Saucony has released a lot of exciting new shoes lately, completely new models like the Endorphin line, as well as existing models that have gotten a complete overhaul such as the Triumph and the Ride. They’ve changed a lot about this shoe compared to the Ride ISO 2, which is the previous version of the Ride 13. I know, it’s a bit confusing to go from a 2 to a 13, but gone is the ISOFIT and we’ve resumed the old numbering system.
It’s a neutral running shoe with a 32 mm heel stack and 24 mm in the front, which gives it an 8 mm drop. It weighs 244 grams in the women’s model. The stack height is one of the things that has changed compared to the ISO 2 version, which had a 28 mm heel stack and 20 mm in the forefoot. The Ride 13 has thus gained 4 mm under foot.
Upper
The upper has become a bit more conventional. Saucony has ditched the ISOFIT for a regular lacing system and an engineered mesh upper. The problem I had with the ISO 2 was that the crystal rubber outsole lasted longer than the upper. After about 600 kilometers the upper started to fall apart while the outsole and midsole were still fine. Hopefully the upper of the Ride 13 will last longer.
The laces are really stretchy, so you need to lace this shoe a bit tighter than you normally would. Not sure why they have to be this stretchy, but obviously you could always replace the laces if you want.
Midsole
Not only the upper has changed, so has the midsole. The midsole is no longer made out of Everun, but is now made out of PWRRUN. PWRRun is a combination of EVA and TPU.
Outsole
The outsole of this shoe has also been updated, it now has a blown rubber outsole rather than the crystal rubber on the previous version.
Performance
Even though I like the PWRRUN in the Kinvara, I’m not a huge fan of the Ride 13. I think I actually prefer the previous version, the Ride ISO 2. The downside of the Ride ISO 2 is that the upper didn’t last very long, but other than that, it’s a great shoe.
The problem I have with the Ride 13 is that the heel feels quite soft when you land on it, while the forefoot is less soft, which makes the heel to toe transition a bit difficult. The front feels more like an everyday trainer with medium cushion, while the heel feels more like a maximum cushioned shoe. Now, I like maximal cushioning shoes, but the difference between the two is just too big and makes the ride a bit too difficult.
Conclusion
This shoe is better for forefoot or midfoot strikers rather than for heel strikers. The initial landing in the heel is pretty soft and makes the transition to the toes a bit more difficult, but at the same time this shoe is not cushioned enough in the forefoot to be a longer distance shoe.
Comparison
Saucony Ride ISO 2
The ride ISO 2 is a bit firmer and has a bit less stack height. The upper and the midsole of the Ride 13 feel a bit more plush. The heel to toe transition is a bit easier in the Ride ISO 2 compared to the Ride 13, but the upper of the Ride ISO 2 didn’t last very long.
Saucony Endorphin Shift
The Shift also has a PWRRUN midsole, but a lot more stack height and the speedroll technology in the forefoot. The feel of the entire midsole in the shift is a bit stiffer, but overall softer due to the stack height and the speedroll technology helps with the heel to toe transition, something the rides struggles with. But the stack height makes the Shift a bit unstable and it has a bit less room in the toe box than the Ride 13.
Saucony Kinvara 11
Both shoes have a PWRRUN midsole, but the experience is quite different. The Ride 13 has an 8 mm drop while the Kinvara has a 4 mm drop. The Kinvara is much more responsive than the Ride and makes it much easier to pick up the pace, it also feels a bit more flexible (probably due to the upper and the lack of rubber on the outsole on the Kinvara) and the midsole even feels a bit softer than that of the Ride even though it has less stack height.
Asics Cumulus 22
The upper of the two are pretty comparable, the upper of the cumulus is a little bit stretchier than that of the Ride 13. But the Cumulus has a 10 mm drop versus the 8 mm drop of the Ride 13. The midsole of the Cumulus is a bit softer than that of the Ride 13. The cumulus is a bit more flexible than the Ride 13.
Heart Runner Girl 