Saucony Ride 16: Best One Yet?
By Andrea Myers, David Salas and Matthew Klein
The Saucony Ride has always been the big training shoe for Saucony. The Ride is the primary neutral workhorse to log your daily mileage in. The shoe does not have a wild geometry or any new fancy foams. It provides a balanced ride with a gentle roll in the geometry using their EVA-based PWRRUN midsole. The result is a lightweight, balanced ride for miles to come.
Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.8 oz, 250g (men's size 9), 7.8 oz, 221g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 35mm/27mm
Drop: 8mm
Classification: Daily Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 is a lighter, versatile daily training shoe that returns with some mild refinements that continue to push this series forward. A normal-width fit is paired with a comfortable and secure upper. A new PWRRUN+ insole adds a little more bounce to the moderately rockered and smooth ride. Coming in at under 9 oz for a men's size 9, the Ride 16 doubles as a mileage shoe and uptempo/workout shoe. This neutral versatile daily workhorse is an excellent choice for runner looking for a shoe that can handle many efforts while still hammering away at miles.
David: The Saucony Ride 16 has always been the staple training shoe from the brand. The Ride contains consistently fluid transitions and delivers a ride that can sustain the beatdown of daily mileage. The Ride 16 continues on this tradition and improves upon it in the best ways. This is my favorite Ride model so far for the neutral workhorse.
Andrea: I had never run in the Saucony Ride, but I did get to test the Ride TR (trail shoe) last year and really enjoyed putting miles on it. I was excited when the Ride 16 showed up at my door because I was very interested in testing the road version. The Ride 16 is a neutral daily trainer that has gained 2.5mm of stack height without gaining any weight as compared to v15. It has a comfortable, secure fit and could be a workhorse daily trainer for those looking for a neutral, protective ride.
SIMILAR SHOES: Asics Cumulus 24, Nike Pegasus 39
FIT
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The width is normal throughout the length of the shoe. The upper has slightly more volume height-wise, which combined with the mild stretch from the mesh provides a secure but adaptable fit for normal-width feet. The mesh material is lightweight and provides decently breathability. The forefoot does not have much structure, which as mentioned allows a little stretch. The midfoot has a normal width fit and features a mild to moderately thick gusseted tongue. The gusset also wraps the foot, providing additional lockdown. The heel is normal in width with a mildly flexible heel counter. The counter is quite rounded at the heel and did not bother me at all. Those with sensitivities to counters should still approach with caution. The heel collar padding is moderately thick and comfortable against bare skin. The inner material of the upper is comfortable against bare skin and I have run several miles without socks. There are some stitching around the midfoot area, so those with sensitivities there should consider using socks. The security of the upper is quite good without creating excessive pressure anywhere on the foot. This is the type of upper that disappears and lets you think about the run instead.
David: The Ride 16 locks my foot down very well throughout without feeling like it is putting too much pressure on the sides of my foot. I had a little irritation with the 15 but the 16 worked really well for me. The upper feels like it has a tad more volume and is more forgiving through the midfoot region. The shoe does have an elastic piece in the midfoot region of the lacing system that seems to really pull the tongue and foot onto the platform. The mesh material itself is comfortable and feels lightweight on foot. There is a heel counter that is padded pretty well and provided no irritation for me. The width in the heel is normal to slightly snug in the heel and midfoot with a slightly wide forefoot. The fit feels very dialed in and accommodating at the same time. The shoe as a whole is lighter and some of that is felt in the upper. With that said this is easily the best fitting Ride I have worn.
