Saucony Hurricane 24 Performance Review

It’s not often we see long-running running shoes canceled, but that’s exactly what Saucony did in 2022. The Saucony Hurricane was a max cushion, stability shoe favorite of many, and to say the company’s decision to end the model was met poorly would be an understatement – which made the announcement of its return with the Saucony Hurricane 24 all the sweeter.

And Saucony has taken notice. They’ve been going all out with social media promotion for this shoe, with loads of influencers receiving pairs and raving about them soon after.

So when the Saucony Hurricane 24 arrived at WearTesters HQ, we were excited to see if the shoe lived up to all the FOMO we were feeling and find out for ourselves how it compared to some of our other max cushion trainers.

While Saucony did provide the shoes to the WearTesters team for review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence this review.

What is the Saucony Hurricane 24?

Saucony describes the Hurricane 24 as:

One layer of our foam is incredible – two is unforgettable. Introducing the Hurricane 24, our most innovative max cushioned, running shoe. Experience a double dose of comfort with our all-new dual-cushioning system, pairing plush, energy-returning PWRRUN PB foam with a supportive PWRRUN foam frame. And with new-era geometry and CenterPath Technology, you’ll get optimal protection through every stride. Hurricane 24 unlocks a whole new level of comfort that makes every day a foam party.

Upper/Fit

Arune: I’ve always found Saucony’s shoes to be more accommodating to a variety of feet than many companies (I’m looking at you, Nike and Hoka). As someone with a wider forefoot – yet a fairly average midfoot – trying new running shoes sometimes feels more like compromising fit than finding comfort.

Luckily, the Saucony Hurricane 24 has an incredible engineered mesh upper that welcomes all types of feet and hugs said feet without ever making them feel restricted.

However, that isn’t to say I didn’t encounter a major issue: my foot was slipping around quite a bit. I don’t know if the purported “buttery soft and luxurious internal fabrics” just didn’t mesh well with my running socks, but that’s not an issue I’ve ever encountered. Oddly, I didn’t have a traditional heel slip issue; my foot was just moving all around within the shoe at some slower paces.

Additionally, the upper gets hot and sweaty very quickly. We’ve been experiencing a heatwave in Los Angeles that certainly hasn’t been kind to any running shoes, but these shoes got noticeably hot in a way I don’t experience with my other daily trainers (the Asics Superblast 2 and Brooks Ghost Max 2).

Let’s also talk about aesthetics. This kind of max cushion shoe seems like it’s meant to compete with the high-stack Hoka Bondi, and it even looks like a Hoka shoe. From the chunky midsole to the toe-down look, this shoe resembles a Hoka to such a degree that even my wife did a double take when I said they were from Saucony.

Drew: …Not just meant to compete with the Hoka Bondi, but designed from the ground up to be the Bondi’s arch nemesis. Saucony saw all that sweet cheddar that the Bondi is raking in and wanted some of that action. 

And true to form, the upper is extremely Bondi-like, right down to the extra layers. It’s comfortable, but slightly overbuilt. Normally I’d point this out as something Saucony should improve for next time, but I think the Saucony Hurricane 24 was built exactly how Saucony envisioned.

It’s not my favorite for running; but looking at the popularity of the Bondi, a lot of people like this sort of feel on foot.

Midsole/Ride

Arune: Wow Wow Wow.

Oh wait, do I need to say more?

Drew: nods slowly 

Arune: Fine, I’ll continue.

I maintain that Saucony’s PWRRUN and PWRRUN PB midsole foams are supremely underrated, and I think a whole lot of people are gonna realize that when they lace up the Saucony Hurricane 24.

This is a fun shoe from the first steps you take, and it never stops being fun – a perfect “set it and forget it” shoe where you pick your pace then somehow magically maintain it without another thought.

On the days when I don’t want to run, this is a great shoe to get me some steady miles and to remind me why running is such a joy. And on the days when I do want to run, this is a shoe that keeps me going the literal extra mile and ensures my legs come back fresh the next day.

