- Saucony’s marketing pitch:Your perfect partner for every run.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, internal gusset.
- Midsole: Expanded Polyurethane (Pwrrun+) foam. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
- Weight: 259 gms/ 9.1 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 35 mm (heel), 27 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – Wide.
- Previous model: Saucony Ride 17.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, 10K, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:30 min/mile) and slower.
- Median lifespan: 450 miles.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Plush upper fit
- Neutral and supportive ride
- Durable build quality
- Best-in-class footbed
- Optional widths
Cons
- Sizing consistency versus the Ride 17
- Low reflectivity
Also consider:
- Nike Pegasus 41
- adidas Supernova Rise 2
- New Balance 880V15
- Asics Cumulus 27
- Brooks Ghost 17
- Hoka Clifton 10
- Use the Saucony Ride 18 for daily training and recovery runs
- Use the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for 10K, half-marathons, and marathons
- Use the adidas Adizero EVO SL for tempo runs, threshold, and 10K races
In this review:
SUMMARY AND VERDICT
Regardless of the rapid pace of technological progress seen in other running shoe segments, there will always be a place for shoes like the Saucony Ride 18, New Balance 880V15, and Nike Pegasus 41. These running shoes are not particularly exciting, lacking some of the niceties found on higher-priced shoes. You know, features like a rocker midsole, newer foam compounds, or distinct upper and midsole designs.
Brands usually describe these models as daily trainers or do-it-all shoes that blend cushioning comfort with support. ‘Do it all’ can mean more than one thing, depending on how experienced the runner is. If a typical week of running includes long recovery runs, tempo runs, thresholds, mile repeats, and intervals, then the Saucony Ride 18 lacks an edge over advanced trainers like the adidas EVO SL and Hoka Mach 6. The Saucony Ride 18 doesn’t provide rocker-assist and is not the lightest. This isn’t to say that the Saucony Ride 18 isn’t capable of more demanding workouts; that’s just not its shtick.
That said, the Ride 18 proves its competence when someone wants a safe, predictable, and durable shoe that doesn’t know when to quit. It’s available everywhere, comes in two widths, and one version isn’t very different from the next, meaning you can score the older model for a bargain and get similar performance. But the Ride 18 isn’t a shoe that wants you to go fast, or leave lasting impressions of its ride quality. The firm cushioning has indiscernible levels of energy return, so don’t expect sparks to fly. Again, this is not that kind of a shoe.
The Saucony Ride 18 is an excellent first shoe for new runners and fitness-oriented runners who aren’t particularly fixated on running speeds and aggressive workouts like intervals and threshold runs. It’s in that context that the Ride 18 thrives. Be it everyday runs, gym workouts, treadmill runs, or the occasional 10K and half-marathon, the Ride 18 will do your bidding – as long as you’re not pushing it too hard. It’s like the running shoe equivalent of a point-and-shoot camera. It provides all the essentials in the right quantities to get the job done. If you’re left wanting more, then you’ll need to change your equipment.
THE RIDE EXPERIENCE
2023 was a transformational year for the Saucony Ride. The long-running series moved to a Pwrrun+ midsole platform for the first time, making the Ride 17 a firmer and low-profile version of the Saucony Triumph 21. To keep the hierarchy intact, the new Triumph 22 moved up to a Pwrrun PB (PEBA) foam midsole.
Pwrrun+ is an expanded Polyurethane (E-PU) foam that first debuted on the adidas Energy Boost. Over the years, it has proven itself to be a reliable performer that’s not only resistant to long-term cushioning loss, but also unaffected by temperature swings. Competing foams like the Asics FlyteFoam Blast Max and Nike React harden under freezing temperatures and soften on hot days. The Pwrrun+ foam, on the other hand, delivers consistent cushioning no matter how cold or hot the day is. Midsoles made of this material seldom break down over time.
Saucony has made good use of E-PU over the years, starting with the 2016 Saucony Freedom ISO, when Pwrrun+ used to be called Everun. Old timers would remember the initial stir the Freedom ISO caused, in a good way. This foam then spent a few years on the Saucony Triumph before it was finally passed down to last year’s Saucony Ride 17.
On this shoe, the Pwrrun+ foam is firm by modern standards, so take Saucony’s marketing claims (soft, responsive, etc.) with a grain of salt. While there’s a sense of dense cushioning, there’s no bounce or Energy return. If we had reviewed this shoe a decade ago, it would have created a sensation because it would have been benchmarked against EVA (Ethyl-Vinyl-Acetate) foam-based shoes, and not super-foam trainers that exist in 2025.
