Latest & Greatest From Saucony: Ride 19, Guide 19, & Endorphin Azura
Written by Lauren Haislip
Saucony dropped three new running and walking shoes this year, and people are losing their minds over them. Rightfully so. Whether you've worn Saucony for years or you're still figuring out which running shoes actually fit your stride, the 2026 releases coming through PR Run & Walk right now are worth a serious look. We're talking a plush neutral trainer, a stability shoe that finally feels fun, and a brand-new plateless daily trainer that's got the entire running community buzzing.
So which one goes on your foot? Let's get into it.
Why Saucony Running Shoes Keep Showing Up in Every Rotation
Quick history lesson: Saucony footwear has been around since 1898. Named after a creek in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Started making kids' shoes, pivoted to running, and spent the next hundred-plus years obsessing over foam, rubber, and fit. That obsession clearly paid off.
The broader running shoe market is absolutely surging right now. Custom Market Insights pegs the global market at roughly $19.5 billion in 2024, headed toward $30 billion by 2034 at about 5.1% annual growth. Saucony's been outpacing that number by a mile (pun intended), posting a 41.5% year-over-year revenue jump in Q2 2025 according to Accio's trend data. You don't hit numbers like that with hype alone. Runners keep buying because the shoes keep delivering.
The tech behind them, in plain English? Saucony runs three foam systems: PWRRUN (their everyday workhorse), PWRRUN+ (softer, lighter, springier), and PWRRUN PB (the race-day stuff that used to be reserved for $250 super shoes). On top of that, there's SpeedRoll, which is their rocker geometry for smooth transitions, and Center Path Technology, a stability system that nudges your stride into alignment without clamping down on it. Honestly, you don't need to remember any of those names. You'll feel the difference the second you try them on.
New to running altogether? Our beginner's guide to running covers the basics before you spend a cent on gear.
Saucony Ride 19: The Reliable Daily Trainer, Reinvented
I'll be honest. The Saucony Ride has been "fine" for a while. Good shoe. Dependable. Not the kind of thing you brag about at your running group. But version 19? Something clicked.
What Actually Changed
Saucony completely reworked the midsole foam, swapping in a reformulated supercritical PWRRUN+ compound. Translation for non-nerds: it's softer, it's lighter, and it bounces back with noticeably more energy. They kept the 8mm drop everyone's used to (36mm heel, 28mm forefoot), so this isn't some wild redesign. It's the same trusted shape filled with considerably better stuff.
The upper got a facelift, too. New engineered mesh breathes better and has more stretch to it, which is a relief if you've got feet that swell up at mile eight (yeah, it happens). The heel collar padding is absurdly plush now. Step-in feel is the kind of thing you notice immediately, like sliding your foot into a really good slipper, except this slipper can run a half marathon. Saucony also carved flex grooves into the forefoot and laid down extra rubber where your foot pushes off hardest, so durability should hold up way better on pavement.
Numbers: 8.9 ounces for a men's size 9, 7.7 ounces for a women's size 8. At $145, you're spending less than you would on a comparable Hoka or New Balance in the same weight class.
Who the Ride 19 Is For
This is your Tuesday shoe. And your Thursday shoe. And probably your Saturday long run shoe if we're being real. It handles a 4-mile shakeout and a 12-mile progression run without complaining about either. The foam has enough pop for tempo segments, and enough cushion for those recovery shuffles where your legs want nothing to do with effort.
Fair warning: this is a neutral shoe. If your ankles roll inward significantly when you run, the Guide 19 is the one you want (I'm getting there, hold on). For neutral runners who care about comfort and value, though, the Saucony Ride 19 is the answer.
Saucony Guide 19: Stability That Doesn't Feel Like a Correction
Can we talk about stability shoes for a second? They've had an image problem for decades. Clunky. Stiff. The orthopedic aisle of the shoe wall. Boring. The Guide 19 is Saucony's way of saying "what if we made a stability shoe that you actually wanted to grab off the rack?"
