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Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Saucony Ride 15 Review (2022 Release)

 


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)

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Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse

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FURTHER READING

New Balance Fresh Foam X Tempo v2 - A freshly updated model that provides a low profile, versatile training option
The Value of Full Body Evaluations | DOR Podcast #88
Footwear Science: Should I Buy Orthotics for My Running Shoes?
Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3 - The latest update to the React Infinity dials in all the elements

Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.

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Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your
local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review.  We thank the people at Saucony for sending us a pair.  This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from 20-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady state run as well as a warm-up and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

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Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3
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