Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
8mm
Breathability
6.9/10
Latest Version
Ride 10 GTX
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Lightweight Flexifilm upper• Outsole feature lightweight iBR+ material, Triflex technology and XT 900 carbon rubber• SRC softens the landing and absorbs the shock of impact• Powergrid is a lightweight cushioning foam that delivers a smoother more rebound feeling ride• The rundry lining is moisture wicking and helps prevent blisters• Gore-Tex upper
Upper
The upper wraps around the foot thanks to the Flexifilm technology. It is lightweight and durable. The Gore-Tex material also makes this upper waterproof, so you can feel comfortable in any type of weather. Despite being waterproof, the upper is highly breathable, making this a great all weather shoe. The Flexifilm technology is lightweight and it gives the shoe a customizable feeling, attaching the foot to the midsole unit. This Gore-Tex version of the Ride 8 comes in camouflage print with bright accents for both men and women, making for a very unique looking shoe.
Midsole
With a 18mm stack height, this shoe has lots of cushion in the midsole unit. Powergrid is the primary way the Ride 8 is cushioned. Powergrid is a lightweight, premium cushioning foam that delivers a smooth and bouncier feeling at liftoff. Under the sole, Saucony has also built in the SRC technology which is a “super rebound compound” that provides cushioning and support throughout the shoe and enhances responsiveness.;The Ride 8 also comes with a removable insole which gives more support to the arch. Because it is removable, should you require a little extra support you can add your own. The midsole provides good cushioning despite your foot strike pattern and gives you a nice responsive lift off.
Outsole
The outsole is made of durable carbon rubber – Saucony’s special XT-900. This is great for long-lasting protection and comfort. The tread design follows the natural arch of the foot so that you get traction where you need it most. The outsole is primarily made with hard rubber, but Saucony also uses pockets of iBR+ blown rubber which helps provide traction and cushioning throughout the outsole.
Breathability
The FlexiFilm upper boasts a very breathable design. Traditionally, people think waterproof shoes as not breathable, but with Gore-Tex in this shoe, they can be waterproof while still remaining highly breathable. Air can pass easily through the upper of this shoe to keep your foot cool. Pair it with some thinner socks for the summer season and some thicker socks for winter and you’ve got a great all weather, all seasons shoe.
Comfort
This is a highly cushioned shoe that is comfortable right out of the box. The plush collar lining gives the shoe a great next to skin feeling. Rundry is the comfortable lining found throughout the upper of the shoe and wicks away moisture to keep your foot feeling comfortable. Rundry and Gore-Tex work together to ward off blisters caused by moisture. The shock absorbing qualities of the Powergrid and SRC midsole give this shoe a nice bouncy feeling while remaining highly cushioned, which is great for impact protection and a smooth ride. The shoe also features a “crash pad” to further cushion the impact of landing on the heel first.
Style
The Gore-Tex version comes in black and white camouflage design for both men and women with bright accents on the inner lining and outsole. Some runners love this funky color combination, while others were not too keen. This color variation is not for everyone, but it is certainly a bold take on a Gore-Tex shoe. When lacing this shoe snugly, the upper does tend to crinkle causing an oddly- shaped upper, this tends to go away after a few miles, but it doesn’t make for the most attractive shoe at the beginning of your run.
Durability
This is a highly durable shoe, Saucony did a great job of incorporating highly durable materials. The durability is further enhanced by the fact that this is the Gore-Tex version. The Gore-Tex keeps moisture out and keeps the inside of the shoe dry. It also does a great job of keeping debris out of the shoe. The outsole is highly durable and the midsole cushioning will give you mile after comfortable mile. Some runners reported some tearing of the inner lining, but this was only after very extended use.;Overall, this is a comfortable shoe that is meant to go the distance and because of its enhanced durability, it is perfect for marathon distance training or racing.
Protection
This shoe has a medium stack height, keeping runners safely off the ground and away from any uneven terrain they might traverse. The Gore-Tex upper keeps moisture out, helping to prevent blisters and keeping the foot dry and comfortable in any weather. It is also great for keeping debris out of the shoe. The 8mm drop allows for extra cushioning in the heel area and an independent “crash pad” on the heel to protect from impact and avoid overuse injuries. This shoe offers some stability, but it is not overpowering, allowing your feet to move comfortably while providing lots of cushioning and protection from the road.
Responsiveness
The firmer cushion featured in this shoe does a great job of providing a comfortable ride while still giving it a snappy, responsive feeling. Although the shoe has a medium stack height and a lack of ground feel, you can still get feedback with every stride thanks to the firmer cushion. The powergrid also boasts noticeable energy return with every stride. This shoe very well for longer distance runs for a runner who needs comfort but also wants to have a little bit of bounce with every stride.
Support
Saucony included some of their support technologies throughout the shoe but it’s not enough to be overpowering. Overall, this is a shoe that is meant to give you freedom of movement while also cushioning every step to keep you comfortable. This is a great shoe for someone moving from a stability trainer and looking to build more foot strength and transition to a more minimalist designed shoe. Because of this great mix of stability and freedom this shoe will find itself in many training rotations.
Terrain
The outsole design follows the natural shape of the foot to provide traction on all types of road terrain. The mixture of XT-900 and iBR+ do a great job of standing up to any type of road terrain. This is a good shoe on track, pavement, roads, cement, and even light trail surfaces.
Price
This shoe originally retailed for $140 USD, but according to Saucony’s website, it can now be found on sale for $105 USD. Many runners found $140 USD to be a bit expensive because Saucony’s technology was not quite at the level it is now for the Ride 9. On sale, this is a pretty good price, if you don’t mind the extra weight and are ok with missing out on some of the newest technology incorporated into the newest revision.
Drop
This neutral running shoe has an 8mm drop, great for providing a neutral ride and a little more cushion in the heel to prevent impact-related injuries. It offers freedom and flexibility so that you can alter your stride depending on what you are training for, but it also does a good job of keeping you in check, great for long distances.
Stability
This is a neutral running shoe with a few stability features built in. The midsole design encourages proper form and gets the runners up on to their toes for a strong push off. At the same time, the stability features are not overpowering and the foot is left to flex and move as needed. This is a good transition shoe for anyone moving away from stability and into something requiring a little more foot strength. Although the stability features are not excessive, this shoe will cushion your ride should you have some form issues.
Flexibility
This is not an overly flexible shoe but given the amount of cushion, Saucony does its best to incorporate some flexibility into the shoe. The outsole pattern is strategically designed to provide some bend throughout the stride. The flexifilm upper is meant to wrap around the foot and bend with the runner’s movement.
Traction
The outsole was designed to follow the natural shape of the foot in order to get the most traction on any road surface. The iBR+ is great for molding a little on impact and providing better traction throughout the stride. The XT-900 is good for those high impact areas because it doesn’t break down easily and will continue to give you solid traction even after extended use. Overall this shoe was built for traction on any road surface, dry or wet.
Bottom Line
This is a great shoe for training runs and it can find itself in almost any runner’s closet. Durability, comfort and a consistent ride are built in with every feature of this shoe. The Gore-tex upper makes it especially useful for running in wet or cold climates. There are lots of great technologies built into this edition of the Ride but Saucony really perfected the design when they came out with the Ride 9 still the colors are very funky and unique and if you can get this shoe on sale it’s a great deal. If you need a new go-to trainer for your training rotation, check this one out.