The only part of the shoe that’s noticeably soft is the footbed. Saucony has fitted most of its mid-priced offerings like the Ride and Guide with a cushy Pwrrun+ sockliner, which uses the same material as the Ride 18’s midsole. This footbed is easily the most underrated component of the shoe. It’s soft, but with a dense and resilient cushioning that’s not found in run-of-the-mill EVA insoles. As it’s made of the same material as the midsole, it makes the entire cushioning experience consistent from the top to the bottom. It’s also thick enough to be replaced by an orthotic without reducing upper space.
The Ride 18’s appeal is in its ability to deliver a neutral ride experience, with the word ‘neutral’ having a double meaning. The first has to do with the balanced midsole design that keeps bias to a minimum; the foot doesn’t try to lean excessively towards the medial or lateral side. The second meaning of neutral has nothing to do with gait management; it’s rather about the Ride 18’s overall attitude or stance. Some shoes impede transitions by being too soft, unstable, or a combination of both. Other shoes may encourage faster turnovers through a rocker, springy foam material, or a plate. The Ride 18 doesn’t do any of the that, meaning it neither impedes nor encourages transitions – it adopts a neutral stance and lets the foot do most of the work. It fulfils its most important task, which is to create a protective and cushioned barrier between the foot and the ground. Additional capabilities beyond the basic functions are left to the owner of the shoe.
Rocker assist is unavailable on the Saucony Ride 18.
The hero of any run is the runner, not the shoe. If one wants to rack up tempo and threshold miles on the Ride 18, it’s perfectly doable. Just don’t expect the shoe to help you in any way, except to keep the feet from getting beaten up. There’s no rocker assist, so the cushioning can feel downright boring at times. At the same time, the single-density Pwrrun+ cushioning helps maintain a consistent rhythm. The outsole design also helps by creating a transition path; the firm rubber sole bridges the forefoot and heel.
There’s a marginal decrease in outsole grip, owing to the change in lug design and overall geometry. The Ride 18’s lugs don’t have the finer ridges of the Ride 17, and adding an elevated section of foam right under the forefoot isn’t a great idea. While the Ride 17 had a channel running down the forefoot center as well, the foam part was recessed and did not make contact with the ground.
Pwrrun+ foam-based shoes have always offered a stable ride, with the Ride 18 being no exception. The expanded PU foam is inherently supportive because of its densely packed colony of foam globules, so even heavy runners (180 – 200 lbs) will appreciate the planted feel. The flat outsole geometry creates a stable foundation for the landings and the transitions that follow. For even greater support, we recommend the Guide 18 with its ultra-wide midsole and noticeable cupping action. However, the Guide 18 doesn’t use a Pwrrun+ midsole.
The 35 mm (heel) and 27 mm (forefoot) make the Saucony Ride an 8 mm drop running shoe. A higher heel-to-drop is standard practice in shoes designed to be user-friendly, as a higher heel goes easier on the Achilles tendon while making rearfoot landings comfortable.
RECOMMENDED ROTATION
Saucony sells the carbon-plated Endorphin Speed 4 and Pro 4, so either works as a half and full marathon racer. For short-distance races, tempo runs, and thresholds, we recommend the adidas Adizero EVO SL.
THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT
The Ride 18 has a true-to-size and flush fit, with less space in the forefoot and toe-box area than the Ride 17. The big toe is boxed in by the mesh upper, and there’s less room in the front than last year. The sizing difference can be attributed to the thicker heel foam padding that pushes the foot forward by a few millimeters.
This version of the Saucony Ride offers the most plush interiors in the series to date. This has been achieved by adding more foam to the heel and tongue padding, while altering the tongue design. The tongue flap removes the fused label from the Ride 17, as well as the stitching on the edges. The result of these changes is a tongue that feels noticeably more luxurious.
Having the laces pass through speed loops makes the lacing action smoother, which is an improvement over the Ride 17. The stiff midfoot panels from the Ride 17 have been replaced with mesh to help the upper sit flush over the foot. Inside, a pair of semi-elastic gussets keeps the tongue locked in over the midfoot. The engineered mesh upper doesn’t trap heat, making the Ride 18 a decent 3-season trainer.
IS THE SAUCONY RIDE 18 DURABLE?
The robust build quality will help the Ride 18 live a long and uneventful life. The Pwrrun+ midsole is near-indestructible, and the upper design gives no cause for worry. The firm rubber (XT-900 compound) outsole should help achieve 450 – 500 miles of useful life.
SHOES COMPARABLE TO THE SAUCONY RIDE 18
This mid-priced (if we can even call it that) daily trainer segment is densely populated with offerings from various brands. We’d say the Nike Pegasus 41 compares favorably to the Ride 18. For a lighter ride, consider the Asics Cumulus 27. The Adidas Supernova Rise 2 and New Balance 880V15 are the softest of the lot, if that helps. Only the 880v15 is sold in four widths.