New Balance vs. Saucony is a common debate among runners trying to find the best pair of shoes for their needs. They’re both top running shoe brands that have a lot of overlap with many comparable types and styles of shoes across their lineups.
How do each of their options compare for different training categories? Stick around as we put top options from these brands head-to-head to help you choose the ideal pair of shoes for your needs.
Everyday Trainers: Saucony Ride 19 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
First up, we have a couple of versatile everyday trainers. The Saucony Ride 19 and New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15 both offer options that’ll help you maintain general fitness with the flexibility to handle some uptempo running and slower recovery paces as needed. Here’s how they stack up.
Saucony Ride 18
During our Ride 19 review, we found this was a great workhorse shoe to eat up daily training miles throughout the week. It performs best at slow to moderate paces, but the PWRRUN+ midsole foam is light and responsive enough to pick up the pace as needed. Here are some key differentiators in this comparison:
- Weight: When you start moving around in the Ride 19, you’ll feel it’s noticeably lighter than the New Balance 880v15. The Ride 19 comes in at an average of 8.9 ounces in men’s shoes and 7.7 ounces in women’s.
- Responsiveness: The PWRRUN+ foam in this shoe feels slightly more responsive than the Fresh Foam in the New Balance 880v15. It provides a bit more versatility to pick up the pace as needed during your daily training runs.
- Fit and feel: This shoe fits true to size and features a flexible and accommodating upper material. It’s a good fit for those with slightly wider feet or who prefer more wiggle room in their shoes.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
The New Balance 880v15 is a very comparable shoe in many ways, but really stands out for its comfort at moderate to slower paces. Here’s how it performed in essential categories during testing:
- Weight: The 880v15 is noticeably heavier, coming in at 10.7 ounces in men’s shoes and 8.4 ounces in women’s. Most of the extra weight is due to the density of the Fresh Foam packed in the midsole, so you do get some extra comfort to balance the heavier feel.
- Responsiveness: This shoe isn’t quite as responsive as the Ride 19. Instead, you’ll feel your feet sinking into the Fresh Foam in the midsole more. It offers a comfortable feel without as much bounce on each foot strike.
- Fit and feel: The 880v15 actually fits a bit narrower, which is uncharacteristic for New Balance shoes. It fits true to size, but it’s quite snug around the midfoot and toe box and requires a few training sessions to break it in. Both shoes are also available in a wide width if you need a more spacious fit.
Final Verdict on the Saucony Ride 19 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
Both of these offer good options for racking up daily miles.
The Saucony Ride 19 is the more versatile option and best when you want a lighter and more responsive feel.
The New Balance Fresh Foam 880v15 is the better option for runners who prioritize a soft and comfortable daily trainer.
Stability Trainers: Saucony Guide 19 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15
Next up, we have a couple of stability options for runners who overpronate (feet roll inward excessively). How do they compare?
Saucony Guide 19
After testing the Guide 19, we found this was a great daily training option for overpronators. When comparing it to the New Balance 860v15, the Guide 19 stands out as the lighter and more versatile option. Some key aspects to consider in this comparison are:
- Stability mechanism: The stability components in the Guide 19 are a bit more noticeable. It uses Center Path technology, which adds built-up sidewalls to prevent the feet from tilting too far to one side or the other, and some added support along the middle of the foot to keep it locked in place. You’ll really feel those mechanisms start to kick in if you begin to pronate in this shoe.
- Weight: This shoe is lighter, averaging 9.7 ounces in men’s and 8.9 ounces in women’s. The lighter weight provides a bit more versatility when you want to train at faster paces.
