Saucony Ride 19 Review
By David Salas
Saucony Ride 19Price: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.0oz, 255g (men's size 9), 7.7oz, 218g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 38 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training, Neutral Trainer
Pros: The wider base and increased plushness will cater to easy days, Price point
Cons: Loses some of the speedy versatility it had
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Ride 19 is a neutral daily training shoe for someone that wants a rockered experience with balanced cushioning and weight at a good price point. The Ride 19 adds a wider base underfoot and a more plush upper from previous versions. It loses some of its versatility at faster paces, but feels a touch softer. It is reminiscent of some of the previous versions of the Triumph. Similar to previous versions of the Ride, this will be a neutral workhorse for logging big miles. The changes made in this model may shift in some peoples favor, and steer others away.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Triumph 23
PAST MODEL: Saucony Ride 18
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Saucony Ride 19 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The mesh material is comfortable and surprisingly plush throughout. Thankfully it didn't run hot on my 16 mile run in them. The material is breathable and does feel soft on foot. The width throughout the platform is normal through the heel and midfoot, while slightly wide in the forefoot. The volume through the midfoot and forefoot is a little low, but the soft mesh and tongue seem to agree with it. The tongue is padded well and I had no issues with biting from the laces. The lockdown is really good throughout. I had no issues with foot translation or heel slippage. There is a stiff heel counter with moderate padding. I had no issues with rubbing or pressure from it. Overall I am happy with the fit and upper of the Ride 19.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mild
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: Potentially
Durability Expectation: Average to Good
PERFORMANCE
David: The Saucony Ride has been a long time favorite of mine. It has always been a neutral workhorse with some upside into faster paces. The updates to the Ride 19 change the usage of the shoe for me, but it still performs well for easy days. I will start with the major changes that I see. The platform in the heel and forefoot has widened, making for a more stable platform. The PWRRUN+ feels softer in this model as a result. The rocker profile feels more pronounced than in previous versions. The upper is also more plush throughout. The overall feeling of the shoe feels a touch softer, wider, and more dialed in for easy days to me.
Despite the changes, I still like the shoe. Although I miss some of the versatility, the Ride 19 might speak to a larger audience that want something easy and rhythmic without breaking the bank. The Ride 19 operates off a rockered platform. The rocker is balanced well and it does feel like you have a gentle roll with each step. The PWRRUN+ midsole provides reliable cushioning underfoot without being overly high. The 38mm stack height does feel accurate. This is a shoe that lives in the middle when you look at categories. The shoe is soft, but not as soft as the premium shoes out there. At 9.0 ounces, it sits in the middle between the speedy trainers and heavier cruisers. The 38mm stack is not high (in today's market) or low either. There are no major frills to the Ride 19, but it does feel like a more premium upgrade from previous versions. The Saucony Ride 19 feels reminiscent of previous versions of the Triumph. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does change the overall feeling of the shoe. It feels dialed in for easy days.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The Saucony Ride 19 is a neutral shoe. The widening of the platform does make for a more stable experience, however the softer PWRRUN+ neutralizes that out. The upper has great lockdown. The traction is decent underfoot, and I had no issues with slippage. It did not have any major issues from a stability standpoint.
Thoughts as a DPT: How Small Changes Can Be Big Changes
By David Salas, PT, DPT, CSCS
The Saucony Ride 19 saw some pretty big changes from the 18. One of these was the shaping of the platform. The Saucony Ride 18 had a mild rocker with some gentle sole flare. The Ride 19 introduces a lot more sole flare, platform width, and a more pronounced rocker. The additional sole flare also seems to have a bulbous element to it, making the foam feel softer in the heel and the forefoot.
On paper, any of those individual changes don't seem like much. When they are added up that can drastically change the feeling of the shoe. Sole flare, an extension of the foam beyond the width of the footbed, normally makes things feel more stable. However, we have seen some companies play with the shaping of these designs to make things softer. These changes normally take on a bulbous look. They will create a slight rounding bubble like effect to it, making the foam feel softer. We have seen this in models like the Nike Vomero Plus. I don't know of any literature to quantify this effect, but it is a trend that I am noticing more frequently in the running shoe world.
In the Saucony Ride 19, this effect is most noticeable in the rearfoot. It makes the shoe feel softer. That element combined with a more plush upper create a different experience underfoot. The shoe now feels like some of the previous versions of the Triumph, their premium trainer. I am sure we will some changes to the Triumph as well, but this makes the Ride 19 a softer feeling cruiser. In the past the Ride series has been a firmer and more versatile shoe. The change isn't necessarily bad, but it does ride differently now.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I enjoyed my time in the Saucony Ride 19, but I do have some recommendation. As much as I liked the upper, I would still like a little more volume under the tongue and in the forefoot. The mesh has some stretch, but it did feel a touch tighter on my foot than I wanted.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Saucony Ride 19 is a neutral daily training shoe for someone wanting a balanced shoe with a rocker. PWRRUN+ is still a durable and reliable foam for logging miles. The Ride 19 seems to lose some speedy versatility, but moves in a more plush and softer direction. At $145, it is comparable to some of the premium trainers from a few years ago. The value isn't bad, but its a new direction for the Ride series.
GRADES
David
Fit: A- (Good lockdown throughout. Upper material is comfortable. Volume is a touch low through midfoot and forefoot.)
Performance: B+ (Nice steady rocker platform. PWRRUN+ is softer, but still a reliable training foam. Loses some speedy versatility, but is a good cruiser.)
Stability: A- (Wider base, good lockdown, decent traction. Softer foam offsets the stability some.)
Value: A- (I'm sad that it feels a bit slower in speed, but it lines up with premium trainers from not that long ago.)
Personal: B+ (I like the rocker and platform for easy miles. I find myself wanting a little more life from the platform though.)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Ride 19Price: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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