7 Best Saucony Walking Shoes in 2024

We cannot pick any other Saucony walking shoe apart from Ride 17 considering all the aspects that compose an outstanding shoe. From a luscious stack to a bouncy ride to excellent durability—this pair was a remarkable surprise in our actual wear and lab tests.

Our walks feel cushioned and supported all day with Ride 17’s 35.1/26.6 mm above-average stack. We had lots of plush foam to mute out the harshness of the ground. Our durometer reveals a low 19.0 HA, which means it's 19.1% softer than average. The 6.7 thickness of the insole exceeded the average by 2.3 mm, providing us with added pleasure even on long walks.

We also brought Ride 17 indoors, to cities, and to light trails and one thing is common in all these places: its dependable outsole! Measuring the outsole hardness, we realized that at 86.0 HC or a hardness greater than average by 7.1%, it's not only grippy but also long-lasting.

What we found lacking is its natural feel. Because of its stack, it lacks flexibility for more relaxed walks. Our 90-degree test reveals it’s 53.1% stiffer than the average walking shoe.

Light and loose, here’s a chill kick for our daily walks and runs. Our lab proves Saucony Guide 17 seamlessly guides our strides without being intrusive, offering a reassuring hand when needed. It delivers all-day pleasure with its cushioned midsole, an unusual stability feature, offering the best arch support in the Saucony walking-running lineup.

While it’s not the lightest shoe out there, Guide 17 is remarkably airy in the stability realm. At 9.7 oz (275g), it beats the 10.4 oz (296g) average of its counterparts. Offering a lighter sensation on the foot is the unresisting midsole which showed 24.5% higher flexibility than average in our bend test. These elements deliver a nimble and burden-free ride.

Guide 17 managed to impressively maintain a light build despite its above-average 34.9/27.9 mm stack. Our durometer reveals it’s a balanced 22.3 HA, offering leg protection and relieving the strain off our arches.

To enhance stability, Guide 17 has several reinforcing elements such as the midsole walls, sole flares, and vast landing base. Each stride feels secure as we have much room to find our footing. Our lab reveals the midsole measures 7.5/14.3 mm wider than the average forefoot and heel.

What we found lacking is a breathable upper on hot and humid days. We recommend taking this pair out during the cooler seasons.

In the realm of cushioning, the Saucony Triumph 21 is beyond compare among the other Saucony pairs because the pleasure and responsiveness it brings are on another level! We are over the moon whenever we are sporting this shoe, thanks to the air-soft footbed that makes us oblivious to the harshness of the ground.

Our caliper displayed a 39.1 mm elevation in the heel and 28.6 mm height in the forefoot. These are above the averages by 17.8% and 17.2%, demonstrating how chunky the midsole is. Making it even better is its softness that takes care of our feet on prolonged on-foot journeys. We verified this using our durometer and it registered 16.8 HA softness which is 30% more plush than the average!

The softness of the midsole practically felt the same to us even in cold seasons and our findings in the lab validated our impression. After putting Triumph 21 in our freezer for 20 minutes, we measured the midsole softness again and it increased to 21.6 HA. Despite the 28.6% increase, the midsole is still softer than the average by 28.7%, so we didn’t get to step on a rock-hard foam.

The cushioning stack heights resulted in a 10.5 heel-to-toe drop, which is 1.7 mm greater than the standard. While this is good news for the heel strikers among us when we also sported this shoe in light runs, our forefoot striker testers are not enthused. If you also land on your forefoot and you think this drop is too high, we suggest looking for other shoes.

Our search for the best Saucony hiking shoe involved hours of outdoor walks and lab tests. It was all worth it when we found Saucony Peregrine 14, the best all-rounder because of how it turned complicated trails into a breeze with its uncomplicated and minimalist build. What we only found extreme is its grip, making our treks as smooth as possible.

Peregrine 14 has a modest 27.3/25.1 mm stack that still feels cushioned enough to buffer shock. Its low 2.2-mm heel drop delivers a natural ride, enhancing our agility. This is the main reason why this trail shoe weighs a low 9.4 oz (266g) vs. the 10.4 oz (294g) average.

