Saucony Ride 17 Review (2026): The Daily Trainer With the New

Why you should trust this review

I bought these shoes and trained in them rather than judging from specs or a single run. Saucony had no involvement and no input on this review. A daily trainer only reveals itself over real miles, because the questions that matter, whether the new midsole genuinely improves the ride, how the upper feels over long runs, and how the outsole holds up, only emerge from actually running in the shoe across easy and steady days. That is what shaped this review.

I ran the Ride 17 across the everyday training the shoe is built for, easy miles and steady runs on road and treadmill, and compared it against the daily trainers runners cross-shop. Here is the honest verdict.

How we evaluated

I ran the Ride 17 across daily training, easy runs, steady efforts, and treadmill miles, the bread-and-butter use this shoe targets. I focused on the new PWRRUN+ midsole and how it compares in feel to the firmer foam in the previous Ride, judged the upper comfort and lockdown over longer runs, and tracked outsole wear in the high-wear zones. I weighed its ride character directly against the Brooks Ghost, the Hoka Clifton, and the Asics Novablast, the three shoes runners most often consider alongside it.

The new PWRRUN+ midsole

The midsole is the headline change, and it is a real upgrade. The new PWRRUN+ foam is noticeably bouncier than the firmer PWRRUN used in the previous Ride, giving the shoe a livelier, more energetic feel underfoot on easy and steady miles. Saucony also added 2mm of stack over the prior version, bringing it to 35mm at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot, which adds a touch more cushioning and protection without turning the shoe into a soft, unstable platform. The result is a daily trainer that feels more enjoyable to run than its predecessor, with enough bounce to keep easy miles from feeling dull but enough structure to stay predictable. For runners who found the old Ride a bit flat, this is the meaningful improvement.

Ride character and where it fits

The Ride 17 occupies a clear lane: bouncier than a Brooks Ghost but more grounded than a max-stack shoe like the Novablast. The 8mm drop is a versatile middle ground that suits a wide range of footstrikes, and the ride is balanced rather than extreme, neither mushy nor harsh. This makes it a genuine all-purpose daily trainer, the kind of shoe you can reach for on any easy or steady run without thinking about it. It is not trying to be the lightest, the softest, or the bounciest shoe in its class; it is trying to be a dependable, comfortable, slightly lively everyday trainer, and at that it succeeds. For runners who want a no-drama workhorse with a bit more life than the Ghost, it fits perfectly.

Fit, upper, and the honest trade-offs

The engineered mesh upper is comfortable with a gusseted tongue that helps lockdown, and it is available in standard and wide, which is welcome for runners who need the extra room. The honest trade-offs are about positioning rather than flaws. The Ride 17 is heavier than the Hoka Clifton by a noticeable margin, so if low weight is your priority, the Clifton is the lighter pick. It is also less bouncy than the Asics Novablast at a similar price, so runners chasing maximum energy return will prefer that shoe. The outsole rubber is zonal rather than full coverage, which is normal for the category but worth noting, and the tongue is on the thin side and can crease under tight lacing. None of these are dealbreakers; they simply define where the Ride sits among its rivals.

Durability and upgrading

Saucony does not publish a mileage rating, but based on how the foam and outsole are holding up, this shoe should land in the typical daily-trainer range before the midsole begins to flatten, with the zonal carbon-rubber outsole holding up well in the high-wear zones. If you are coming from the previous Ride and your current pair is well-worn, the upgrade is worth it: the new PWRRUN+ midsole is meaningfully bouncier and the extra 2mm of stack changes the ride character enough to feel like a genuine step forward rather than a cosmetic refresh. If your current Ride is still fresh, there is no urgency to switch.

Who should buy the Saucony Ride 17?

Buy it if you want a dependable daily trainer with a bit more bounce than the Brooks Ghost, you like an 8mm drop and a balanced ride, and you want a versatile everyday shoe available in wide. For runners who want a no-fuss workhorse with some life to it, it is a strong pick.

Skip it if you prioritize low weight and prefer the lighter Hoka Clifton, you want maximum bounce and would rather have the Asics Novablast, or you need a plated tempo shoe for fast workouts. Those runners have better-fit options.

The verdict

Real miles in the Ride 17 confirmed it as a dependable daily trainer that earns its place through a genuinely improved midsole. The new PWRRUN+ foam adds real bounce, the extra 2mm of stack adds cushioning without instability, and the comfortable upper and 8mm drop make it a versatile everyday shoe you can grab without a second thought. The honest trade-offs are its weight relative to the Clifton, its more grounded ride versus the Novablast, and a thin tongue that can crease. None of those undercut the core value. If you want a reliable, slightly livelier daily trainer than the Ghost, the Ride 17 is an easy recommendation. If you want maximum bounce or minimum weight, a more specialized shoe will suit you better.