Saucony Ride 18 Performance Review

According to financial experts, it’s a very good time to be Saucony. The brand has seen a resurgence in both the lifestyle and performance categories. As we head towards the new year and lots of fitness resolutions, Saucony is taking advantage of the buzz by releasing new versions of its core daily trainers, the Saucony Ride 18 among them.

The Saucony Ride 18 saw major changes in its latest iteration, something also true of other Saucony shoes we’ve recommended, such as the extra cushy Hurricane 24 and the snappy Endorphin Speed 4.

So, is the Saucony Ride 18 a shoe for all the new runners lacing up for the first time (or the first time in a long time) come January? Let’s find out…

What is the Saucony Ride 18?

Saucony describes it as follows:

The Ride 18 is our core neutral cushioning training shoe. Built as the most versatile shoe in our line, it brings premium foam innovation and comfort that feels as good on a 10 mile run as it does in a session at the gym or a well-earned recovery walk.

Upper/Fit

Arune: I’ve mentioned this before, but Saucony was the first major shoe brand I knew as a kid because my dad bought one new pair of Saucony running shoes every year to replace the last pair that he had cooked. It’s amazing to think that runners just a few decades ago didn’t rotate through shoes as frequently as we do now, and they were running in shoes with so little tech that those old trainers would feel pretty flat to us these days.

That thought and any nostalgic bias aside, I would still tell you that there’s no one who does uppers like Saucony today: from perfectly gusseted tongues to the never-come-loose-laces, the basics are all pretty damn unassailable. All the materials feel premium – more so than most daily trainers – and everything from the tongue to the collar feels perfectly plush without ever being so thick that you might have to think about choosing a different size.

Add in a foot shape that accommodates even slightly-wide-footers like me and a super breathable mesh upper?…You’re going to love this shoe the minute your foot slides in and feels perfectly hugged.

The one complaint? The Saucony Ride 18 could use a pull tab on the heel to help get this shoe on. Sure, it’s pretty easy to slip your foot in and out; but a little extra help wouldn’t be the worst.

While there’s nothing particularly distinctive about the Ride’s looks (that’s also something we’ll discuss about the shoe overall), it’s made to be a workhorse, everyday shoe that seamlessly blends into your rotation – from performance to looks. That said, the white/olivine pair I got is perfectly suited for a whole lotta different outfits, and there are a lot of great colorways in the launch wave, such as the white/azurite.

I went true-to-size (TTS) in my standard men’s 9.5, and it was perfect – with full toe splay and just enough room for your foot during those long runs.

Drew: Saucony rarely misses on upper construction and fit. The Saucony Ride 18 is no exception. I can echo everything Arune mentioned about the length being perfect, nice room for toe splay, and a plush upper.
Saucony used basic engineered mesh for the upper, but the construction is clean and upscale (think On-level craftsmanship). The gusseted tongue is also perfectly padded (not too much foam, but not too little either) and doesn’t move around. I’m glad that the Saucony Ride 18 and its fantastic upper release on January 1st, 2025. It will set the daily trainer upper comfort bar high on day 1 of the new year.

Midsole/Ride (18)

Arune: If the Saucony Triumph 22 is the max-cushioned daily trainer in the company’s lineup, then the Ride 18 isn’t a minimal-cushioned shoe. It’s just…cushioned.

That’s not a bad thing either. This is the daily trainer for runners who aren’t interested in thick midsoles (which seem to get taller each year), various types of plates under foot, or bouncy midsoles that sometimes feel like out of control trampolines.

With some of Saucony’s excellent PWRRUN+ foam anchoring this midsole, I found this to be quite a comfortable daily trainer that had me wondering if I was perhaps relying too much on the plates and fancy rockers in my other trainers. It’s snappy and responsive, but it also feels quite mortal compared to the super trainers I’ve been spoiled by in recent years.

I found this shoe kept me perfectly landing on my midfoot so that I properly rolled through each step and pushed off my forefoot as intended – something that doesn’t always happen with thicker midsoles that can eliminate any sense of ground feel. It’s a nice change as someone who is liable to roll his ankles when he puts on shoes with 40mm+ midsole stacks.

This is the kind of shoe I’d recommend to both new runners – who are likely to get a Brooks Ghost or Hoka Clifton suggested by most salespeople – and to long-time runners looking for a do-it-all shoe that delivers a consistent ride without any fancy tricks.

I really enjoyed the Saucony Ride 18, though I felt like both my weight (210lbs) and my gait were a poor fit for the midsole. It almost felt it compressed too much under me and that I couldn’t ever pick up any real speed.

Drew, how about you?

Drew: You’re exactly right Arune. The Saucony Ride 18 is a Ghost and Clifton competitor in every way. The upper, which we already discussed, is tuned for comfort, and the PWRRUN+ midsole is tuned to be simple, protective, and yes, comfortable.

It’s a not-too-soft, not-too-firm mix that is kinda boring in its simplicity and effectiveness. Running shoe nerds won’t grab it. It’s not flashy enough. The Saucony Ride 18 is built to appeal to the masses who need an ol’ reliable.

The midsole isn’t particularly bouncy and provides great ground feel alongside the protection. It’s nothing spectacular; but it will last a long time, getting the job done day after day.

And for those that feel the Ghost’s 12mm drop is too much, the Saucony Ride 18 delivers a standard 8mm drop that feels natural.

The best way to think about the Saucony Ride 18 is as the Triumph Lite.

Traction

Arune: I may never be a traction expert, but the sole is covered in XT-900 rubber and grips a variety of surfaces excellently, from gravel paths, to muddy grass, to everyday roads. I haven’t had any traction issues, but this shoe really feels built for roads, generally.

Drew: I didn’t have any issues with the Saucony Ride 18’s outsole. It gripped well in multiple conditions on roads, sidewalks, and dirt/light gravel paths. The outsole will be plenty durable, as the rubber used and the coverage are similar to previous Saucony models that got high marks for long-term durability.

Is the Saucony Ride 18 worth $140?

Arune: Absolutely.

The Saucony Ride 18 is a do-it-all trainer at the low end of daily trainer pricing (which seems closer to a median of $160 these days) that a wide variety of people will enjoy as their first running shoe, and experienced runners will enjoy as a simple, no frills trainer.

In fact, it’s jumped up my list as one of my top recommedations when folks ask me where to shop in this complicated – but wonderful – modern running shoe world.

Drew: Yes, the Saucony Ride 18 is worth $140. That’s the magical price point that doesn’t mean entry level but is a step up to where comfort, cushion, and durability will last you 300-500 miles (depending on your size and footstrike). Basically, it’s the price point you’d expect to pay for a long-lasting, very comfortable running shoe. And the Ride 18 fits nicely in that category.

Saucony Ride 18 Summary

Arune: Saucony has been on a winning streak for the last couple years, and the brand doesn’t seem to be slowing down, as the Saucony Ride 18 is the perfect do-it-all daily trainer for new and experienced runners at a pretty unbeatable price.

In fact, the performance of the Ride 18 makes me even more excited for what Saucony has planned for its more premium and high-end trainers throughout 2025.

Drew: The Saucony Ride 18 is a solid, dependable shoe. I’d recommend all Ghost and Clifton devotees try it on before grabbing their next pair of running shoes. It’s got similar, middle-of-the-road stack height and solid cushioning, along with a very comfortable upper. 

It doesn’t have much pizazz but neither do competitive offerings. And anyone shopping this section of the daily trainer niche likely isn’t looking for that anyway. It’s just as dependable a workhorse running shoe as those other models and deserves to be considered alongside the more established names.

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 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): 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 provide pairs of the Saucony Ride 18 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.