Andrea: The Saucony Ride 16 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. I had a full thumb's width from the front of my big toe to the end of the shoe, and the width in the toe box is a little wider than the Ride TR, but a little narrower than the Endorphin line. I would prefer the toe box to be slightly wider to allow for at least mild toe splay, but I did not experience any discomfort in the ball of my foot with this shoe. The width in the midfoot and rearfoot is normal and I was pleased with the overall fit of the shoe. There is a rigid heel counter, but the nicely padded heel collar contributes to the rearfoot feeling comfortably secure. The gusseted tongue is of medium thickness and has some padding and integrates nicely with the upper. Similar to the Ride 15 and TR, the Ride 16 has lace straps that integrate the lacing system with the upper. This feature helps provide exceptional lockdown and security in the midfoot without creating any tension points. The mesh upper is soft and breathable, and receives some structure from the overlays. I am definitely pleased with the fit and comfort of the Ride 16.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 is a nimble daily training shoe that feels like a lightweight trainer. The shoe comes in under 9 oz (8.8 oz) while still providing plenty of cushioning underfoot. The stack height is higher at 35mm/27mm but it feels far more grounded. The PWRRUN midsole is on the firmer side and combined with the softer PWRRUN+ insole provides a balanced ride throughout the length of the shoe. The heel and forefoot are moderately rockered. The heel has a slightly posterior lateral bevel and has a solid transition that is too stiff or too rounded. The forefoot has a mild-to-moderate rocker with some well-positioned flexibility. "Well-Balanced" is the best term to describe the ride of this shoe. While there is enough cushioning and comfort for longer miles, the slightly firmer foundation, bouncier insole and light ride make it extremely easy to pick up the pace in this shoe. For all faster workouts I would normally choose a racing or true workout shoe. However, the Ride 16 has the versatility to move quicker and does great during tempo runs and fartleks. It is not the fastest shoe, but does a great job transitioning between early-season workouts and mileage.
The challenge with the lighter ride is that I am seeing some early wear on the outsole after 35 miles. I have some wear in my normal spot (posterior-lateral heel) so expect normal to slightly below-average miles for a daily training shoe. The smoother outsole will work best for roads and well-groomed trails. This shoe definitely sits on the lightweight trainer side of things and I continue to reach for it regardless of the run.
David: The Ride 16 was a very pleasant surprise. The lockdown of the upper and reduction of weight made this shoe feel surprisingly nimble for a daily workhorse. The shoe weighs in just under 9 ounces and feels like it's approaching a lightweight trainer or even speed shoe. The ride however maintains that smooth rhythmic ride the line has always done well. The shoe is gently beveled in the heel and forefoot and provides a relatively natural ride with some soft rolling sensations. The PWRUN midsole is a little on the firm side, though provides plenty of cushioning for long miles. The outsole is flatter than previous models and helps with softening the sensation of the foam up as well. The shoe also uses a PWRUN + sock liner that softens up the landing a tad as well. So despite the shoe having a firmer feel, it is a really nice balance between soft and firm. The balanced geometry allows me to run in the shoe my way and I have even been able to turn over in this shoe decently. I forgot my flats to the track one day and ripped a full 16 x 400 workout in the Rides. Although it was a tad heavy for the track for me, the shoe actually transitioned well at those faster paces. This has been one of the shoes I continue to find myself grabbing without thinking about it.
Andrea: The Ride 16 is designed as a daily trainer and I enjoyed taking it on many of my easy runs. It feels lighter on foot than its stated weight and the thick PWRRUN (EVA) midsole provides ample cushioning while still maintaining decent ground feel. The midsole felt firmer on my first few runs, but I noticed it started to soften up, particularly in the forefoot, after about 20 miles. The forefoot of the shoe has moderate flexibility to it, which helps to balance out the thickness of the midsole. The shoe has an 8mm drop, which combined with the small heel bevel, feels like 8mm drop or even a little bit more to me as a midfoot striker. The heel did feel like it got in my way, which made the shoe feel a little clunky. The mild forefoot rocker and the flexibility of the forefoot provide a smooth and peppy transition to toe off. This shoe runs like a classic daily trainer and it is best for easy miles, although some may find it useful for faster efforts. Due to the lack of aggressive rockers, the shoe allowed me to use my mechanics for forward motion, as opposed to the propulsive or rolling ride of more heavily rockered shoes. The 8mm drop and lack of heel bevel would keep me from using it for faster paces. The shoe has decent outsole rubber coverage which should give it above average durability. I did not have any traction issues on wet or sand covered roads.
