You might miss the new upper mesh and extra foam at first glance, but you’ll definitely feel the difference on foot.
The RW Takeaway: For the runner who either wants it all or can’t decide, the Ride ISO 2 balances moderate cushioning with a lively midsole, and wraps it in a “custom fit” -feeling upper.
- New supportive mesh upper with redesigned ISOfit sleeve
- More flexible midsole adds 2mm of foam
- Thinner outsole upgrades to more durable crystal rubber
Price: $199
Weight: 283 g (M), 229 g (W)
Type: Road
In a world of neutral feet and stability shoes, we often forget the rare supinator—underpronating and underrepresented. For those whose feet actually roll outward slightly when they run, the Ride ISO 2 fills a void. The shoe uses two types of foam: a softer Everun topsole that sits closer to the foot, and a more substantial PWRfoam underbelly to dampen impact where you hit the road. The design cradles the foot a little deeper in that top layer, made from thousands of bouncy TPU pellets, which lends more support while still remaining accessible to neutral feet. Like its predecessor, the Ride keeps its titular ISOfit upper, with floating eyelets for fine-tuned lacing, that gives a secure fit through the midfoot. And although this version feels slightly firmer in the heel, it’s still a softy overall.
We like that the Ride hits a happy medium in Saucony’s somewhat overwhelming assortment of neutral shoes. It’s lighter than the ultra-plush Triumph, cheaper than the luxe Freedom, and more cushioned than the racy Kinvara—but still delivers where those models especially shine. It’s no racer, but our testers say this shoe can dabble in uptempos and long runs alike.
More Foam, Less Stiff
The underlying construction of the Ride remains mostly unchanged. The shoe still uses two types of midsole foam—a thin layer of softer Everun closer to the foot and a firmer chunk of PWRfoam beneath it—but adds 2mm of the latter in this update. Saucony has thinned the outsole slightly, so the stack height, weight, and 8mm drop are still the same, but our testers and RW lab data confirmed that the shoe feels a little different. The ISO 2 is more flexible and also transitions some softness from the heel to the forefoot; however, that “soft meets fast” sensation hasn’t gone anywhere. Its cushioning brings responsiveness that beats plusher daily trainers, making it nimble enough for whatever your next marathon training block has in store—faster workouts included.
“This shoe has the cushioning you’re looking for: long runs feel like you could go longer, and the toe-off was perfect,” one tester said. “You feel nothing but pick-up for speed workouts.”
Slimmer Crystal Rubber
The extra thick tread on the first Ride ISO felt like overkill for a road shoe. This update sheds some of that excess material and swaps in Saucony’s premium XT-900 carbon rubber with slightly bouncier crystal rubber at the forefoot. (These upgrades cut down on some of that outsole bulk without loss of durability or traction.) Heel-to-toe transitions will also feel smoother in this update, with widened flex grooves that add suppleness for more natural toe-offs. According to our testers, the tweaks on the outsole geometry didn’t much affect the shoe’s grip, and found that the Ride still handled wet roads and gravel with ease.
A Few Fit Refinements
The Ride 10 was the last version of this shoe to see a traditional upper; the previous update (technically the Ride 11) made the switch to the new ISOfit style, an inner sock-like sleeve with stretchy, independent bands that wrap the arch. In the ISO 2, we’re seeing the same design, but with fine-tuning that makes a big difference up top for fit and comfort. There’s an added ISOfit band and less spacing between the floating eyelets, which feel much more secure, and a slightly tweaked collar for better heel grab. The mesh cleans up nicely as well in a stretchier double-jacquard weave that provides more structure and breathability, and adds two slim overlays on the sides of the midfoot for extra support. “This is a perfect shoe if you have an arch issue,” one tester said. “The lacing system hugs the entire foot.”
What One Tester Said
Kate C., tester since 2012
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Forefoot
“Honestly, these are one of my favorite pairs of running shoes. It is hard for me to find a flaw. I have a wider foot and these felt perfect; maybe someone with a more narrow foot would think they were too roomy. The cushioning was just right—not too much, but I like a lot of cushion—and I can wear them all day without my feet getting sore. Overall, I felt stable in this shoe without it feeling bulky or heavy.”
