Shoe Review: Saucony Ride 13

The Saucony Ride 13 is a reliable everyday trainer that’s as great for new runners as it is for seasoned veterans, making it a shoe runners return to again and again.

Saucony updated the popular Ride this year with a few key features that have made their way into other Saucony running shoes, too. An updated fit, new midsole and refreshed upper give the Ride 13 a versatile, approachable vibe that translates to your training.

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Like other recent updates in Saucony’s lineup, the Ride 13 replaces the ISO version of the same shoe, the Saucony Ride ISO 2; the Saucony Guide 13 replaced the the Guide ISO 2, and the Saucony Triumph 17 took the place of the Triumph ISO 5.

Fleet Feet reviewers laced up the Saucony Ride 13 to test how it fits, how it feels and how it compares to the previous versions. Here’s what they thought.

Tech specs

Saucony Ride 13

Weight

8.6 oz (W), 9.7 oz (M)

Drop

8 mm

Midsole

PWRRUN

Category

Neutral

Use

Everyday trainer

Surface

Road, track

Saucony Ride 13 Fit and Materials

A pair of Saucony Ride 13 running shoes

The Saucony Ride 13 is a shoe designed for everyday training, which means it has to be comfortable to handle the bulk of your miles. Fortunately, Saucony found the right balance of comfort and performance.

The Ride 13 feels spacious in the midfoot and forefoot, giving it plenty of room for a wide range of foot shapes. It also comes in wide widths for runners who need even more space.

An internal heel cup creates the structure that helps lock in the fit. One Fleet Feet reviewer with an average-width heel says he felt a little bit of slippage when he started running. He says he stopped and tightened the laces, which solved the problem.

Saucony threaded the shoelaces through five eyelets along each side of the shoe, and they included a sixth at the top to let you customize your laces. The extra hole gives you the option to use different lacing techniques, like marathon lacing, to lock down your heel or just get a more comfortable overall fit.

Reviewers say the accommodating fit and classic lacing system make the Ride 13 feel approachable for long workouts and new runners.

A one-piece engineered mesh upper covers the Ride 13, which is smooth inside and out. A little bit of extra padding in the heel collar and tongue lend the shoe a soft step-in feel.

“It’s cushioned and comfortable, so it’s a great pair of running shoes for beginners,” one tester says. “I cinched down the laces and found a really secure fit without any problems.”

One subtle (but appreciated) feature about the Ride 13 is the slightly stretchy, tubular shoelaces. Saucony’s laces give the shoe a more dynamic fit that allows the upper to move with your foot without feeling too loose.

One tester says the laces improved the ease of lacing up her shoe as well as the overall midfoot fit. “Something about the extra stretch and smooth, round laces make an even cinch even easier,” she says.

Saucony Ride 13 Performance

A pair of Saucony Ride 13 running shoes on stairs

Two things make the Ride 13 one of the best Saucony running shoes: comfort and versatility.

Saucony’s PWRRUN midsole is both soft and responsive. It cushions each step but responds quickly enough for a nimble feeling. One reviewer says the Ride 13 felt great for cruising on flat roads and for powering up steep hills.

“I felt really good running hills,” he says. “The Ride is responsive enough to make those quick steps feel more powerful instead of feeling like I’m fighting sand.”

The Ride’s level of cushioning sits between the featherweight racing-style Saucony Kinvara 11 and the max-cushioned Saucony Triumph 17. Even for one reviewer who typically chooses shoes with more cushioning, the Ride 13 works.

“I felt like my heel-to-toe transition was fast,” he says. “A good, consistent balance of responsive cushion from heel-to-toe. I didn't feel like I needed more cushion at heel strike or toe off.”

Another tester liked the just-right balance of stiffness and flexibility.

“These are flexible enough to feel natural and stiff enough to give them pep right out of the box,” she says. “They felt responsive to me from the very beginning.”

Saucony Ride ISO 2 vs. Saucony Ride 13

A few things have changed when you compare the Saucony Ride ISO 2 and the Ride 13—one of the most notable changes being in the name.

The last time the Saucony Ride came without the ISO moniker was the Ride 10, which hit the market in 2017. The last two models, though, donned the ISOFIT system designation.

Saucony shoes made with ISOFIT used a series of finger-like straps to help anchor the laces around the midfoot. Saucony said the system created a personalized fit for different foot shapes.

The Ride 13 dropped the ISO technology, opting instead for a full FORMFIT system. The updated fit system uses three layers of cushioning to create a more bucket-seat-like feeling that naturally cradles your foot and adapts to your weight and foot shape.

Another big change between the Ride ISO 2 and the Ride 13 is the midsole. Saucony swapped out the PWRFOAM midsole for a new PWRRUN foam.

Another tester lauded the newest version after finding the previous model uncomfortable.

“My forefoot would fall asleep running in past versions of this shoe,” she says. “But this update is perfect; I’ve been wearing it for most of my runs, and I’m impressed with how good it feels whether I’m out for a walk or run. I think the combination of the 8 mm heel-to-toe drop and the new PWRRUN foam works perfectly.”

Conclusion

The Saucony Ride 13 is a reliable everyday trainer with a comfortable fit and versatile performance.

The Ride has an accommodating fit that works for a wide range of foot shapes, and the PWRRUN midsole gives the shoe cushy, responsive performance.

“Overall, this is an amazing improvement from the previous Saucony Ride,” says on tester. “It has a great, consistent experience underfoot.”

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Still not convinced? Don’t sweat it. Fleet Feet's return policy means you can test drive your shoes and gear without risk. If you’re not happy with the way your gear performs, looks or fits, we’ll take it back within 60 days. Plus, you’ll get free shipping on orders over $99 and free return shipping on all fleetfeet.com orders. That's our Happy Fit Guarantee.

By Evan Matsumoto. Evan played many sports growing up but didn’t go pro in any of them. Now, he’s the digital copywriter for fleetfeet.com and editor for the Fleet Feet blog where he writes about different foam densities and engineered mesh uppers.

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