The Saucony Ride 19 isn’t trying to revolutionize the market. It has no carbon plate, space-age foam, or aggressive geometry. Yet, the Ride series has been one of the most popular training shoe models for years. Why? Because it provides the comfort, springy cushioning, and versatility that most runners expect for almost any workout. Is that enough to see the “everyday magic” in the nineteenth edition?
Basic info
Tech specs
Purpose
The Saucony Ride 19 is a daily training shoe that offers a high level of cushioning. It is designed primarily for running on hard surfaces. It performs best on asphalt roads, sidewalks, and paved park paths. Thanks to its relatively flat outsole and ample rubber in the midsole, it also performs well on gravel trails. This model is ideal for leisurely warm-ups, longer runs, and typical training at a comfortable pace. The resilient foam and smooth midsole geometry allow the shoe to maintain decent dynamic performance when the pace increases slightly. The Ride 19 remains a neutral model designed for runners with neutral foot biomechanics.
Pros
- high and resilient cushioning
- lightweight profile for easy rolling
- quite dynamic for an “everyday training shoe”
- durability and traction of the midsole
Cons
- no aggressive dynamics
- for those who expected innovation, it may be a disappointment
What’s New in the Latest Edition
| RIDE 19 | RIDE 18 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stack height | 36/28mm | 35/27mm |
| Drop | 8mm | 8mm |
| Weight men’s | 270g | 275g |
| Weight women’s | 220g | 213g |
| Upper | technical mesh | technical mesh |
| Midsole | PWRRUN+ (supercritical EVA/TPU) | PWRRUN+ (TPU) |
| Outsole | XT-900 carbon rubber, increased rubber surface area | XT-900 carbon rubber |
Saucony Running Shoes – lineup
Saucony’s lineup includes two popular universal training shoe models: The Ride 19 and the Guide 19. Both belong to the everyday running shoe category and offer a similar level of cushioning. They provide pleasant elasticity and sufficient dynamism for calm and moderate running speeds. The most significant difference between the two is the level of foot stabilization they provide. The Ride 19 is a neutral shoe designed for runners with standard biomechanics. The Guide 19, on the other hand, is designed for people with overpronation and ankle valgus.
Another relatively similar model in the Saucony lineup is the Triumph 23. It is also a neutral shoe but belongs to the maximum cushioning category. In practice, this means it feels much softer and plusher underfoot than the Ride 19. If you find the Ride 19 lacking in softness while running or prefer more “couch-like” cushioning, the Triumph may be a good alternative. However, it’s important to note that greater cushioning means less dynamic performance.
For more information on this and other models, see the Saucony running shoe guide.
| NEUTRAL SHOES | STABILITY SHOES | HIGH STABILITY SHOES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| maximum cushioning |  Triumph 23 |  Hurricane 25 | |
| very high cushioning |  Ride 19 |  Guide 19 |  Omni 23 ST |
| high cushioning |  Echelon 10 |
Similar to Saucony Ride 17
The Saucony Ride 19 is a popular type of running shoe: a versatile training shoe designed for everyday running. Competition in this category is fierce, as most manufacturers offer similar models. Nevertheless, the Ride series has remained one of the most recognizable choices among runners for years.
If you are looking for other models with a similar level of cushioning and versatility, it is also worth checking out other shoes in the daily trainer category. You can find more suggestions in this running shoe guide.
| MODEL | STACK HEIGHT (mm) | DROP (mm) | WEIGHT MEN'S (grams) | WEIGHT WOMEN'S (grams) | REGULAR PRICE (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Supernova Rise 3 | 35/28 | 7 | 272 | 230 | 150 |
| Asics Gel-Cumulus 28 | 37/30 | 8 | 259 | 223 | 160 |
| Brooks Ghost 17 | 37/27 | 10 | 286 | 254 | 150 |
| Brooks Ghost Max 3 | 39/33 | 6 | 317 | 283 | 160 |
| Diadora Equipe Nucleo 2 | 38/32 | 6 | 280 | 210 | 150 |
| Hoka Clifton 10 | 42/34 | 8 | 278 | 228 | 150 |
| Mizuno Wave Rider 29 | 38/30 | 8 | 265 | 225 | 160 |
| New Balance 880 v15 | 38/32 | 6 | 304 | 238 | 160 |
| Nike Zoom Pegasus 41 | n/a | 10 | 297 | 251 | 140 |
| Nike Vomero 18 | n/a | 10 | 325 | 263 | 150 |
| On Cloudsurfer 7 | 32/22 | 10 | 245 | 205 | 170 |
| Puma Magnify Nitro 2 | 40/30 | 10 | 275 | 245 | 150 |
| Saucony Ride 19 | 36/30 | 8 | 270 | 220 | 150 |
Balanced Cushioning with a Touch of Energy
The Saucony Ride 19’s midsole is made of redesigned PWRRUN+ foam. This material is based on the familiar TPU structure, but with the addition of supercritical EVA foam. This makes the foam more resilient and provides high energy return. The new foam version offers a slightly more dynamic and resilient feel underfoot while maintaining a comfortable level of cushioning. For runners weighing up to 90 kilograms, this level of cushioning is sufficient. For a softer feel, consider the Triumph 23 model.
