Our verdict

87
Great!

With comfort and lightness in mind, the fifteenth version of the Saucony Ride nails it to a T! Experts even hail it as the "best Saucony Ride to date." As a workhorse, it's ready to make your short to long runs insanely comfy and easy with its plush cushion and smooth ride. Even more, it's got protection written all over it, so don't worry about achy feet and legs after racking up miles on the pavement.

Pros

  • Lighter than it seems
  • Smooth heel to toe transitions
  • Protective cushion
  • Well-fitting
  • Stable for a neutral shoe
  • Airy for summer runs
  • Tongue stays in place
  • Reflective elements

Cons

  • Not for fast runs
  • Gets firmer in cold

Who should buy the Saucony Ride 15

The Ride 15 from Saucony is a daily trainer that's perfect for runners who: 

  • tackle easy to moderate short to long-distance runs
  • prioritize comfort in their daily runs 
  • want a cushier, more forgiving version of the Saucony Ride 14 

Saucony-Ride-15-review

Who should NOT buy it

If you're looking to set PBs, don't get the Saucony Ride 15. Consider the energetic Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 or the Saucony Kinvara 13 instead.

Saucony Ride 15 vs. 14

From the ground up, the Saucony Ride 15 has been reworked to take comfort up a notch and strip down the weight (1.7 oz / 48 g lighter). It has: 

  • a lot more cushioning (3mm more) for a plusher experience
  • a contoured midsole that cradles the foot for a more stable ride
  • an updated rubber placement on the forefoot and heel for traction and strength 
  • redesigned flex grooves for a more flexible ride
  • new upper overlays and a snugger midfoot wrap for a supportive fit

Saucony-Ride-15-cut-in-pieces

Weight is as promised

Visually, it looks bulky with its maxed-out cushion. But in hand and on foot, the Saucony Ride 15 is "strikingly light."

Fact check

At 8.4 oz (238 g), it's more than an ounce lighter than most daily trainers with an average weight of 9.9 oz (281 g). This said the brand stays true to its promise.

Saucony-Ride-15-weight

For Saucony fans, think of the luxe cushion from the Triumph collection but with a little less weight.

One of the weight-saving factors is the minimal use of rubber on the outsole. The stripes are rather thin and are strategically-placed in the areas which are most prone to abrasion.

Fact check

The rubber layer is only 2.4 mm thick compared to the average of 3.6 mm among running shoes. While the rubber thickness is often associated with its durability, given the long shelf life of Saucony shoes in general, we expect it to last.

Saucony-Ride-15-rubber-outsole

Keeps your feet free from strain and impact

Thanks to the shoe's copious cushion, the majority of reviewers swear by its impact-dampening quality.

Saucony-Ride-15-cushioning

Fact check

We measured the heel thickness of the Ride 15 at 31.4 mm which is near the average of our lab-tested shoes (32.8 mm). Still, it puts the shoe into the max-cushioned category.

Fact check

A generously padded insole also contributes to underfoot comfort and cushioning. It is 6.4 mm thick which is above the average 4.7 mm of running shoes.

Saucony-Ride-15-insole

In case you need to use custom orthotics, the insole is easily removable.

Runs smoothly but NOT for tempo runs

Contrary to past versions of the Saucony Ride, this iteration feels "more rockered," claimed multiple testers. So much so, that you don't have to spend so much energy to get from one step to the next.

But when it comes to speed, runners feel like the 15th edition of the Ride misses out on energy return. So much so, that it can feel like a drag when picking up the pace.

Ride 15 is quite stable for a neutral shoe

More than a few experienced runners have taken note of how steady the Ride's platform is. This is attributed to the midsole shape, the foam firmness and the fact that your heels sits deeper inside the shoe.

Fact check

Indeed, the width of the platform is wider than average in the forefoot (114.8 mm over the average 111.9 mm). In addition, the parameters of the Ride 15 come pretty close to those of the Guide 15 (a stability version) with only 2.2 mm thinner in the heel and the forefoot.

Saucony-Ride-15-stable

For those with flat feet and overpronation, a dedicated stability shoe like Saucony Guide 15 is a better idea.

A big no-no for cold conditions

When it's freezing, the midsole stiffens up; it becomes as "solid as a brick," according to the testers.

Fact check

Even at regular room temperature, the Ride 15 appears to be on the firm side. Our durometer shows 22.5 HA which is stiffer than the average 29.8 HA. But once the foam is exposed to cold (like spending 20 minutes in the freezer), it becomes 26.7% stiffer.

Saucony-Ride-15-firmer-in-cold

The Saucony Ride 15 fits just right!

Experts agree that the Ride 15 holds the foot snugly from the heel to the midfoot, "an ideal hug". And in the forefoot, there's ample space for the toes to wiggle and splay comfortably. One expert also notes that "the bunion gang should be pleased" in reference to the roomy toebox.

Saucony-Ride-15-fit

Fact check

It's got a nice average-width forefoot (96.0 mm) which can fit various foot shapes. The average across our lab-tested shoes is 98.7 mm. 

Saucony-Ride-15-forefoot-width

Gusseted tongue holds the foot in place

There is no shifting and sliding around with the gusseted tongue of the Ride 15. In addition, it's padded enough (4 mm) to prevent the shoe's rather rough laces from digging into the skin.

Saucony-Ride-15-snug-fit

No issues with heel slippage

The heel area is nice and structured in this Saucony shoe. It receives 4 out of 5 in our heel stiffness check. The reviewers also find the collar and heel areas to be well-padded.

Your feet can breathe in the Ride 15

Because there are loads of perforations, especially in the forefoot area, everyone agrees that this shoe is "very breathable." Even under hot temps, it doesn't feel warm.

Saucony-Ride-15-no-heel-slippage

Remain visible in the dark

The Saucony logo as well as a few other pieces throughout the upper are made of reflective material.

  Saucony Ride 15 Average
Whole shoe
Weight (g) 238 275
Drop (mm) 6.9 8.9
Flexibility of the shoe (N) 29.0 30.2
Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) 36.3 40.0
Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) 25.2 32.9
Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) 3 3.4
Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) 3 3.6
Upper
Thickness - Tongue (mm) 4.2 6.1
Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) 96.0 98.7
Width Upper - Heel (mm) 73.8 76.4
Lace Stretch (1-5 scale, 5 being the most stretchy) 4 2.6
Flexibility of the heel counter (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) 4 3.1
Tongue: gusset type both sides (fully-gusseted) -
Heel: pull tab finger loop -
Midsole
Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) 114.8 111.9
Width Midsole - Heel (mm) 85.4 89.0
Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) 24.5 24.1
Stack - Heel with insole (mm) 31.4 32.8
Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) 22.5 29.8
Outsole
Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) 2.4 3.6
Lugs Depth (mm) - 3.4
Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) 82.5 81.2
Insole
Insole Heel Thickness (mm) 6.4 4.7
Insole: removable yes -