Saucony Ride 16 and Saucony Guide 16. The names are alike, but that isn’t all that’s similar. In this video and article, we will help you choose between these legendary lightweight daily trainers.
Play
Same, same…
To be honest, these shoes are two sides of the same coin, but there are some really important differences that distinguish them from each other, and this might not always be easy to figure out as a consumer.
Both shoes are what we call lightweight daily trainers. A running shoe category that should be a bit nimbler and more versatile compared to the more highly cushioned running shoes like for instance a Saucony Triumph 20.
And when I say versatile, I mean shoes that have a wider array of uses. I find this type of shoe to be the best option if you want one shoe in your life. You can run slow in them, you can run faster runs or interval sessions, and you can even race in them if you don’t want to buy a more expensive race-day shoe.
The only thing I feel neither the Ride 16 nor Guide 16 is suited for, are the easier recovery runs where you just want something a bit softer underneath your feet. These new editions are softer than they have been before but compared to a Saucony Triumph 20 or a Saucony Endorphin Speed 3, which uses a different foam, they will feel a bit firmer.
...but different.
Compared with both models’ previous iterations, the midsole hasn’t changed at all. It is made of a lightweight EVA called PWRRUN with a PWRRUN PB insole on top for some extra cushion and comfort.
Both shoes have the same stack height, but the midsoles are the first place where the Saucony Guide 16 separates from the Saucony Ride 16.
On the inside of the foot in the Saucony Guide 16, you will find a firmer part. This medial post makes your foot more stable and guides your foot a bit more toward the next step. This will make the Saucony Guide 16 a bit stiffer under the heel, but also more supporting, which a lot of people really like.
The Saucony Guide 16 will also have a bit more structure in the upper to have a better grip on your foot. The upper is also made a bit stronger, which makes the Ride 16 a bit more breathable, but less soft around the toes.
So overall the Saucony Guide 16 offers a bit more stability around the entire foot than the Saucony Ride 16.
Plush, but secure.
This year, both shoes have gone through the same update, with a new enforced back portion of the shoe, ensuring a better lockdown around the ankle. I was not the tester of last year's models, so I can’t say if there are any large differences. But I can easily say that both new versions have a fantastic, plush, and comfortable lockdown.
The shoes still fit like a Ride or a Guide has done in the last years, and if you ask me, this is the biggest plus of both these shoes. They are just so comfortable to wear that I struggle not wearing them for everyday use.
Traditions
There are so many different shoes on the market right now, and both the Saucony Ride and the Saucony Guide have been present for a long time, without changing the core DNA of the model. And this is what Saucony keeps on doing.
Both the Saucony Ride 16 and the Saucony Guide 16 are traditional in what they can be used for and how they feel when running. They are running shoes, that offer comfort, but also responsiveness for those faster days. You will not get an insane amount of cushion underfoot, or an unstable or bouncy foam, but more a traditional old-school running shoe that just works.
Now all you have to do is decide what stability you want.
Didn't you find your favorite?
See our entire collection of running shoes here:
