The Saucony Ride 18 is the latest iteration of Saucony’s popular neutral running shoe. When every other running shoe seems to be getting its stack height inflated right now, the Ride 18 has stayed true to its origin and offers an antidote to maximalism. We took it for a spin.
Technical details
Price: £130
Weight: 227g
Sizes: 3 to 10
Drop: 8mm
Stack Height: 27mm/19mm
Foam: PWRRUN cushioning
Saucony Ride 18 pros and cons
Pros
- Great value shoe.
- Modest stack height.
- Looks beautiful.
Cons
- A little narrow in the heel.
Who and what is this shoe for?
The Saucony Ride 18 is a reliable, daily trainer. It would that works well for beginners as a first running shoe as well as for more experienced runners. It’s versatile enough to pick up the pace a little bit in, but where it works best is as a comfortable everyday shoe. So if you are not looking to build a running shoe rotation and want a sole pair of running shoes to do all your training in, this could be it.
How does it fit?
The upper is made from a lightweight, breathable engineered mesh that hugs the foot for a secure, comfortable fit. There’s ample room in the toe box, which ensures comfort on longer runs. My only issue with the shoe was that it felt a bit snug around the heel, almost like a support shoe rather than a neutral shoe.
Is it comfortable?
There’s plenty of padding on this shoe to make it comfortable – in fact it has quite a premium feel for a £130 shoe. I know that should always be the case when you’re spending upwards of £100 on a pair of running shoes, but sadly it isn’t. The lacing system has elasticated eyelets that give a little when you move for more comfort, and the foam underfoot has a great balance of cushioning and responsiveness.
Saucony Ride 18 run test
I’ve done runs of 4 to 8 miles in these shoes during testing. Thankfully they were all in dry conditions because I just love the look of these shoes and will be heartbroken when they finally make contact with a muddy puddle.
Looks aside, I think they’re a great shoe. My first run in them was actually 8 miles, which was quite bold in a new shoe, but I’d run in the Ride 17 and these didn’t seem too radically different from that. In fact, if you were a fan of the Ride 17, you’ll probably be happy with this one too. It’s a little lighter and a little softer, but all in all it holds true to its predecessor.
The shoe performed well on the run, it was comfortable and responsive rater than heavy. I wasn’t pushing the pace on any of my runs, and that’s where I felt this shoe’s sweet spot is – those relaxed paced, easy runs.
Where can I buy it?
You can get the Saucony Ride 18 online or in stores now.