A good pair of running shoes is key to both your comfort and performance, whether you’re training for a marathon, diving into the Couch to 5K, or enjoying a recreational jog around the block.
And for high-quality footwear, one of the leading brands to consider is Saucony, a company with decades of experience in producing some of the best running shoes around.
Picking the right footwear for your needs isn’t always easy, however, so we’ve created this guide to some of the best Saucony running shoes to help.
First, we’ve listed a few of the things to consider when making your choice, followed by our top 7 models right now and the reasons we recommend them.
So let’s get started.
The 7 Best Saucony Running Shoes
1. Best Saucony Running Shoes for Cushioning: Triumph 21
2. Best Saucony Running Shoes for Control/Support: Tempus
3. Best Minimalist Saucony Running Shoes: Sinister
4. Best Saucony Shoes for Trail Running: Peregrine 13 ST
5. Best Saucony Shoes for Trail Running: Endorphin Speed 3
7. Best Saucony All-Round Training Shoe: Ride 16
Things to Consider When Choosing from the Best Saucony Running Shoes
One of your first considerations when picking running footwear is comfort – and the way to achieve that is by finding a shoe that fits you well.
Make sure the toe box is wide enough to flex the front of your foot easily and gives you enough wiggle room to prevent your toes from rubbing.
The ankle collar should sit comfortably – with any padding feeling natural against your ankle bones – and the upper should lay smoothly across your foot without chafing.
Be sure, too, that the area around the instep holds the shoe securely to the contours of your foot to prevent slipping.
Related Article: How Tight Should Running Shoes Be? Running Shoe Fitting Guide
Other things to think about include:
- Your gait and running style – pick shoes offering the support or guidance you need if you overpronate, underpronate, or heel strike.
- Existing injuries or conditions – ensure the shoes you choose won’t inflame your symptoms (avoid shoes with a low heel-to-toe drop if you suffer from plantar fasciitis, for example).
- Terrain – if you run on the road, opt for shoes with superior shock absorption to protect your joints. For trail running, look for sturdy uppers and reinforcement around the toe to protect you from hazards, along with superior grip and traction.
The 7 Best Saucony Running Shoes
#1. Best Saucony Running Shoes for Cushioning:
Triumph 21
Heel Drop: 10 mm, Weight: 9.8 oz, Category: Neutral
| Pros | Cons |
| Luxuriously soft yet responsive | A little too well-ventilated for very cold weather |
| Roomy toe box | |
| Seamless heel lining for a chafe-free fit |
The Triumph has been Saucony’s range-topping neutral running shoe for 21 years, and when you experience the soft, plush, and luxurious feel of the latest iteration, you’ll see why.
Its deep stack of durable PWRRUN+ cushioning provides that killer combination of softness and responsiveness, making the shoe a joy to wear for everyday training and giving it a welcome springy feel.
You’ll love the premium feel of the plush upper, too – it has a new flat-knit construction that flexes with your foot and a redesigned adaptive lacing system, making it one of the most comfortable around!
The XT-900 Carbon Rubber outsole is durable and offers excellent traction on a variety of surfaces and in both wet and dry conditions.
#2. Best Saucony Running Shoes for Control/Support:
Tempus
Heel Drop: 8 mm, Weight: 8.9 oz, Category: Structured Cushioning
| Pros | Cons |
| Very supportive but with an energized feel | Somewhat pricey |
| Lightweight for a stability shoe | |
| FORMFIT upper with midfoot straps holds the foot securely |
The combination of a responsive PWRRUN frame midsole with a durable PWRRUN PB core makes the Tempus a fast-riding shoe that provides excellent cushioning and fantastic control.
The contoured frame design feels very supportive without being intrusive, while the wide platform and rockered sole both add to the shoe’s stability and give you a smooth, speedy feel.
The roomier toe box is great for stability, too, giving you space to spread your digits and helping create a more propulsive toe-off.
The breathable, open-knit mesh upper is slightly cushioned in the rearfoot and heel collar and the gently padded, partially gusseted tongue stays in place well.
Read our full in-depth review of the Saucony Tempus here or check out our video review.
#3. Best Minimalist Saucony Running Shoes:
Sinister
Heel Drop: 6 mm, Weight: 4.9 oz, Category: Road Running
| Pros | Cons |
| Light, fast, and responsive | Unsuitable for wider feet |
| Very flexible | Traction in wet conditions could be better |
| Streamlined upper |
If you find shoes with high stack heights unstable or heavy, then check out the non-plated Sinister, with just enough PWRRUN PB foam cushioning to protect you from impact forces while allowing you to feel the ground as you run.
