Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
8mm
Breathability
6.9/10
Latest Version
Ride 10 (2017)
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Welded overlays provide the upper with a snug and lightweight feeling fit• iBR+ is more cushioned and lighter than other kinds of rubber, it is very light and works together with the material in the midsole to support and cushion the foot.• SRC is underneath the shoe’s sole and helps absorb impact and soften landings.• Powergrid and SSL EVA are lightweight cushioning features that deliver a smoother ride• The inner lining uses Rundry, which wicks moisture away for a drier and very comfortable run, it also helps to prevent blisters and provides a great next to foot feeling• Triflex outsole provides extra contact with the ground and a superior toe off compared to other designs• XT-900 rubber in the outsole provides excellent durability and traction
Upper
The upper unit is the same as the Ride 7, constructed with a combination of welded overlays and mesh, but the mesh is made of Gore-tex material. This gives the upper the same great flexibility to lock the foot in place but it is breathable and waterproof at the same time. The Gore-tex has also improved the upper’s overall durability.;The collar area incorporates RunDry material around the heel and collar to wick away moisture and keep your feet dry from the top. The plush tongue area and flat laces are good for keeping the shoe comfortably laced. Some runners have found a problem with the upper unit, there have been reports of harder parts of the shoe digging and causing blisters, it really depends on the shape of your foot and how it works with the design of the shoe.
Midsole
While the stack height of the Ride 7 GTX is not excessive, it is the distance off the ground to provide excellent soft cushioning throughout the stride and especially during toe offs. The PowerGrid and SSL EVA work together to give you impact protection where you need it most. The SRC (super rebound compound) is great for giving off some ground feedback with every stride.;From the Ride 6 to the Ride 7 editions they removed a plastic piece from the midsole and filled that area with foam cushion, making for a smoother more consistent ride and a shoe that moves better with your foot. The comfortable midsole make this a great choice for recovery workouts of for faster days. Many runners reported that if they could only have one pair of shoes this would be a likely candidate, pair that with the waterproofing Gore-tex feature and that makes it an even better choice.
Outsole
One of the major changes from the Ride 6 to the Ride 7 is the outsole design. The directions of the blown rubber pods were changed in order to give runners more contact with the ground for every stride. The pods are also flattered so that more of them touch the ground throughout the stride, this is good for traction, especially since the GTX line was designed particularly for wet conditions.;The design also enhanced the ability of the outsole to flex in a natural way. The outsole used iBR+, a type of blown rubber that increases traction and helps dissipate impact. There is also the XT-900 which is a special kind of carbon rubber which is harder and helps to support the blown rubber portion of the outsole.
Breathability
Traditionally, waterproof shoes would be much less breathable than normal shoes but that is not the case with Gore-tex. The mesh Gore-tex membrane is great at allowing air to pass through the shoe without letting water in. The design of the synthetic overlays and the mesh are a great design for letting air in and keeping debris and water out. Overall the GTX is a little less breathable than the original but it is hardly noticeable.
Comfort
For a medium outsole and midsole height shoe, the Ride 7 GTX does a great job of giving you a comfortable ride. It is not overly cushioned and follows the design of a more minimalist shoe while still providing lots of cushion for the long haul. The soft inner lining and RunDry around the collar are great at giving runners a soft feeling next to their skin.;The plushly padded tongue and lace area, along with the flat lace design, does a good job of locking your foot in without any pressure points on the top of the foot. However, some runners have reported that the shoe has never quite fit right for them and they have noticed some harder pieces of the shoe digging into their feet and causing blisters. People requiring a wider toe-box might also want to avoid this shoe as some have found the toe box area to be a bit constricting.
Style
Because of the Gore-tex mesh upper, the design is somewhat limited as far as color goes. There is one GTX color variation available to men and one for women. It is fairly neutral, great for wet and muddy weather, with some brightly-colored accents on the outsole, lace area, and inner lining. Additionally, the shoe offers a nice sleek design when compared with other neutral trainers that are this comfortable.
