Saucony Ride 16 vs Ride 18
Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Two updates and 2 years separate the Saucony Ride 16 from the Ride 18. Net change: 0.9 oz heavier, 2 mm more heel stack, a new midsole. The Ride 17 is where the character changed, and that is the update Ride 16 owners notice first.
- Saucony Ride 16Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Saucony Ride 18Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
The two updates in between
Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.
- Step 1Ride 16 to Ride 172024Changed character
- Step 2Ride 17 to Ride 182025Refined, same shoe
Ride 16 vs Ride 18: every spec, side by side
The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.
| Spec | Ride 16 | Ride 18 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 8.8 oz | 9.7 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Dual-layer mesh with lace straps and a roomier toebox | Engineered mesh with elastic-eyelet lacing |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 35 mm | 37 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 27 mm | 29 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Lighter PWRRUN foam with a PWRRUN+ sockliner | Full-length beaded PWRRUN+ foam, lighter mix |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $140 | $140 |
Or buy the Ride 17 instead?
The Ride 17 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.
Buy the Ride 17
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Can I go straight from the Saucony Ride 16 to the Ride 18 and skip the Ride 17?
- Yes, but going Ride 16 to Ride 18 means taking one change in a single step: the Ride 17 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 8 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: Lighter PWRRUN foam with a PWRRUN+ sockliner to Full-length beaded PWRRUN+ foam, lighter mix.
- How much did the weight change across these two updates?
- 0.9 oz on in total, 8.8 oz to 9.7 oz in a men's US 9. The Ride 17 took it to 9.9 oz first.
- Is the Ride 17 the better buy than either of these?
- On paper it splits them: 9.9 oz against 8.8 oz for the Ride 16 and 9.7 oz for the Ride 18, on a 35 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Ride 17 update actually did, which the section above works through.
- Did the Ride get taller between the Ride 16 and the Ride 18?
- Heel stack went 35 mm to 37 mm, by way of 35 mm on the Ride 17. Drop held at 8 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
- Where does the Ride 18 sit in the Ride lineup now?
- Two versions on from the Ride 16, and already replaced itself: the Ride 19 arrived in 2026. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Ride 18 against it before deciding.