Buy the Saucony Ride 14 if you want a utilitarian trainer with a plushly padded upper, stretchy tongue gussets, and a comfortable fit. If you desire peace of mind that your shoe will feel the same on mile 1, mile 20, and mile 300, this is the shoe for you. Performance: B+ (Slightly softer ride. Really smooth forefoot, heel still a little clunky during warm up) The upper changes though didn’t feel like they were hugely noticeable in our running time with them. Running conditions weren’t hot and sweaty enough to really get a sense whether that mesh upper can really make things more breathable.

Saucony Ride 14 | Saucony

The wide, soft tongue feels cushy and is the main driver behind the amazing feel of this shoe on your foot.

Visually, it looks bulky with its maxed-out cushion. But in hand and on foot, the Saucony Ride 15 is strikingly light. 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. The wide opening is easy to slide your foot into, and the narrower heel feels very secure,” one reviewer says. “When I cinch the laces down, my foot doesn’t budge. It fits my foot really well.”

Saucony Ride 14 | Direct Running

A runner looking for support with a very comfortable upper would enjoy wearing Guide 14 for medium to slow-paced runs of any distance. The ever-popular Ride and Triumph series, are perfect for neutral road runners who want comfy cushioning. Whether you’re doing an easy run or logging uptempo miles, the running shoes you wear for most of your workouts need to be comfortable. Thankfully, the Ride 14 delivers a classic, straightforward fit. The flex grooves carved into the outsole let it bend easily as your foot moves from landing to takeoff, which promotes smooth transitions. For the second year, Guide’s upper employs FORMFIT technology, which includes the remnant from the ISOFIT models of an attached tongue, with mesh that hugs both sides of the midfoot and keeps the tongue from moving around.For a neutral shoe, the Saucony Ride really impressed us with its steady platform. We believe that it comes from the combination of the midsole shape, the foam firmness, and the fact that our heels sit deeper inside the shoe. 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. One of the hallmarks of the Ride line is a lightweight feel, and the Ride 14 delivers on that, too. Saucony lists the men’s model at 9.4 oz and the women’s at 8.4 oz, depending on the size.