Saucony Ride 19 Review: The Reliable Daily Trainer Gets Quietly Better
A balanced, no-frills neutral road shoe for every pace, now a touch softer and snappier and still $145
October 7th, 2026
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Our verdict
The Saucony Ride 19 is a neutral road running shoe that balances moderate cushion and responsiveness, making it a reliable, trusty daily trainer for beginner to elite runners. The Saucony Ride line has been a favorite among Treeline testers for years, and the latest model, which only made minor adjustments to the midsole and upper compared to the Saucony Ride 18, remains true to its roots.
Saucony updated the PWRRUN+ foam midsole so the Ride 19 has more cushion and more responsive turnover than previous models, but only minimally so, which we appreciate. We could only tell the difference when directly comparing the Ride 19 and Ride 18 side by side. And we’re grateful, because this shoe has long been one of our favorite daily trainers, and we appreciate that it remains consistent and available at a reasonable price.
Saucony Ride 19
Women's
Men's
We tested the Saucony Ride 19 while running on paved paths, gravel and dirt roads, and even non-technical trails throughout Colorado during the late spring and summer months. Runs ranged from easy, recovery paces to uptempo runs and strides to assess turnover and energy return. With over 100 miles in these shoes, we also tested them alongside other road running shoes to directly compare fit, cushion, responsiveness, traction, breathability, support, overall comfort, and more.
This shoe is not the most plush, nor is it the snappiest. If you want a maximum-cushioned trainer, midsole tech that encourages propulsion, or a low-drop or zero-drop shoe, this is not the road shoe for you. But if you want a no-frills, reliable, capable road running shoe that’s versatile across a range of paces at a good price, the Saucony Ride 19 is hard to beat.
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Saucony Ride 19 specifications
Price: $145
Weight (per shoe): 7.7 oz (women’s 8), 8.9 oz (men’s 9)
Heel-to-toe drop (mm): 8 mm
Stack height (heel/forefoot mm): 36/28 mm
Cushion level: Moderate
Support type: Neutral
Upper materials: Textile/synthetic leather
Midsole foam type: PWRRUN+
Outsole material: Rubber
Available sizes and widths: Women’s 5-12, men’s 7-15, regular and wide
Suitable for vegans: Yes
Comparison table
| RUNNING SHOE | WEIGHT (men's per pair) | WEIGHT (women's per pair) | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saucony Ride 19 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 1.8 oz | 15.4 oz | Moderate | 8 mm | 36 - 28 mm |
| Saucony Triumph 24 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 1.6 oz | 15.2 oz | Maximum | 10 mm | 43 - 33 mm |
| HOKA Mach 7 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 0.7 oz | 14.3 oz | Moderate | 5 mm | 37 - 32 mm (men's), 36 - 31 mm (women's) |
| Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 6.6 oz | 1 lb, 4.4 oz | Maximum | 6 mm | 45 - 39 mm |
Best for
Daily training runs, recovery runs, long runs, and light workouts (like tempos and Fartleks)
Runners of all experience levels, from beginners to elite athletes
Runners who want a neutral training shoe that isn’t overly technical
Road runs and some mixed surfaces
What we liked
Plenty of cushion without feeling too plush or sacrificing responsiveness
Comfortable fit that still feels good at the end of long runs
A quality road running shoe at a great price
Available in wide sizes
Available in 17 colorways for women and 15 colorways for men
What could be better
Does not have a lot of fancy midsole tech that some runners may be looking for
It’s a great all-around daily trainer, which means it isn’t the best at anything specific (like recovery, speed work, or races)
8 mm drop may be higher than some folks are used to
How we tested
We tested the men’s and women’s Saucony Ride 19 in regular sizes. Our men’s and women’s testers have covered over 100 miles in these shoes, ranging from 3-mile recovery days to 10-mile long runs. To test turnover and responsiveness, we did light workouts, pick-ups, and post-run strides.
Testing occurred mostly during the hot summer months in Colorado, with our testers primarily using the Ride 19 on asphalt roads, cement city sidewalks, paved pedestrian paths, gravel paths, and dirt roads. We also ventured onto some non-technical trails.
To directly compare the updates to the new model, we ran with the Saucony Ride 19 on one foot and the Saucony Ride 18 on the other. We also tested the Ride 19 alongside similar road running shoes we’re currently testing, like the Saucony Triumph 24, adidas Adizero EVO SL, Salomon Aero Blaze 4, HOKA Mach 7, HOKA Clifton 11, and others from our Best Men’s Road Running Shoes and Best Women’s Road Running Shoes guides. This allowed us to directly compare cushion, responsiveness, ride, traction, grip, support, fit, general comfort, and more.
Performance in the field
Fit and feel
The Saucony Ride 19 fits true to size. The shoes are available in regular and wide sizes, in 5-12 (women’s) and 7-15 (men’s). Like most road running shoes, it doesn’t have a particularly wide toe box, but both our narrow-to-regular-footed tester and our average-to-wide-footed tester had no issues with the standard fit. The heel feels snug and secure, and the interior is plush, which aids in overall comfort. In our experience, Sauconys tend to consistently fit most foot types comfortably.
