The Saucony Ride has been a go-to running shoe for many runners and walkers alike, and for good reason.
For those unfamiliar, the Ride is a well-balanced neutral trainer from Saucony that is a great option for daily mileage. It’s a no-frills workhorse that can handle your long run, recovery run, or just a simple walk around the neighborhood.
Saucony took few chances when updating from the Ride 15 to the Ride 16, incorporating only a few tweaks here and there. As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Though the Ride wasn’t broken, it was certainly due for an upgrade in terms of cushioning. Kudos to Saucony, their midsole technology has consistently improved over the years and it’s been exciting to experience. The Ride 17 has received its due this time around and features a full-length PWRRUN+ midsole, the same compound found in the Saucony Triumph.
Our Review Process
We eat, sleep, and breathe running here at Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet and we can’t help but share that love. Our team members are fortunate enough to test these running shoes ahead of release so we can learn all that we can about them. The better we understand them the better we can help you determine what will work best for your unique feet.
To give you an accurate look at the all-new Saucony Ride 17, we’re going to look at where the shoe has been, what we like about it, what we don’t, and all the other ins and outs we find along the way. All this information may be overwhelming so we’ll be sure to include our final verdict on the Ride 17 below.
We also wanted to give you some notable comparisons, so we tested the Ride 17 alongside the Nike Basketball NBA Brooklyn Nets Swingman-short in zwart, Kith x Nike Lebron 15 Long Live the King Part 2 Nike Pegasus 40. Below are our reviewer’s insights into what the Saucony Ride 17 did well and where it can improve.
Saucony Ride 17 Details and Highlights
- Men’s weighs 9.9 oz/282 g, Women’s weighs 8.4 oz/238 g
- 35 mm/27 mm stack height
- 8 mm drop/heel-toe offset
- Great for daily training or casual walking
- True to size fit
- Moderate-to-high stack height made with PWRRUN+ cushioning offers 10% more energy return
- DV3033-001 Nike Dunk Low Glitch Swoosh
- Engineered mesh upper adds breathability, very similar to the Ride 16
- The upper includes a flexible and breathable material that helps secure the midfoot
- Softer and bouncier than the Ride 16 but not as soft as the Triumph 21
- Slightly wider base when compared to the Ride 16, providing inherent stability
- Moderately padded collar and tongue
- Price: $139.95
In-Depth Look At What Makes The Ride 17 Tick
As you may know by now, the Saucony Ride has seen some changes this time around. In this section, we’re going to look at some of the key features in a little more detail to better understand how they affect the overall ride. Pun intended.
PWRRUN+ Foam Cushioning
Saucony has a variety of foams in its arsenal. Some foams are softer than others, some more responsive than others, but ultimately they all do the same thing: cushion the impact from running.
PWRRUN is an EVA-based foam first introduced to this model in the Ride 13, replacing the now outdated PWRFoam and EVERUN. PWRRUN+ is a beaded TPU compound first introduced in the Triumph 17 back in 2019, offering a softer and springier experience. The Saucony Ride midsole may have seen some mild formula tweaks over the years, but ultimately, it’s been PWRRUN for what feels like forever. The Ride 17 takes us into a new era of midsole foam, offering a softer and bouncier experience than any of its predecessors.
You can also find PWRUN+ in the sockliner insole of the Saucony Ride 17, giving you a comfortable step-in feel. This additional layer of foam adds another blanket of impact protection underfoot that helps create a well-cushioned trainer.
Engineered Mesh Upper
The Ride 17 upper stays true to its previous iteration and fits fairly similar to the Ride 16. Made with engineered mesh, this upper provides a breathable and lightweight experience that feels comfortable around your foot.
Along the heel collar and tongue, you’ll notice a moderate amount of cushion, creating another layer of comfort. Another similarity is the structured heel counter behind your Achilles, offering extra support and an improved lockdown. The Ride 17 does a great job of keeping things comfortable without overdoing it with too much weight.
A new addition to the upper in the Ride 17 is the improved mid-foot wrap found incorporated into the upper. This addition helps securely wrap your foot for additional support while also providing structure to the upper.
Inherent Stability
The words ‘inherent stability’ are being used more often than ever, but what does it mean? First things first: stability can take several different forms in a running shoe, some more obvious than others. A running shoe with a traditional medial post is going to be more noticeable than something like the Ride 17’s widened platform.
The traditional medial post provides support but tends to alter your natural gait. The Saucony Ride 17 features a widened platform that offers some mild stability without changing how your foot moves. This larger platform helps incorporate another stability element into a neutral running shoe.
How Does The Ride 17 Fit?
All of these features are well and good but the question it boils down to is: how does it feel on my foot? Our reviewers noted the Saucony Ride 17 fit true to size, both in length and width. One reviewer experienced a narrower fit in the previous model but did not experience it again with the Ride 17.