LONG TERM DURABILITY UPDATE
STABILITY
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 is a neutral shoe but has some elements that make it borderline stable neutral. The heel and midfoot feature full-length sidewalls on both the medial and lateral sides that keep the foot centered. The forefoot also has a medial sidewall that works well for those who have mild medial forefoot instability. The heel and forefoot also feature sole flare (classic to Saucony) with more flare in the medial heel and lateral forefoot. The heel rocker is slightly lateral without being overbearing and keeps the heel relatively centered at heel strike. Outside of those mild elements, it is a fairly neutral daily training shoe.
David: The Ride 16 is as neutral as you come. With that said, the shoe still rides pretty stable throughout. The shoe has a decent base platform underfoot. The thing that really gives it some points is the upper. The upper security is great and the lockdown is one of the best in the industry right now for this category. The shoe is very trustworthy on foot and the firmer foam also gives some appeal to off road conditions as well. Traction could be a little better in some of those off road conditions, though worked in most situations I found myself in.
Andrea: The Ride 16 is a classic neutral shoe, with no traditional stability elements or even aggressive rockers to guide motion. The main feature of the shoe that promotes stability is the well-integrated upper. The lace straps provide an extensive connection between the upper and the lacing system, providing better lockdown than regular eyelets. The midfoot sidewalls help the foot sit inside the shoe, rather than on top of the shoe. The guidance lines in the outsole and the flexibility of the forefoot may provide mild centering of the foot and guidance to push off. This is not a shoe for runners with significant stability needs, or even for runners who like a more rockered shoe. This shoe truly feels like a classic, neutral 8mm drop daily trainer.
Thoughts as a DPT: What Does Versatility Mean in Footwear?
By Matthew Klein
We and many other reviewers utilize the word "versatile" with many shoes (potentially more than we probably should). I thought it would be best to define this word in relationship to footwear so that readers actually understood where we are coming from. By its own definition, versatile means the ability to adapt to or handle many different activities or functions. In relation to footwear, it may refer to the ability to handle many different surfaces, speeds and/or types of runs.
A shoe like the Saucony Ride 16 is a great example of this progression. This series has traditionally been a normal daily training shoe, but has always been something that could handle some pace changes. The recent changes have increased the stack height to tall levels (35mm/27mm) while putting the shoe into the sub 9 oz range that many consider the realm of lightweight trainers. The lighter midsole foam combined with the newer insole makes for an underfoot feel that feels great at both easy recovery paces and during uptempo efforts and workouts. The light weight makes running faster easier and while it would not be the first shoe I would choose for racing, many that find the current super shoes too aggressive for a marathon may do quite well in this versatile plateless daily trainer/lightweight trainer.
In the age of increasing costs and inflation, having one shoe that can do several things will be a great asset for many people. Although the evidence says that one of the few ways to reduce injuries is to have a rotation of shoes, not everyone has that financial option (Malisoux et al., 2015). People new to running, high school runners and those that just want one shoe may do well to look for a versatile shoe that can handle several types of run. Once they have more experience and if they are will to invest in this sport, then expanding that rotation may be worth a consideration.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 added small changes that make this my favorite version of this shoe. The PWRRUN+ insole provides some mild bounce without the shoe going crazy. The weight is lighter, making this essentially a lightweight trainer. The upper has a perfect fit for me that isn't too narrow or too wide. It is a simple feeling shoe that somehow has the ability to easily pick up the pace and run easy. This is my favorite type of shoe that is only held back by early outsole wear. My only recommendation at this point is to work on the durability. However, it thicker or firmer outsole rubber is added, that might firm up the shoe and take away that perfect balance of cushioning this shoe has. I might suggest offsetting this with a topsole layer of PWRRUN+. Other than those small changes, I would hesitate to change this shoe too much.
David: The Saucony Ride 16 knocked it out of the park for me. The only thing I found myself wanting was just a little more traction underfoot. It wasn't bad, though it wasn't great. This is me being picky though. This shoe might very well find itself on an award list at the end of the year.