The shoe has a 36-millimeter midsole stack under the heel and a 28-millimeter stack under the toes, resulting in an 8-millimeter drop. These values are similar to those of its predecessor and are standard for this type of shoe.
In this generation, Saucony has slightly modified the midsole geometry. The Ride 19 provides a smooth transition from heel to toe, and thanks to its modified profile and subtle rocker, it offers an even smoother step transition. The effect is not overly aggressive, as the Ride remains a classic daily trainer. In practice, however, the shoe feels slightly more dynamic than the previous version.
Durable XT-900 Outsole for Daily Training
The Saucony Ride 19’s outsole construction is very similar to that of the previous generation. The manufacturer once again used a significant amount of XT-900 rubber, covering both the front and rear of the midsole. This design has been used in previous versions of the Ride series and is effective, particularly in terms of durability. The thick rubber layer effectively protects the midsole foam and ensures the outsole can withstand hundreds of kilometers of training.
However, the layout of the rubber elements has been redesigned slightly. The front of the midsole has a larger rubber surface and deeper flex grooves to support the natural movement of the forefoot during takeoff. The outsole pattern is relatively flat and typical for asphalt; however, thanks to appropriately placed cuts, the midsole retains flexibility.
This outsole performs well on hard surfaces. Hard surfaces, sidewalks, and paved gravel roads are no problem for it. Traction remains reliable, and the large amount of rubber increases stability. Consequently, the Ride 19 remains a solid training shoe designed primarily for everyday running on hard surfaces.
Comfortable and Well-Refined Upper
The Saucony Ride 19’s upper is made of breathable technical mesh with a varied structure. This highly breathable material remains soft and comfortable against the foot. The smooth interior finish prevents irritation. The front of the upper offers ample space. At its widest point, the upper measures 106.9 mm, which is above average for running shoes. While this is not a “wide” version, there is ample room in the front of the foot, improving comfort during leisurely runs.
The middle part of the upper, on the other hand, is designed to hold and stabilize the foot. This area is significantly narrower than the front. This area features an integrated tongue connected to the upper with soft, flexible material. This improves the shoe’s fit and reduces the risk of the tongue shifting sideways while running. It keeps the foot stable and distributes the pressure of the laces more evenly.
The Ride 19’s heel counter retains the classic construction found in previous versions of the series. The heel stiffener is quite pronounced, and the amount of internal padding is standard for training shoes with this level of cushioning. This classic construction sufficiently limits sideways heel movement, improving foot control. Combined with a properly contoured upper, it provides a secure fit during everyday training.
Impressively Lightweight for a Daily Trainer
According to the manufacturer’s data, the Saucony Ride 19 weighs approximately 270 grams for men and 220 grams for women. These values are very similar to those of the previous generation, as this model has only undergone cosmetic changes.
In practice, however, the Ride 19 in size 12 US weighs 311 grams, meaning the nineteenth generation is 13 grams heavier. Despite this, it is still a relatively light training shoe with this amount of cushioning. Compared to all road training shoes, it is one of the 17% lightest models. This is an excellent result. Thanks to this, the Ride 19 works well during calm training sessions, longer runs, and when the running pace increases slightly. This is one reason why the Ride series has been considered one of the most versatile offerings in Saucony’s lineup for years.
Final Thoughts
In many ways, the Saucony Ride 19 is exactly what you would expect. It is a predictable evolution of the previous generation, offering slightly higher cushioning, a slightly refreshed geometry, and a refined upper. However, its character has remained virtually the same. It’s still a comfortable, springy, versatile daily trainer that does its job well.