- Fit and feel: The Guide 19 feels stiffer and more structured around the heel and midfoot. This added structure keeps your foot locked in an optimal position and prevent overpronation, but those who prefer more subtle support may feel the stability mechanisms in this shoe are too aggressive for their liking.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15
The New Balance 860v15 provides a softer feel and more subtle support for overpronation. Important aspects to consider are:
- Stability mechanism: The 860v15 has two layers of foam in the midsole. It has a softer layer of foam on top and a firmer layer right beneath it to reduce compression and prevent overpronation. Between these two layers, you’ll find an embedded Stability Plane for added support. It also has built-up sidewalls to prevent your feet from tilting. The stability components in this shoe feel more subtle, so it isn’t quite as noticeable while running.
- Weight: The 860v15 is a heavier shoe, averaging 11.6 ounces in men’s shoes and 9.2 ounces in women’s shoes. The extra weight reduces its versatility a bit, but this shoe packs tons of cushioning for a soft and supportive feel.
- Fit and feel: The soft layer of Fresh Foam at the top of the midsole provides a lot of great comfort for your steady-paced daily training runs. Plus, this shoe fits a little wider and feels more flexible overall to provide a good fit with light support elements.
Final Verdict on the Saucony Guide 19 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15
Both of these shoes are high-quality stability training options.
The Saucony Guide 19 will be your choice when you want a lighter and more versatile shoe that provides firm support for overpronation.
The New Balance Fresh Foam 860v15 is a great fit for runners who prioritize comfort and cushioning and prefer more subtle overpronation support.
High Cushion Shoes: Saucony Triumph 24 vs. New Balance 1080v15
Need some extra cushioning for recovery days? Both of these are great choices with a few slight differences.
Saucony Triumph 24
The Saucony Triumph 24 delivers a lighter, more responsive high-cushion experience than its predecessor, the Triumph 23. The dynamic design provides a lot of versatility for runners who want extra cushioning while still being able to handle different types of training. Essential elements to consider in this comparison are:
- Weight: The Triumph 24 may feel a bit bulkier than the New Balance 1080v15. It comes in at an average of 8.8 ounces in men’s shoes and 7.6 ounces in women’s, with a flared heel and wide base for extra stability.
- Offset: The Triumph 24 has a higher offset of 10mm, making it a good choice for runners who heel strike more often by adding extra foam at the back of the shoe.
- Midsole: The new IncrediLUX midsole foam in this shoe is very lightweight and responsive to give you a nice bounce on each stride. However, it isn’t quite as soft as the cushioning in the New Balance 1080, so there’s some give and take with the feel you prefer.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15
While reviewing the best New Balance running shoes, the 1080v15 is the option in the lineup that stands out as the best for high cushioning. It offers a soft feel and maximum comfort for your slower recovery runs. Here’s how it stacks up in important categories:
- Weight: The 1080 is a similar weight to the Triumph 24, averaging 9.2 ounces in men’s and 7.3 ounces in women’s. You get a ton of soft yet responsive Infinion foam underfoot to cushion landings and absorb impact, although the more streamlined design gives it a less bulky feel than the Triumph.
- Offset: The 1080v15 has a lower offset of 6 mm. It’s a great fit for runners with a more natural midfoot strike.
- Midsole: The Fresh Foam packed into the midsole provides a pillowy soft feel. It isn’t as responsive as the IncrediLUX foam in the Triumph 24, and your feet will sink into it more on each stride. That said, it’s a great fit for slower recovery training and runners who want to prioritize impact resistance.
Final Verdict on the Saucony Triumph 24 vs. New Balance 1080v15
These both stand out as great high-cushion options for different preferences.
The Saucony Triumph 24 is a great choice when you want something with lots of responsive cushioning that adds more versatility and don’t mind a bulkier shoe for extra stability.
Alternatively, the New Balance 1080v15 is a better fit for runners who want the most impact resistance and comfort during their recovery training.
Speed Shoes: Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 vs. New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
When you need an option for your uptempo training, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 are both top options from these brands. Let’s review how they stack up to each other.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Saucony’s Endorphin Speed 5 is a high-powered option that stands out for its responsiveness and energy return. Some key qualities in this comparison are:
- Nylon plate: The Endorphin Speed 5 has a nylon plate running through the midsole. The benefit of a nylon-plated shoe is that it adds extra stiffness, so it quickly snaps back after bending during the toe-off portion of your stride. It adds a lot of energy return off the ground that helps you achieve faster paces during your speed training.
