Saucony Guide 16 Shoe Review

Individual Thoughts

BenOverall Score: 8/10

I was very happy to add the Saucony Guide 16 to my shoe rotation. The upper offers a spacious fit, which gave my feet more than enough room to remain comfortable and irritation free throughout the testing.

The Guide's midsole felt softer than some other stability shoes that I have tested and the overall feel has improved over the previous version. The protection was more than adequate enough to keep my legs and body protected, and I was able to enjoy the Saucony Guide 16 on recovery days just as much as I did during daily training workouts, though keep in mind that this is not a recovery shoe. Furthermore, I was surprised by how lightweight the new Guide 16 felt, and I really appreciated the slight energy return for my daily runs and while working out on the track.

Overall, I have really enjoyed testing the Saucony Guide 16, and I think runners looking for a reliable daily trainer with moderate stability assistance will love this shoe. For me, it will continue to be a go-to shoe within my rotation for all my runs.

BrycenOverall Score: 9/10

In terms of performance, these were my second favorite shoes that I have ever reviewed, behind its Saucony relative, the Tempus. They lived up to the "Guide" name and performed exactly how Saucony described they would, supplying excellent stability support that guided me through my training runs.

That said, Saucony highlights the shoe's level of comfort, and I felt that the shoe could improve in this category in future updates. I just felt the shoes lacked the plusher comfort I have enjoyed from other daily trainers.

I struggled a bit to find my ideal lockdown at first and had to fiddle with the lacing system quite a bit before finding the hold I was looking for. Also, I was a bit bummed that the coloring from the upper leaked onto my socks, but this was a small issue that did not affect the overall performance of the shoe, which I thought was awesome, to be clear. They had a surprising level of responsiveness, and above all, they were highly stable. I was more than satisfied throughout testing and would have no hesitation recommending the Saucony Guide 16 to runners looking for their next stability shoe.

Our In-Depth Look

Upper

Ben: "The upper provided a fairly roomy fit compared to some shoes other shoes I have tested, but this shoe also provided an irritation-free experience, which is not always the case. Additionally, I found the upper to be highly breathable. After running in the rain, I was impressed by how quickly the Guide 16 dried. My only real complaint is that the top inch of the heel collar is a bit flimsy, and I would have appreciated more support in this area."

Brycen: "The Saucony Guide 16's upper did not cause any hot spots, blisters, or irritation while testing, and I found the shoe comfortable during all my runs. However, after a session on the treadmill, I noticed that my white socks had blue ink from the shoe's upper. Ultimately, this was not a big issue but was an inconvenience for sure.

I also had trouble finding a suitable lacing technique to secure the lockdown. When I used the extra eyelets, the upper was extremely tight, but the shoes were too loose when I did not, and it took me some time to find that goldilocks "just right" hold. The upper was also breathable, which was a highlight for me."

Midsole

Ben: "While running, the Guide 16 felt soft and light, and it was also very comfortable when worn around all day. The energy return from the midsole was perfect for my typical daily runs, as well as workouts on the track. My stride definitely felt bouncy."

Brycen: "The midsole was the best part of the shoe, and I felt a nice energy return on all my runs. The underfoot experience was a little firmer than some other comparable models, but the Guide 16 made up for it with the level of stability it provides. These shoes stayed bouncy from mile 1 to mile 30, all the while providing a reliably stable platform that helped me hit some great training times."

Outsole

Ben: "The outsole provides a nice barrier between you and the road, and I barely noticed the ground, even on recovery days or long runs extending past 13 miles. It grips pavement well, but I slipped a bit while running on grass. The only issue I noticed was that the outsole has shown above average signs of wear after only completing 75 miles."

Brycen: "From concrete to the boardwalk to the treadmill, the outsole of these shoes was both durable and protective. It had a great grip on all three terrains listed above, and I enjoyed the smooth ride with stability guidance to help."

Comparable Models

Ben: "I recently ran in another daily trainer, the ASICS Kayano 29, and I thought the Guide 16 was lighter with a stronger energy return while on the run. I could do almost all my workouts without difficulty while wearing the Guide 16, but I cannot say the same for the Kayano 29."

Brycen: "I recommend this shoe over its competitor within the stability shoe category. I have reviewed the HOKA Gaviota, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22, the ASICS Gel Kayano, and the Saucony Tempus, to name a few. The only two I would recommend alongside the Guide 16 are the Gel Kayano and Tempus. The stability support in the Guide 16 stands out from the competition, but I have found higher levels of comfort in a couple of other stability shoes I have tested."