Saucony Ride 18 Review

Comfort and Fit

The Ride 18 features an above-average upper that feels very good when pulled onto your foot. It has soft-touch, padded materials along the heel and ankle, with a padded tongue and gusset. The inside of the upper is lined with a soft, fine mesh that doesn't cause any abrasions during the run. We believe runners who frequently go sockless will appreciate this shoe. While the upper materials aren't stretchy, they wrap your foot snuggly, which leads to excellent lockdown. During testing, we didn't experience any rubbing, blisters, or sliding.

The fit of the Ride 18 is nearly perfect. The length is correct, leaving enough room in the toe box for toes even on steep downhills. The toe box itself is of average width, with sufficient volume to prevent feeling cramped, yet not so much to feel sloppy. Runners with wide forefeet may find it a bit snug. Saucony also offers the Ride 18 in a wide version. Fit through the midfoot is average. The tongue gussets and lacing make it easy to get a snug and comfortable fit through this section of the foot. The heel is of average width with a somewhat deeper-than-average heel cup, where plentiful padding allows for good heel retention. While the upper isn't the most comfortable in the lineup, the shoe feels very good on our feet. We think most runners will find it comfortable.

Cushioning

The Ride 18 has a moderate stack height of 34mm and has a 6mm drop to the toe. Many new runners find this to be a sweet spot. It translates to a nimble feeling of landings, with decent ground feel, which is ideal when your body doesn't quite know its movement pattern yet. The Ride has a bit of flexibility and feels natural underfoot. It also feels planted and supportive. It's a neutral shoe, but there is plenty of support under the arch to help prevent your foot from collapsing, and there is a slight heel bevel. Runners who don't have pronounced stability needs will likely find this shoe comfortable and supportive, even on long runs.

The midsole is made of Saucony's PWRRUN+ foam, which is a beaded TPU. The foam feels insulating and slightly energetic, but lacks bounce compared to premium foam. It doesn't have what we would call an “engaging” or “exciting” running experience. On a scale of very firm (hard rubber) to very soft (marshmallow), we'd place the Ride right about in the middle. It's protective on easy runs, keeping our legs from feeling pounded. The shoe felt smooth as we transitioned from landing to toe-off at slow paces, but felt choppier when we started to increase speed. In our opinion, this limits its versatility, which isn't a significant issue, as it is designed for slow and relaxed running, which it excels at.

The shoe is very comfortable, but it can bottom out the foam in the forefoot when running at a faster pace, which puts more force on the shoe. Our primary tester weighs roughly 150 pounds. As a result, some larger runners who land at the midfoot or forefoot may encounter bottoming-out issues.

Breathability

Breathability for the Ride is middle of the road and nothing to brag about. The upper materials are soft, made of a relatively fine mesh. While they're breathable, due to the fine mesh being so comfortable, they also trap some air and moisture.

However, the Ride 18 doesn't leave feet soaked in sweat. It is generally fine, but on truly hot days, your feet may feel a little warm.

Traction

Similarly, the Ride has mediocre traction. The rubber outsole is grooved and features a few cutouts, exposing the midsole. However, the compound is not the most tacky. We noticed some sliding on cold and wet pavement, especially at faster paces, making the Ride a shoe we wouldn't recommend as a winter running partner on snow, icy, or wet surfaces. Unfortunately, we're not convinced the tradeoff is worth it. We also noted some premature wear on high-contact areas of the shoe. While we don't anticipate any long-term durability concerns (we've logged over 100 miles in them), we wish the rubber were tackier.

Should You Buy the Saucony Ride 18?

The Ride 18 is not a fun or exciting shoe. It probably won't leave you feeling wowed or psyched for the next time you get to take them for a spin. However, it's simple. It's reliable. It will protect your legs. It gets the job done and offers a decent value. That said, for new runners, we think it's an excellent choice. For more experienced runners, it's great for daily mileage, but if you're chasing fast workouts and races, it would work best in a rotation for easy days. We recommend the Ride 18 to new runners due to its simplicity in both geometry and midsole. Plus, it feels good on your feet and is nicely balanced. All of these factors combine to create a shoe that should allow beginning runners to find their natural mechanics without too much influence from the shoe. They also make it a good choice for runners who prefer low-stack shoes.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?