- Weight: Having the added nylon plate and built-in speed elements does make this shoe slightly heavier at an average of 8.3 ounces in men’s shoes and 7.2 ounces in women’s.
- Fit and feel: This shoe feels a bit stiffer overall and more snug around the heel and midfoot. That stiffness is purposeful for achieving faster paces, but some runners who prefer to have a bit more wiggle room in their shoes may find it to be a drawback, so it depends on personal preferences.
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is a lightweight option that offers a more traditional running shoe experience. Here’s how it compares:
- Doesn’t have a nylon plate: This shoe doesn’t have a nylon plate running through the midsole, so you don’t get as much of that responsiveness and energy return. However, runners who prefer more of a barebones traditional speed shoe may prefer this option.
- Weight: It’s a lighter shoe with an average weight of 8 ounces in men’s and 6.3 ounces in women’s. While it doesn’t offer the same high-powered energy return, the lighter weight does help while performing uptempo training.
- Fit and feel: The overall fit of the Rebel v5 is a bit roomier, and the shoe has more flexibility throughout, which can offer some extra comfort during intense training sessions.
Final Verdict on the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 vs. New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
These can both be great speed training options for different preferences.
Runners who want a high-performing option with tons of responsiveness will want to go with the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5. The added nylon plate is a true difference-maker in that category.
On the other hand, those who like a lightweight and traditional feel in their speed shoe will prefer the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.
Race Day Shoes: Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 vs. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5
As you’re gearing up and preparing for race day, you’ll want to have a top-notch pair of shoes that helps you achieve your best performance. Here are a couple of great options from both these brands that fit the bill.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 is a true high-powered super shoe in the race day category. This shoe draws a lot of comparisons to the New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 since they’re both carbon-plated options that are highly responsive, but there are a few things that differentiate them:
- Offset: The Endorphin Elite 3 has an offset of 8 mm, making it a good choice for those who heel strike more often.
- Overall responsiveness: During testing, we found that this shoe had a bit more responsiveness off the ground. It has an overall lighter design and a more prominent rocker shape to it to ease transitions from heel to toe, making it stand out in terms of performance.
- Stability: While this shoe offers a very springy feel with each stride, it does lead to less control over each foot strike. We found that the design led to a bit of wobble on some foot strikes and an occasional lack of stability, but some runners will find that drawback acceptable for what you get on the performance side of things.
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5
New Balance’s FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 isn’t quite as high-powered as the Endorphin Elite 3, but it’s still a great performer that offers more stability and control. Here’s how it compares:
- Offset: This shoe has a similar offset of 8 mm, making it a good choice for those who have a heel or midfoot strike.
- Overall responsiveness: It feels a bit heavier overall and wasn’t quite as responsive during testing. However, the carbon plate and FuelCell foam in the midsole still perform very well for those looking for a race day option.
- Stability: The SuperComp Elite v5 offered more stability and control during testing, so you can feel confident in each footfall over long races.
Final Verdict on the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 vs. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5
Runners who value getting the most responsiveness possible out of their race day shoe will appreciate what the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 offers.
Alternatively, those who value stability and control may want to opt for the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5.
Try on These Saucony and New Balance Shoes at Marathon Sports
We’ve compared Saucony vs. New Balance head-to-head, and now it’s time for you to try on the shoes for yourself.
We offer a wide selection of Saucony running shoes and New Balance running shoes at Marathon Sports, including each of the options discussed in this article.
You can stop in at one of our retail stores or shop online to compare options and find the right fit. Our footwear experts are here to help if you need a professional gait analysis or have any questions about these options.
Get started shopping today to find a new pair of running shoes to achieve your goals!
