Article by Sam Winebaum and Sally Reiley
Saucony Ride 18 ($140)
Introduction
Sam: The Ride has traditionally been Saucony’s workhorse, neutral, daily all around road trainer and remains so here with its18th edition.
moderately stacked, at 35mm heel / 27mm forefoot, at least compared to the current “max” trends
powered by Saucony’s classic TPU based PWRRUN+, a soft and energetic foam,
under 10 oz at 9.7 oz / 275g in a US9, a small weight drop
Fairly priced at $140
It checks many boxes for me but how does it run? Please read on for Sally and my take.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Versatile daily trainer: decently light, decently energetic, any pace friendly, great value: Sam/Sally
Comfortable and pleasing all around: from smooth fitting upper to forgiving midsole: Sam/Sally
Reliable and consistently solid and durable: Sally
Cons:
Miss the more decisive forefoot response of Rides off yesteryears
While an 8mm drop shoe. the heel feels low and especially at slower paces, likely due to soft foam: Sam/Sally
PWRRUN+ is still a fine riding foam but in 2025 many competitors will move to more energetic lighter PEBA, TPEE and eTPU foams in trainers in its class.
Most comparable shoes
Diadora Cellula
New Balance 1080 v14
Adidas Supernova Rise 2
Adidas Supernova Prima
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.7 oz / 275g
Sample Weight: men’s 9.35oz / 265g US8.5 ( Prior Version men’s 9.63 oz / 273g US8.5
women’s 8.1 oz / 231 g US W8 (prior version 8.8 oz / 252 g US W8)
Stack Height: men’s 35 mm heel / 27mm forefoot, 8mm drop same as Ride 17)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 70mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot (US M8.5)
$140. Available now at Saucony HERE
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: The colorway, no other words to describe it: traditional and conservative, elegant and classy. No garish or bright colors and also no dark tones. The contrast between the military olive green and very slight off white says serious purpose and discipline to me. Saucony does a beautiful job with this colorway and their more vibrant and colorful ones. A raise for the visual and colors designers I saY!
The upper is made of a quite thin and moderately soft engineered mesh yet it is well structured by its variable density. Right up front I will say the foothold is more secure for my narrow to medium volume feet than the more deluxe Endorphin Trainer (RTR Review) we just reviewed.One can clearly see in the photo below the relative bagginess of the Endorphin Trainer toe box and its height compared to the Ride’s.
It puzzles me why brands at higher price points than here over plush, over soften, over volume standard D width size uppers. It could be that at least for the Trainer initially there won’t be wide sizing while with the Ride 18 there will be 2E wide sizing with the idea to accommodate a wide range of foot volumes. Regardless, the visual and initial step in feel of an upper is for me less important than its performance on the run and here we have one fine upper.
The toe box is well held and comfortable.
It has moderate width and volume in my D width for my narrower to medium feet.
The tongue is moderately padded with a stout gusset. I particularly like the cord lace loops which allow smooth and easy lace up.
Midfoot hold is excellent.
The heel counter is rigid and extends quite far forward with the collars well padded and tying in just right to the lace up, a weakness of the Endorphin Trainer for me. Heel hold is excellent but I think overall the heel counter could be made a touch less rigid and achieve the same solid hold with increased rear comfort.
Compared to the Ride 17 with its awkward plasticky midfoot panel the Ride 18 has a much smoother pulled together and secure fit for me.
Sally: I have been a fan of the tried and true Saucony RIDE line for a number of years now; I also recall that Molly Seidel wore the RIDE as her workhorse daily trainer back in the day.
My women’s pair came in a classic vanilla color with gold accents, attractive and simple and universally pleasing. Step in feel is immediately comfortable, and the sizing is refreshingly true to size with a midfoot of moderate width - not overly wide (as in the Endorphin Trainer) and yet also not too narrow. This fits my slightly narrow woman’s foot nicely and the overall hold is comfortable and secure. It is a joy not to experience any hot spots whatsoever after several decent runs.
Everything about this simple upper works well. Like Sam, I also noticed the welcome utility of the cord lace loops, contributing to the easy and secure fit. There is just enough plush throughout without being overly plush.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The midsole foam continues with PWRRUN+, an expanded beads TPU foam that is not supercritical but gets close with a soft feel and decent energy return. With many 2025 trainers moving to supercritical foams with their higher energy “returns” at $140 we are on the border in terms of pricing for shoes with the newer foams. I might have wished for the same here but the midsole is just fine with a lively ride and plenty of cushion.
