The Saucony Ride 18 quietly became one of my most-worn shoes in the first half of 2025. I wasn’t blown away at first — which honestly tracks, because so many daily trainers rely on subtle refinements unless they’re due for a major overhaul. But when I was staring into my closet trying to pick a pair for a runcation, the Ride 18 made the cut.
I needed something that could just get miles done while I was out exploring — nothing technical, nothing finicky, just safe, comfortable consistency while mixing vacation mode with running mode. And that’s exactly what they delivered. A no-nonsense shoe I didn’t have to think about, but one that slowly grew on me until it became a real workhorse in the months that followed.
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A year later, we’ve arrived at the Ride 19 — and the updates are already looking promising (details forthcoming).
Looks
The Ride series has always been Saucony’s definition of steady and dependable, and the Ride 19 keeps that legacy rolling. It’s not the kind of shoe built to make a dramatic entrance, but it is built to show up every day and do exactly what a daily trainer should. The colorway I tested—white with blue accents and a red outsole—might not be the most forgiving choice for classic PNW drizzle, yet it still looks nice.
The Ride 19 won’t take home any awards for flash or flair, and that’s kind of the point. Its look is clean, intentional, and refreshingly straightforward—perfectly aligned with a shoe that’s built to be your reliable, everyday miles companion.
As usual, Saucony offers a wide range of color options for their most accessible shoes, so whether you lean minimalist or like a splash more personality, there’s likely a version that fits your style.
Construction and Fit
The Ride line has always been a dependable, no-frills option, and the Saucony Ride 19 continues that tradition—just with a bit more comfort. In my experience, it feels like a subtle but meaningful step up from the Ride 18. While the overall design isn’t a huge departure, the weight is negligibly more and adds 1mm to the stack height, keeping the familiar feel while giving it a touch more cushion.
If the Ride 18 was your straightforward daily trainer, the Ride 19 enhances that formula. It maintains the approachable, reliable characteristics the line is known for—solid comfort, practical design, and reasonable price—while just nudging things toward a more polished, cushioned experience.
In short, the Ride 19 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but if you’re looking for a daily trainer that’s familiar yet a little softer and more refined, this is definitely a solid pick.
Specs
- 8.9 ounces (Men’s 9)
- 36mm/28mm (8mm drop)
Upper
Saucony updated the upper in the Ride 18, and looking back at our review, we were pretty impressed with the step-in feel, cushion, and overall hold. All of that carries over into the Ride 19—if anything, it feels even more dialed in. The moment you slip these on, there’s that same plush comfort around the collar and heel, and the construction does a great job keeping the foot secure without feeling restrictive.
The mesh upper has been refreshed again for this model, but it’s more of a thoughtful tweak than a full-on redesign. It’s breathable, smooth, and does exactly what a daily trainer upper should do: disappear on the run and keep you locked in.
One small but noticeable change is the platform feel. The base seems just a touch wider than the 18. The toebox isn’t what I’d call wide, but the midfoot feels like it has a bit more breathing room than I remember from the previous version. It results in a comfortable, steady fit that works well across easy miles, steady runs, and everything in between.
Midsole
While the Ride 19 doesn’t drastically reinvent the feel of its predecessor, there’s definitely a refreshed vibe underfoot. The Ride 18 carried over a midsole that was essentially unchanged from the 17, but Saucony gives this version a genuine update with its reformulated SCF PWRRUN+ foam.
On my first few runs, the difference was clear. This new foam is noticeably softer than in past versions—more forgiving without straying anywhere near mushy territory. It keeps that dependable Ride identity: comfortable yet controlled, cushioned but still capable of responding when you pick things up a bit. There’s nothing overly dramatic or high-octane here, but for a daily trainer, it hits exactly the right notes. From impact to toe-off, the transition feels smooth, steady, and pleasantly reliable.
Runners who’ve loved the Ride series in recent years will have no problem sliding right into this new version. And for those new to the line, the Ride 19 remains an approachable, versatile option that’s well suited for easy miles and those moderate-distance days where you just want something comfortable and predictable underfoot.
Outsole
The Ride 19 sticks with Saucony’s familiar XT900 outsole, and overall it performs much like the previous version. Traction is reliable on dry roads, and while it’s not the grippiest option out there when things get wet, it’s perfectly adequate for what a daily trainer needs to do. You’re not taking sharp, fast turns on slick pavement in this shoe, and for everyday miles, the outsole does its job.
Saucony did make some subtle modifications, shifting more rubber into the forefoot and perhaps exposing a bit more midsole through the middle section. This adds a touch more flexibility without changing the overall ride or traction profile in any dramatic way. The grip feels very similar to the 18, just with a slightly smoother, more natural bend through toe-off.
Conclusion
In the end, the Saucony Ride 19 is a refinement-first update—one that keeps everything people appreciate about the Ride line while polishing the experience just enough to make it feel new. It isn’t a tech showcase, and it’s probably not the shoe you’re lacing up to shatter PRs, but that’s never been the point with the Ride series.
With its slightly softer cushioning, dialed-in fit, and still-reasonable price point, the Ride 19 continues the line of being a dependable workhorse. It’s an option you can confidently kick off the year in and trust to carry you through plenty of miles without draining your budget. Ride loyalists should feel right at home, and newcomers will find it an easy, versatile option to slot into their rotation.
