7 Best Saucony Running Shoes

Endorphin Speed 4 leads the Saucony pack with its incredible lightness, undeniable speed, and surprisingly comfortable ride. It delivers high performance from our easy runs to race pace and from short to long distances and our lab confirms its delightful versatility.

ES4 is much lighter and much more responsive than the average running shoe. Our scales reveal it’s only 8.4 oz (237g), 10.9% lighter than average. Upon dissecting the shoe, we discovered a nylon plate embedded in the midsole, explaining its peppy ride. What’s special about this nylon plate is it feels more natural on foot than ultra-stiff carbon plates. Our bend test shows a 29.4N force, which is as flexible as the average running shoe and even non-plated trainers.

On our easy runs, long runs, and tempo runs, the Speed 4 gave us comfort for miles. With an above-average heel stack (36.2 mm vs. the 33.5 mm average), the cushion is leg-saving. This is composed of a balanced PWRRUN PB foam to keep our strides controlled and stable. To top it off, the mesh upper is incredibly breathable.

Heads up, the thin 2.0 mm tongue may cause some lace bite when tied too tight and on longer runs. 

In our extensive tests in and out of the lab, the Ride 17 emerges as the top daily trainer among the Saucony line. This shoe proves to be a reliable workhorse that excels across various distances, striking a perfect balance between cushioning and responsiveness. Not only does it deliver comfort, but it also showcases outstanding durability, making it an ideal companion for burning daily mileage.

The Ride 17 stands out with its plush yet bouncy ride, boasting above-average measurements of 35.1/26.6 mm in the heel and forefoot. Our durometer readings reveal a remarkable softness, scoring 19.1% lower than average. This shoe provides consistent support and a buttery-smooth feel, enhanced by the ultra-soft 6.7 mm thick insole.

One of the Ride 17's key strengths lies in its robust outsole, which showed minimal wear even after rigorous outdoor and Dremel testing in the lab. Registering a high 86.0 HC durometer reading and excelling in durability tests, this shoe proves its longevity and toughness in various conditions.

While the Ride 17 impresses with its durability and cushioning, some users may find it slightly lacking in natural feel due to its stiffness. Its 29.4N above-average resistance to bending, as indicated in our 90-degree test, may require a bit more effort to conform to our demands.

Among the Saucony roster, Endorphin Pro 4 is our best bet for smashing PBs and earning podium wins. It has tonnes of cushioning and energy to boast while keeping its weight to a minimum. Our lab confirms 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—17.3% 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 137.5% stiffer than average. It features Saucony’s Speedroll technology, sustaining our momentum and power efficiently.

Complementing the stiffness is the dynamic midsole—the true star of the show. It packs comfort, surefootedness, and responsiveness in one thanks to its dual-density foam and luscious 38.1 mm heel. The top foam is a plush 18.5 HA for comfort. The bottom support balances the softness with a firmer 22.0 HA to boost stability. This superior combination makes it very forgiving on long races yet responsive on shorter and faster races—a winner at every distance.

Unfortunately, its forefoot stack doesn’t match the heel cushioning. We find that heel-strikers are the ones who will truly benefit from EP4's features.

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 calliper 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.

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.

The Saucony Peregrine 14 resembles the agility and airiness of the Peregrine falcon in our outdoor runs. Backed up by the lab, it has extraordinary traction and a low drop that enhances our control over challenging terrain. Its all-rounder capabilities make it the best Saucony trail shoe.

Peregrine 14 feels almost weightless on foot and feels more like a road-running shoe. Our scales confirm our sensations, revealing a mere 9.4 oz (266g), 9.5% lighter than the average trail shoe. Together with its fluid midsole, these shoes deliver smooth and quick movements, allowing us to soar through technical trails while breathing in nature.

This Saucony shoe stays lightweight primarily because of its modest platform. With a 27.3 mm heel—lower than the 32.2 mm average—it offers sufficient comfort and added protection due to its rock plate. Combined with a 25.1 mm forefoot, it yields a minimal 2.2 mm drop, magnifying our ground feel.

The PPWRTRAC outsole has 4.7 mm lugs that are incredibly grippy and cleverly patterned to shed mud. Whether we encountered loose dirt or snow, we breezed through easily and safely. 

However, we advise extreme heel strikers and runners with lower leg issues to steer clear of the Peregrine 14's low configuration, as it may lead to discomfort.

A surprisingly low-cost and high-value shoe — the Axon 3 stands out from the Saucony range as the best budget running shoe. As proven by our outdoor runs and lab tests, this incredibly comfortable and durable trainer offers premium features without the premium price tag.

At £100, it’s significantly below the £130 average price of daily trainers. It's light in the pocket and light on foot with its 8.6 oz (244g) weight. That’s 12.5% below the average daily trainer!

For such an affordable shoe, the Axon 3 is pleasantly cushioned for long miles, especially its 27.9 mm forefoot. Our durometer confirms our sensation — indeed, the foam is 22.5% softer than average, making it a great companion for long miles.

We’re impressed with the Carbon Rubber outsole’s durability and grip. Even after many miles, there weren't any significant signs of wear. In our lab tests, Axon 3 emerged thicker and denser than the average. Yet what cements its high quality is its smaller indentation of 0.7 mm than the 0.9 mm average in our brutal Dremel test.

If comfort is the top priority, we recommend other options since Axon 3 may be too stiff for some runners.