing the platform's surface area and making it feel more stable. Overall I am very please with the Saucony Hurricane 23's stability system. I think potentially the posting could be shifted slightly more anterior/forward, but overall they did a really nice job here.
Nathan: This is where I thought I wasn't going to enjoy the shoe. I thought the difference between the PWRUN+ and TPU plate would be too much. Again I was wrong, so hats off to you, Saucony. I personally had issues with the Triumph 18 as the midsole was too soft and my foot had high demands to keep stable on the platform. The Hurricaine takes the same very soft/bouncy midsole and does a great job providing rigidity to the shoe through the nearly single slab outsole and the TPU guidance frame. I hope to see a 3D image of the guidance frame at some point, as I feel it may have a wedge shape where the thicker end is at the outsole and it is more narrow where the foot meets the platform. If that's the case, it would explain how the post doesn't feel intrusive while still providing rigidity to the midsole. Finally, you can't forget how they've integrated stability through the upper. The thicker upper medially can combine with the work of the TPU guidance plate to "support" the foot both underneath and on the side/above. Not all companies put as much thought as Saucony does in connecting the upper to the midsole, but they should.
SPEED
Matt: Given the 11.4 oz weight, the Saucony Hurricane 23 is best as a long run, daily trainer and recovery shoe. That being said, the PWRRUN + midsole still responds quite well for the weight class. Like the Triumph 18 (REVIEW), the sole does respond if you push it and the security from the upper keeps up locked in well. I have used this shoe for fartlek workouts and long runs and while the midsole does do well with casual speed efforts, it really is best for easier paces. Lighter performance shoes like the Endorphin series are much better suited to speed.
David: The Saucony Hurricane 23 is best at daily and recovery paces. This is not a shoe you are going to be blasting workouts or races in, but if you really have to... the PWRRUN+ midsole still responds pretty well. For me this is my go to easy run shoe at the moment. The weight seems to catch up to me a tiny bit when running longer mileage, but I'm still very happy with it for daily mileage.
Nathan: Don't really need to beat around the bush on this one, this is a daily and recovery milage shoe. Sure, it can do a little more thanks to the bounce of the PWRUN+, but it shines at those daily miles.
DURABILITY
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 23 has fairly good durability. The upper continues to look brand new after 50 miles and the midsole has the same level of bounce it did on day one. I am seeing a little less than my normal wear on the posterior lateral heel on my left shoe, which tells me for most people, this shoe will last longer than average (300-500 miles). Overall high marks on durability.
David: This shoe is a tank in terms of durability. I have about zero wear on the shoe after wear testing it. The ride is still holding up very well in the midsole and the outsole can probably make through a world war + COVID with ease. This is an easy 10 from me.
Nathan: Projections here would seem that this shoe is a tank. Very well constructed and robust upper, an outsole that is showing absolutely no wear, a midsole compound that is tried and true for the last year and a half to maintain its integrity -- you shouldn't have any problem getting more than the average miles we typically get from a shoe.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Matt: The primary method of stability in the Hurricane 23 comes from the TPU Guidance frame found in the medial midfoot and heel. Saucony has been using guidance frames for a long time, which instead of having the same midsole with different density to resist motion in that direction, a completely different material or frame is used to resist motion. This is still a more traditional method of stability and is different from some of the newer age, highly adaptable methods seen recently. What is different from traditional posts with this method is that rather than having the post sit right up against the foot, it sits a bit further down, with PWRRUN + still between the foot and this device.
The correction from the previous version was that the midsole was so soft and the post was so minimal that the Hurricane 22 felt like a neutral shoe. Simply having a post does not mean you can have an extremely soft and unstable remainder of the shoe. Stability comes from the sum of all the components, which need to work together. The Hurricane 23 has fixed this as not only does the PWRRUN+ in this version feel slightly firmer and more stable than previous (while still feeling soft and bouncy overall), the post feels more significant. This amount of stability may not work for everyone, but for the population looking for this, it should work very well. No matter how stiff a post you put, an extremely soft shoe is still likely to be unstable. The original Brooks Transcend was a great example of this. As another premium, supposedly high stability shoe, Brooks gave the shoe a very soft ride while using guide rails to attempt to provide stability. While the concept was really cool at the time, it did not pan out as the sole was so unstable, any guidance provided by the rails was essentially cancelled out. This happens frequently in premium stability shoes and can be their undoing for those who need stability (but can be great for those who don't). As always, the target population of a shoe should dictate its characteristics, but a balance in this particular shoe type needs to be found given that extreme softness and stability do not necessarily match.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Hurricane 23 is a great shoe. I have really enjoyed the upper and found the security to be top notch. The ride is super smooth and the stability is integrated well. However, the two things I would like to see are some new takes on stability and dropping the weight. 11.4 oz is quite heavy for a shoe and I would love to see if the weight could drop into the 10 oz range for a little more versatility (same thoughts on the Triumph). The post, while integrated well, is fairly old technology at this point and I would like to see Saucony try to use some of the current evidence on stability for future designs.