Saucony touted its CenterPath Technology as providing great stability, and while I normally find myself disappointed with most stability trainers, the Hurricane 24 absolutely delivers – which is something that makes it much more effective for a 200lb+ runner like me who has rolled his ankles far too many times in other high stack, max cushion shoes (like the aforementioned Hoka Bondi).

I have a feeling this will top many of the “Big Guy” running shoe lists, given I don’t have a single complaint in this category.

Drew, we’re different kinds of big guys. I’ve got 15-20lbs on you at any given moment, but you’re a whole foot taller than I am. How was this for you, big boss?

Drew: The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a very comfortable shoe underfoot. The cushioning combo does a lot of good work, and impact protection is elite. It’s also very protective without being overly squishy – all of which is, again, very Bondi-like and perfect for someone who’s on their feet all day or for any bigger folks that need a lot of cushion as all that weight slams down on every footfall.

But I didn’t love the setup for running. First, picking up the pace isn’t a fun experience. This is a shoe that needs to be limited to lots of sexy-paced miles – that is, the miles where you aren’t worried about pace at all (Editor’s Note: I honestly wasn’t sure where you were going with that for a second there).

Second, the CenterPath stability feature was trying to get my feet to go in directions they didn’t want to, and my weak-ass ankles barked about the shoe’s controlling nature once my runs were finished. 

While there’s been a ton of energy around “neutral stable” shoes that are built on a wide platform to be stable without controlling the foot, the Saucony Hurricane 24 definitely feels like a throwback stability shoe. And that’s the first thing about this shoe that’s not Bondi-like.

Again, it’s not for me, but maybe the world needs an overstable Bondi (Editor’s Note: …like…a Hoka Gaviota)? I wouldn’t have thought that was an unfilled market niche, but I guess we’ll find out soon if Saucony is on to something.

Traction

Arune: I took this out on some wet, grassy ground and on the roads here in LA without any issues.

But I avoided quick cuts given the way my foot was rolling around.

How’d this go for you, Drew?

Drew: The Saucony Hurricane 24 has plenty of rubber and gripped well when transitioning from dry, to wet, and back again. I think this outsole will handle most everything it needs to and be plenty durable enough to match the longevity of the midsole cushion.

Is the Saucony Hurricane 24 worth $160?

Arune: The answer is likely “yes”, with one key exception.

The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a great daily trainer for those who just wanna rack up some easy miles and for anyone looking to add a second, more recovery-minded shoe to their rotation.

It’s definitely on the more expensive end of those daily trainers, so you may prefer something like the Asics Novablast 4 that can do it all (at a slightly lower price) or even Saucony’s Triumph line (at the same price) that has a bit more versatility.

Drew: The Saucony Hurricane 24’s price point is right in line with the top end of max-cushioned daily trainers. That’s a perfect space for it to occupy given its quantity of foam, projected durability, and all-day wearability. But yeah, as Arune points out, if you’re seeking versatility, this is not the shoe where you’ll find it.

Saucony Hurricane 24 Final Verdict

Arune: The best shoes are the ones I keep after reviewing them (instead of donating to my military friends) and want to keep lacing up.

The Saucony Hurricane 24 is an instant addition to my running shoe rotation and one I can’t see getting kicked out any time soon.

If you’re a heavier guy looking to get into running, this is a perfect shoe to develop your love for running before finding a more versatile daily trainer to find your next level.

Drew: I, however, will be donating the Saucony Hurricane 24 to someone that appreciates it more than me. It’s too much shoe for me in multiple ways. Especially in the way it dictates how I hit and leave the ground with the CenterPath technology. Now, this won’t be the case for everyone. Some people, like exhibit A(rune) above, are going to absolutely love this shoe and rock it for hundreds of well-loved easy miles. Others, like me, are going to dislike it immensely.

But while the Saucony Hurricane 24 will be polarizing – even among larger runners – anyone looking for a high cushion shoe to absorb hundreds of miles should try it on and compare it to the other fantastic daily trainers on the market. It may just be exactly what you’re looking for.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 42, 5’11”, 220lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Saucony did send pairs of the Saucony Hurricane 24 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.