The platform remains at what is these days a moderate stack height of 35mm at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot with an 8mm drop. I tend to prefer such just sub max stack heights as these shoes tend to be more flexible and more agile than those with over 30mm at the forefoot and that is the case with the Ride 18.
I did find the heel a bit lower riding at slower paces than the 8mm drop would indicate I think due to the relatively soft foam
Bottom Line: The midsole delivers a more traditional ride in the sense that it is relatively low stack and higher drop with a more flexible and agile forefoot feel than the newest and higher stack supercritical foam shoes have. It has plenty of cushion and decent if not outstanding energy return. For sure a neutral shoe, if you need more pronation support head over to the Saucony Guide
Sally: The previous model the RIDE 17 made the switch to PWRRUN+ foam for the midsole, and that is what we find here in the RIDE 18. There is a nice well cushioned removable insole (also PWRRUN+) that contributes to the somewhat soft underfoot feel. Runners who prefer to swap out the manufacturer's insole for their own custom footbeds will appreciate this feature.
I find the ride refreshingly traditional with moderate but ample cushioning and moderate yet ample responsiveness. It is stable neutral but feels a bit more on the stability side to me. There is plenty of flex without a stiff plate or crazy firmness to it, adding to the versatility of this shoe as a wear it to the gym shoe after your run.
Outsole
Sam: The outsole has plenty of coverage in all the right places and should prove durable. There is enough patterning in a flat lugged design to provide good traction.
Saucony Ride 17 outsole
There is more extensive front outsole coverage in the 18 than the 17 with a flex point towards the midfoot. This provided me with a slightly more stable and responsive toe off than the 17 and one more reminiscent of Rides of old but one not quite as decisive as those older versions..
Sally: The rubber coverage of the outsole proved to do its job for me, quietly and with plenty of grip on wet surfaces. I can bet it will prove to be a very durable outsole as well; RIDEs have been known to last hundreds of miles. This outsole checks all the boxes for me: traction/grip, durability, and quiet footstrikes.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sally: The RIDE continues to be a solid reliable neutral daily trainer that fits comfortably without overdone plushness. It performs well on the run without the bells and whistles of carbon plates and super foams. This is a dependable workhorse of a daily trainer that responds nicely to faster paces but excels on those daily runs of moderate mileage. The PWRRUN+ midsole adds some snappiness and pep to the equation, and the upper has been refined to be the best yet : secure and comfortable.
RIDE lovers of the past will continue to love this new version, because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Saucony merely tweaked it to make it a hair better. I don't know when I started to think of $140 as a lower-priced running shoe, but it seems inexpensive and a good value relative to others on the market. All in all, nothing dramatic here but I think the RIDE 18 remains a solid pick in the neutral daily trainer category.
Sally’s score: 9.1 / 10.0
Ride (50%): 8.6 Fit (30%): 9.6 Value (15%): 9.8 Style (5%): 9.4
😊😊😊 ½
Sam: As Sally says “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but.. In an increasingly competitive market where even shoes at its $140 price point are getting more energetic foams and lighter weights for equivalent stacks, a supercritical midsole foam would have moved the Ride further into the future.
Don’t get me wrong, the PWRRUN+ foam is still solid in being soft and bouncy but it lacks the quicker return of the new foams such as Hoka’s supercritical EVA in the Bondi 9 or adidas Dreamstrike + in the comparable Supernova Rise 2, the upcoming Salomon Energy Foam EVO in their Aero series, not to speak of Puma’s Nitro shoes in in this price range.
I found the rear of the shoe overly soft, even low and especially at slower paces, despite the 8mm drop and plenty of rubber at the heel. I likely have been spoiled by the equally soft but quicker responding newer foams. As my pace picked up, this sensation subsided quite a bit as I got more towards the front of shoe. While not quite the response off the front of Rides of several years ago we still have that agile flexible feel with the rubber providing a nice pop.
At its reasonable $140 price point, Saucony for sure invested in the upper here. At this price point you might get great foam but a so-so upper but not so here. It is superb in fit (and looks) and a big improvement over the strangely mid foot paneled 17’s upper which just did not have as smooth and secure a fit.