This low-profile shoe – with a 25 mm stack of cushioning and 6 mm heel-to-toe drop – is the lightest racing flat currently on the market, weighing in at just 4.9 ounces.
Non-plated and reminiscent of traditional racing shoes, it offers great agility and flexibility, making it perfect for short races and fast intervals.
The one-piece upper is made from a highly breathable thin ripstock fabric, with midfoot webbing straps and an overall snug fit for a secure lockdown.
#4. Best Saucony Shoes for Trail Running:
Peregrine 13 ST
Heel Drop: 4 mm, Weight: 9.7 oz, Category: Trail – Neutral
| Pros | Cons |
| High bootie design effectively keeps out debris | Upper can feel pretty warm |
| Quick fastening lace system with a secure cord lock | |
| More PWRRUN cushioning for comfort |
For excellent protection in muddy conditions, you can’t go wrong with the Peregrine 13 ST.
It features a stretch bootie-style upper that fits snugly around the ankle to keep out dirt, a protective rock plate to shield you from irregular ground, and a close-knit mesh construction to help keep your feet dry when it’s wet underfoot.
You’re also protected from roots and stray rocks by the rubber overlay around the toe, which adds some durability. So too does the lightweight protective film used in high-abrasion areas.
Designed specifically for soft terrain (in fact, that’s what the ‘ST’ stands for) it has deep, aggressive lugs that really bite into wet, muddy ground and are spaced far enough apart to shed dirt readily.
#5. Best Saucony Shoes for Trail Running:
Endorphin Speed 3
Heel Drop: 8 mm, Weight: 8.1 oz, Category: Neutral
| Pros | Cons |
| Very versatile | Short tongue |
| Flexible | |
| Wide base for stability |
The Endorphin Speed 3 is a lightweight and responsive shoe with plenty of ultra-light PWRRUNPB foam cushioning.
Soft, springy, and providing great energy return, it makes the shoe feel fantastic at pretty much any speed.
The nylon plate has been redesigned for this version and now features wings on either side, so it not only improves your running efficiency but also cradles your foot and aligns it correctly.
The wide base and spacious toe box combine to give this versatile shoe a very stable feel, while the FORMFIT upper hugs every part of your foot comfortably and is breathable enough to keep your feet happy on the warmest days.
#6. Best Saucony Running Shoes for Marathons:
Endorphin Pro 3
Heel Drop: 8 mm, Weight: 7.2 oz, Category: Neutral
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast and bouncy | Short tongue tends to slip down |
| Surprisingly stable | |
| Highly breathable |
The carbon-plated Endorphin Pro 3 ticks all the boxes as a marathon shoe – it has a deep (39.5 mm) stack of high-performance PWRRUNPB foam cushioning to keep you comfortable as you rack up the miles, yet it’s light and ultra-responsive, too.
Built for speed, it features Saucony’s SPEEDROLL technology – the brand’s advanced footwear geometry that gives you an ‘always forward’ feel – and an S-curve carbon-fiber plate.
Considering its speed, this is a very stable shoe, too, thanks to the highly rockered sole that helps guide your stride, the moderate sole flare throughout its length, and the rearfoot and forefoot midsole guidance lines that encourage centered transitions.
The fit is great – hugging your foot securely – and the lightweight upper is highly breathable and flexible enough to allow your foot to move naturally.
#7. Best Saucony All-Round Training Shoe:
Ride 16
Heel Drop: 8 mm, Weight: 8.8 oz, Category: Neutral
| Pros | Cons |
| Very balanced ride | Not the most responsive shoe |
| Durable, stable PWRRUN midsole | |
| Versatile for daily use |
This is Saucony’s workhorse model – a durable, no-frills everyday shoe that delivers a slightly firm but comfortable ride.
The 15th iteration of the Ride saw the addition of lots more cushioning and it’s here in the 16 too, along with higher sidewalls that give you the feeling of sitting into the shoe rather than on top of it.
The midsole is flared for stability and the rocker forefoot encourages you forward, while the fit feels pleasantly snug, with plenty of padding in the tongue and around the heel.
The energy return isn’t as great as in some of the other shoes in this guide, but the Ride 16 was never built for top speed.
Instead, it offers a decent level of responsiveness for tempo runs and the comfort you’ll need for everyday training.
The 7 Best Saucony Running Shoes: Key Takeaways
So there you have it – our guide to 7 of the best Saucony running shoes for every type of runner.
Whether you need a reliable daily trainer or footwear built for a marathon, I hope this guide has helped you choose the perfect model to meet your individual needs.
