7 Best Saucony Running Shoes in 2023

Extremely light, undeniably fast, and pleasantly grippy. Add comfort, and you have the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. From easy runs to races, from hot to cold weather, from dry to wet roads, this shoe can do it all and do it all great. Make way for the Endorphin Speed 3, the best overall Saucony running shoe.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is weightless and peppy. At 225.0g (7.9 oz), it is much lighter than the average weight of road running shoes at 265g (9.3 oz). With its nylon plate, bouncy midsole, and rocker geometry, it is a fast and responsive shoe that just gave us that much-coveted runner's high.

The outsole's grip is superb. Our lab tests backed this up as the outsole was measured to be 3.5% softer than average. A softer outsole makes for a better grip, and we definitely felt this even in wet conditions. 

On our easy runs, long runs, and tempo runs, the Speed 3 gave us comfort for days. With an above-average stack height (34.1 mm at the heel vs. the 32.7 mm average), the cushion was just supreme. To top it off, the mesh upper is incredibly breathable—it's a wind-in-your-toes kind of speedster.

However, we felt that the heel lacked padding. Runners may prefer to wear thick socks when running in these shoes.

The Saucony Triumph 20 is an awesome-fitting daily trainer with great cushioning from top to bottom. We loved running in these shoes almost daily, and the lab tests confirmed that this is indeed the best daily trainer among the Saucony squad.

The Triumph 20 fits like a glove without being constricting. Although it is 2 mm narrower on the forefoot than the average running shoe, there was enough space for our toes to wiggle. Even when our feet swelled after long runs, there was room to move around. 

Comfort is the Triumph 20's claim to fame. The upper is well-padded and the tongue measures 7.9 mm—2.1 mm thicker than average. And even though the upper is plush, it remains breathable. In fact, the Triumph 20 scored 5/5 in our smoke test, sealing the deal as a great shoe for longer runs during warmer days.

The uber-soft and bouncy midsole only adds to its top-tier comfort. Our durometer readings found that the midsole is 24.5% softer than average. Plus, with a heel stack height that is 2.2 mm higher than average, our legs felt protected day in and day out. 

Unfortunately, the Triumph 20 tips the scales at 9.9 oz (282.0g)—17g (0.6 oz) heavier than the average of road running shoes. Runners looking for extra light daily trainers for speed sessions may want to check other options.

When it comes to snagging a spot on the podium or smashing a personal best, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is undoubtedly the best for competition in the Saucony roster. This racing shoe is superbly lightweight, incredibly energetic, and magnificently cushioned. 

The Endorphin Pro 3 is one of the lightest race shoes we’ve ever tested. At 206g (7.3 oz)—it is a whopping 61g (2.2 oz) lighter than the average road running shoe and 1g (0.03 oz) lighter than the average race shoe. Its stripped-down and minimal upper also made it very breathable during our runs.

The carbon plate gave us an otherworldly pop during our runs. In our flexibility test, a force of 94.4N was needed to bend it at room temperature—almost thrice the force needed to bend an average road running shoe (31.8N). This stiffness is complemented by a bouncy midsole foam and a high stack height. At the heel, we measured it to be 35 mm, 3.2 mm above the average, while the midsole is 36.7% softer than average. This superior combination makes it very forgiving on long races but also very responsive on shorter and faster races—truly a winner at every distance.

Unfortunately, the toebox of the Endorphin Pro 3 is 3.3 mm narrower than average, and runners with wide feet may want to look at other shoes for a better fit.

The third iteration of the Saucony Endorphin Shift proves that the third time's indeed the charm. This shoe features comfort and protection for days, reliable landings, and seamless propulsion. An excellent daily trainer that excelled in our runs and lab tests, the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 is our pick for the best Saucony running shoe for long runs.

From its thin and airy upper up to its massive stack and protective midsole—this shoe redefines comfort. In the lab, we used our caliper to drill down on the numbers. At the heel, the midsole measures 39.6 mm—a massive 6.4 mm higher than the average road running shoe. It is even more pronounced at the forefoot, measuring 33.1 mm (8.5 mm higher than average). The midsole, which we measured to be 11.6% softer than average, gave us comfort in every step of our LSD runs and marathon training runs.

Other measurements taken in the lab revealed that the upper width of the forefoot is 94.2 mm and the midsole width is 110.8 mm. This explains the shoe's wide base that gave us stable landings, no matter the distance. 

Aside from this shoe being quite stiffer than the average (32.6%), the Shift 3's highly rockered geometry gave us an energetic ride and propulsive toe-offs all throughout our long runs.

It's important to note that the Shift 3 has a snug fit with a toebox that is 3.4 mm narrower than average. That being said, this is not the best shoe for runners with wide feet.

With its ultra-light upper, lofty cushioning, and modern insole, you wouldn’t be remiss to think that the Kinvara 14 had strayed from its path. While it’s no longer the lean mean Kinvaras of old, this new version still boasts the flexible, natural-feeling, low-drop ride loyalists have come to know and love. And despite the radical overhaul, this Saucony favorite remains one of the best uptempo trainers for those on a budget.

The Saucony Peregrine 13, true to its namesake (the Peregrine falcon), is a nimble and agile trail running shoe. It has extraordinary traction and a great fit. A more than capable all-rounder, it is definitely the best Saucony trail shoe.

For starters, it is incredibly light for a trail shoe. At 271g (9.6 oz), it is 26g (0.9 oz) lighter than the average of all trail running shoes we tested in our lab. These shoes felt really smooth and quick on our feet, allowing us to soar through technical trails and enjoy our time outdoors.

The Peregrine 13’s outsole is a beast. It provides incredible traction—thanks to its almost full-coverage outsole complemented with 4.8 mm lugs that are patterned to shed mud. Snow, mud, dirt, and gravel—the Peregrine 13 breezed through.

Fit is also phenomenal with its semi-gusseted and padded tongue. We didn't feel the laces dig in, nor did we experience any blisters and hotspots during our day hikes and trail runs. With the solid fit, we were able to focus on navigating the trails seamlessly. 

However, there is an indentation in the outsole of the shoe which exposes the midsole—making it prone to damage from debris along the trail. Trail runners who are concerned about durability should check in from time to time.

A superbly versatile, surprisingly low-cost, and trustworthy durable shoe—the Axon 2 stands out among the Saucony range as the best value running shoe. As proven by our outdoor runs and lab tests, this incredible bang-for-your-buck shoe offers premium features without the premium price.

At $100 retail price, it is significantly below the average price for daily trainers at $118. The Axon 2's great price is complemented by great features that punch way above its price tag.

With a midsole foam taller 2.1mm taller than the average at the heel, it packs comfort adequate enough for our short and easy runs. Lab results showed that the Axon 2 is 20% stiffer than average, which helps to explain the responsive pop we felt when we picked up the pace. This level of comfort and responsiveness makes the Axon 2 a versatile running partner.

When it comes to durability, the Saucony Axon 2 is a trustworthy ally. Even after a number of miles, there weren't any significant signs of wear. In the lab, we measured the outsole to be 4.1 mm—just 0.7 mm more than the average outsole thickness of road running shoes. It is also 6.8% denser than the average—making it more capable of tackling more miles and multiple training blocks.

At its price point, the Saucony Axon 2 is already quite the steal. However, runners looking for plusher or faster shoes may find other options at higher prices.