Durability
The 7 GTX is a very durable shoe, built solidly from the ground up with great outsole materials. The combination of the carbon rubber with the softer blown rubber does a good job of standing up to the elements while still giving a little flexibility and great traction. The midsole technologies all work together in order to give a comfortable ride for several hundred miles, thanks to the many technologies that went into the midsole, the cushion does not wear down easily. The Gore-tex upper also increases the overall durability of the shoe.
Protection
This shoe does a nice job of protecting you from the elements. The Gore-tex waterproofing feature is great for cold wet climates and long runs so you will not end up getting moisture-related blisters. The stack height is great for keeping your feet off the ground while not being so high as to make the shoe unstable. The upper and collar area do a good job of keeping dirt and debris out so you can have a comfortable run.
Responsiveness
The Powergrid has SSL EVA to provide a nice balance between a lively and responsive cushion and a comfortable plush-feeling ride. The SRC located under the sole also gives a nice snappy feeling while increasing the overall consistency of the ride. If you are looking for a responsive ride without the ground feel the 7 GTX is a good shoe for you.
Support
While this is not meant to be a support shoe, it does have minimal support features built in. It does discourage runners against overpronating and it encourages them to get on their toes to obtain a powerful liftoff. Other than that this shoe is not meant for motion control and is great for runners that already have good form and are maybe even looking for a little movement within the shoe to be able to improve it. The shoe does offer great cushion from heel to toe to give you a nice comfortable consistent ride.
Terrain
The iBR+, XT-900 and the outsole’s design make this a great shoe for any hard surface or terrain. The Gore-tex upper also make it great for any terrain that tends to collect moisture such as uneven track or pavement with small dips that do not drain well in the rainy season. This shoe performs well on pavement, tracks, and cement, as well as a light trail.
Price
Originally a higher priced running shoe, the price has fallen recently at many retailers, making this shoe very affordable. This lower price is a great price point if you live in a wet climate and want to try out a shoe from the Saucony Ride line without handing over a lot of money. Some runners claim that if you only need one pair of shoes in your closet and this is a good contender because this shoe will give its wearer an excellent shoe at a very reasonable price.
Drop
At an 8mm drop, this is a great shoe for someone looking for slightly more cushioning under the heel, it is also a great offset for a neutral runner who wants to improve their form. No matter where you land it encourages you to get up on your toes and have a strong toe-off.
Stability
This is not a stability shoe although it does has some nice features that keep neutral runners’ feet from rolling or sliding. The midsole encourages runners to spend more time on their forefoot and get a good toe-off. The sole of the shoe also discourages the foot from overpronating. The cushion is great for runners looking to improve their foot strength or those recovering from injuries caused by overuse.
Flexibility
Saucony designed the outsole to include “vertical flex groove” so that the outsole would flex a little under pressure. Although this outsole design helps, this shoe is not overly flexible because of the stack height and various amounts of cushioning found throughout the midsole. The 7 GTX is a great shoe for runners looking to transition from a stability shoe to a neutral training shoe because the low amount of flexibility provides a great consistent ride while maintaining some freedom of motion in the foot.
Traction
The vertical flex groove included in the outsole’s pattern in combination with its blown rubber in the treads does a great job of adapting to your stride and giving additional traction on all sorts of surfaces, wet or dry. There is a little additional hard rubber near the toe area to provide a stronger toe-off.
Bottom Line
This is a popular edition of the Saucony Ride series and although it is not the newest trainer on the market it still has most of the great technologies present in the latest versions. This shoe offers a nice comfortable, neutral ride with lots of lightweight features to keep you comfortable on your run. The Gore-tex makes this a great shoe for cooler or wetter climates. If you were to have only one shoe in your running collection I would recommend you look at the Saucony Ride series to see if it works for you.
