Saucony Ride 16 Review: Still Our Ride-or-Die (But Mostly Ride)

The Intro

MEAGHAN: The Ride 16 is the workhorse from the Saucony lineup. It’s their neutral daily trainer and a zesty bowl of blandness. It’s hard to get really excited about it, but fans of the previous model will be happy to hear that not much has changed (at all). The midsole contains the same 35/27mm of PwrRun foam and XT-900 rubber on the outsole for a consistent underfoot feel. The PwrRun Plus sock liner adds some comfort on step-in and provides a little more softness to an otherwise firm shoe.

The upper is designed with a breathable mesh and plenty of padding around the collar and heel. A semi-gusseted tongue and flat, stretchy laces secure the foot down. Same 8mm drop, same 7.8 oz for a US W8.

WIDE-FOOT JARRETT: The Ride 16 is a flagship daily trainer for Saucony. I was a fan of last year’s version, and this year is no different. Part of that same mindset comes from the very minimal update. We’re talking less change than one of those take a penny, leave a penny trays at the convenience store. The Ride 16 has the same PwrRun midsole, while the upper has been tweaked ever so slightly. Since this should be a quick and dirty review, let’s power through.

The Good

MEAGHAN: The Saucony Ride 16 is exactly what I expected because it’s similar to the Ride 15. The shoes fit true to size and accommodate my wider feet nicely. There’s ample padding around the collar and heel, but the open mesh keeps the shoes light. It’s a great padding-to-weight ratio: plush without feeling heavy.

The firmer midsole makes this shoe good for picking up the pace, and the rubber outsole will give this shoe plenty of life. I bet you’ll get 400-plus miles out of this one.

WIDE-FOOT JARRETT: The wide fit is solid without being overly tight or excessively baggy. I don’t have any problems with the midfoot or forefoot. The updated upper has a new gilley system to help with the lockdown, although I didn’t really notice any difference from the 15 while running.

I’ve noticed that the PwrRun midsole skews towards the firmer side. It doesn’t provide much cushion or bounce but is relatively smooth through the stride. As much as I’d like the Ride 16 to be a little softer, Saucony offers so many other options for that preference.

With great firmness comes great stability, and although the Saucony Ride 16 is a neutral shoe, I don’t think pronators would have many problems. My Ride 15 US M10.5 2E weighed 9.4 oz., and my Ride 16 weighed 9.5 oz. Even the weight is pretty much the same.

I love my burnt orange wide colorway and think it looks way better than my previous pair.

The Bad

MEAGHAN: I have the same complaint I had about the previous version — this shoe is firm. It also lacks a responsive quality; they felt pretty slappy out on the road.

WIDE-FOOT JARRETT: I lack any significant complaints. Last year, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Ride as it seemed basic but hit just right. I had some expectations this year, and with it being pretty much the same shoe, I guess there was a slight disappointment. That’s my fault, though. Every year can’t be a revolution (although tell that to the Earth, amirite?!), and at least the Ride didn’t get worse.

Saucony Ride 16 Conclusion

MEAGHAN: The Saucony Ride 16 is a comfortable but firm daily trainer. If you enjoyed the previous model, you’ll certainly be happy with this iteration. While it’s not my first pick, it will work well for those who prefer a firmer ride. You can snag a pair for $140.

WIDE-FOOT JARRETT: It’s clear Saucony didn’t want to take any chances and mess up the Ride 16 this year as it continues to be a great no-frills daily trainer as it was last year. For those who want to move on from the old and get the newest model, don’t expect any surprises. Otherwise, save a few bucks and snatch up the remaining Ride 15s, as they are extremely similar.

You can grab the Saucony Ride 16 for $140 from Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) at the buttons below.

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