The Saucony Guide is the flagship model of Saucony’s stability range alongside the Hurricane. This new version 14 comes with a modern and sleek design.

I only had this issue in the heel though, midfoot and forefoot fit well, and I was able to run no problem in the shoe other than the small annoyance of my heel slipping. Boring looks I personally don’t like stiff heels, they don’t work for my foot, and the result is noticeable heel slipping.

My first run in the shoe actually felt refreshingly light as I had been running in Gaviota 3. I ran some fast-paced intervals amid traces of melting snow from spring! Saucony has made their PWRrun midsole a bit softer in this update but it’s still a stiff shoe without a ton of response or pep.

At a time when almost all running shoes had higher drops (with 12-14mm being the norm), Saucony used learnings from their Kinvara model which had introduced lower drop design to the mass running market to produce the Guide 5. This particular model was a massive success and was at the forefront of the brand’s move to reducing drops across their entire range, an approach which has now been encompassed by many other brands. I was expecting a firmer medial experience through the midfoot transition, but it wasn’t as prominent as I thought it would be,” he says. “Overall, it feels more adaptable than your traditional stability shoe.”

Saucony Guide 14

Personally I’d prefer a dual-density foam design over a TUP medial post, but I’m not a stability runner most of the time so the need for rigid support is not at the top of my list. Pronation is the natural inward roll of your foot as you land and begin the transition to your forefoot, but it can become a problem if you pronate too much. This excessive pronation can prematurely wear out the inside edge (called the medial side) of your shoes, which over time creates an unstable platform to run on. The plush shoelaces (that my cat likes playing with while I put the shoe on), anticipate the padded comfort of the rest of the upper. While neutral running shoes don’t use additional structure, stability shoes like the Guide 14 use the extra technology to help mitigate the effects of overpronation. This shoe is lighter than Gaviota, yet I rated the latter higher as it is a pointedly solid shoe with a stand-out midsole that is soft yet supportive.

In the intervening years, the Guide has gone through a number of changes but has remained a reliable stability model which has always delivered a great fit and feel for many runners. Each version has continued to incorporate many of Saucony’s advanced technologies. So fast forward to 2023 and the Guide 16 continues in this vein!

Saucony’s FORMFIT system also shines here. The three-layer fit system adapts to your foot shape, weight and gait for a close-to-custom feel. I wish Saucony would jazz this shoe up a bit. It’s not that exciting to look at with its main design feature just being a juxtaposed lace color… Sure the laces match the outsole, but that’s all. Gray on gray, with some colorful laces. The 14 has a slightly different look this year, offering a bit more cushion to the tongue yet less around the heel than in the past, with more reflective material added to a similar-looking upper.