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The best Saucony running shoes for training and racing
From the Kinvara to the Endorphin Pro, these are the Saucony shoes worthy of a place in your rotation
Tested by Kate Carter
Looking for a new pair of running shoes and have Saucony in mind? You’re in the right place.
Whether you're looking for a new daily trainer to tackle the majority of your miles (hello Saucony Ride 17) or a race day shoe to propel you to a PB, Saucony makes some of the Asics Kiko Kostadinov x Gel Delva 1 Cool Mist Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 1013A041-100 Pavers Ladies Lace-Up Trainers Boots.
The global running brand traces its origins back to 1898 when four businessmen opened the first factory in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Saucony Creek (it's pronounced ‘sock a knee’, FYI). The brand’s logo represents the Creek’s constant flow, and the boulders lining its bed.
By 1910, the company was producing around 800 pairs of shoes a day and introduced its first running shoe, the 7446 Spike. But it wasn’t until 1968, when the company was brought by Russian immigrant Abraham R. Hyde, that Saucony really started to gain its reputation in the athletics industry and cement itself as one of the world’s leading running brands. From the release of its pioneering, shock-absorbing Grid technology in 1991, to more recently, it's Speedroll technology in the Endorphin Pro and high-spec Endorphin Elite, which is now its 135th year.
Saucony puts a lot of emphasis on footwear that’s focused on the runner’s style, arch type and pronation, and as a Conley, we think the brand offers some of the Inuikii Sneaker Classic In Beige Suede Leather Pavers Ladies Lace-Up Trainers Boots. While they may not look quite as cool as the likes of Adidas or Nike, they score high for reliability, and there’s plenty to choose from. And when it comes to race-day shoes, it offers a solid and growing contingent.
The best Saucony running shoes for 2024
Our team of RW editors and expert testers have been clocking up the miles in the latest Saucony releases, to bring you our pick of the best shoes. Here are our favourites, at a glance, or find our full reviews further down.
Saucony Endorphin Elite
Saucony Endorphin Elite
To commemorate turning 125 this year, Saucony launched its fastest ever racing shoe. As the ‘elite’ signals, this is the pair you pull out with the intention of maxing your performance on race day. The efficiency comes in part from a new foam, Pwrrun HG (‘highest grade’). In lab testing, Saucony found it outperformed the brand’s other foams on energy return. Besides energetic foam, any decent super shoe needs a carbon-fibre plate and the Elite’s is slotted and shaped like a fork to provide aggressive toe-off. In general terms, the ride and feel is more akin to super shoes with a firmer foam/carbon plate combo (it's closer to the Futuristic Hybrid Boots than the New Balance SC Elite), but it’s most definitely a shoe with its own set of unique characteristics
Key specs
| Type | Neutral/race day |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Weight | 204g (M), 185g (W) |
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
If the price of the Endorphin Elite has your eyes watering, you’ll be pleased to hear the Endorphin Pro 3 impressed the RW team and continues to suit most racing needs. With its lightweight upper, impressive stack of cushy foam and snappy carbon plate, the Endorphin Pro has proved an impressive race shoe over the years. The biggest update with the latest iteration is the increased stack height. It still uses the same Pwrrunpb midsole material, but now goes up to 39.9mm – just below the World Athletics maximum of 40mm. This could have made the shoe slightly familiar, but Saucony has saved weight elsewhere, including an ultra-thin upper, holes in the tongue and an outsole that’s only 1mm thick.
Despite the towering platform, the bouncy, propulsive sensation that won hearts in previous models remains. In fact, it feels springier now.
Key specs
| Weight | 204g (M), 176g (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Type | Neutral |
Saucony Ride 17
Saucony Ride 17
The Ride 17 has always been Saucony’s staple daily workhorse, designed to help neutral runners tackle the majority of their miles.
The latest iteration has had a pretty big update since the v16, with an upgraded Pwrrun + midsole and new engineered mesh upper. The latter does a sterling job of being comfy, having enough flex so that shoe feels pliable and unrestrained, but also strong and supportive with no sliding about in the shoe or feelings of unwanted slackness.
