Saucony Ride ISO 2 Shoe Review
Somehow I never reviewed the Saucony Ride ISO 2. I have actually run in 2 pairs now. The Saucony Ride ISO 2 was released in November 2019 and between the New York City Marathon excitement as well as downtime, it must have gotten lost in translation. To me, the Saucony Ride ISO 2 is the best neutral shoe Saucony currently has. It’s consistent throughout the years, a $120 price point, and it fits well.
I’ve run in various years of the Saucony Ride including Saucony Ride 9, Saucony Ride 10, and Saucony Ride ISO (also known as the Saucony Ride 11). The Saucony Ride ISO 2 would be equal to the Saucony Ride 12.
Saucony Ride ISO 2 Quick Facts:
Weight: 9.8 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
Saucony Ride ISO 2 Fit:
The major change in the Saucony Ride ISO 2 come with an improved fit. It’s snugger in the arch but with more room in the forefront. In the updated, Saucony Ride ISO 2 Fit, there is now a top layer of Double Jacquard mesh. This mesh allows a more breathable and stretching fit but also has more structure to it.
With the previous Saucony Ride, it felt like there wasn’t enough structure at the forefront and your foot was left free-floating. The updated Isofit and formfit technologies cradles a runner’s foot to feel more secure but still has a wide toe box.
The Saucony Ride ISO 2 also has more midfoot support with the ISOfit lacing. The first Saucony Ride ISO was too wide in the arch, which caused many people to feel less secure.
The internal bootie and tongue remain the same as the original Saucony Ride ISO.
One thing to keep in mind is that Saucony shoes have a lower back than other brands. This can be especially challenging if you want to put an insole or orthotic into a shoe. While you won’t run out of a lower back shoe, it will affect how you feel ion the shoe.
Typically I wear between a womens size 10-11 wide and I find the 10.5 wide to fit the best.
Saucony Ride ISO 2 Ride:
Writing the Saucony Ride, Ride in a review, always amuses me. Anyway, one reason I like the Saucony Ride ISO 2 is that it’s almost a cross between a substantial racing shoe and a lightweight trainer. The Saucony Ride ISO 2 is lighter than traditional trainers but also provides the cushion that you need for easy and training runs. In fact, Saucony actually added 2 mm of foam to the Saucony Ride ISO 2. Even though there is an additional 2 mm of foam, Saucony has reduced outsole crystal rubber to make the stack height remain the same.
When running in the Saucony Ride ISO 2, I’ve found it’s more responsive than previous versions. The Everun topsole sits on top of the Powerrun layer midsole to make for a smoother transition from heel to toe. The flex grooves bend with the foot.
One concern I had with the reduction of the outsole rubber was the traction, but I’ve run in the torrential downpour with no major issues or sliding.
I’ve run a few different runs including easy runs, faster longer runs as well as workouts and it works best as a longer run and daily trainer shoe. I like the cushion but also how responsive it is.
Saucony Ride ISO 2 Conclusion:
The Ride ISO 2 is a well-cushioned yet responsive trainer that is more comfortable and snappier than before.
This is really a shoe that does well at just about everything from daily running to tempo training but really excels over longer distances.
For a clear majority of runners this would also be a respectable race shoe. The traditional appearance and feel of this shoe, in my opinion, make it a single go-to shoe for many runners.
Current Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Hoka Bondi 6, Asics Cumulus 21
Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike React Infinity Run
Long Runs: Brooks Ricochet 2 Shoe Review, New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Saucony Ride ISO 2, Hoka Cavu 2
Races: New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
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Questions for you:
Have you tried the Saucony Ride ISO 2?
What is your current favorite running shoe?