All in all the Ride remains true to its versatile all around daily training ethos for its 18 edition. It is a fine choice: reliable, comfortable, refined. Yes it could be lighter and more energetic with newer foams but for now loyalists and those seeking a reliable training partner will be pleased with this update.
Sam’s Score: 9/10
Deductions for now less competitive weight at its stack height and related its still fine riding but increasingly dated midsole foam.
😊😊😊 ½
7 Comparisons
Saucony Triumph 22 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Triumph has a slightly higher heel stack stack and same forefoot so is at a10mm drop with for the 22 getting PWRRUN Pb supercritical foam instead of the prior PWRRUN+ foam. It sits on a broader platform by 5mm and combined with its higher heel weighs, a heftier 10.5 oz / 296g US8.5. All in all due to its more energetic foam I prefer it to the Ride 18 even with its considerable 1 oz plus weight penalty.
New Balance 1080 v14 (RTR Review)
Sally: (W8 in both) Both of these are solid and dependable neutral daily trainer workhorses, with the updated NB 1080 V14 a heftier shoe (8.5 oz vs 8.1 oz) with a higher stack (38/30mm vs 35/27 mm) than the RIDE 18. Both fit comfortably and can be worn for any paces short of the faster tempos. The 1080 has a firmer midsole and less softness underfoot, which means the NB gets my vote if I have to choose one over the other. But honestly, both are great options for a do-it-all trainer.
Diadora Cellula (RTR Review)
Sam: With slightly higher weight at 9.56 oz / 271g US8.5 and lower heel height at 33 mm heel but with at a 5mm drop the Diadora’s non supercritical Anima foam outperforms PWRRUN+ with a more consistent less mushy feel and a quicker return. The heel is more stable and less low feeling even with its 5mm drop vs.the 8mm for the Ride and it flows more smoothly with less shock vibration transmitted.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 (RTR Review soon)
Sam: Powered by a brand new supercritical TPU foam and much lighter at 8.5 oz / 241g US8.5 on a higher 40/32 stack height, the Spring 2025 Salomon has a more energetic and more deeply and effectively cushioned ride. Yes, at $160 it is somewhat more expensive but is thoroughly modern and exciting trainer. Its upper is similar in fit although the Saucony’s is a bit more secure.
Hoka Clifton 10 (RTR Review soon)
Sam: Only one run in but the now 8mm drop Clifton 10 has a more stable heel, equally fine if slightly lower volume upper and a duller ride than the Ride 17. Its EVA is yet more dated in feel than the PWRRUN+ expanded bead TPU of the Ride. The latest Cifton in a big surprise is almost a light stability shoe in its build and feel and so is more stable than the Ride.
361 Eleos (RTR Review)
Sam: One of the big surprises of 2024 the $145 Eleos has a super fun, softer and energetic PEBA/EVA foam blend midsole sitting on a slightly higher than the Ride 36/30 platform which is also broader which also helps explain its higher weight. Its upper cannot touch the Ride 18 being quite broad and somewhat baggy but in standard D width will fit broader feet better, noting the Ride 18 is also available in 2E wide.
Adidas Supernova Rise 2 (RTR Review)
Sam: Lghter at 260g / 9.17 oz US8.5 on a similar but lower forefoot 35.5mm heel / 25.5mm platform, the Rise 2 is clearly more stable at the rear of the shoe and somewhat thinner and less agile and flexible upfront. Both have superb true to size uppers and are priced the same.
That said the adidas has a more energetic supercritical foam midsole but one whose ride feel is more constrained and “serious” due to its underfoot hardened EVA Support Rods. The Ride 18 is more fun and less prescriptive if less stable and with a lower feeling heel. That said if you need a touch of stability the Rise 2 is a better choice.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past eleven Boston Marathons, three NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights (Berlin in 2025). With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and three consecutive 2nd place in Age Group awards in NYC, she has competed in several Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships and placed 6th in the world in W 60-64 when she ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02 at age 63 at the 2022 London Marathon. She also competes in USATF races of all distances with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally stands tall at 5’2’’ and 105 pounds, and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
3 comments:
How does it compare to the Tempus?
How does R18 compared to T21? Is it the same as T21 given the same stack and foam?
R18 is heavier and less stable with overall softer ride.
Post a Comment