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With the release of the Ride 17, Saucony gave a modern touch to the line.
The Saucony Ride series is a high-performance and reliable sneaker suitable for daily workouts, with a more classic design than competitors on the market.
Photo credit: Saucony website
But let’s find out in detail the characteristics of the new Saucony shoe.
Overview of a successful model
Compared to previous models, the Saucony Ride 17 has undergone significant changes. It boasts a revamped midsole and upper with softer foam. The result is a smooth and balanced ride, even during the most intense workouts, such as hill runs.
At first glance, the comfort and versatility of the shoe are immediately noticeable. After wearing it for longer, however, you realize the lightness and breathability of the mesh upper.
In summary, the shoe offers a mix of comfort, cushioning and responsiveness that caters to a wide range of runners. Running in these shoes is definitely smoother. Also noteworthy is better traction on various surfaces.
Features and highlights
PWRRUN+ Foam Cushioning
Switching from the older EVA midsole to the more responsive PWRRUN+ foam, the Ride 17 offers a more contemporary ride. This update resulted in a shoe that was more balanced, stable, and cushioned than its predecessors.
Comfort
The Ride 17 also benefits from a redesigned upper, with perforated side panels for added breathability. Although the tongue lacks an eyelet for stability, the overall fit stays true to size, with a roomy forefoot and midfoot, but a slightly narrow toe box.
Stability
In terms of performance, the Ride 17 is a versatile everyday sneaker that is suitable for various types of running. The cushioned midsole provides enough support for long-duration runs, while maintaining a responsive feel for faster workouts. The increased durability of the PWRRUN+ foam ensures that the shoe retains its cushioning over time, making it a reliable choice for high mileage.
Lightweight
Despite its strengths, the Ride 17 has some drawbacks. It weighs slightly more than its competitors, which may put off some runners looking for a lighter option. However, its brisk ride and durability make up for the extra weight, especially for those who prioritize comfort and durability over speed.
In which conditions of use does it give its best performance?
The Ride 17 is ideal for relaxing walks thanks to its balance of cushioning and responsiveness, also suitable for fast workouts and daily commutes. While softer than previous models, it remains stable and comfortable, ensuring durability and reliability for a variety of distances and terrain, but may be less sensitive to the ground for speed runs.
Leisure walk
The Ride 17 excels as an everyday trainer, offering a balance of cushioning and responsiveness that makes it suitable for both easy runs and faster workouts. The transition from heel to toe is smooth, although some users may find the initial heel contact slightly clunky until the midsole settles.
Your daily mileage
Its durability and reliability make it a compelling choice, especially for runners looking for a shoe that can handle a variety of workouts. The upper of the Ride 17 is comfortable and secure, fulfilling its role as a daily training shoe.
Despite being softer than its predecessors, the Ride 17 remains firmer and more accommodating than other everyday trainers.
Switching to PWRRUN+ foam improves its performance, making it suitable for a wide range of distances and terrain.
Long run
The ground feel is less than the previous version, which may be of interest to those looking for more cushioning.
While the Ride 17 isn’t ideal for speed racing due to its lower ground sensitivity, it still offers a surprisingly enjoyable ride, even over long distances.
Final reviews
Ultimately, the Ride 17 is an excellent choice for runners looking for a reliable and versatile daily training shoe with a modern twist.
Overall, the Saucony Ride 17 appeals to everyone and has something for everyone. Although often overlooked compared to other everyday running shoes, it offers a modern combination of comfort and responsiveness. Equipped with PWRRUN+ foam and a breathable upper, it is well suited to relaxing walks and daily training, maintaining stability and durability even over longer distances. Despite being less sensitive to the ground for fast runs, its cushioning and versatility make it a reliable choice for a wide range of terrain and workouts.
Saucony Ride 17 vs Saucony Triumph 21
The Saucony Ride 17 is a versatile, neutral daily training shoe, while the Saucony Triumph 21 is a long-distance running shoe. Below we will compare these two shoes that are similar but with notable differences.
They are both high-quality running shoes, designed to provide optimal comfort and performance during training and competitions. However, they do have some significant differences that make them suitable for different types of runners and specific needs.
The Ride 17 and Triumph 21 differ mainly in the sole and the construction of the upper. As for the outsole, the Ride 17 features a PWRRUN+ foam midsole with a thick TPE insole, which offers a medium-soft and versatile ride that is suitable for shorter, faster runs. The Triumph 21, on the other hand, boasts a softer, snappier single-density TPE midsole with a TPE insole, offering a smoother ride that’s ideal for longer, slower rides.
The Triumph’s midsole incorporates a rocker geometry, giving it a more modern feel than the Ride’s flatter ride.
When it comes to stability, the Ride excels with its balanced and neutral ride, while the Triumph offers medium stability, which should be adequate for most runners.
Both shoes feature durable carbon rubber in the rearfoot and blown rubber in the forefoot for softer landings. In addition, the TPE midsoles are long-lasting and maintain cushioning over time.
As for the upper, both the Ride and Triumph offer soft uppers with smooth interiors. However, the Triumph features more padding in the heel, tongue and collar, making it warmer and better suited to colder climates than the Ride.
Saucony website
To decide between the two, if you’re looking for a versatile shoe that can tackle different types of runs, the Ride 17 is the right choice. However, if supreme comfort and softness are your priority, especially for long-distance racing, and you’re willing to invest a little more, the Triumph 21 is the option to go for.
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