Because of their comfortable fit, these shoes required no break-in period, and we experienced no hot spots. Other than the 8 mm drop, which might be high for some folks, this is one of the easiest road shoes to comfortably run in out of the box.
Ride and responsiveness
Since the Saucony Ride 19 is a no-frills road running shoe, its midsole doesn’t feel as springy as those with more midsole tech. The PWRRUN+ foam midsole is plush and responsive enough to give you a smooth ride that feels balanced and unremarkable—but that’s what we really like about these shoes.
They’re cushioned, but you don’t sink into them as you do with some plush, recovery-oriented road running shoes. They’re responsive, but not in a way that propels you forward or makes you feel like you’re working out.
The ride is balanced and smooth. This makes them best suited as daily training shoes that still work well for easier recovery runs, long runs, and light workouts like tempos, Fartleks, or marathon-pace runs.
Cushioning
As stated above, the PWRRUN+ foam offers cushion, but not an alarming or noticeable amount (unless you’re coming up from a minimalist shoe). Saucony updated their proprietary PWRRUN+ foam to have a slightly softer cushion and a touch more responsiveness than the previous version in the 18s. The difference is negligible unless you’re testing the shoes side by side, and even then, it’s small. But we’re grateful—the Saucony Ride has been a consistently reliable, high-quality road running shoe for years, and we hope it stays that way.
The moderate level of cushion in this shoe is plenty for long runs. We ran up to 10 miles in them on a single run and never felt fatigued or uncomfortable. The midsole should last roughly 300-500 miles, depending on factors such as how much impact it takes (e.g., your weight or how much downhill running you do), your foot strike pattern, and the terrain you run on.
Traction and grip
The rubber outsole feels like that of any other road running shoe, providing plenty of traction and grip on road runs, and it performs well on gravel and non-technical terrain. But it’s not designed for trail running, and we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for that.
In testing, we mostly ran on roads, but did venture onto dirt roads and gravel paths. The Saucony Ride 19s performed just fine crossing over. But if you’ll be running mostly on gravel roads, you may want to check out our Best Gravel Running Shoes guide.
Breathability and upper
The upper is made of mesh textile and synthetic leather. The mesh allows for airflow and makes it plenty breathable, and the synthetic leather adds some durability so the shoe lasts longer. Most of our testing was done during a very hot summer in Colorado, with temperatures up to 100 degrees, and our feet felt just as well ventilated in these as in just about any other road running shoe we’ve tested.
Saucony updated the Ride 19s with a new engineered mesh upper designed to be more breathable and stretchier for a more inclusive fit. This update isn’t super noticeable—unless you’re comparing them directly with the 18s side by side, in which case the stretch may be more apparent. We appreciate the gradual direction Saucony is taking this shoe.
Stability and support
The Saucony Ride 19s are a neutral shoe, which means they do not offer stability or motion control for overpronation. But in terms of feeling stable and supported underfoot while running, these shoes offer plenty of lateral stability. Our women’s tester rolls her ankles a lot, but has never rolled her ankles in these shoes.
If you want to add more stability, you can replace the insoles with custom orthotics or aftermarket insoles.
Weight and efficiency
The women’s Ride 19 weighs 7.7 oz per shoe, and the men’s weighs 8.9 oz per shoe. This is pretty lightweight for a road running shoe, though not the lightest if that’s your priority. In any case, the shoes never felt heavy, and our feet never felt fatigued, even over long runs.
Durability and longevity
The Saucony Ride 19s are expected to last 300-500 miles, like most road running shoes. This depends on factors like how much weight/impact you put on the midsole, the terrain you run on, your gait and whether your toe wears on the toe box, and how hard you are on these shoes in general. While 300-500 miles is the general guideline for how long a pair of running shoes will last, we think the Saucony Ride 19 is likely a little hardier than lightweight, speed-focused running shoes with more exposed midsoles. And at $145, that makes them a better value than most road running shoes, too.
Features
Drop measurement
The Saucony Ride 19 is a high-drop shoe with an 8 mm drop (or offset).
Stack height
The stack height is 36/28 mm, which is just 1 mm higher than the stack of the Ride 18s. This is pretty average for road running shoes. In testing, it did not feel particularly noticeable, and the shoe feels stable underfoot.
PWRRUN+
The Ride 19 has a PWRRUN+ foam midsole, which balances cushion with responsiveness for a smooth ride. The formula of this foam has been updated since the Ride 18 to be a smidge more cushioned and a smidge more responsive than before, though admittedly our testers could hardly tell the difference.
Lacing system
These shoes use a traditional lacing system, with round, plush laces.
Heel tab design
These shoes don’t have a heel tab to help you pull on the shoes, but they’re easy enough to get on and off that we didn’t miss this feature.