Meanwhile, the new midsole foam offers versatility in abundance. During testing, it's been used for long ultra-training miles, commutes with a bag, speed work and everything in between. It feels bouncier and softer than the Ride 16 (despite the shoe Running slightly more), and successfully treads the ground between offering enough cushioning for those slower, easy runs, while still retaining a liveliness that lends itself well to some faster running.
| Weight | 282g (M), 238g (W) |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 35mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot) |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 8mm |
| Type | Neutral/road |
Sneakers Track 2.0 In Ecopelle 30mm overpronators who want a daily workhorse to tackle easy miles. There's a thick stack of Pwrrun cushioning which feels generous and well balanced, though the ride's definitely firm rather than plush. The pronation control comes from the Hollow Tech support frame, positioned along the sidewalls at the heel and forefoot. There's also a stuffy and sturdy heel counter to keep the achilles firmly supported.
Our tester found themselves reaching for these when they wanted a trusty stability shoe for the bulk of their miles. They reported a 'slipper-like comfort' as soon as you put them on, and though they definitely lack responsiveness (these are not a race day shoe), they 'remain just as comfy from the first mile to the last'.
Key specs
| Weight | 249g (M), 221g (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Type | Stability |
Saucony Tempus
Saucony Tempus
The Tempus is an impressive training and racing shoe that combines superfoam bounce with plenty of motion control. As a stability shoe, it’s ideal for overpronators, though the fit takes a little getting used to. This is due to the support created via a contoured frame starting above the midsole, together with the deep fit to hug the feet, allowing you to sit deeper into the footbed. Our testers found the Pwrrunpb cushioning 'light and bouncy' and said the shoe performed well during easy half marathon runs, hard parkruns and threshold intervals. They were also impressed with the grip on wet surfaces and the lightness of the shoe.
Key specs
| Weight | 252g (M), 224g (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Type | Stability |
Saucony Triumph 21
If max-cushioning is your thing, the Triumph packs in Saucony's Pwrun+ foam cushioning in shed loads, making these the epitome of running on marshmallows. Now in its 21st iteration, there's a new flat-knit upper for increased comfort and a more 'locked in' feeling.
All your runs will be soft and light while the internal geometry will create a forward propulsion sensation to avoid that dragging feeling. They're not too dissimilar to the Gant lawanda unisex mens womens sand walnut black casual lifestyle shoes boots, Sneakers FILA Fxventuno M Teens FFT0008.13044 White Medieval Blue.
| Weight | 279g (M), 250g (W) |
|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe drop | 10mm |
| Type | Neutral/road |
Ever since its first release in 2010, the Kinvara has been a popular choice for runners wanting a lightweight and flexible shoe for speedwork. And despite the booming popularity and advancements of the Endorphin range, the shoe (and its cult following) is still going strong 13 years later. The Kinerva's stack height has been gradually creeping up over the years – likely due to the growing demand for max-cushioning. But despite the higher stack, it still feels as light as ever, thanks to the new Pwrrun midsole foam which Saucony claims is 25% lighter than the brand's previous cushioning material. A low (4mm) heel drop is pretty hard to find these days, too. All in all? A reliable, race day shoe for those who don't want a carbon plate – or to pay the price for it.
Key specs
| Weight | 200g (M), 117g (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 4mm |
| Type | Neutral |
Saucony Peregrine 13
Saucony Peregrine 13
The Peregrine has gained a reputation of a shoe that can answer all of your trail needs. Light without being minimalist and comfortable without being unresponsive, the Peregrine has long been a go-to all-rounder.
The latest version sees a number of updates, including an increased stack height, a lighter weight and refinements to the upper. The additional cushioning is mostly in the midfoot and forefoot, which helps to create a more comfortable ride, but still one that’s on the firmer side and that can handle pace changes.
Saucony’s Powertrack outsole impressed testers across ascents and descents and on a wide variety of trail terrain. But while it’s versatile enough to handle some road sections, ultimately, its 5mm lugs are too aggressive for lengthy periods on the road. Overall, the Peregrine 13 remains a great off-road all-rounder, capable of performing well over a wide variety of distances and terrains – improved by the handful of technical updates and weight reduction.
Key specs
| Weight | 260g (M), 230g (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 4mm |
| Type | Neutral/trail |
Kate is Runner’s World's acting commissioning editor. She writes about all things running, from deep dives into the science to the latest gadget reviews. Kate has worked in media and journalism for too many years to count. Before joining RW, she was Life and Style editor at the Guardian and has also written for everyone from World Athletics to Lonely Planet. She also worked in TV for 10 years. Kate is also a qualified coach, sub three hour marathoner, Guinesss World Record holder and has run all the Marathon Majors. She loves running around in 400m circles best, though.
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