Andrea: I think Saucony has made a great shoe with the Ride 16 and for general recommendations, I do not have any. Personally, the shoe would perform better if it has a more significant heel bevel to make midfoot landings a little more natural and a wider toe box, but I realize that designing shoes just for my personal preferences is probably not a good business model. I think the Ride 16 is going to be a great option for many runners and I hope Saucony keeps the shoe as is next year.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The Saucony Ride 16 is a neutral (borderline stable neutral) lightweight daily training shoe with balanced cushioned, a normal width fit, a gentle bevel, decent flexibility and versatility for easy and uptempo miles. This is the kind of shoe that you get if you want a shoe that checks a large number of boxes. It is an excellent choice for the high school or college runner during base training and early season when the body isn't quite ready for aggressive racing shoes but still needs to handle some uptempo work. It is light enough that it won't weigh you don't, making it a great choice for hammering summer miles or any preseason training. The sub 9 oz weight is where I hoped more neutral daily training shoes would be at this point, but most shoes got way heavier. The Saucony Ride 16 combines a lighter weight with a higher stack height while still keeping everything balanced, which again perfectly describes this shoe.
David: The Saucony Ride 16 is a neutral daily training shoe that has a very balanced ride throughout. There is a gentle heel bevel and toe spring that gives some rolling sensation, but this is mostly you. The ride is natural and feels pretty stable throughout as well thanks to the upper. This is a workhorse neutral trainer for those liking a slightly firm ride and lighter weight.
Andrea: The Saucony Ride 16 is a neutral daily trainer that has sufficient cushioning while still weighing in under 9oz for men and 8oz for women. It will be an excellent option for runners without stability needs who want a cushioned daily trainer that is not heavily rockered. The shoe fits like most non-Endorphin Saucony shoes, although I found the toe box a little more accommodating than the Ride TR or the Triumph. At $140, this is a shoe that will handle many miles without breaking the bank.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: A- (Comfortable, light and secure. "Just right" type of fit)
Performance: A- (lightweight ride with plenty of balanced cushioning for easy and uptempo runs)
Stability: B+/A- [Neutral] (Borderline stable neutral from extensive sidewalls especially medial forefoot sidewall)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (Excellent balanced update with use of softer insole that changes the ride from the previous a significant amount with)
Personal: A (A simple lighter trainer that I keep reaching for due to the comfort and trustworthiness)
Overall: A-
David
Fit: A (Zero issues for me. Comfortable, light, and secure for a daily training shoe)
Performance: A (Well balanced transitions, weight, responsiveness)
Stability: B (Certainly a neutral shoe, though upper lockdown is really good. Traction could be better.)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (A solid revamp of a traditional shoe.)
Personal: A (Works for my mechanics and I keep reaching for it.)
Overall: A (A well-balanced neutral trainer for those wanting a traditional ride with a gentle roll)
Andrea
Fit: A- (Secure, comfortable fit, but would prefer a little more room in toe box)
Performance: A- (Feels lighter than stated weight and PWRRUN midsole provides cushioning while maintaining decent groundfeel. Lack of significant heel bevel made the heel get in the way a little for my preferred midfoot landing.)
Stability: (neutral) B (This is a neutral shoe that really only provides stability from the fit of the upper, which is superb. Those with significant stability needs may want to look at the Guide.)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (A modern update on the classic neutral daily trainer)
Personal: B/B+ (Comfortable fit except would prefer wider toe box, feels a little clunky for midfoot striking)
Overall: A- (While not my favorite daily trainer, I think it will be a great option for many runners without stability needs.)
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Ride 16Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
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Tracksmith Eliot Runner - All-new trainer from the apparel brand, featuring a peba midsole
Saucony Guide 16 - A much-improved upper and soft insole highlight this stability shoe update
Hoka Transport - A new sustainable commuter for the brand that dips in hiking as well
Saucony Kinvara 14 - Higher stacked than ever, and lighter as well
Saucony Echelon 9 - A wide-fitting, high cushion shoe that also fits orthotics perfectly well
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Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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