Saucony Hurricane 24 Review
By Matthew Klein and Bach Pham
Saucony Hurricane 24Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.6 oz, 302 g (men's size 9), 9.8 oz, 279 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 38 mm / 32 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Maximal Stability Daily Trainer
Pros: Bouncy Midsole, Full Length Guidance, Maximal Cushioning, Wider Fit
Cons: Heavy, Tapered Toe Box
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a maximal, premium stability/guidance shoe for those who want a bouncy, highly cushioned and stable ride. A new PWRRUN PB midsole with a supportive PWRRUN Frame utilizes Saucony's CenterPath guidance concept to create a bouncy and stable ride throughout the length of the shoe. A new upper provides a slightly wider but lower volume fit for solid security and a plush fit. The series returns as the only premium stability shoe to feature a superfoam, making it ideal for those who want stability and bounce in the same package.
SIMILAR SHOES: ASICS Kayano 31, Brooks Glycerin GTS 21
PAST MODEL: Saucony Hurricane 23
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. Initially it felt slightly short due to the tapered toe box but the mesh did break in with time. The upper material is thicker and lower volume which provides a secure fit. I did not have to tie the laces tight or lace lock them. However, I did feel additional pressure along my instep and had to loosen the laces around that area. The toe box is slighlty tapered but opens into a a normal to slightly wider forefoot. The mesh does stretch nicely and breaks in after a few miles. This transitions into a slightly wider midfoot. The tongue is not gusseted and is moderately thick. I did have some tongue lateral translation, so it is important to make sure it is set correctly when putting the shoe on. This transitions into a normal to slightly wider heel. There is some heel collar cushioning higher up with a stiff counter. Fortunately, the counter is rounded so it did not bother me. Those sensitive to stiff counters should still approach with caution. The tapered toe box and lower volume made wearing socks a requirement due to the risk of hot spots. The upper runs warm, so thin socks will do better. Security was good thanks to the lower volume and I did not experience any heel slippage but those with narrow heels may need to carefully lace lock this shoe.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Bach: The Saucony Hurricane 24 fit pretty well for me in my typical Men's Size 9.5 after some small adjustments out the box. The heel is secure, featuring actually only a partially rigid heel counter with a flexible top half. The midfoot fits just so, if not a little snug, but I was able to loosen the laces just slightly which gave me enough room. Those with wider feet definitely want to reach for a wide, or those who tend to want more midfoot room should at least try both versions. The forefoot fit well for me though, and I had just enough room around and above my foot. The forefoot does taper some, but I had no issues with it as far as fit goes. I would stick with thin socks in general as far as fit goes as thick socks may be too snug all-around.
The tongue does run a touch on the short side and sometimes feels like it won't be enough tongue, but it works and wasn't an issue on the run once on foot securely. It has some comfortable padding, signaling that this is indeed a daily cruiser. The upper runs a touch warm. It hasn't dropped under 70F (21C) since the beginning of June here in South Carolina, and my foot didn't have hotspots but definitely was on the slightly warmer side. I would have loved a little bit more breathability.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Bach well:
Nike Pegasus 40, Saucony Guide 17, Mizuno Wave Inspire 19, Saucony
Endorphin Speed 3, Nike Structure 25
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Asics Kayano 30, Puma Electrify Nitro, Brooks Hyperion, Hoka Clifton 9 GTX
Shoes that have fit large: Hoka Gaviota 5, Reebok Floatride Energy X
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel:
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a premium stability training that is best for easy mileage, recovery runs and long runs. The PWRRUN PB midsole is apparent right away with a softer bouncier foam. The bounce is more similar to the training-focused Triumph PWRRUN PB than that found in the Endorphin series. However, it is still a bouncy ride although it also leans on the soft and compliant side. This is cradled by a bottom and outer layer of PWRRUN, which adds a touch of firmness on the medial and lateral sides of the foot when you really compress the shoe. The weight is noticeable as this shoe does not feel light. It is also a large shoe with the new maximal stack height. This makes the Hurricane 24 feel best for easier and longer efforts despite the bouncier ride. This is not a shoe for faster runs as the Guide 17 or Tempus would be better options in that area.
The heel toe drop is 6mm and it feels lower. Especially with a heavy heel strike it can feel a bit lower so be prepared for a little calf soreness if you are not used to this. The heel transition is a little clunky due to a slightly medial heel bevel. The bevel is large so once that lateral midsole breaks in it begins to smooth but there is a small pitch medially at heel contact while running. While walking this is not noticeable. This transitions into a stable and slightly stiff but bouncy midfoot. Once you hit the forefoot, the shoe begins to roll almost immediately off the early forefoot rocker. While there is no flexibility in the forefoot, the transition is quite smooth and easy.
A "tank" would be an easy way to describe this shoe given its large size and great durability. I have 40 miles on my pair with no wear on the outsole, so I expect this to last far longer than most training shoes. The smoother outsole is best for road given it does not have lugs but the high amount of stack height could still be used for non-technical trails.
