The daily trainer market is one of the most crowded spaces in running right now. Every major brand has a horse in the race, and the margins between a good shoe and a great one can be razor thin. The Saucony Ride series has long been one of the more dependable options in this category. With the Ride 19, Saucony have made some meaningful updates, most notably to the PWRRUN+ foam compound. At €150/$140/£130, it sits at a competitive price point for what is on offer.
The question is whether the Ride 19 can cut through the noise and genuinely stand out.
Having spent a good amount of time in the shoe across a wide range of paces and conditions, I think I have a pretty clear answer.
Upper and Fit of the Saucony Ride 19
What works for me
The upper of the Ride 19 is soft, comfortable, and clean in its design. Saucony have used an engineered mesh which they describe as offering enhanced breathability and stretch for a more inclusive fit. In practice, it delivers on both counts. What surprised me most was just how breathable the upper feels given how plush and cushioned it is when you first slide your foot in. It does not feel like a shoe that is going to leave your feet cooking on a warm day. This is a real positive for a shoe you will likely be reaching for across all seasons.
The heel section is well padded and delivers excellent lockdown. There is a pleasing security to the way the Ride 19 holds the foot, which builds confidence whether you are shuffling through a recovery run or picking up the pace on a tempo effort. The midfoot is the tightest section of the shoe, but not uncomfortably so. If anything, it adds to the overall sense of a secure, dialled-in fit, while still allowing the forefoot to be accommodating enough for the toes to splay naturally. The shoe fits true to size, and I would recommend sticking with your usual size.
Like most modern running shoes, there is an extra eyelet at the top of the lace chain so you can tie a runner’s knot if you want to fine-tune the heel lockdown further. It is a small but appreciated detail.
What doesn’t work for me
Two minor gripes. First, the plushness of the upper does give the shoe a slightly relaxed, cushioned character on foot. This means it does not necessarily feel like a shoe built for picking up the pace at first impression. That turns out to be misleading once you actually run in it. However, the initial feel might put off runners who like a lighter, more performance-oriented upper. Second, I would have liked to see a heel pull tab, to make putting the Ride 19 on that little bit easier.
Midsole and Ride of the Saucony Ride 19
What works for me
For me, this is the highlight of the Ride 19, and the main reason it has earned such a prominent place in my rotation. From the moment I slid my foot in for the first time, the midsole immediately stood out. For a shoe with 36mm of stack height in the heel, which is relatively modest by modern standards, the underfoot feel is remarkably soft and cushioned. That is entirely down to Saucony’s revised PWRRUN+ formula, which they describe as lighter, softer, and more responsive than its predecessor, with increased energy return. Having spent plenty of time in the shoe, I can confirm they were not exaggerating.
What makes the PWRRUN+ particularly impressive is the way it adapts across paces. At recovery pace (around 5:00 to 5:30min/km for me), the foam feels plush and forgiving, absorbing impact without ever feeling mushy or unstable. Push the pace into uptempo and interval territory (I have taken it up to 3:00min/km), and the foam seems to firm up just enough to offer a responsive, bouncy platform underfoot. It is a genuinely rare quality in a daily trainer at this price point, and it is the main reason the Ride 19 earns its place in what I like to call the Goldilocks zone of daily trainers. It is a shoe that feels just right in every category.
The relatively wide forefoot platform adds to the stability of the ride. It keeps the shoe feeling planted and controlled even when pushing harder efforts. The 36mm stack height also means you retain a real sense of ground feel underfoot, something that has become increasingly rare as midsoles have crept ever higher across the market. The mild rocker geometry keeps the transitions smooth at any pace without ever feeling forced or aggressive.
What doesn’t work for me
Very little to report here honestly. The Ride 19 is not trying to be a carbon-plated race shoe, and it does not pretend to be. If you are looking for an aggressive, highly propulsive ride, this is not your shoe. But within the context of what a daily trainer should be, the midsole delivers on every front.
Outsole of the Saucony Ride 19
Grip and Traction
The outsole of the Ride 19 uses strategically placed rubber coverage rather than full coverage across the entire base. The forefoot has near full rubber coverage, with generous sections on both the lateral and medial heel too, while the remaining areas rely on exposed PWRRUN+ midsole compound. This approach keeps the weight down and allows the midsole to flex and compress naturally through the gait cycle, which contributes to the smooth, rolling feel of the shoe in motion.
In terms of traction, the Ride 19 has handled everything I have thrown at it without issue. Tarmac roads, light gravel paths, and everything in between. The relatively light lug pattern across the forefoot gives me real confidence that this shoe can cope with most reasonable terrain and conditions you are likely to encounter as a road runner.
Durability
Based on my time in the shoe so far, the Ride 19 is holding up well. The outsole rubber shows normal signs of wear in the expected contact zones, but nothing concerning. The PWRRUN+ midsole has maintained its feel and responsiveness throughout, which is a good early sign for the long-term life of the shoe. The overall construction feels solid and well put together, and given Saucony’s track record with the Ride series, I have no concerns about durability over the longer term.
