Saucony Guide 17 Review

Upper

Brycen: "The upper provides excellent ankle protection without compromising comfort or breathability. Even in thick socks, I ran comfortably without excessive sweating. Lacing the Guide 17 up was easy, and I experienced no discomfort in my previously injured ankle while running."

Colvin: "The Guide 17's upper ensures a comfortable fit. The mesh design strikes an excellent balance between secure lockdown and spacious comfort. The forefoot volume is ample, and the toe box width is generous, preventing any feeling of cramped toes and allowing for a natural toe splay."

Liz: "The Guide 17's upper is simple yet incredibly comfortable. Unlike the previous versions, I had no issues with instep volume. From my first step in, the Saucony Guide 17 offered a secure yet accommodating fit.

The engineered mesh upper provides room and stretch in the toebox, while the thinly padded tongue and heel collar ensure a smooth and supportive foothold. As someone with wide feet and a tailor’s bunion, the soft mesh is specifically designed for more stretch at the widest part of the foot, which was a welcomed feature for me and my feet."

Marie: "The Saucony Guide 17's upper is exceptionally comfortable, with a breathable and lightweight mesh that still offers a supportive hug around the foot. The tongue is not overly padded and provides comfortable protection from the laces. The ankle area is also well-designed, offering the perfect amount of cushioning to prevent slippage or irritation.

On the run, I did not experience any overheating, which is a testament to the shoe's breathability. For me, the laces are a standout feature of the Guide 17 - flexible with a bit of stretch, ensuring that they remain tied on every run. I opted for a double knot due to longer lace length, but others may not encounter this issue depending on lacing techniques and tautness."

Midsole

Brycen: "During my initial run, the shoes lacked significant energy return, but as they broke in, the midsole's responsiveness became more apparent, eventually helping me get to the end of each run comfortably. From the first run to the last, the soft underfoot feel provided excellent protection for my knees, making it the most impressive aspect of the shoe."

Colvin: I found the midsole to be relatively firm, and honestly, it was not my favorite part of the shoe. While the midsole delivers a touch of softness, the mid-foot stiffness did not work great for my particular stride, ultimately negatively impacting my heel-toe transitions. The midsole did provide a subtle yet effective energy return, though I would not use this shoe for faster efforts."

Liz: "The Guide 17 delivers a highly cushioned and stable ride with a smooth feel. While the foam is not extremely soft or responsive, it strikes an excellent balance between the two, offering a comfortable and protective underfoot experience on the run. Initially, the midsole felt slightly firm, but after a short break-in period, the PWRRUN foam softened, leading to more comfort on daily efforts. The shoe provides a sinking softness when walking, firming up during runs for an overall comfortable underfoot experience that works seamlessly with the shoe's rocker, which promotes forward movement without feeling sluggish."

Marie: "Upon stepping into the Saucony Guide 17, I immediately felt the shoe comfortably cradling around my foot. The secure heel counter and firmer foam did not compromise comfort. In my opinion, the increased stack height and wider platform noticeably enhanced the shoe's stability over the previous version. The propulsive rocker and responsive midsole foam made every testing run enjoyable. The consistent performance of the PWRRUN foam across terrains left my feet feeling protected, supported, and comfortable, providing the pronation control I seek. As a seasoned runner, the positive impact extended to my hips and back, indicating that the shoes offer the support and cushioning needed for sustained performance."

Outsole

Brycen: "Over a variety of different terrain types, the Guide 17 delivered exceptional grip and stability. The shoe also seamlessly adapts to increased pace. Impressively, even after 30 miles, the shoes show minimal signs of wear and tear."

Colvin: "The Guide 17's outsole performs well on roads, maintaining grip on concrete and asphalt without issues. Even in slightly wet conditions, I experienced no slippage concerns, highlighting the reliability of the outsole."

Liz: "Primarily composed of ground contact EVA with strategically placed rubber in high-wear areas, the Guide 17's outsole provides a softer underfoot feel and contributes to a smooth ride through distinct flex grooves. While offering good traction and comfort, I have observed some wear under the forefoot, potentially indicating that the shoe has lower durability (around 300-350 miles)."

Marie: "Through the testing period, the Saucony Guide 17 excelled on various terrains. The tread exhibited excellent traction and comfort on gravel roads, all thanks to the shoe's supportive midsole design. I never experienced any slippage,  and the outsole has also shown no signs of wear, reflecting the overall robust composition of the shoe."

Comparable Shoes

Saucony Guide 17 vs. ASICS Kayano 30

Brycen: "I enjoy wearing both shoes as they both provide support and comfort for daily miles. The Kayano 30 beats out the Guide when it comes to upper breathability, but I enjoyed the Guide's energy return and durability compared to the ASICS model's."

Liz: "The Kayano 30 is one of the most popular stability shoes on the market and saw a huge overhaul with the most recent version. When I first received the Guide 17, I immediately noticed stability features that reminded me of the new Kayano. More notable was the width of the shoe’s base through the midfoot. The wider base allows both models to be very stable despite their high stack heights, and truthfully, the shoes have very similar rides.

Between the two, I would say that the Kayano 30 is both softer and more protective with a few extra millimeters of stack. Also, it is stiffer through the midfoot and has a more dramatic rocker at toe-off, adding to the model's stable yet efficient ride over long runs. The Guide 17, in turn, is more flexible and almost an ounce lighter than the Kayano. While the Kayano might technically be more stable for some due to its stiffness and denser midsole under the arch, I found that the Guide 17 worked better for my feet as it cradled my foot more inside of the shoe and had a higher arch that worked better with my high instep. I also found the Guide 17’s upper more accommodating for my wide feet."

Saucony Guide 17 vs. HOKA Gaviota 5

Brycen: "I found the Guide 17 lighter on foot with a more breathable upper, which I really appreciated throughout testing. The HOKA Gaviota provides more underfoot protection with a bouncier energy return.

Both shoes are relatively similar, with the edge going to the Gaviota in terms of performance, but if price is a factor, then the Guide 17 will deliver a lot of value at a cheaper price."

Saucony Guide 17 vs. New Balance Vongo v6 

Liz: "While the Vongo and Guide are both highly cushioned stability shoes, they offer different underfoot experiences. The Guide feels higher off the ground and utilizes the wide base of the midsole to provide stability. Meanwhile, the Vongo v6 feels more streamlined\lower to the ground on foot and utilizes an EVA film to stabilize the foam under the arch. The Vongo v6 has a more cloudlike softness, while the Guide 17 has a smoother roll as you run. I am enjoying both shoes for a wide range of workouts, but if I had to pick, I would use the Guide 17 for easy long runs and recovery runs, while the Vongo v6 would be my choice for daily runs and workouts where I want plush comfort underfoot."