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The Saucony Ride are one of our most popular running shoes at Run4It. As so many people run in them, this article breaks down the differences between the new Saucony Ride 17 and the existing Ride 16. Hopefully this information helps make it easier for you to decide if the latest edition of the popular Saucony running shoes are right for you.
What’s changed in the Saucony Ride 17?
The main change to the Saucony Ride 17 is a new midsole compound. The stack height and drop remains the same, but the cushioning is now made from PWRRUN+. This is a thermoplastic polyurethane that offers more energy return than previously used PWRRUN. It should also offer greater levels of durability.
We should note that there is a slight downside to this material. Even though it delivers greater levels of responsiveness and is more resilient than PWRRUN, it is heavier. When the weight of a lot of comparable models is coming down, this doesn’t necessarily seem like the right direction. However, weighing 234 grams and 273 grams for women’s and men’s respectively, the Ride 17 are still pretty lightweight for being daily mileage running shoes.
Additionally, while it’s not been quantified, great durability is a key attribute that you need in your core training shoes. Some extra weight for some extra miles is no bad thing.
Whilst the upper of the Ride 17 still features an engineered mesh, subtle changes should improve support and comfort. Saucony’s 360° approach to fit, is likely to result in you feeling as if your feet are encapsulated.
What’s not changed?
As mentioned, the stack height remains the same - so the Ride 17 running shoes still have an 8 mm drop. The Ride 17 also features the same PWRRUN+ sockliner that was used in the Ride 16. Sockliners have come a long way, but many are still relatively thin and don’t have that much cushioning. Saucony’s PWRRUN+ sockliner adds extra cushioning on top of the already highly cushioned midsole. Resulting in a protective underfoot sensation.
How can the Saucony Ride 17 improve your run?
When it comes to performance, the Ride 17 should work in a very similar way to the Ride 16. By this, we mean they should continue to be a great option for daily miles. The attributes of the Ride 17 cushioning are well suited to runs at a range of paces. In theory, the midsole is likely to feel great for easy runs, recovery runs, aerobic efforts, and even some steadier to tempo paced miles. For this reason, it’s possible that some runners could happily do most of their training runs in the Ride 17.
Long runs can be tough, particularly towards the end. If your form starts to deteriorate, it’s easy to get a bit heavy footed. This is when thicker midsoles can feel more comfortable and help make the last few miles that bit easier. We expect a lot of runners will find the Ride 17 protective cushioning is up to the task.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Ride 17 are neutral running shoes. If you’re looking for more supportive Saucony running shoes, you may want to consider the Saucony Guide running shoes.
Doing some faster-paced training runs?
If you are doing some interval sessions during the week, or some focused tempo effort runs, the Saucony Endorphin Speed should be a great option. These feature Saucony’s superfoam, PWRRUN PB, and a winged nylon plate. The plate aids energy return and features a ‘winged’ construction to promote better underfoot stability.
Stay tuned for some exciting updates Saucony’s Endorphin range in 2024.