The Foam Overhaul
Here's where it gets interesting. Saucony tweaked the PWRRUN foam formula for this version, and the difference underfoot is hard to miss. It's still EVA-based, still a traditional midsole compound, but somehow softer and livelier than the Guide 18. I genuinely thought the midsole was a different material the first time I picked the shoe up. It wasn't. They just dialed it in better.
Stack height holds steady at 35mm heel, 29mm forefoot, 6mm drop. Center Path Technology returns with a comically wide base: 110mm at the heel, 120mm at the forefoot. Your foot sits down inside the high sidewalls rather than perching on top, and that cradle effect slows pronation in a way that feels natural, like the shoe is gently steering you rather than grabbing the wheel.
The outsole is genuinely improved, which matters because older Guide models chewed through forefoot rubber embarrassingly fast. Version 19 puts durable rubber right across the center of the forefoot with multi-directional tread that keeps things flexible while lasting longer. That's a real fix, not a marketing tweak.
Weight: 9.75 ounces men's size 9, 8.9 ounces women's size 8. Price: $150. If you're dealing with overpronation or nagging alignment issues, maybe even battling plantar fasciitis, the Saucony Guide 19 delivers legitimate support without emptying your bank account.
Who the Guide 19 Is For
Overpronators who hate feeling locked in. That's the short answer. The longer answer? Runners coming back from injuries who need guidance without rigidity. Heavier runners who want extra security on tired legs at mile 18 of a training run. Anyone who's scrolled through orthopedic shoe options and thought, "Surely there's something that doesn't look like it was designed in a hospital basement."
If you're deep in a training block for a spring marathon and want to know where you'd stack up, our breakdown of average marathon finish times is worth a glance. The Guide 19 is the kind of shoe that survives those 16-week build-ups. Testers at Running Lab put it in the 300 to 500 mile range before needing replacement, and that kind of durability matters when you're racking up 40-mile weeks.
Saucony Endorphin Azura: The Plateless Shoe That Changes Everything
Ok. Here's the one I really want to talk about.
The Saucony Endorphin Azura is brand new. It's the first Endorphin model without a plate of any kind, no carbon, no nylon, nothing. What you get instead is a big slab of PWRRUN PB foam (the good stuff from their $200+ race shoes), SpeedRoll rocker geometry, and an XT-900 rubber outsole. Picture the Endorphin Speed's more easygoing cousin who shows up to group runs in sunglasses and still finishes near the front.
What Makes the Azura Different
The specs read like a shoe that should cost way more than it does. 40mm stack at the heel, 32mm forefoot, 8mm drop. Weight sits around 8.5 ounces for a men's size 9 and roughly 7.5 ounces for a women's 7.5. The price? $150. For PWRRUN PB foam. Yeah. I had to double-check that number when I first saw it, too.
That foam is the whole story here. PWRRUN PB is the same compound Saucony puts in the Endorphin Pro and the Endorphin Elite, both of which cost north of $200. One reviewer at Believe in the Run literally set a 5K PR in the Azura. Another tester at Road Trail Run called it the shoe they'd keep if they could only own one Saucony. This isn't polite praise. People are genuinely surprised by this thing.
SpeedRoll geometry handles the transition work. You land, the rocker rolls you forward, and the foam pops you off the ground. Simple. The whole motion feels surprisingly smooth for a shoe with a 40mm stack, like it should feel clumsy but doesn't. Wide base plus raised medial sidewalls keep everything stable, even when your legs are cooked and your form starts to fall apart (mile 20 of a marathon, I'm looking at you).
Up top, you get a gusseted tongue, solid lace padding, and mesh that breathes well without feeling flimsy. Fits true to size for most people. If your feet run wide, go up half a size and you'll be fine.
Who the Azura Is For
This is the shoe for the runner who's tired of owning six pairs for six different workouts. Easy day? Azura. Tempo run? Azura. Long run? Still Azura. Race day for anyone who isn't chasing a sub-3 marathon and doesn't need a carbon plate? You guessed it. If you've been curious about carbon plate running shoes but want something less twitchy for everyday miles, the Azura parks right in that sweet spot.
