Saucony Ride 19 Review | Improved Durability and Without a Towering Stack Height

We already loved last year’s model, but did the small tweaks to the Saucony Ride 19 turn it into a neutral daily trainer that runners will love even more?The Saucony Ride 15 was actually my very first pair of Saucony running shoes, and wow, this model has come a long way since then. I only recently retired my last pair of the 15s after many training miles.

If I’m being honest, I liked the 15s so much that I rotated through a few pairs and completely skipped the models in between. I ended up moving over to the Endorphin line and never really looked back.

Luckily, Amanda tested out the Saucony Ride 18 last year and had only good things to say about how it felt during her runs. BUT we did get a lot of feedback from runners about durability, so while that wasn’t an issue for us it was top of mind with testing.

So the big question is, will the Saucony Ride 19 earn a spot in our regular rotation? I’ll give you a spoiler: that’s going to be a yes.

This is a great daily trainer with a solid amount of cushion that isn’t a towering stack height! We feel really confident recommending this to a wide variety of runners with the updated foam for more durability.

Saucony Ride 19 Overview

We may sound like a broken record with this review, but if you liked the last couple of Ride models, there’s no need to worry; there aren’t any major changes here.

That said, everything Saucony did tweak feels like a welcome upgrade.

I first started wearing the Saucony Ride years ago after dealing with some plantar fasciitis. It was one of the few shoes that didn’t cause pain or discomfort and actually helped things feel better (alongside strength and mobility work, of course).

The Ride 19 keeps the familiar 8mm heel drop, and despite updates to the foam and outsole, it’s actually a bit lighter than previous versions.

After nearly a month of running in the Ride 19, it’s still a shoe we’d confidently recommend as a daily trainer. It’s not built for all-out speed or hard workouts, but if you sprinkle in a few strides here and there, it’ll handle them just fine.One of the biggest complaints that we saw about the Ride 18 was its lack of durability. Many folks reported that the outsole and foam were breaking down quickly, usually around 200 miles.

For now, it looks like Saucony really listened to this feedback and changed the outsole design to increase durability and grip. (Our team will report back with our 200-mile update to let you know!)

When I first turned the shoes over, I was shocked by how the outsole really stood out, like what you’d see on a pair of trail shoes. Now, these aren’t lugs; Saucony used its XT-900 carbon rubber to address that durability issue.

The XT-900 carbon rubber is added to the high-wear areas of the shoe (heel and toe-off) to ensure the shoes last for many, many miles.

This rubber outsole will also keep your feet from slipping, especially on slick roads or when going from road to light trails.

I wanted to put these to the test, so I took them on some mixed-terrain runs, and I was overall impressed with how the treads performed on the crushed gravel. Coach Amanda: As noted earlier, I wore my Ride 18 as part of my rotation all year. The gold color made them a perfect for vacation to walk around or go run option and I’m all about that double duty. I didn’t notice any breakdown, but the feedback from so many of you got my attention.

Right now I’m at around 100 miles in the Ride 19 and will update with I hit 300, but so far I really just enjoy this shoe.

It’s nice to NOT be in a massive stack height shoe and yet be getting all the softness that I want underfoot. Plus for a daily trainer it’s pretty darn light, meaning for a lot of our readers this could absolutely be the training shoe that also takes you through your half marathon race day!

Saucony Ride 19 Fit

For me, these felt true to size and were comfortable right out of the box. I have never experienced a fit issue with Sauconys, and a women’s size 11 always fits just right.

I could see them feeling a bit narrow for some runners. The good news is that the Ride 19 is available in a wide for select colorways if you need the extra room.

There are still 3 eyelets at the top instead of 2, and the laces are long enough if you like to experiment with different lacing options or adjustments.The upper mesh got a big makeover, giving the shoe a more inclusive, accommodating fit.

My one hesitation with the Ride 19 is here, though. Those larger openings on the upper are actual, legit holes. And as someone who runs on crushed gravel fairly often, I can confirm that small bits of dirt and tiny rocks do find their way inside. That being said, in fairness they are not marketed as or designed as trail shoes.

It’s not a deal breaker, but it could get annoying over time, especially if you start to feel those little rocks through your socks.

I may end up keeping these as more of a treadmill shoe to avoid that issue, but I haven’t fully committed to that decision just yet.

The padding around the heel collar and tongue looks about the same to me, but Saucony says they added a bit more padding in those areas.

What really matters, though, is how it feels, and it’s extremely comfortable. I never experienced any irritation, even on days when I accidentally grabbed socks that were too low (low-rise socks for life!).

There’s also a gusseted tongue, which means it stays put the entire run. Honestly, if you ask me, every shoe should come with this design by default. Who has time to deal with a tongue that constantly shifts around anyway?

Saucony Ride 19 Feel

The Saucony Ride 19 is lightweight, slightly softer, and more responsive underfoot. This is all thanks to a reformulated PWRRUN+ foam.

It’s not going to feel super bouncy like if you put on one of the shoes in the Endorphin line, but you’re going to get a little bit of energy return that’s going to feel really nice especially once you get into those longer runs.

You want a shoe that works with you, not against you. And no matter the distance of miles you’re heading out for, the Ride 19 is going to feel good every step of the way. I’d call the feel of the Saucony Ride 19 similar to what Goldilocks called her porridge. It’s not too soft, not too firm, the PWRRUN+ foam is just the right amount of cushion and support.

Coach Amanda: Having put a lot of max cushioned running shoes to the test over the last few years, I’m really excited to see a middle of the road option that’s just enjoyable to use. I run in the Kinvara weekly, and it does pick up the pace a bit more, but the Ride feels like a really nice accompanying shoe for easy days.

Where does the Ride Fit in the Line up?

In terms of the Saucony lineup, where does the ride fit, if we exclude the Endorphin line which is it’s own type of foam and focus on performance, here’s a look:

• Saucony Triumph is going to be the max cushion option
• Saucony Kinvara is more of a do-it-all from easy to speed work (again, not an Endorphin)
• Saucony Ride is a moderate cushion daily trainer
• Saucony Guide is the stability model of the Ride
• Saucony Hurricane is the max cushion stability option

Saucony Ride 18 vs 19

We’ve already said the gold of the Ride 18 won our hearts, but honestly the colorways of the Ride 19 are also pretty nice. They’re not boring white and yet also not neon yellow. But presumably a lot of you, some of you, at least a few of you are not making your decision based on color.

So should you buy the Ride 18 while it’s discounted or pony up for the Ride 19?

In the majority of cases with shoes that are up to round 19 we say buy the on sale pair. I mean save the money because we know you’ll need more than one pair of running shoes this year.

BUT the Ride 18 had so much blow-back on durability that we absolutely think it’s worth going for the 19.

• Similar feel underfoot
• Similar overall cushion
• If you liked the 18, you’ll be happy in the 19
• If you’re new the Ride, the 19 is going to carry you more miles than the 18
• This applies to walkers, runners and casual usage

What to read next?

• Best Saucony Running Shoes: Complete Buyer’s Guide
• Best Marathon Shoes for Beginners Who Just Want to Finish Strong
• Saucony Ride Vs Saucony Guide: Which Wins for Daily Training?
• See all our running shoe reviews (over 225 last year alone!)