Saucony Guide 17: New-age support, same old versatility
Weight: 269g (M), 232g (W)
Stack height: 35mm (heel), 29mm (forefoot)
Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
Who the Ride 17 is for: Runners looking for a responsive everyday trainer with a slightly rockered sole to help roll the foot forward
For runners who like: Brooks Ghost 16, Altra Torin 7
The shoe
Seventeen looks good on Saucony’s Guide. Some call this age no man’s land — not sweet 16; not yet legal to vote. But the Guide, despite undergoing several updates, has preserved its signature feel, solidifying why it's one of our our ride-or-die daily trainers.
The Guide sits atop that mantel of shoes we can’t resist recommending to new runners. Like Brooks’s Ghost and Adrenaline, Hoka’s Clifton and Nike’s Pegasus, these shoes provide a happy medium for those just getting into the sport. Don’t know your arch height or pronation? No problem. Unsure how long or how fast you’ll go? The Guide — and its neutral counterpart the Ride 17 — are the best place to start.
But, seasoned vets are also drawn to the shoe for its versatility. These are the kind of trainers we’ll lace up for an easy run with no planned workout on the docket. Yet if we find ourselves getting into the groove for a faster effort, the Guide is still up for the task.
Saucony Guide 17: What's new?
The Guide has evolved over the past couple of years, transitioning from old-school medial post stability tech to Saucony’s Hollow-Tech (an unobtrusive plastic arch that bridges the heel and midfoot). The Guide 17 introduces the brand’s new Center Path Technology.
At the Runner’s World Shoe Summit, Saucony described Center Path Technology as 'a new idea of support' that keeps pressure centred within the footstrike. The Guide 17’s stability rejects the old 'treadmill gait analysis' that the industry used to study runners’ ankle and foot rolls. Instead, Saucony’s team focused on pressures underfoot, observing how this impact is distributed. The team dialled in the support on those high-impact zones with the new tech, which provides more cushioning across a broader base for a stabler platform.
The Guide 17 has a visibly more sculpted sole than the Guide 16, promoting support throughout the foot instead of isolating it on the medial side — as it did in older versions. The shoe also has higher sidewalls for a comfier fit that cradles your foot.
One of our testers, an overpronator with a high arch and midfoot strike, didn’t think much of the shoe at first, saying it looked 'basic'. Appearances can be deceiving, however. After a couple of runs she found the shoe 'moulded' to her foot, which supported her high arch. The ride was stable, she said, but there wasn’t as much bounce compared with other shoes she’s worn.
'The comfort was very good, however, there was not much spring to the shoe,' said our tester, who averages 7:30 pace during workouts. 'I would recommend the Guide 17 for regular runs or long runs.'
Tester Feedback for the Guide 17
Mike Browne, 43
Miles Per Week: 50 | Average Training Pace: 6:45
'I need a shoe with stability. The Guide 17 provides very similar support to what my Hoka Arahi generally offers. I tested the Guide 17 mainly on roads, so with harder pounding — hills included — I liked that the shoe protected and cushioned my heels well. I used the Guide 17s mostly for marathon training runs; I didn’t really use them for speedwork, besides post-run strides and mid-run pickups. They felt fine for 6:15 to 6:30 pace, but I generally prefer them for slower efforts between 7:15 to 7:45 pace. At that speed, they felt great.'
RW Verdict
If you're looking for a reliable workhorse, designed for munching up daily miles, Saucony's Guide 17 fits the bill. Soft underfoot feel while retaining a good level of liveliness, the ride feels small and effortless, and there's plenty of structure alongside the plushy interior, too. A shoe tester you're sure to reach for when you want a trusty stability shoe for the bulk of your miles.
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