Bach: There's something kind of unique to Saucony for me in that almost every Saucony shoe I've tried recently always starts the same: it almost feels too soft and definitely bouncy. As the shoes like the Endorphin Speed 4, Ride 17 and more settle after 5-10 miles, they started firming up for me and becoming the ride that they settle into which tends to be a little firmer and a little more controlled than out the box. The Hurricane 24 was no exception to this. The first run or two felt very bouncy and slightly soft, and then as it settled into itself it became its identity, a slightly firmer but highly cushioned ride. I would love the shoe to have settled a little bit more inbetween the two because I really enjoyed the bounce of those first miles.
The Hurricane is a mileage eater. It has a gentle early rocker that facilitates a very smooth rolling motion. I ate hills in the shoe without any issues which isn't something I say for all stability trainers. The ample forefoot feels really good to land on and transition out of. I typically roll mid-to-forefoot and enjoyed the transition of the shoe. The shoe weighs in over 10 oz which is pretty average for the category. I think the weight is pretty well-balanced through the shoe which helps it not feel bottom heavy. To me, the shoe runs lighter than listed. The outsole does a good enough job of gripping wet road - it's been a very wet week here! - and I was able to run off-road on some grass and crushed gravel okay, but road is where it feels best.
One thing about the outsole in the forefoot, it feels somewhat noticeable on the run. I'm a light runner, but I definitely could feel the rigid outsole in the forefoot as I was logging miles. It got better as the shoe firmed up slightly and blended together well, but I particularly noticed it early on. For runners who really slam into the forefoot, you might particularly notice it and whether or not it is an issue I can't be certain, but it is just something I noticed during my early miles. It never bothered me, but was just present..
The Hurricane is feels really good underfoot for walking and standing, but I would like the upper to be a bit more relaxed fitting for all-day use.
Find a comparison with the Saucony Tempus 2 here.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a full-length moderate stability/guidance shoe. It does not feature a post, instead utilizing Saucony's CenterPath concept. This involves a foundation and outward layer of firmer PWRRUN with a center and top layer of softer PWRRUN PB. This provides natural guidance toward the center as the foot moves through the softer PWRRUN PB. This is combined with sidewalls in the heel and midfoot, a wide base throughout the length of the shoe, medial and lateral sole flare in the heel, forefoot and medial midfoot. The midfoot is filled in on the inner side, which provides additional resistance to inward motion. This makes for a stable feeling transition throughout the length of the shoe. The forefoot is especially stable due to the wider shape and Saucony's larger amount of sole flare. The midfoot has noticeable medial resistance when you start to roll that direction. The heel is the most aggressively centered as the heel bevel is slightly medially biased, which creates more lateral flare than medial. This makes for an initial medial push at initial contact with immediate correction from the sidewalls and medial flaring. Thus, those who go too far lateral at the heel will have correction, those who go too far medial or lateral at the midfoot and forefoot will have some correction. This makes for a stable shoe throughout the length with just a little clunkiness in the heel (as mentioned previously).
Bach: The Hurricane 24 is a very modern stability trainer that uses a number of guidance mechanisms (all of which Matt describes well above) along with width and sole flaring to facilitate the stability. For my flat feet, I had no issues with the stability and it worked well for me. The forefoot's ample width in particular feels good. I definitely feel medial stability in the shoe, but nothing that bothered my feet. The shoe's slight snugness here for me was a benefit as far as heel and midfoot security, making sure I always felt really connected with the shoe. This is an easy pair to slip on and just run without too much thought due to my confidence in the shoe. It's so wide and has so much outsole and is secure enough that I could just forget about stability and log mileage.
Thoughts as a DPT: The Evolution of the Stability Shoe
By Matthew Klein
The stability section of the running shoe market has undergone drastic changes over the last few years. What was once a division dominated by large medial posts has been replaced with central guidance methods that focus less on pushing the foot in a certain direction and more on keeping the foot centered within tolerance while still facilitating forward motion. The results of this are yet to be fully solidified as the research world will take a while to catch up with the exact mechanisms, but the basis for these changes originates from decades of research on stability and the foot. Much of this originates from authors including Dr. Benno Nigg who wrote extensively about the concept of the preferred movement paradigm (Nigg et al., 2015; Nigg et al., 2017). This concept was born around the fact that many of the stability methods, including medials posts, did not influence joint movement as much as was previously thought (Nigg et al., 2017). Therefore, the concept of "controlling" foot motion was not a fully valid concept. Additionally, it was determined that many people simply needed help going forward rather than being forced in a center direction.
The preferred motion pathway concept refers to the idea that like fingerprints, each person moves in a unique way based on the many components of the body that contribute to movement. Rather than a size fits all concept, ie push everyone laterally with a medial post, the concept of central guidance was born. This was already present, but became more popular as companies have attempted to make stability shoes that work for more than the older "anti-pronation" concept. People move in all sorts of different directions, both medially and laterally, along the entire length of the foot. As running is not a static motion, facilitating forward motion is key. Having mechanisms that resist but do not stop motion allows the concept of "guidance" to really help people forward through mechanisms like sidewalls, guiderails, wider lasts, internal geometry and more.
