Saucony Ride 15 Review

Published: May 22, 2022

Day In and Day Out Comfort

The Saucony Ride 15 improves upon an already reliable workhorse

Likes

Soft cushioning
Smooth ride
Secure and comfortable upper

Dislikes

Not very energetic
Not super plush

What's New

The new Saucony Ride 15 gets a complete overhaul that helps this reliable trainer stay competitive among other training favorites. Featuring a newly formulated PWRRUN midsole foam, the updated Ride 15 is both softer and lighter than before. For added comfort and efficiency, Saucony increased the shoe's stack height and created a heel-to-forefoot bevel, which promotes a forward roll that makes running feel easier. Saucony also extended the midsole up the sides of the shoe so that the foot sits deeper in the sole, adding support throughout the gait cycle. Despite these dramatic changes, the Saucony Ride 15 stays true to past models and continues to be a reliable daily trainer that will help runners at every level take on any type of run.

The Bottom Line

The Saucony Ride 15 is a well-cushioned, protective, and reliable daily trainer. While the update now has even more cushioning underfoot, the shoe is actually lighter than before. Our testers enjoyed the new midsole and thought the Ride 15 felt comfortable and plush over a broad range of distances. The midsole's rocker shape gives the shoe an efficient, forward-rolling feel, with a smooth heel-to-toe transition. The upper was our team's favourite update, as it was much softer and better fitting than past models. Our reviewers agree that the Ride 15 is a great daily trainer that is cushioned enough for longer runs yet light enough for everyday use.

Shop Men's Shop Women's

Shoe Performance

Shoe Softnessi

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Returni

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protectioni

LowHigh

Flexibilityi

RigidElastic

Upper Supporti

StructuredAdaptable

Specifications & Fit

How It Fits

Toe Box	Medium
Midfoot Volume	Medium
Heel Width	Medium
Arch Height	Medium

Shoe Specs

Weight	Men's: 8.8 oz (Size 9) Women's: 7.8 oz (Size 8)
Stack Height	Heel Stack: 35mm \| Forefoot Stack: 27mm Offset 8mm
Terrain	Road
Stability	Neutral
Sizing	True to Size

Our In-Depth Look

Shoe Softnessi

Liz: "The new Ride 15 has a very plush underfoot feel that is comfortable at any pace. The cushioning isn't very bouncy, but it has a damping softness with just the right amount of sinking in to offer plenty of comfort without weighing me down."

Risa: "The Ride 15 doesn't have a super-soft step-in feel, but it has a moderate amount of cushioning and is comfortable for walking and running. I didn't feel like I needed to break the shoe in."

Ride/Energy Returni

Liz: "The new Ride 15 feels like it has more energy return than the previous version. While the shoe isn't particularly bouncy, it does react when I want to pick up the pace. The more rockered geometry of the midsole helps to keep the shoe feeling efficient at a variety of paces. This may not be an uptempo-day shoe, but it is a versatile option for daily training, long runs, and recovery runs."

Risa: "Saucony enhanced the PWRRUN foam in this version. I had never run in a Saucony Ride before the 15, so I can't compare it to previous versions. But I would say the energy return is average compared to other daily trainers I've run in like the ASICS Cumulus and Brooks Ghost."

Underfoot Protectioni

Liz: "I enjoyed the underfoot protection of the Ride 15. The soft cushioning kept my legs feeling great after any run, and I appreciated that the shoe offered plenty of impact protection without feeling like I was stacked too high off of the ground."

Risa: "I got a bit of ground feel in the Ride 15, but the shoe was plenty protective for my daily runs. I like to feel connected to the ground, but I would prefer something with maximum cushioning for longer runs or recovery runs."

Flexibilityi

Liz: "With even more cushioning than before, I didn't feel like the Ride 15 was particularly flexible, but I enjoyed this. It gave the shoes a very stable feel for a neutral option, and the more dramatic rocker kept them feeling smooth and efficient as I ran."

Risa: "I found this shoe to have a smooth ride. I never noticed it feeling stiff. I was able to do my daily mileage in the Ride without any irritation."

Upper Supporti

Liz: "This upper is wonderful. While I was worried that the toebox was going to be a bit narrow when I first put on the shoes, the mesh was very adaptable and provided a secure and confidence-inspiring fit without feeling restrictive. I also really enjoyed the secure lacing through the midfoot. It locked my foot into the shoe without any uncomfortable pressure points. As a bonus, I felt that this update was also much more breathable than the previous version."

Risa: "I have a narrower foot, and I was happy with the fit of the Ride 15. I was able to get a secure lockdown, and I feel like it would work for people with a variety of foot types. I also appreciated the breathable mesh upper and thought it looked stylish."

Men's Saucony Ride Running Shoes

The Ride is Saucony's moderately priced neutral everyday running shoe that features a plush, excellent fitting upper and a generous amount of cushioning

Women's Saucony Ride Running Shoes

The Ride is Saucony's moderately priced neutral everyday running shoe that features a plush, excellent fitting upper and a generous amount of cushioning

Individual Thoughts

LizOverall Score 8/10

While there isn't a wow factor to the new Saucony Ride 15, I was very impressed with this update. It is a perfect daily trainer that is reliable, comfortable, and ready to take on my daily runs. The new midsole and smooth rocker geometry make the shoe enjoyable to run in and give it a wonderful balance of plush softness with an easy, forward-rolling feel. I was particularly impressed with how inherently stable the shoe felt. I used it for gym workouts on top of my runs, and I found that it felt very stable when lifting weights, doing side-to-side movements, and on the treadmill. Finally, one of my favourite changes over the previous model is the new upper. This upper feels more secure, adaptable, and breathable without losing any comfort. It also helps the shoe feel much lighter and less bulky on foot, even though there is actually more cushioning than the previous version. Overall, this is a great daily trainer. Everyone from experienced runners looking for an everyday trainer to beginner runners looking for do-it-all running shoes will find something to love here.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable

RisaOverall Score 7/10

The Saucony Ride 15 is a shoe that I didn't notice on my foot, which might sound like a diss, but it's not a bad thing! It fits me well and nothing about it irritated my foot. It was comfortable and protective enough for my daily mileage. I think it's just as good of a daily trainer as others in its category like the Brooks Ghost and ASICS Cumulus. That said, I would describe this as a "middle of the road" shoe. It's not super soft; it's not really responsive or lightweight; it gets the job done without complaints. There are more exciting shoes out there, but I think the Ride would be a great choice for beginner runners or anyone looking for a versatile shoe to crank out their daily miles.