My favorite use case: pair it with a plated racer. Let the Azura handle 80% of your training volume, save the Pro or Elite for race day and your hardest workouts. Your legs stay fresh, your wallet doesn't spontaneously combust, and you still get premium foam under your feet for basically every run.
For anyone concerned about joint health over the long haul (maybe you've Googled “is running bad for your knees“ at 11pm after a hard run; no judgment), the Azura's thick PWRRUN PB midsole absorbs a serious amount of impact. That's worth thinking about when you're building a training plan that needs to keep your body intact for months, not just weeks.
How to Pick the Right Saucony Running Shoe for Your Runs
Three shoes, three very different personalities. Here's the cheat sheet.
Grab the Ride 19 if your foot doesn't need correction and you want one shoe that quietly handles most of your week. It's the most versatile of the three, soft enough for recovery, responsive enough for tempo days, and priced below most of the competition at $145.
Grab the Guide 19 if you overpronate, want that extra stability without feeling trapped in concrete, or need a shoe that keeps your legs honest deep into long training blocks. Lower stack, wider base, $150.
Grab the Endorphin Azura if you want the liveliest, most energetic ride of the bunch, prefer something light enough to pick up the pace on any given Tuesday, and love the idea of getting race-shoe foam at a training-shoe price. $150 and honestly punching way above its weight class.
All three ship in men's and women's options. Shopping for the kids too? PR Run & Walk stocks youth footwear from Saucony as well.
Oh, and one more thing: shoes are only part of the equation. The right running socks prevent blisters better than any shoe can on its own. Decent running sunglasses keep you from squinting into the sun for an hour. And proper hydration gear keeps the engine running when it's hot out.
Small stuff. Makes a huge difference.
Why Getting a Shoe Fitting In-Person Still Matters
I get it. Buying online is easier. But here's the thing: running shoes are one of those purchases where "close enough" can wreck your toenails, your IT band, and eventually your motivation. According to Footwear News, Saucony was among the most worn brands at the Boston Marathon, and that kind of brand presence at the highest level happens partly because serious runners take the time to get properly fitted first.
The shoe fitting process at PR Run & Walk is the real deal. Trained staff watch your gait, measure your foot, and have you walk or run in the shoe before you commit. That sounds basic, but most online purchases skip all of it. The difference between a shoe that "fits" and a shoe that disappears on your foot is enormous. You really do feel it around mile 8.
Stop by one of the PR Run & Walk locations to try these new Saucony running shoes in person. Training for a race? PR Training Programs has structured plans for every distance. And if you're hunting for a goal race, the PR Races calendar lists upcoming events worth circling on your schedule.
Getting the Most Out of Your New Saucony Running Shoes
So you've got the shoes. Great. Now squeeze every mile out of them.
Start with your lungs. Seriously. Dialing in your breathing technique makes a bigger difference than most people expect, no matter what's on your feet. If the treadmill is part of your routine, bookmark our treadmill pace conversion chart so you're not guessing how your indoor efforts translate to road pace. And if you've ever had that midnight thought spiral about whether running is actually good for you, the short answer is a resounding yes, and we've got the receipts.
One important note for the trail crowd: all three of these shoes are built for pavement and groomed paths. If you're headed into mud, rock, or anything technical, you'll want purpose-built trail shoes.
Final Thoughts on Saucony's 2026 Lineup
Saucony came out swinging this year. The Ride 19 is genuinely the best Ride they've ever made, which is saying something for a shoe that's been around for nearly two decades. The Guide 19 takes the old "boring stability shoe" reputation and buries it. And the Endorphin Azura? That's the kind of shoe that makes other brands nervous. Premium foam, no plate, $150, and a ride that has experienced reviewers running out of superlatives.
These new Saucony running shoes aren't chasing trends or throwing gimmicks at the wall. Better foam, better fit, better outsole durability, better prices than the competition. That's it. That's the formula. And it works.
Browse the full Saucony footwear collection at PR Run & Walk. Shop our footwear catalog, explore health and wellness accessories, or grab the latest running gear to go with your new shoes.
Ready to find out what the right shoe actually feels like? There's really only one way to know.