Conclusion
Value for Money
At €150/$140/£130, the Saucony Ride 19 offers exceptional value for money in a market that is extremely crowded right now. The revised PWRRUN+ compound alone would justify the price tag, but when you factor in the comfort of the upper, the versatility of the ride, and the overall build quality, the Ride 19 becomes one of the most compelling purchases in the daily trainer category. When I try to think of a reason not to recommend it, the only thing that comes to mind is that once you start running in it, you might not want to run in anything else.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The Ride 19 is one of those shoes that can genuinely anchor an entire rotation on its own. It handles recovery runs with the softness and forgiveness your legs need, holds up through long endurance efforts, and responds well enough at faster paces to cover tempo sessions too. For runners who want to keep things simple, this could comfortably be your one shoe.
For runners with a fuller rotation, the Ride 19 slotting in as the daily workhorse makes a lot of sense. It is also an ideal travel shoe. If you can only pack one pair on a trip and your training week covers a range of sessions, the Ride 19 will handle all of them without compromise.
Final Verdict
The Saucony Ride 19 is exactly what a daily trainer should be: comfortable, reliable, versatile, and durable, without asking you to pay a premium for the privilege. The PWRRUN+ foam is the star of the show, delivering a soft and cushioned ride that somehow manages to stay responsive and bouncy when you push the pace. That balance is genuinely difficult to achieve, and Saucony have nailed it.
For runners at any level seeking a shoe that can handle whatever their training week throws at it, the Ride 19 is an easy and enthusiastic recommendation. It sits in that Goldilocks zone of daily trainers and, right now, it owns it.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Saucony Ride 19 vs. KIPRUN Cushion 500 Premium
The KIPRUN Cushion 500 Premium is one of the most interesting value propositions in the daily trainer market, offering a high-quality ride at a very competitive price point thanks to Decathlon’s direct-to-consumer model. Both shoes prioritise comfort and versatility, but the Ride 19 edges the Cushion 500 Premium when it comes to overall ride quality and the adaptability of the foam across a wider range of paces. The Cushion 500 Premium is an excellent choice for runners who prioritise value above all else, but if you can stretch to the Ride 19’s price tag, the step up in performance and feel is noticeable and worth the extra investment.
Saucony Ride 19 vs. Nike Pegasus 42
The Pegasus is one of the most iconic daily trainers on the market, and the 42nd iteration continues that legacy with a reliable and comfortable ride built around React foam. Compared to the Ride 19, the Pegasus 42 offers a firmer and slightly more structured feel underfoot, which some runners will prefer, particularly those who like a more traditional daily trainer character. The Ride 19, by contrast, is softer, more cushioned, and arguably more versatile across a wider pace range. Both are good daily trainers, but the Ride 19 feels like the more modern offering, with a foam compound that better reflects where the daily trainer market is heading. At a similar price point, the Ride 19 is the stronger choice.
Saucony Ride 19 vs. Mizuno Neo Zen 2
The Neo Zen 2 is one of Mizuno’s most celebrated recent releases, offering a smooth and comfortable ride that has won over a lot of daily trainer fans. Both shoes share a similar philosophy of softness and versatility, but they go about it in slightly different ways. The Neo Zen 2 has a more relaxed, flowing character to its ride, which makes it a particularly enjoyable easy day and long run shoe. The Ride 19 is the more adaptable of the two, with its PWRRUN+ foam handling faster paces more confidently than the Neo Zen 2. For runners who want a shoe that can genuinely stretch from recovery runs to interval sessions without missing a beat, the Ride 19 has the edge. For runners who prioritise pure comfort on easy days above all else, the Neo Zen 2 remains a very strong option.
Other People’s Takes on the Saucony Ride 19
Maisie’s Take on the Saucony Ride 19
As Josh states, the daily trainer market is pretty saturated, and I am fortunate to have a decent collection of daily trainers to choose from. Despite this the Saucony Ride 19 has quickly claimed a space right near the top of that list!
Pretty much everything works about this shoe. It is definitely a Goldilocks shoe for me. The fit is snug, comfortable, and plush. Yes, perhaps a bit over-generous on the tongue padding, as Josh notes. That said, there are seemingly no drawbacks in terms of breathability, so I happily take the extra comfort. As a female runner with slightly wider feet, I often struggle with fit across the forefoot and toe box. Thankfully, this isn’t the case here. The Ride 19 strikes the perfect balance between a secure lockdown and enough room to let your toes splay naturally, with no pinching or hotspots.
The ride is where the shoe really shines. The updated PWRUN+ midsole strikes the perfect balance between comfort and responsiveness. It is cushioned enough for easy miles and longer miles. Yet, it is lively enough for when you want to pick up the pace. It really is the definition of a ‘suitcase shoe’ – one that can truly do a bit of everything.
There are certainly more exciting shoes on the market right now, but there are very few that are as consistently enjoyable and versatile as the Saucony Ride 19. In a rotation full of options it has become one of the shoes I reach for the most over recent weeks. And a shoe I would recommend in a heart beat and for that price point, honestly, money well spent!