The Hurricane 24 is a great example of this evolution, as it once featured a stiff medial plastic post that is now gone in favor of a wide base, high sidewalls and different foams that work together to keep the foot centered. Now the majority of the premium stability shoes, the ASICS Kayano, Mizuno Horizon, Saucony Hurricane no longer feature posts. The Brooks Glycerin GTS, which features both guiderails and a medial post (based on my understanding), is the lone one that still has that medial post. There is nothing wrong with this and instead the greater variety of methods to create stability mean that there is something for everyone, rather than a one-size fits all.
Nigg, B. M., Vienneau, J., Smith, A. C., Trudeau, M. B., Mohr, M., & Nigg, S. R. (2017). The preferred movement path paradigm: influence of running shoes on joint movement. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 49(8), 1641-1648.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 24 takes the concept of the 23 and adds the newer concepts of guidance, maximalism, a superfoam and drops some weight. Like the new Triumph, it is meant for easier mileage and the foam is tuned for that. My two suggestions center around the upper and how heavy it feels. The upper could use a little more volume as the toe box feels low/tapered and I had decent pressure on my instep. This could be resolved with relacing the shoe but I think a little extra volume would go a long way. If there is extra volume, the tongue will need to be gusseted for security. Despite being a little over half an ounce lighter than the previous version, this version feels heavier. This may be due to how large the shoe is and the push towards maximalism while decreasing weight is impressive. However, I would suggest the foam be tuned to add more resiliency rather than compliance as a tad bit of firmness and responsiveness could help keep people going forward (guidance) even more.
Bach: My biggest recommendations would be around the upper. I would like to definitely get some more breathability into it and also open up the midfoot volume some. The shoe is not meant for workouts, I think it can afford to give a little to relax the foot and give ample room for the foot to swell over longer efforts. The weight can always go down, but it really wasn't an issue either for me with this model in terms of being a premium cushioned stability trainer.
Additionally, I would love for Saucony to really find a way to maintain that early bounciness that their foam has before breaking in.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Saucony Hurricane 24 is for those who want a premium, bouncy, moderate to higher level guidance shoe for daily running and walking. Those who want a maximal and bouncy ride will do best with the new combo of PWRRUN PB and PWRRUN. Those who want full-length guidance and no post-feeling will also do best as long as the slightly medial heel bevel does not bother them. The upper will work best for those wanting a slightly wider fit but do not mind a low-riding upper with a slightly tapered toe box. While looking completely different from the past and utilizing different stability methods, the Hurricane 24 continues its lineage as the most bouncy of the premium stability shoes. It is the first of the group to use a super foam and will serve those who want a little more pep in their step during both running and walking.
Bach: The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a welcome return of their premium stability trainer. It is a strong competitor to the modernized Kayano over at Asics, and standouts with having a bit more medial stability integrated. The shoe does present a slight challenge for runners looking to get a stability trainer in the Saucony line-up. Those who want a more do-it-all-running-wise stability trainer may want to seek the more nimble Guide 17. Those who want to have the latest tech with some long distance racing potential may want the Tempus 2. The Hurricane sits as the more relaxed option of the three, built for pure mileage and daily use. This is where opening that volume in the future to really dial in the daily use part of the Hurricane I think will make it help stand out even further between the three shoes. Those who do well with lower midfoot volume shoes though will find the Hurricane a great shoe for that mix of daily training and standing/walking use here.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Slightly wider fit with thicker/warmer upper, slight toe box taper and lower volume)
Performance: B+ (Bouncy but heavy ride with maximal stack height. Best for daily training)
Stability: A- [Moderate to High Guidance] (Sidewalls, Wide Sole, CenterPath PWRRUN PB/PWRRUN design best for those who need guidance in the forefoot, midfoot and heel despite the mild heel clunkiness)
Value: A- (Highly competitive with other premium stability shoes. Features a superfoam midsole without jacking up the price compared to others. High durability )
Personal: A- (A go-to stability shoe right now due to the bounce but I wish it was a little lighter)
Overall Design: B+/A-
Bach
Fit: B+ (The slightly snug midfoot brings down the score some, but still mostly a good fit as a trainer)
Performance: B+/A- (A comfortable, well-transitioning trainer that will log tons of miles. If daily training miles are the only need for you, this is definitely a solid A- ride)
Stability: A (Ample use of stability methods come together well in this trainer. Versatile for both medial and lateral stability needs)
Value: B+ (I think within the Saucony line-up it makes it much harder to decide which shoe to grab between this, Guide and Tempus. But as a standalone, it's good value for longevity)
Personal: B/B+ (I would be very happy to just log mileage in the Hurricane. I really love the Guide though, so if I were at a store and had to pick I may opt over to this one's sister shoe, especially since I have other things for walking/standing)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Hurricane 24Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
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