The Peregrine 14 doesn't just shield us from impact; it also keeps us safe on tricky trails with its rock plate and its unwavering traction. We didn’t miss our footing on any surface we tested, wet or dry, thanks to the deep 4.7 mm lugs. 

It promotes natural strides for better balance on uneven ground. We discovered through our bend test a flexibility rating (28.5N) close to the average (29.2N), proving Peregrine 14’s versatility.

We advise avoiding this shoe in the summer heat as it only scored 3/5 in breathability. For long trails under the sun, more ventilation is needed for a comfortable experience.

The title of the exemplary lightweight Saucony walking shoe belongs to Saucony Kinvara 14. The sense of relief is what makes us go about our trips with this shoe without qualms – just pure comfort. And have mentioned it’s hella responsive?

While Kinvara 14 is ultra-light, our walks in it are lively and energetic. We discovered that this is due to the midsole that registered a firmness of 24.8 HA, which is in close proximity to the 24 HA average. 

Weighing in at 6.84 oz (194g), the Kinvara 14 comes lighter and behind the average by 27.6%. On our strolls, the feeling of airiness indeed prevailed, making our trips all the more comfortable. Speaking of airiness, the shoe also granted us properly ventilated feet, on account of its light and porous upper. We examined its upper closely with our microscope and it exhibited large holes for air to freely pass through.

However, the upper is also proven to be the weak spot of the shoe. When we drove our Dremel into its toebox, the material ripped fast. With a 1/5 toebox durability rating, we recommend seeking more robust pairs if you want something that isn’t prone to wear.

Laborious testing of Saucony walking shoes led us to the decision of surmounting Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 as the best for all-day wear. We found that it isn’t only perfect for day to night because of its unbelievable in-shoe feel but because of its versatility and stylishness. No pain, all gain - this is what this shoe is all about!

One of the many reasons why we didn’t mind being in Shift 3 for hours was its fantastic ventilation. The air smoothly circulates in and out of the shoe as clearly shown in our breathability test. We pumped smoke inside it and the upper easily coughed the smoke out, scoring 4/5 in breathability.

Whether we were touring or working, we didn’t feel like we were carrying weights down our legs with Shift 3. Our weighing scale displayed a 9.4 oz (266.0g) weight, which is only 1.9% lighter than average. This was surprising for us because it felt so much lighter than on paper.

We also loved the cushioning of Shift 3, which made it seem like we were stepping on pillows. We turned to our durometer and we discovered that the midsole is 22.0 HA soft, which is 10.6% softer than average. What sucked was that the shoe wasn’t that accommodating. Using our caliper, we learned that the widest part of the toebox measured 94.2 mm. This is 3.7 narrower than the average. So if you have bunions or generally have wide feet, we suggest skipping this pair.

In our quest for the ultimate budget-friendly Saucony walking running shoe, our runs and lab analysis have led us to crown the Saucony Axon 3 as the undisputed champion. Priced at a mere £110 vs. the £140 average, it’s more than dependable for collecting mileage, boasting plush cushioning, a lightweight ride, and a heavy-duty outsole.  Weighing in at a breezy 8.6 oz (244g), Axon 3 feels delightful on foot. This makes it 11.6% lighter than the average. Its airy feel is further accentuated by the well-ventilated upper, which earned an impressive 4/5 rating in our breathability tests.

A plush PWRRUN foam carries us underneath, delivering a soft and supportive ride for long hours on foot. Our durometer measurements confirm a gentle 18.3 HA, 22.1% softer than average. The above-average stack height of 33.6/27.9 mm, adds to its luscious level of cushioning.

The Carbon Rubber outsole emerges as a standout feature, catching us off guard with its reliable traction and remarkable durability. After numerous outdoor tests on various surfaces, we observed minimal signs of wear, backed by lab measurements indicating that the rubber is harder and thicker than average.

Runners who prefer high flexibility should look elsewhere. Axon 3 feels quite stiff for easy runs and walks. Our lab shows its rigidity score is closer to the average running shoe.