Fitness / February 6, 2024

We Tested a Dozen Saucony Running Shoes. These Are Our Favorites

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Founded in 1898, Saucony predates the likes of Nike and Adidas by more than half a century. Now based in the running nucleus of Boston, the shoe brand originally hails from Kutztown, PA, and took its logo from Saucony Creek, which flows through the town’s center. Although the company didn’t get into the athletic footwear game until mid-20th century, but it’s held a place at the front of the pack with design innovations that earned early performance shoes like the 7446, Hornet, and Jazz accolades and acclaim.

Runners today might be more familiar with the Kinvara, a popular all-rounder in its 14th iteration, and the speed-oriented Endorphin line, which propelled Molly Huddle to a 9th-place finish at the 2023 New York City Marathon. A lot of the design and technical innovation that’s aided elites is present in our pick for the best overall Saucony running shoe, the Endorphin Speed.

Best Overall Saucony Running Shoe: Endorphin Speed 3 Endorphin Speed 3

Tanner Bowden

Even though this member of Saucony’s increasingly popular Endorphin line has Speed in its name, that’s definitely not all it’s geared for. Don’t get us wrong; with a winged nylon plate sandwiched inside PWRRUN PB foam, this thing has the pop to move and can handle extended bouts of race pace during our test runs. It doesn’t have that same rigid, springboard feel of shoes that are wholly dedicated to racing and tempo workouts, which helped it fare well on slower easy-paced days. Additionally, this new version is a bit softer than previous iterations of the Endorphin Speed. Therefore it’s perfect everyday shoe for runners who something that can handle easy running, workouts, and races.

Pros:

Responsive.
High cushion.
Lightweight.

Cons:

Not ideal for those who favor stability features.

Weight: 8.1 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 8 mm

Best Everyday Saucony Running Shoe: Ride 17 Ride 17

In a world where new tech has led to an innovative array of running shoes for every purpose, the Ride 17 is traditional. It has a comfy and universal fit, with a roomy toe box and enough midfoot lockdown to support it; a little bit of stability; and a platform that’s neither overly squishy nor bouncy, but a little bit of both. If you’re familiar with previous versions of the Ride, this one has a new upper and lighter PWRRUN+ midsole. The mix may not be ideal for long runs, but provides a fun and supportive ride for shorter everyday efforts. It’s utilitarian, not flashy, and we mean that in the best way.

Pros:

Solid all-around feature set.
Roomy toe box.
Affordable compared to other Saucony shoes.

Cons:

Heel pull tab rips off.

Weight: 9.9 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 8 mm

Best Saucony Running Shoe for Racing: Endorphin Pro 3 Endorphin Pro 3

The Endorphin Pro comes with all the prerequisites of a super-shoe: minimalist upper, forward-rolling rocker, huge landing pad made of PEBA foam, and a carbon fiber plate. When you want to run your fastest, this shoe is here to help you. If you’ve never run in one of these types of shoes, know that it’s not a great match for everyday running (go for the Endorphin Speed or Kinvara Pro if you want an everyday shoe with extra pep). If you have, you know what to expect. On our test runs, we found the Endorphin Pro to be similar to race shoes from other companies—light, responsive, and springy. If the Endorphin Pro stands out in the crowd though, it’s with a notable rolling-forward feeling due to Saucony’s SPEEDROLL rocker tech.

Saucony also makes the Endorphin Elite for carbon-fiber racing, but we think the Endorphin Pro is better suited to the needs of non-elites. And it’s $50 cheaper.

Pros:

Very responsive and snappy.
Great cushion.

Cons:

Expensive.
Not great for everyday running.

Weight: 7.2 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 8 mm

Best Budget Saucony Running Shoe: Axon 3 Axon 3

These days, it’s difficult to find a decent running shoe under $140 without making significant compromises. The Axon 3 defies that rule. At 8.5 ounces, it’s light. It has a high-stack of supportive EVA PWRRUN foam. And its mesh upper is comfy and breathable. Like some other Saucony shoes, the heel pull loop is too small to be functional, but it’s the only issue we could find. The shoe has surprisingly good grip (which helped on snowy test runs), a roomy toe box, and decent forward momentum. Saucony calls it plush, and while it does have a hefty wedge of foam underneath, we found it feels firmer than the bouncy maximalist shoes we’re now used to. It’s still plenty comfy though, even on longer runs. It also has a 4 mm heel-toe drop—the lowest on this list, if that’s your preference. If you’re looking for a classic running shoe and price is more important than premium materials, the Axon is a great choice.

Pros:

Roomy toe box.
Comfortable.
Good for casual wear.

Cons:

Heel pull loop is too small to use.

Weight: 8.5 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 4 mm

More Saucony Running Shoes We Love

Best Stability Saucony Running Shoe: Saucony Tempus

Runners looking for a shoe with added stability can be assured that the Tempus has the extra structure they need. It impresses because it’s not like other stability shoes, which too often feel clunky and rigid. It has extra stiffness around the heel and a nice wide platform to land on, but it also has a mix of PWRRUN PB and PWRRUN foams, a combo that makes it feel snappy and responsive. Stability shoes have traditionally existed in a category apart from “regular” daily trainers, but the Tempus straddles the line. Need extra support but still want something snappy when you need to pick up the pace? The Tempus has got you. Just don’t bother using the heel loop to pull them on, it’s way too small.

Pros:

Lightweight for a stability shoe.
Responsive.

Cons:

Heel loop is too small.
Narrow toe box.

Weight: 8.9 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 8 mm

Best Max Cushion Saucony Running Shoe: Triumph 21

If you’ve never stepped into a squishy maximalist running shoe, the Triumph 21 will blow your mind. It’s oh-so-comfy straight out of the box, thanks to a huge platform of Saucony’s PWRRUN+ foam and an upper that wraps your feet tight into a cockpit that’s ready for takeoff. The comfort extends into the run, but all that squish can sap energy if you’re out for a speed workout. Save this shoe for easier efforts; it’s an excellent daily trainer for runners who want to max out comfort. It’s not a bad choice for just walking around, too.

The Triumph 21 is also available in a waterproof version and an eco-friendly model containing 55% corn-derived PWRRUN BIO+ foam and 80% natural rubber.

Pros:

Soft and springy,
Comfortable.

Cons:

Not ideal for speed.

Weight: 9.8 oz

Heel-Toe Drop: 10 mm

Best Saucony Running Shoe for Uptempo Runs: Kinvara Pro

If the “Pro” in this shoe’s name and the partial carbon fiber plate in its midsole makes you think the Kinvara is a super high-end marathon shoe, think again. The Kinvara Pro is a daily trainer through and through. It does have nice premium features though, like PWRRUN PB foam mixed with regular PWRRUN, a combo that provides more oomph. Then, there’s the aforementioned carbon fiber plate, rarely seen in a shoe that costs less than $200. Here, it provides rigidity that’s not ideal for recovery runs but is nice and springy during intervals and strides. It’s a solid choice for someone adding speed workouts into their routine but wants to stick to one shoe.

Pros: