Here’s Who Will Love The Saucony Hurricane 26… And Who Won’t

Introduction to the Saucony Hurricane 26

CHAD: Last year, I had such a hard time picking my Shoe of the Year for the Believe in the Run end-of-year roundup. One of my absolute favorites that ended up in the honorable mention slot was the Saucony Hurricane 25, and trust me, it almost felt wrong for a stability shoe to be in the running for the top honors. But that’s not an indictment of the other shoes released in 2025, because there were a ton of great shoes released — it’s a testament to how good a job Saucony did in its second year after bringing this shoe back from hiatus.

A new year and a new Hurricane, the 26th version, brings a lot of change while keeping consistent with the things that earned it the second spot in 2025. First, Saucony replaced the PWRRUN PB underfoot with their new IncrediLux foam, but they kept it in a PWRRUN frame for stability. Saucony keeps the CenterPath Technology to keep you in line over the platform (i.e., its stability element), a breathable mesh upper, and a 6mm drop. However, that 6 mm drop comes with a stack height increase from 38 mm / 32 mm to 41 mm / 35 mm; and despite that, the Hurricane 26 managed to lose weight, going from 10 oz. to 9.2 oz for a US M9.

LINDSAY: Back like we never left — or at least that’s what it feels like. It’s only been 7 months since the Believe in the Run team last reviewed the Saucony Hurricane 25. Now we’re gearing up for version 26, due to be released this summer. Time flies when you’re running in comfy shoes, am I right?

For over a quarter century, the Saucony Hurricane has become one of those classic, recognized shoe models for max-cushion lovers. So why are we so keen to keep this one in rotation? I’ll tell you why. It’s because you just never know when Saucony is going to give the classics a little tune-up, and Hurricane 26 is exactly that.

They said goodbye to the classic PWRRUN foam and said hello to the new IncrediLux midsole. This foam facelift is starting to pop up in other Saucony trainers, like the Triumph, which is also due to release this summer. The IncrediLux is described as a lighter, bouncier midsole, and some runners named Chad are finding it an enjoyable update. Stick with me, though, I might have a hot take for you.

What we like about the Saucony Hurricane 26

CHAD: I’m not going to bury the lede here; I’ve run now in four Saucony 2026 releases (Endorphin Azura, Triumph 24, Paramount Max, and Hurricane 26), and I could arguably make a case that each shoe is at the top of the class of its respective category. I said in my Azura review that I thought it would be in the running for Shoe of the Year in 2026, but I’m not even sure if it will go down as the best Saucony shoe of the year at this point.

So, what does that mean in the context of this review? What do I like about the Hurricane 26? The answer is everything. Saucony absolutely knocked it out of the park with this shoe. The IncrediLux foam immediately underfoot provides a plush, soft feel without being mushy, something which is likely helped by the PWRRUN cradle it sits in. The upper is breathable and comfortable, with a premium look and feel. Saucony also widened the base of this shoe, which only increased the stability on the run.

I’m not sure how they were able to add 3 mm of stack height to the heel and forefoot and still shed weight, but they did; combined with the bouncy and fun feel of the IncrediLux, this shoe is a dream to run in. Gone are the days of the clunky and blocky stability shoes, or at least that’s what the Hurricane 26 conveys. I could see this being an amazing long-run cruiser or daily trainer that just chews up miles for people who need or simply enjoy moderate stability.

LINDSAY: Before I deep dive into the hot take, let’s give the good features of the Saucony Hurricane their time in the spotlight. Without a doubt, this is a smooth ride. The upper is a smooth, flexible knit material. The tongue rises a tad high, but it’s minimally cushioned, so I didn’t get any hot spots. The pull tab on the tongue was an interesting feature; I personally prefer the heel pull tab and didn’t find myself using the tongue pull tab at all. Bonus points for having the laces the right length! Truly an underrated asset.

Saucony is taking an interesting direction with this new foam. More likely than not, if you’ve worn a Saucony shoe, you’ve run in its PWRRUN PB foam. It was in the recent Hurricane 25, Triumph 23, the Tempus 2, and my beloved Saucony Endorphin Speed — every version. It’s an excellent foam, and it’s here to stay for some of those models.

For others, starting with the Hurricane 26 and Triumph 24, the new IncrediLux foam creates a new class of Saucony shoes that are plusher and more comfortable. These are the models runners can readily identify for easy, daily miles. Mission accomplished.

You can’t step into this shoe without immediately noticing the arch support, which is slightly shifted medial to reduce overpronation. It’s basically a mini mountain, so for those that need it, this is your shoe. I was uncomfortable at times, though. It was distracting and made me feel a little out of whack, but you can’t knock a shoe for doing exactly what it’s made to do.

What we don’t like about the Saucony Hurricane 26

CHAD: So this is nitpicking, because this is just how Saucony started making its shoes since around 2024, but I have to highlight the toebox. It isn’t narrow exactly, but it has an aggressive taper that could cause issues for people who prefer their toes to splay. Also, the look was just okay in the all-white or cream with a green accent colorway I received. I’d be interested to see what other colorways of this shoe will look like.

LINDSAY: I’ll start by saying there’s nothing outright awful about this shoe. It’s a fine shoe, and not like the “I’m fine” when you ask a woman what’s wrong, but, truthfully, they’re not fine at all. Saucony Hurricane 26 is just… fine.

The upper wasn’t as breathable as I would hope for in an easy-run shoe, where I’m expected to cruise for many miles at a time. There’s not much aeration going on, but thankfully, it wasn’t too thick.

The Saucony Hurricane 26 is one of the least versatile shoes I have, which alone is quite limiting. It took Herculean effort to test out 5k pace. The high stack really separates you from any ground feel, making it difficult to get quick turnover. Even on my most tired legs, the shoe wasn’t exactly replenishing, partly because it’s on the heavier side with all that soft midsole. Heavier might not even be the right way to describe it; it’s just a lot of shoe if you can pick up what I’m putting down.

Finally, I would feel bad if I didn’t warn you about how much this shoe squeaks. I mean, every single step. Not an exaggeration. Why is it so noisy?

Final thoughts on the Saucony Hurricane 26

CHAD: There’s a storm coming in the running shoe market, and it is Saucony. Given that I’ve tried four of its shoes this year and all could reasonably be on the Best in Gear list at the end of the year, Saucony is staking a claim for brand of the year. The Hurricane 26 is absolutely a top-tier shoe, and it’s not just “good for a stability shoe,” it’s a darn good shoe overall. At $170, you’re getting a premium shoe that can handle most of what you throw at it.

LINDSAY: I’m glad Chad is on this one because he was pumped about this model. He can give you the exciting end of the review. I remain neutral — neither thrilled nor necessarily disappointed — about my favorite running shoe brand. At a price point of $170, it’s not going to be my go-to daily trainer. Nor would I recommend it unless you’ve never had a shoe with enough stability, then this might be worth a shot. Otherwise, there are softer, more energizing max cushioned shoes out there.

You can pick up the Saucony Hurricane 26 for $170 on July 1 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.