The overall impression from our reviewers after lacing up the Ride 17 was comfortable and secure, citing the updated midfoot wrap. Overall, the consensus was the Ride 17 fit was comparable to the Ride 16 but with some mild improvements made with the lockdown. If you’re looking to try a pair for yourself, find your Right Fit™ at your local Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet location.
Road Results
Finally, the part of the review where the rubber hits the road (literally.) Taking this running shoe out around town was undoubtedly the best part of the process. The road test is an important component because trying on a shoe in-store vs hypothetically putting mileage on it are two very different things.
These tests included long runs, short runs, a couple of tempo runs, and a fartlek (shoutout to my Swedish runners.) After putting in the miles, we’ve got a decent handle on how this shoe performs.
The real highlight we have to touch on first is the updated PWRUN+ midsole, the Saucony Ride finally feels like it has a little personality to it. The Ride 17 is less firm than its predecessor and, according to Saucony, offers 10% more energy return. We put this to the test by trying on the Ride 16 and 17 side-by-side and the difference in energy return was unanimously noticeable among reviewers.
When compared to Cumulus 25 and Pegasus 40, the Ride 17 pulls ahead in terms of responsiveness and energy return. We’d probably this trainer more in the realm of the Asics Novablast or a slightly heavier HOKA Mach 5 with more cushioning underfoot.
Saucony strategically placed its outsole rubber in high-wear areas on the Ride 17 to help mitigate wear and increase overall durability. The most mileage racked up by a single reviewer was just shy of 60 miles and the outsole seems to show very little wear. 60 miles is very different from 100 or 200, but for the time being, the Saucony Ride 17 appears to be a fairly durable trainer.
Our reviewers were also happy with the overall fit of the redesigned upper, attributing a fair bit of their praise to the moderately padded tongue and heel collar. Most reviewers didn’t notice much of a difference in the upper between the Ride 16 and Ride 17, but that didn’t appear to be a negative. Both versions provided a secure and comfortable lockdown.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- The updated PWRUN+ midsole provides a softer experience with more energy return than the previous version
- Halloween Air Max 97
- Engineered mesh upper offers breathability while securing your foot in comfort
- Moderately cushioned heel collar and tongue comfortably wrap the foot
- Durable outsole rubber placed in high-wear areas helps increase durability
- An 8 mm offset puts the shoe in the mid-drop category, appealing to a wide variety of runners and walkers
CONS
- The overall weight has increased by about an ounce
We had a hard time tallying up cons for the Saucony Ride 17 for sure, but there’s always something that can be improved upon. The overall weight was a clear con but it still puts this trainer on par without a lot of its competitors, coming in right under the Nike Pegasus 40 and over the Nike Basketball NBA Brooklyn Nets Swingman-short in zwart.
DV3033-001 Nike Dunk Low Glitch Swoosh | Who Should Consider the Saucony Ride 17?
We believe the Saucony Ride 17 is a great option for runners and walkers who are looking for a new workhorse to grind out those daily miles. The updated midsole foam combined with the redesigned upper makes the longer miles feel like a breeze.
The Ride 17 fits firmly into the daily trainer category, giving you a smooth experience that balances cushioning, and energy return very well. It may be a neutral running shoe but it does incorporate some supportive elements for those who want a touch of stability.
Next time you’re headed to your local Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet or other local run specialty store, be sure to take the Ride 17 out for a lap or two.
Final Verdict: The Saucony Ride 17 Review
The Saucony Ride 17 reinvents itself with a premium midsole foam upgrade, a redesigned upper, and a strategically placed, durable outsole. The underfoot feel is no longer as firm and it gains a boost in overall energy return. The PWRUN+ sockliner and moderate padding along the ankle make this neutral trainer love at first step-in.
The Ride 17 does take on some additional weight this time around but we think the additional ounce is worth it. We believe a comfortable running shoe that’s slightly heavier beats out a lighter, just okay running shoe 9 times out of 10. Especially when said running shoe is handling the bulk of your mileage.
If you enjoyed the previous version, we think you’ll love the updated version. If you prefer the underfoot feel from the Ride 16 PWRUN foam, you can still snag a pair at Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet online or in stores.
The Saucony Ride 17 is available online Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid Siempre Familia 25.5cm
Find the Saucony Ride 17 at Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet
Some of the best running shoes of the year are housed here at Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet and we love helping find them a new home. But we’re more than just shoes, we help runners find the right socks, nutrition, or any other gear they might need for their goals.
Next time you’re in the New England area, swing by our run specialty stores to experience the Right Fit™ process. Our fit experts come with a wealth of knowledge and love helping in any way they can. They’ll take the guesswork out of finding the right shoe for you by taking the time to get to know you and your running style. Near or far, Cheap Jmksport Jordan Outlet would love to be a part of your running journey.