Reflective elements
There are reflective elements at the heel and forefoot. This is helpful for visibility, but if you’ll be running at night, we recommend adding more reflective, hi-vis, or light-up apparel or accessories to be more visible. Check out our Best Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark guide.
Colors
The women’s shoes come in 17 colors and the men’s come in 15 colors. Unfortunately, the wide sizes only come in five, more basic color options.
Sustainability
Saucony has expanded its Run For Good line (unfortunately, not with the Ride), which uses more recycled, renewable, and organic materials. In general, the brand is working toward using more of those materials and eliminating packaging waste. Learn more about their sustainability initiatives on their website.
Who should buy the Saucony Ride 19?
Buy if
Buy the Saucony Ride 19 if you run on paved surfaces and want a neutral daily trainer that balances moderate cushion with responsiveness at a budget-friendly price.
Skip if
Skip the Saucony Ride 19 if you want a road running shoe with maximum cushion, more midsole tech for snappier turnover, or a lower drop. Also skip if you’re looking for a trail running shoe or want a stability shoe for overpronation.
Women's
Men's
Where to buy the Saucony Ride 19
The Saucony Ride 19 is a popular shoe, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for members for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Zappos
Pros: 365-day free shipping on returns, fast delivery with free VIP program
Road Runner Sports
Pros: VIP rewards offers 90-day returns, free shipping, and cash rewards for VIP members, free Fit Finder fitting tool, in-person stores across the country
Similar running shoes
Saucony Ride 19 vs. Saucony Triumph 24
Price: $170
Weight (per shoe): 8.8 oz men's; 7.6 oz women's
Heel-to-toe drop: 10 mm
Stack height: 43 - 33 mm
Cushion level: Maximum
Support type: Neutral
The Saucony Triumph 24 is a plush daily trainer that offers more cushion than the Saucony Ride 19, and is thus better suited for recovery runs, easier runs, and folks who want a little more cushion underfoot for their joints.
Choose the Triumph if you want more cushion, especially for daily training and recovery runs. Choose the Ride 19 if you want a more do-it-all daily trainer that can dip into faster workout speeds with more ease. Learn more in our in-depth Saucony Triumph 24 review.
Saucony Triumph 24
Women's
Men's
Saucony Ride 19 vs. HOKA Mach 7
Price: $145
Weight (per shoe): 8.4 oz men's; 7.2 oz women's
Heel-to-toe drop: 5 mm
Stack height: 36.8 - 31.8 mm (men's), 35.6 - 30.6 mm (women's)
Cushion level: Moderate
Support type: Neutral
Like the Saucony Ride 19, the HOKA Mach 7 is a do-it-all daily trainer at the same price. The Mach 7 is lighter and snappier, though, so it transitions better into workouts. The Saucony Ride, on the other hand, will serve you better for the easier days when you might want more cushion and support underfoot. The Mach 7 was the top pick in our women’s running shoes guide. Learn more in our in-depth review of the HOKA Mach 7 road running shoes.
HOKA Mach 7
Women's
Men's
Saucony Ride 19 vs. Brooks Glycerin Max 2
Price: $200
Weight (per shoe): 11.3 oz men's; 10.2 oz women's
Heel-to-toe drop: 6 mm
Stack height: 45 - 39 mm
Cushion level: Maximum
Support type: Neutral
The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is, in some ways, the antithesis of the Saucony Ride 19 because it has a lot of cushion, a lot of stack (45-39 mm), an aggressive GlideRoll rocker to encourage forward movement, and is much more expensive. This is a daily trainer designed for runners who want to feel fast, even on regular mileage days, and who want a daily trainer that will encourage faster turnover on long runs or workout days while still providing a lot of cushion.
The Glycerin Max 2 is among the most maximalist shoes we’ve tested, and it’s at the other end of the spectrum from barefoot shoes and zero-drop road running shoes, like the Altra Torin. If you want more cushion and turnover than the Saucony Ride 19offerss, and you have the budget, this is a very popular shoe.
Brooks Glycerin Max 2
Women's
Men's
FAQ
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Yes, in our testing. It comes in regular and wide, and both our narrow-to-regular and average-to-wide testers were comfortable in the regular fit.
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With the Ride 19 you get a reformulated PWRRUN+ midsole with slightly more cushion and responsiveness, a stretchier engineered-mesh upper, and 1 mm more stack. We only noticed the differences side by side.
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The Ride 19 handled gravel, dirt roads and non-technical trails fine, but it isn't a trail shoe.
Why you should trust us / About the author
Becca Downs ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to an ultramarathon in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020-2021. She also notched a few small FKTs under her belt.
She geeks out on trail running, track and field, and cries every time she watches a marathon (they’re just so beautiful!). She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the Mile-High MFA Program at Regis University. Becca is based in Denver, Colorado.
Find more of Becca’s reviews on her Treeline Review author page.
