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? 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. This daily trainer is primarily for runners who overpronate but it can be suitable for anyone looking for lightweight support. New Balance’s 860 is also a comparable shoe, with a 10 mm. drop and similar weight, in the half-size larger 860 that my foot needs.

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. On top of the mesh, Saucony added lightweight overlays to provide extra structure. The minimal overlays fan out across the midfoot, which helps the mesh maintain its shape and improves the shoe’s overall secure feeling when you tighten the laces.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.

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.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 But I'd argue the Guide 16 suits me better than the Kayano overall. It has a 6mm drop, compared to the Kayano's 13mm drop, so feels quite different on the run. The lower drop helps to promote more of a midfoot vs heelstrike and also seemed to put less load on my knees during long runs. As mentioned, it's also a lighter shoe so feels a bit more nippy and nimble. How is the Saucony Guide 16 different to the Guide 15? 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 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. I wish Saucony would jazz this shoe up a bit. It’s not that exciting to look at with its main design feature just being a juxtaposed lace color… Sure the laces match the outsole, but that’s all. Gray on gray, with some colorful laces.