Saucony Ride 15 Review: Big Midsole Update
By Senior Contributors Nathan Brown and David Salas
We
love what we get to do at Doctors of Running, and a big part of that is
interacting with other passionate runners, physical therapists, and
running store workers about the questions we are all mulling over as we
pursue our goals with running. One question we often get often in our
email or DMs is if we "should" or "need to" replace sock liners with
"upgraded" orthotics. A big reason for this is because in some cases it
feels like the sock liner is an afterthought and doesn't add a lot to
the shoe. This is far from the case in the Saucony Ride 15, a massive
update to the Ride series which features a very thoughtful and updated
sock liner designed to match this shoe well. Let's dig in.
Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.8oz, 249g (men's size 9), 7.8oz, 221g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 32.5mm (heel), 24.5mm (forefoot)
Drop: 8mm
Classification: Daily Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
David: The
Saucony Ride 15 is a daily trainer in the neutral category with some
pretty big updates. The Ride 15 stays pretty true to the Ride series
overall but does provide some new updates that change things up enough
to feel. The platform itself has been altered a little bit with a new
blend of PWRRUN midsole as well as stack height and geometry. I think a
lot of these changes make fore a more responsive ride throughout for the
daily trainer while also adding some stability especially in the heel.
Nathan: The
Saucony Ride 15 is a progressive update to the Ride series, which keeps
its DNA but gets updated geometry, an updated sock liner, and a new
blend of PWRRUN foam, all leading to a slightly more cushioned and
smooth running experience. The overall firmer platform continues to
allow the Ride 15 to be a versatile platform that feels a bit snappy as
the pace picks up, but still can handle daily miles. Some of the
geometry changes move this shoe more squarely into the "stable neutral" category.
FIT
David: The
Saucony Ride 15 fits true to size in my normal Men's 9.5 if perhaps a
tiny bit long. The mesh material itself is airy and comfortable and is
pretty consistent with most daily training mesh uppers. The tongue and
lacing system has been changed to allow for better lockdown. The tongue
has moderate padding and also has some lacing "stirrups" (I'll call
them...) that help with pulling the material inward which helps with
holding everything in place. The width of the shoe throughout is normal
to slightly narrow in the heel, midfoot, and toe box. The fit gives some
resemblance to a performance fit, but still has some leeway with normal
fitting training shoes. There is a heel counter present that is padded
pretty well and did not provide any irritation. I think the upper is
pretty well done, though it could probably be a little wider in the toe
box as I got some small amounts of rubbing with the overlays in the
lateral forefoot. Those that have wide feet or high volume may have a
hard time with this upper, but it should work well for most people.
Nathan: The
Saucony Ride 15 sports a rather traditional upper with a semi-rigid and
padded heel counter that seamlessly transitions to a layered mesh that
is very light on foot. The tongue is gusseted and had moderate padding
with flat laces to strap it down. In terms of fit, it is true to size in
length and sits on the slightly narrow side with even the toe box being
a bit lower volume. Because of this, it is easy to get a good lockdown
without any slippage, but those with higher volume feet may need to try
it on to assure a comfortable fit. The mesh is very breathable, but not
necessarily soft or notably comfortable. It's simply an upper that holds
the foot well and stays out of the way on the run. There are a few
other features that help provide security to the upper. These include
Saucony logo overlays that provide structure to the midfoot and straps
from the laces that span across the midfoot down to the platform of the
shoe. Unlike other straps that I have seen in other shoes (i.e. Karhu
Ikoni, Nike Pegasus), these straps are noticeable (in a good way) and
really ratchet down the foot as you tighten the laces. In essence, this
upper can be described as a secure, breathable upper that fits slightly
narrow and locks down the foot very well.
