6 Best Saucony Running Shoes in 2025

Among the Saucony roster, Endorphin Pro 4 earns the top spot. It has tons of cushioning and energy to boast while keeping its weight to a minimum. This superior combination makes it very forgiving on long races yet responsive on shorter races—a winner at every distance. Our lab results confirm what our feet truly enjoyed: running fast feels effortless with EP4.

This racer is a featherweight champion, measuring 7.8 oz (220g) on our scale—17.0% lighter than average! It even has a remarkably airy and surprisingly durable upper that gained above-average scores in the lab: a flawless 5/5 in our breathability test and an impressive 4/5 in our durability test.

The S-shaped carbon plate delivers seamless energy rebound in our strides. Our flex test reveals it’s 71.3% stiffer than average, sustaining our momentum and power efficiently together with the Speedroll technology.

Complementing the stiffness is the cushioned midsole—the true star of the show. It packs comfort and responsiveness in one. Testing for energy return, it impressed with remarkable scores of 71.7% in the heel and 71.5% in the forefoot. When it comes to comfort, we enjoyed its luscious 38.1 mm heel foam, which is able to reduce landing impact effectively, proven by its 139 SA score.

While already highly responsive, PB chasers who value every second should go for more aggressive supershoes.

Post-running and testing in the lab, the Ride 18 is undeniably the top daily trainer in the Saucony running line. It’s a reliable workhorse that strikes the perfect balance between cushioning, agility, and responsiveness. It has a light and flexible build with just the right amount of foam to keep us comfortable for daily mileage.

The Ride 18 stands out with its firm yet bouncy ride, boasting a 35.0/26.6 mm stack in the heel and forefoot. Our durometer readings reveal it’s 24.3% firmer than average, boosting the ride’s stability.

One of the Ride 18's key strengths lies in its effortless feel. Weighing only 9.0 oz (255g), it feels easy to pick up the pace when we want to. Its lightness is further enhanced by how easily it bends with our feet. Our flex test shows it’s 9.6% more adaptive than average. These elements enhance the Ride 18’s comfort and versatility for activities beyond running.

While the Ride 18 impressed us in so many ways, we wished for a more spacious toebox for long runs. Since it can’t handle wide or swollen feet, those who need more real estate in this area should check alternatives.

The second iteration of the Saucony Endorphin Elite shatters lab records. This shoe features comfort and protection for countless miles, a light build, and seamless propulsion. An excellent supershoe that feels good when running at top speed, the Endorphin Elite 2 is our top Saucony running shoe with the best shock absorption.

EE2 likes to push the limits and matches the soul of a racer. It stretched its platform to the maximum legal stack height of 39.9/32.4 mm, ensuring we never feel like running out of cushioning. On top of that, we measured solid shock absorption scores of 157 SA and 123 SA in the heel and forefoot, respectively, confirming its lasting comfort.

Each mile feels faster than the last because of its mind-blowing propulsion. We drilled down the numbers in our energy return test and recorded the highest we’ve seen in the lab so far: 80.6% in the heel and 82.1% in the forefoot. The respective averages are only at 58.3% and 60.5%, showing the extra power EE2 infuses in each stride.

Aside from its responsiveness, its airy 6.9 oz (197g) build seals the deal, allowing us to glide through our runs. Its lightness helps prevent fatigue and allows us to maintain proper form.

It's important to note that EE2's tapered toebox may cause discomfort for wide or swollen feet. Best to test this pair properly before running a marathon with it.

If we could use one word to capture our runs with the Kinvara 15, it would be effortless. Our lab agrees that its minimalist profile, airy build, and flexible midsole contribute to a breezy experience. Each stride feels smooth with this delicate trainer, making it our ultimate lightweight Saucony running shoe.

Kinvara 15 easily melted away with our feet even as we ran longer. We instantly felt its weightlessness but our scales further confirm it’s only 6.8 oz (194g), 26.8% below average. Adding to the freeing experience is its malleable midsole that gives in to our movements. Our bend test confirms it’s 53.3% more flexible than average, enhancing comfort.

The shoe’s high level of flexibility can be attributed to its low configuration of 27.9/23.5 mm. It gave us heightened ground connection, yet enough cushioning from ground impact. Moreover, it features a low 4.4 mm drop, 48.8% lower than average, which produces a more natural running feel.

However, its lightness and versatility sacrificed a more durable outsole. With its rubber being softer and thinner than average, we don’t expect it to last very long.

Our arches received lots of support and comfort from running with the Saucony Guide 18. As its name suggests and is backed up by lab tests, it guides our foot alignment with its subtle stability features, without losing its adaptive nature. The cushion offers a good mix of comfort and bounce, and delivers the best arch support among Saucony running shoes in our roster.

Guide 18 offers enhanced surefootedness through its midsole sidewalls and expansive base. Using our caliper, we measured a massive 121.9/105.0 mm, giving us lots of room to find our balance securely when landing.

The midsole feels well-balanced, standing taller than average at 36.0/27.7 mm for extra protection. The substantial heel flare smoothens our transitions, while the responsive foam improves turnover. In our energy return test, the heel scored an impressive 61.3% and the forefoot at 62.0%.

Despite its undeniable support, Guide 18 feels good for daily training because of its loose midsole. In our bend test, it emerged 12.0% more flexible than average, boosting comfort and versatility.

However, its focus on flexibility leaves a lot of foam exposed, which gives us durability concerns. Those who prefer a shoe that will surely last could try more reinforced options.

We think the Saucony Kinvara Pro tries to blend max-cushion comfort with carbon-plated propulsion but doesn’t quite deliver. On our runs, it felt sluggish and stiff—mainly due to the bottom layer of PWRRUN EVA foam. We also found the toebox extremely narrow in our lab measurements, making it a poor fit for long-distance efforts. However, we were impressed by its top durability, maximalist cushioning, and surprising stability. Still, we find it hard to recommend this shoe over other supertrainers.