Why the Saucony Ride 18 is the silent hero of daily trainers
Weight: 278g (UK 8.5)
Stack height: 35mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot)
Drop: 8mm
Type: Neutral, daily training
Saucony Ride 18
The shoe
My relationship with the Saucony Ride has gone from zero to 100 over the past couple of years. The 15s and 16s were both solid daily trainers, but I found myself craving a little more ‘oomph’, and after their initial testing periods, they were returned to their boxes until they found a second home.
But then, last year, the Ride 17 appeared on the scene, bringing with it some big changes. That included a new Pwrrun+ midsole, which changed the Ride’s, erm, ride from something firm and lacklustre to something modern and peppy. It became, to my surprise, one of my favourite running shoes from the past year. Seriously, I was like a Ride 17 poster girl in 2024 – I recommended it to numerous beginners and veteran runners.
So I was a bit worried about what Saucony would do to the Ride 18. My faith in the brand wasnt entirely optimistic following the release of the Triumph 22, which saw the much-loved Triumph 21 revert to a one trick pony. However, I’m pleased to report that the Ride 18 has received some very minor tweaks that allow it to maintain what so many, myself included, loved about the previous iteration. Namely, a reformulated midsole (which Saucony is still calling Pwrrun+, even though it’s lighter and snappier than the v17) and a refined fit.
Still my Ride 18 or die? Let’s get into things.
How does the Saucony Ride 18 fit?
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. I’m not entirely sold on the aesthetics of this shoe and thats a bit gutting because there’s so much else going for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love a clean shoe. But grey and sage green? In my living room, maybe. On a running shoe, no. Thankfully, there are a few more colourways to choose from, so you don’t have to draw the short straw like me.
Looks aside, my usual size UK 8.5 fits me very well, with a moderate amount of width in the toe box: nothing too roomy, nothing too narrow – just the Goldilocks amount. There is a wide fit option if you need it, though.
The new engineered mesh upper feels a bit more taunt and structured than that of the v17, which creates a more dialled in fit around the midfoot. (It also looks very similar to the upper on the Brooks Glycerin 22.) The heel counter is quite stiff, but it’s well padded – more so than the v17 – which helps to avoid any issues.
Saucony has also adopted the bungee-cord style eyelets that we’ve seen cropping up on a number of running shoes over the past year, which makes the process of lacing up feel smoother and effortless. And, where most running shoes have an additional lacing eyelet on each side, the Ride 18 has three. This makes it a really accessible shoe in terms of dialling up or down the fit depending on the volume of your foot. That said, Saucony has kept the same laces as the v17, which some of the RW testers felt had a little too much stretch in them, making lacing up fiddly. It’s a minor gripe, but that’s what we’re here for, eh?
Bonus points are awarded for a partially gusseted tongue, though (I’ll always be a sucker for a gusseted tongue). Gone is the heel pull tab from the v17, but I can’t say that I had particularly strong feelings about that either way.
What’s it like to run in the Saucony Ride 18?
I’ll be honest, I’ve spent so much time testing out cushy cruisers over the past couple of months that I’ve begun to develop max-cushioned shoe fatigue. I’ve been craving something simpler – something a little more back to basics. So, the Ride 18 arrived on my desk at the perfect time. It was a breath of fresh air in a world of towering stack heights.
Quite simply, this is a solid daily trainer. The newly formulated Prwrun+ foam does a sterling job of offering soft and protective cushioning that’s balanced with a sense of connectedness and control. There’s also a hint of firmness there, which lends the Ride to a variety of distances and paces. At the end of a 25km long run, for example, I still felt capable of bashing out some kilometres at a peppy tempo pace, while on easy runs I’ve tended to forget I’m even wearing these shoes. From that perspective, it’s a very ‘lace up and go’ type of shoe. By that, I mean it’s not going to knock your socks off – rather, it sort of disappears on your foot and lets you get on with things. And I think there’s a lot to be said for that.
Oh, and an added bonus is that Saucony has knocked £5 off the price of the v17, too, with the Ride 18 retailing for £130. I’ve not seen a price decrease for a long time, so kudos to Saucony for that. The world doesn’t need more £180+ trainers.
RW verdict
It’s strange how much I enjoy the Ride 18. It’s not a particularly flashy shoe. Saucony hasn’t throw the kitchen sink at it in terms of carbon plates and super foams. It doesn’t have the Novablast’s trampoline-inspired outsole or the Pegasus’ AirZoom unit. It is, quite simply, a solid, dependable daily trainer that offers fantastic bang for your buck. Kind of like the childhood best friend in a noughties romcom, who’s quietly waiting in the wings to emerge as the real heartthrob of the movie.
Balanced is probably the best way to describe it. It’s not too soft or too firm. It’s not too lively or too sluggish. It’s just this lovely, happy medium. Don't get me wrong, I won't be lacing this up for my intervals any time soon, nor would I race in it, but for long runs, easy runs and tempo efforts, it’s a very capable all-rounder for a very respectable price.
Saucony Ride 18: Alternatives
If you're looking for a slightly plusher, more premium ride, the Brooks Glycerin 22 (£165) is worth a look. Its new DNA Tuned midsole is a heel striker's dream, with larger cells in the heel and midfoot offering cushioning and softness, transitioning you onto the forefoot where smaller cells offer a poppy toe-off.
For something a bit lower to the ground, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 4 (£140) is an equally excellent value and even more versatile daily trainer. Its blended EVA/PEBA midsole delivers a relatively firm and snappy underfoot sensation, providing plenty of bounce when you push it through track intervals or tempos.
And if you're looking for soft cushioning with a bouncy, responsive ride, the Asics Novablast 5 (£130) veers more into max-cushioned territory, but provides excellent bang for your buck.
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