PERFORMANCE
David: The
Saucony Ride 15 does change a little bit in ride. The shoe is beveled a
little more than the previous model and does have a wider platform in
the heel. There is a larger crash pad that is noticeable with some of
that extending into the midfoot and early forefoot as a groove along the
lateral aspect. The new foam and reduction of flex grooves in the
forefoot from the previous version does provide a more responsive and
snappy ride. The heel platform itself may be a little much for me with
sole flaring medially as I normally don't need too much stability in
that region. That or the crash pad region may be biased laterally a
little too much and I'm landing on the medial heel more than I'd like
with a wedge sensation. For those that need a hint of stability though
this may feel great. From the midfoot forward I really enjoyed the Ride
15 and have been able to take this shoe through a variety of terrain and
paces. It certainly suits daily training paces best but the new
geometry and foam does give a little more snappiness and a rolling
sensation if you have to pick up the pace a little bit. Overall a fun
shoe that will work pretty well for those that have some rearfoot
instability medially.
Nathan: Now it's time to really dig
into the changes in this shoe. The most impactful are the modifications
to the geometry and shaping of the shoe. The most notable to the eye is
the increase in heel bevel and forefoot rocker sculpted into the shoe.
This is certainly the best integrated heel bevel Saucony has done,
possibly across any of their models, and it proves a nice and easy
transition onto the heel. The forefoot rocker ended up feeling very
different than I expected. Based on the silhouette of the shoe, I
expected the toe off to feel similarly to the Endorphin Shift with a
rigid rocker sensation. I couldn't have been more wrong. Despite what
looks like a huge stack in the forefoot, there is a lot of flexibility.
So instead of the new sculpted forefoot rocker feeling like it's pushing
you forward, it simply facilitates a more natural feeling toe off which
giving a bit of a snap at faster paces. The reason the stack looks so
high is due to the side walls that span the entire circumference of the
shoe (more on this later). In reality, the stack is only 0.5mm higher
than the previous version, and 5mm of this stack comes from the sock
liner made of PWRRUN+.
This brings us to the overall underfoot
sensation. The bulk of the midsole is made up of PWRRUN EVA. Overall
this shoe sits on the firmer end of trainers, but the geometry of the
bevels keeps the firmer foam from feeling abrasive. Additionally, this
sock liner is definitely noticeable. The 5mm of PWRRUN+ is certainly
noticeable, particularly in the forefoot at faster paces. The Triumph
has full PWRRUN+ midsole, which has always felt poppy despite being
heavier given the foam compound. With the Ride 15 dropping weight from
the previous version by 0.6oz but also adding essentially a top-sole of
PWRRUN+, you get a shoe that is even a bit more capable of some tempo
efforts while also championing daily mile pace.
STABILITY
David: The Saucony Ride 15 is definitely in that "stable neutral"
category. There is no posting or formal stability components within the
shoe, however there are many subtle components that create for a stable
ride. The platform itself is a little more rigid than the previous
model and does give you a little more of a grounded sense despite the
stack change. The crash pad is deviated to the lateral aspect of the
heel a tad and there is a decent amount of sole flaring both in the heel
and forefoot medially and laterally. In the heel I really feel the
medial sole flaring in combination with the laterally biased crash pad.
The feeling is almost like a slight wedge in the rearfoot. For those
needing a little bit of heel stability medially in the heel but don't
like posting or stability shoes this may be worth looking into.
Nathan: The changes of geometry, sculpting of the midsole, and then the outsole design land this shoe squarely in the "stable neutral"
category. As referenced above, the beveling is done really well, so
there aren't any "hitches" as you transition forward in the shoe.
Additionally, there is medially and lateral sole flaring both in the
rear and forefoot providing a wider base. Combine that with an overall
firmer foam and you have an inherently stable platform.
However,
the supportive nature of this shoe doesn't stop there. The side walls in
this shoe span the complete circumference of the shoe, providing gentle
guidance where needed, but stays out of the way when you don't.
Finally, the sculpting of the outsole adds a final "centering" touch to
the ride. In the heel of the shoe there is a rather larger
cutout/ravine. As you load the shoe, the heel sinks a bit toward the
center of the ravine as the sides of the ravine feel as though they
compress outward. This enhances the cradle for the foot and really feels
like it centers the heel despite of the direction you typically go. The
shoe most akin to this feeling in the past year was the HOKA Rincon 3,
which is ultimately the shoe I find most similar to this one from a
stability standpoint. Top all this off with a secure upper and you have
yourself possibly one of the most supportive neutral shoes of the year.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
We
often get asked question about the use of custom or prefabricated
orthotics within our running shoes. We recently broke down this question
in a Footwear Science article asking that very question, "Should I Buy Orthotics For My Running Shoes?".
