Back in October 2020, I tested Saucony Ride 13, which thanks to a new midsole had received a serious update compared to its predecessor. Now Saucony Ride 14 has arrived and even though the changes made aren´t so severe this time, Saucony Ride 14 is still a relevant and really good running shoe. Read the review here!
VIDEO REVIEW
SAUCONY RIDE 14 WITH A NEW UPPER
The midsole as well as the outsole in Saucony Ride 14 is fortunately completely the same as in its predecessor Saucony Ride 13 as it is a design which works really well and deserves to live on!
You´ll find the few changes made in the upper. Compared to the previous version, Saucony Ride 14 has a more simple and much "cleaner" look. This is due to the fact that the upper has become thinner with more ventilation holes, which are, however, smaller than before. And this provides Saucony Ride 14 with a smoother look so the design now actually matches the type of shoe which Saucony really is.
The logo on the side has grown bigger and longer and you also have 'Saucony' printed on the back of the shoe which makes Saucony more visible as a brand than in previous models. At a first glance, it looks as if the logo at the same time works as a reinforcement around the midfoot towards the heel cap. But now I have had the chance to wear Saucony Ride 13 and Saucony Ride 14 at the same time and I don´t feel a difference. The heel cap in Saucony Ride 14 feels as firm as it did in Saucony Ride 13.
I have earlier said that Saucony Ride 13 is the most stable neutral-running shoe, I have tried. I can´t say that I feel as safe when I use Saucony Ride 14. This is because the upper has become slightly lower below the ankle, so the upper doesn´t have the same tight grip around the foot as in Ride 13. But I was more or less able to resolve that issue by using the top hole for the laces.
In addition, it should be mentioned that Saucony’s FormFit technolgy - which you will also find in Saucony Ride 14 – provides the shoe with an adapted fit which anatomically works better than in many other running shoes.
MIDSOLE AND COMFORT
Saucony Ride 14 is considered to be an allround running shoe which can be used for shorter and longer distances at different pace.
Thanks to Saucony’s PWRRUN midsole foam, Saucony Ride 14 is responsive and cushioning, which also often characterizes a versatile running shoe. But still I include a small "but" in terms of the 'allround'-concept when I recommend Saucony Ride to others.
Is it due to the fact that I have been a bit brainwashed or rather dazzled by shoes like Hoka’s Bondi and New Balance’s Fresh Foam More V3? Perhaps…
The fact is that once you have tried these shoes, Saucony Ride 14 will automatically feel more firm and responsive rather than soft. And this automatilly ups the pace on your runs regardless if I consciously try to race or not. But I love it for this effect! It provides an edge to my runs and if you like me is the type of runner which currently doesn´t feel like you have the right level to go for a specific racer - or competition shoe, but you still want to test your speed, Saucony Ride 14 is a terrific running shoe! It provides the option of speeding up during the run, while a soft high-mileage training shoe usually will be too heavy or soft.
The outsole is still designed with Saucony's COLDTRAC-technology which provides a better grip and more durability than the previosuly used TRI-FLEX material, which was used in Saucony Ride ISO 2.
CONCLUSION
In total, I can´t really put a finger on Saucony Ride 14. Its in many ways the same shoe as Saucony Ride 13. It works incredibly well in rotation with my softer high-mileage training shoes and it provides lightness and speed which I want on those days where I plan short and fast runs or longer runs with integrated pacy stretches.
So Saucony Ride 14 is an allround shoe, yes. But if you compare it to other allround shoes like the extremely comfortable Puma Velocity Nitro, then I would describe it as being somewhere in between an allround shoe and a racer. And I actually think that is something everybody can use in their workouts.
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