Saucony Ride 18 Review

The Saucony Ride 18 is a neutral daily trainer that provides solid cushioning. With the Saucony Triumph 22 marking a change in the Triumph line toward a less versatile but more comfortable shoe, the Ride 18 has taken its place as a great choice for day-to-day running.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

The Ride 18 uses PWRRUN+ throughout the midsole. It's a beaded TPU foam that provides a somewhat energetic ride, without being overly bouncy. The midsole gives it a pleasant ride for easy mileage.

We measured 34 mm of foam at the heel, with a 6 mm drop. That's a moderate stack height, although it's actually lower than many of the shoes we've tested over the past year. On the run, that translates to an insulated ride, but one with more ground-feel than many of the other daily trainers in our lineup, particularly at the forefoot. I never found that to be uncomfortable — actually, I think it allows the Ride 18 to feel a little more precise than other cushioned options. That makes it a great option for beginners as they learn their mechanics.

The Ride 18 feels smoothest at easy paces, which is perfect for what this shoe is meant to do. At faster paces, the transitions from midfoot to forefoot begin to feel a little choppy for me. This is a shoe that thrives on providing insulation for your legs on your daily mileage.

Overall, the ride of the Ride feels very natural, without a significant rocker or added stiffness. It's a somewhat flexible shoe compared to many other, higher-stack options, which helps allow for natural landing motion.

Upper Comfort

The upper part of the Ride 18 is well-executed. It provides soft-touch, padded materials around the heel and ankle, plus a padded, gusseted tongue and non-abrasive internal upper materials in the toebox. I experienced no issues with rubbing, sliding, or blistering during testing.

In terms of breathability, the Ride is decent. It's not as breathable as Saucony's more performance-optimized shoes like the Endorphin Speed 4 or the Tempus 2, but will be fine for runners who value comfort. I did find that it ran a little warm on the first 65-degree day in Montana this spring — but then again, anything feels warm after a winter of icy runs.

Stability

In terms of stability, the flared forefoot platform provides decent lateral support as you land. This is a neutral shoe, although it will likely work for runners who need a moderate amount of support.

In terms of lateral stability, the (relatively) lower stack height of this shoe allows it to feel a little more planted, nimble, and stable than many other current options. Yet again, that makes it an excellent choice for newer runners.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness isn't the Ride's strong suit. It's okay at a moderate pace, largely thanks to the PWRRUN+ formula that gives it a slightly energetic ride. However, somewhere around threshold pace, it starts to feel like it doesn't want to go much faster. That could be the result of a few things, including the lack of a pronounced rocker, a foam that is tuned for daily mileage, or the overall mass of the shoe.

For many runners, I think this shoe will work fine as a do-it-all option. However, for runners who regularly run workouts as they prepare for upcoming races, this will likely work best as a rotation shoe. Personally, I'd use it for easy days and relaxed medium-long runs.

Weight

The Ride 18 weighs in at 10.13 ounces in a US Men's 10.5. In our lineup, that is around the middle of the pack.

It isn't a lightweight shoe, but that makes sense given the easy mileage focus of the shoe. It's protective and comfortable, not fast and light. But it does feel a little heavy for the stack height. Trimming some weight from the upper would help.

Traction

The outsole of the Ride 18 is rubber, with cutouts of exposed midsole foam. It works well on pavement and dry dirt. However, I found that on cold and wet pavement, it did slip a little bit.

The slipping was manageable, and on par with many other daily trainers, but it is not best-in-class.

Should You Buy the Saucony Ride 18?

The highlights of the Ride 18 are comfortable and reliable cushioning, simplicity, and ease of use. That makes it a great option for new runners, and one I'd readily recommend. On the other hand, it does lack the versatility of some other key competitors, so for runners who are training for specific races, it may work better in a rotation rather than as a single shoe option. Overall, the Ride 18 is a good shoe, but whether it will work for you likely comes down to your specific training style and shoe rotation. I think this shoe is ideal for new runners, providing plenty of protection without a pillowy and unstable feel. Plus, it's affordable.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?

For a reliable and fun daily trainer, the Asics Novablast 5 is excellent. It offers more comfort and a bit more pace versatility than the Ride, at the same price. However, the geometry of the Novablast is a little more aggressive, and it's a less planted-feeling shoe, making it a better choice for runners with established mechanics. The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is another similar shoe, but one that offers just a bit more capability at pace, and one of the best outsoles in the lineup. It is also a cheaper shoe (and often is on sale for under $100). Finally, for runners who want a one-and-done shoe for serious training, the Adidas Evo SL is the best option, providing a top-tier ride along with incredible versatility.