Jump on over to that article to see how current literature informs that
question and what considerations you should make when thinking of
buying new inserts. In cases like the Ride 15, there is a lot of
intentionality behind the design and form of the insert, so swapping out
inserts may not be the best option. This insert is designed to fill the
EVA "cradle" appropriately, provide a different step in feet and foam
interaction, and change the ride of the shoe. If you are to swap, it
should be driven by your own interest/comfort instead of using new
inserts because you're told you "have to". Again, check out our Footwear Science article on this topic for more information.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I
have a couple of recommendations for the Ride 15. The upper locks down
really well overall but I do feel the forefoot could be a tad wider and
consistent with the forefoot platform. I also think that crash pad could
be a little more centered, as the heel bevel is centered. Keeping that a
little more consistent may smoothen that transition a tad and keep
things centered. I am sensitive to medial sole flares in the heel
however.
Nathan: There is much of this update that I
appreciate including the updated geometry and function of the side
walls, insert, and outsole shaping. I think the biggest modifications
I'd suggest lie in the upper. The lacing system that surrounds the
midfoot certainly is notable, and I think a little more padding could be
nice to avoid any irritable pressure. Also, opening the toe box or
creating a more elastic upper in the toe box would help with
accommodating more foot types.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
David: The
Saucony Ride 15 is a daily trainer for those that like neutral shoes
but may need just a little bit of stability in the heel. The new midsole
rides somewhat firm but gives plenty of protection underfoot. The ride
is well balanced with a good heel bevel and forefoot geometry. The way
the heel is arranged there is a little bit of a medial heel wedge that
might feel supportive for those that need it. The shoe has a decent
amount of responsiveness for a daily trainer and does have some upside
for some slight uptempo work as well.
Nathan: The Saucony
Ride 15 is a versatile daily trainer that is updated with a beveled
heel and forefoot, but maintains a flexible ride during toe off. This
shoe is for someone who wants a slightly firmer, yet smooth, ride that
sits in the stable neutral category and can suit people who want a bit
of guidance either from the outside or inside of the shoe. There is
enough cushioning to take for longer miles, but feels light enough on
foot to handle some tempo efforts. It's certainly a daily training
workhorse.
GRADING
David
Fit: B+ (Forefoot a little narrow, though good lockdown throughout otherwise)
Performance: A- (Pretty
balanced throughout with smooth transitions, certainly gets the job
done with some upside on pacing, the traction could be a little better
and the heel to midfoot transition could be centered a little better)
Stability: A (About
as stable as a neutral shoe can get. Good lockdown with grounded feel.
Sole flaring and geometry help keep everything centered.)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (I
like that they are beginning to innovate with daily trainer geometry
and ride. I do think that the crash pad and longitudinal groove could be
refined slightly to improve experience.)
Personal: B (I
enjoyed my time in the Ride 15 but I can be a little sensitive with
medial sole flaring in the heel and the crash pad deviation gave me a
wedge sensation in the heel that wasn't the greatest for my mechanics.
Otherwise everything else was great.)
Overall: B+ (A
solid daily trainer with some decent versatility. A good all around
option for those that may also need a small touch of stability.)
Nathan
Fit: B+ (some pressure from midfoot straps, snug forefoot, not a lot of compliance of the upper, good lock down)
Performance: A- (Very smooth, some pop from the insert, nice natural toe off, feels light, a bit firmer for some)
Stability: A (Firmly in the stable neutral category)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (Integrated geometry, guidance principles into a workhorse daily trainer)
Personal: B+ (Love it for longer moderate intensity efforts and when I just want to run while forgetting about a shoe)
Overall: A- (Solid versatile trainer and a great update with some work to do on the upper fit)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
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The Value of Full Body Evaluations | DOR Podcast #88
Footwear Science: Should I Buy Orthotics for My Running Shoes?
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Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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