Welcome to the "Ride that never ends!"
I have been looking forward to reviewing the Saucony Ride ISO 2 since the moment came out in April/May 2019. I was a big fan of its predecessor the Ride ISO, as a mid-weight neutral cushioning shoe. In the previous version I found there were some clear areas of improvements, such as, tightness in the toe-box and unnecessary upper weight. The Ride ISO 2 has a tiny amount of added weight in the heel (which feels like a bit more cushioning and thickness) in comparison to its previous version, but feels lighter up-front. Another significant difference between this current and previous version is the addition of the crystallized rubber on the outsole. The Ride ISO outsole was constructed of blown rubber and which ultimately made the shoe wear down faster for runners. The improved version of the shoe has the same blown rubber in the the back, but added crystallized rubber on the forefoot of the outsole so runners get more mileage out of the shoe. I've been training in the Saucony Ride ISO 2 for a good amount of my easy mileage, and I love that plush-like feel the Ride ISO 2 has in the forefoot. The lightweight EVERUN cushioning and design makes for an easier ride for warm-ups and cool-downs after my hard workouts. Saucony's ISO fit technology on the Ride series continues to be a success as it feels like shoe is hugging your foot during your run.
Comparisons: Brooks Ghost 11, Brooks Launch 6, New Balance 880, Saucony Ride ISO, HOKA Clifton 5, 361-Spire 3
The Bottom Line: The Saucony Ride ISO 2 is the perfect shoe for any neutral runner looking for a mid-weight cushioned shoe. With the ISO fit technology it can form-fit to most foot types no matter the shape or size. They don't call this shoe the Ride ISO for no reason as it can handle any distance from 5K to 42.2K and give you a very smooth "ride" on the road or trail. I feel this shoe is a step in the right direction for Saucony as its a simple trainer that still gives a tight knit ISO(lation) fit and its 'EVERUN' rubberized foam gives the shoe a nice bounce without being too heavy. If you are looking for a training shoe to get you from point A to point B don't look no further as the new Saucony Ride ISO 2 is a great option.
COACH MAR RATING: 9.1/10
Key Features:
- Price: $159.99 (cdn)
- Category: Neutral
- Weight (Men: 9.8oz, Women: 8.8oz)
- Terrain: Road, Trail, Track
- Drop: 8mm (27mm-19mm)
- Fit: Regular, Wide
- Widths: Regular Only
- Upper: The upper features a double jacquard mesh toe box with no overlays or pressure
- Midsole: rubberized EVERUN foam
- Outsole: blown rubber outsole from heel to mid-foot, crystallized rubber outsole from mid to forefoot
If you have any questions about shoes please contact thetopaceproject@gmail.com