Best Saucony Running Shoes Right Now (2026)

Here’s a fun fact for ya: Did you know that Saucony hasn’t always been a Boston-based company? Nope, it’s actually named for the Saucony Creek in little old Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It started there all the way back in 1898, so you could say that Saucony has been around the block a time or two. Our history with the brand doesn’t go back quite that far, but we’ve run in enough Endorphins and Kinvaras to play favorites. Here are the best Saucony running shoes you can buy right now.

Obviously, no single Saucony shoe is perfect for every run (though the second version of the Endorphin Speed comes pretty close), so we’ll try to cover the full range. We’ve laced up Saucony running shoes for everything from recovery runs to race days and even taken them for life off-roads. Whether you want a reliable daily trainer or a mud-ready monster, there’s a good chance we’ve got you covered.

Our picks always come from our own experiences here at Believe in the Run. After all, we get a lot of shoes in for testing, and we like to let our feet do the talking. While we don’t always love every shoe that arrives, it doesn’t mean that you won’t. We try to weigh thoughts from our running friends and the community in general. All of our picks should be available for you to buy right now, too.

The ante has absolutely been upped with the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2. At its core is Saucony’s latest super foam called incrediRun, a co-polyester elastomer (i.e. a form of TPEE). This foam is kind of like if you were making s’mores in reverse: it goes from gooey soft and squishy to the touch, but when put under foot it re-takes its marshmallow-like bounce, turning super springy and responsive. It’s really unlike anything else on the market.

Weighing in at just 7 oz (199 g) for a US men’s size 9, the Elite 2 maintains a stack height of 40 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, adhering to an 8 mm drop. This update also showcases some structural changes to the upper, including a lightweight TPE yarn construction, complemented by a flat knit tongue and stretchy laces, ensuring a snug yet breathable fit. Beneath, the Endorphin Elite 2 tapped Saucony’s trail lineup to incorporate a PWRTRAC outsole— which offers good grip when trying to maintain speed. The shoe also features a slotted carbon fiber plate and aggressive Speedroll rocker geometry enhances propulsion, which makes each stride feel effortless.

Priced at $290, the Endorphin Elite 2 is at the top tier of pricing, but it’s a solid option for race day that’s suited for many runners at all levels. It has a truly unique blend of softness and responsiveness that caters to a wide range of paces, from the sub 3 hour to the 5+ hour marathoner.

Yes, shoe prices are going up. But they’re also coming down, just not in the way you may have expected. Across the board, we’re seeing some top-tier foams trickle into the lightweight, daily trainer category. Translation: we’re getting great performance at a reliable price point, something we’ve never had before. When you paid $150 for a shoe back in 2020, you were getting a Brooks Glycerin that weighed over 10 ounces with a boring-AF DNA Loft midsole. Today? You can get the Saucony Endorphin Azura with a PEBA midsole at 8.5 ounces– for the same exact price. Be happy for that.

Especially since this shoe is a good one, maybe one of the best ones. Yes, the PWRRUN PB midsole is bouncy and fun and allows you to cruise comfortably or pick up the pace. But you also get a SpeedRoll geometry, a grippy XT-900 midsole, and a breathable mesh upper. All our reviewers feel like this one has leap-frogged the much-beloved Endorphin Speed. We had zero complaints, so yes, this is 100% a recommendation to pick up the Azura.

Saucony’s Ride series has long been the dependable staple of the running world—reliable, comfortable, and ready for the long haul. With the Ride 19, Saucony continues this legacy, introducing a handful of tweaks that make this the best version of the shoe to date. 

The PWRRUN+ midsole has been reformulated, resulting in a first-class ride that’s neither too soft nor too firm, just the perfect balance for picking up the pace when necessary, while providing enough comfort for long miles. A re-engineered mesh upper keeps things breathable, while keeping the entire package lightweight, coming under 9 oz. for a standard US M9.

At $145, this is truly one of the best workhorse daily trainers that money can buy.

All right, so the Endorphin Elite is still the cream of the crop, the icing on top, the whatever, but the Endorphin Pro 5 might be the best Saucony racing shoe for most people and the best for your bank account, too. It retains many of the features of the previous version, including a dual-density midsole with a top layer of PWRRUN HG and bottom layer of PWRRUN PB. However, you now get more HG on the sidewalls, for an added touch of stability. As far at the plate goes, Saucony has moved to a slotted carbon fiber plate to give you more adaptability on the run. A PWRTRAC outsole gives a stickier feel underfoot.

We’ll be honest, this isn’t our favorite race day shoe out there. But if you’re looking for something steady that’s still a lot of fun and comes in at a lower price point, then you can’t go wrong with the Endorphin Pro 5.

It’s not a secret that we loved the original Saucony Endorphin Speed. It quickly became one of our favorite tempo trainers around, as well as a top-tier budget racer for just about any distance. That was then and this is now.

Truthfully, not too much has changed since the Endorphin Speed 4. The Speed still maintains the PWRRUN PB foam, as it has since the beginning. It still has a nylon plate, though it’s moved to a version with a wing on the medial side. A lighter, more breathable, single-layer mesh finishes off the upper. It weighs almost exactly the same as the last version. By most metrics, and by our experience on the run, it remains largely the same.

That’s not a bad thing– it’s still super versatile, especially as a lighter and faster shoe than the Ride or Azura. That said, Saucony may need to hit the refresh button on the next version; it’s been stuck in the same channel for the past few years. For the reputation it has, it deserves a leap into the future.

After taking a hiatus, the Hurricane returned in 2024– and it was great. Lots of cushion and comfort on the run, while providing a touch of stability for those who needed it. The Hurricane 25 follows up on that premise with a PWRRUN PB core (the same premium foam found in the Endorphin line), a flat-knit upper, and CenterPath stability. It’s a cruiser, for sure, adapting to your pace and keeping you comfortable over any distance. While we’d like to see something a bit more interesting in the design department, we can’t complain too much– this is one of the best stability shoes that money can buy.

You already know we love the Hurricane– the max cushion, light stability offering from Saucony. But if you’re looking for a more traditional stability shoe, then look no further than the Guide 19. It’s a tried and true model at one of the lowest price points around ($140). The PWWRRUN midsole foam gives a standard ride while the high sidewalls provide a more locked-in experience. The engineered mesh upper keeps things breathable and comfortable. At less than 10 oz., the weight is pretty nice for all that you get.

That said, this version is much softer than past versions. If you’re not good with that, then pick up the Guide 18, or opt for the Hurricane.

Not to be forgotten is the Saucony Xodus Ultra 4. It’s 2026, trail shoes deserve some love too. The Xodus is really one of the best max cushion running shoes out there.

As with the past version, Saucony didn’t do anything too out of the box with this update. It still comes with a dual-density midsole, featuring a PWRRUN PB core and a PWRRUN carrier. We’re still sitting at 36 mm in the heel. We also have a sticky, Vibram MegaGrip outsole, essentially the best in the game. It’s feels incredibly comfortable on the run, and– despite its height– remains relatively stable over any terrain. It’s not the lightest shoe, but what you sacrifice in weight, you’ll get back in long miles over any distance on the trails.

How We Make Our Picks

All of our recommendations come directly from our feet to your screen. We test countless running shoes here at Believe in the Run, and we let our reviews guide our decisions. However, we also consider other reviews and our BITR community, as not every runner has the same experiences. We also aim to stick with shoes that are currently available so you can give our recommendations a try.

Want to learn more about how our review process works? Check out this guide.