David: I don't have many recommendations for the Hurricane 23. I feel that even though the upper is very cushioned and pleasant, it probably could be thinned slightly for more breathability. I really like the interaction between the posting and the midsole, but I do feel like it can be shifted just slightly anterior to stabilize the heel to midfoot at the transition point to make the landing at the heel a little less firm.
Nathan: It's funny, I actually don't fully agree with Matt on this one. Saucony has shown that they can provide stability in new ways (see Endorphin Shift), but some people still respond well to posting, so I hope that there is always an option for people who have had success with posts. My biggest recommendation is to fix the squeaky insert (which has been happening in most models of late). Yes, a small thing, but hopefully an easy fix.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)
Matt: As someone who likes stability (done correctly), the Saucony Hurricane 23 is one of those shoes I just keep reaching for. As a premium stability shoe, the upper is a performance luxury design with a slightly snug, comfortable and secure fit. The midsole and outsole finally balance out with the TPU guidance frame to create a very protective, soft but responsive ride for how much shoe there is. I did not notice the 11.4 oz weight even on long runs and the stability is integrated far better than previous versions. For those wanting a high level of well integrated stability from both traditional and new age methods, a high level of cushioning without sacrificing performance and a performance/luxury upper the Saucony Hurricane 23 may be for you.
David: The Saucony Hurricane 23 is a premium stability shoe for those looking for a high amount of cushioning, while still maintaining a stable platform to run on. The shoe is a durable workhorse and is definitely one of the top in the class. I might have to coin flip between this shoe and another for my favorite stability training shoe, especially in the high cushioned category.
Nathan: The Hurricane 23 is a stable yet fun premium daily trainer for someone who just wants to put in miles without really worrying about how fast you run (while still having some responsiveness for picking up the pace). If you typically have needs for stability but want to have a softer shoe, this will be a great option to try while getting a shoe that is going to last a long time.
GRADING
Matt
Fit 9.5 /10 (Slightly snug but very secure and comfortable fit)
Ride 9.75 /10 (Extremely smooth ride with well integrated post)
Stability 9.75 /10 (High level of well integrated stability)
Speed 8.5 /10 (Moves very well for weight and class. Mostly for easy runs though
Durability 9.75 /10 (High durability of upper and midsole)
David
Fit 9.75/10 (Phenomenal upper, still can come off a tad thick, but otherwise amazing)
Ride 9.75/10 (Very fluid and stable throughout, posting can be shifted to make heel less firm)
Stability 9.75/10 (Done very well, posting can be shifted slightly forward)
Speed 8.5/10 (The shoe moves well for being a high cushioned stability shoe, still not the fastest out there though)
Durability 10/10
Nathan
Fit 9.5 /10 (-0.5 for squeaky insole)
Ride 9.75 /10 (So smooth and fun at daily miles, slightly heavy)
Stability 9.75 /10 (Softness takes away some stability, but still meets criteria for high stability shoe)
Speed 8.5 /10 (Good for daily miles and recovery, heavy for anything much faster)
Durability 10 /10 (Expecting high milage out of this one)
Total Score: 95% (M: 9.45/10 D: 9.55/10 N: 9.5/10 )
Thanks for reading!
PODCAST
We released a full podcast review of the Saucony Hurricane 23!
Links to listen: Apple | YouTube | Review
SHOP
Purchase the Saucony Hurricane 23 here at Running Warehouse. Using the link helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
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TESTER PROFILES:
Dr. Matthew Klein is a 140 lb male with notable PRs of 14:45 for 5k and 2:32:44 for the full marathon. He typically runs 70-100 miles per week and trains at a variety of paces from 8min per mile recovery runs to 4:40 per mile 1k repeats. He prefers firmer and responsive shoes with snug heels and medium to wide toe boxes. He is particular to less cushioned shoes and close to the ground shoes, but can handle a little cushion when he gets beat up.
Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, IG handle: @docsofrundavid
Doctor of Physical Therapy