Saucony Men's Endorphin Shift 2 Running Shoe

Product Information

Beneath the shoe the outsole appears unchanged. It has the same tread pattern – comprising two types of rubber – a softer blown rubber on the forefoot and a firmer rubber at the midfoot and heel for added durability. This provided excellent traction and, so far, is showing no signs of wear. What is the fit like? Essentially, this is a lighter and less intrusive version of a medial post, and although I could sometimes notice it preventing the excessive inward rolling of my feet – particularly during the latter part of my runs where my gait tends to worsen due to fatigue – I didn't find it invasive.

To enhance the smooth ride, Saucony layered the Guide with a comfortable PWRRUN midsole. The well-rounded foam composition cushions your landings but delivers a bouncy response for a livelier ride. But, if you’re a fan of the Guide line, you’ll get the same reliable stability. Flat- feeling transition, but oh, the upper feels so cozy, even miles into the run. Part of the confident fit comes from the foam padding around the heel cup and collar. Saucony added a soft, memory foam-like pad that creates a plush step-in feel but also gives you a snug, no-slip fit. Overall, I would still recommend this shoe if you are looking for an everyday trainer with moderate support. It is quite durable and I can see myself running it into the ground and easily getting a few hundred miles out of it. That said, If you are looking for something for race day I’d steer clear. The Saucony Guide is the flagship model of Saucony’s stability range alongside the Hurricane. This new version 14 comes with a modern and sleek design.

Saucony Guide 14 First Impressions

The best part about Saucony’s guidance frame in the Guide 14 is that you barely notice it’s there. One Fleet Feet reviewer says the shoe delivers a smooth transition from heel to toe. The 860 has a more streamlined cut and seems to bring me onto my toes more readily than the Guide, with Guide 14 providing a more substantial-feeling base underfoot. Personally I’d prefer a dual-density foam design over a TUP medial post, but I’m not a stability runner most of the time so the need for rigid support is not at the top of my list. This shoe is lighter than Gaviota, yet I rated the latter higher as it is a pointedly solid shoe with a stand-out midsole that is soft yet supportive.

David: The Saucony Guide 14 is a daily training moderate stability shoe for those who like a consistent and protective ride that isn't overly soft. The geometry of the shoe does a good job of moving through transition points throughout the gait cycle smooth without being "slappy" or awkward anywhere. There is forefoot flexibility and flex grooves integrated and the shoe feels best at consistent controlled daily training efforts. Stability shoes are not normally super plush, they tend to have hard, plastic medial posts under the arch, or stiff midsole foams, and the Guide 14 is no exception to this. I only had this issue in the heel though, midfoot and forefoot fit well, and I was able to run no problem in the shoe other than the small annoyance of my heel slipping. Boring looksThe plush shoelaces (that my cat likes playing with while I put the shoe on), anticipate the padded comfort of the rest of the upper.

I like bright shoes though, so if you are from 1984, you may love these shoes and even request a pair of gray laces to mellow them out! Not for night runs I personally don’t like stiff heels, they don’t work for my foot, and the result is noticeable heel slipping. Covering the Guide is a standard engineered mesh upper. The soft and smooth mesh breathes well, which will keep you cooler on warm days, and it molds around the unique shape of your foot for a better fit. The Guide from Saucony has received high marks for consistently being a solid shoe in the brand’s stability lineup, as the mid-cushioned, firmer younger sister of the brand’s Hurricane which employs the softer PWRRUN+ midsole.It’s got more PWRRUN midsole foam than the Guide 15 and a softer and more flexible duel-layered mesh upper. It's also a smidge lighter, shedding 12g on the Guide 15.

The outsole consists of different densities of rubber—one firm for support, the other softer in the front. The grip is good on dry roads and less technical and wet terrain. The durability seems good, according to the testers.My first run in the shoe actually felt refreshingly light as I had been running in Gaviota 3. I ran some fast-paced intervals amid traces of melting snow from spring! The Guide 14 gets its stability from a traditional medial post. Anyone who overpronates or who regularly wears stability running shoes will be familiar with the idea behind Saucony’s TPU guidance frame.