The Saucony Guide 16 is a lightweight stability shoe from Saucony offering support and cushioning exactly where you need it. While I may be a little late to the party in reviewing the Saucony Guide 16, the Saucony Guide 17 being the latest available model, the former retails for approximately half the price. While there are a few updates in the Saucony Guide 17, if you’re searching for one of the best stability running shoes on the market, the Saucony Guide 16 offers excellent value.

• Structured Cushioning
• Heel-to-Toe Drop 8mm (35mm heel/27mm forefoot)
• Weight: Men’s 8.8oz (249g)
• Sustainability: Some recycled materials, suitable for strict Vegans!

Who is the Saucony Guide 16 For?

The Saucony Guide 16 is suited to runners looking for a daily trainer that offers extra stability. It’s one of the best stability running shoes on the market for those with mild to moderate overpronation.

If you look at the image below, you’ll see a slightly darker piece of the midsole (the piece sporting the Saucony wording). This is firmer than the rest of the midsole, part of the Hollow Tech support frame that forms the stability component of the Saucony Guide 16. As Saucony note, it’s “designed to cradle and contour your foot.”

I purchased the Saucony Guide 16 after experiencing arch pain in my right foot. An experienced marathon runner, medical professional and Pilates teacher informed me I was overpronating. No shoe will fix an injury overnight, so I’ve been rehabbing and strengthening the appropriate areas as well as transitioning to stability shoes. Nonetheless, the Saucony Guide 16 has and continues to be an essential tool keeping me running. Post-run, my right arch feels considerably less sore when using the Guide 16. A win for rehab and the Saucony Guide 16.

How does the Saucony Guide 16 Feel?

No review of the Saucony Guide 16 would be complete without a personal anecdote about how it feels to run in the shoe. For comparison, I’m coming to the Saucony Guide 16 from the New Balance SC Trainer V2, the Hoka Cielo-X1, the New Balance More V4, Asics Superblast, and the Hoka Mach 6. When I reviewed the Hoka Mach 6, I thought that was quite firm, but it’s all relative.

On first running in the Saucony Guide 16, I noticed the firmness right away. Definitely the firmest running shoe I’ve used to date. Despite this, it wasn’t an issue. I knew that the shoe was providing support and stability in all the right places, and that was the number one priority. In subsequent runs, the shoe remains firm but has seemed to soften slightly with use.

The shoe is extremely comfortable, the PWRRUN+ sockliner providing a soft, plush interior. I’ve only taken them up to 10KM, but with the comfort and support provided, I’d be confident taking the Saucony Guide 16 significantly further.

Another positive of the Saucony Guide 16 is just how light it is for a stability shoe. According to Saucony’s website, the shoe comes in at just 249 grams. Compared to other popular stability shoes, such as the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 (which weighs in at 303 grams), the Saucony Guide 16 is certainly a welterweight in an otherwise heavyweight category.

When I looked into stability shoes, the first I tried was the Brooks Glycerin 21 GTS. Many love the shoe and there are a number of good reasons for that. The DNA Loft V3 midsole is springy and soft, and the shoe is extremely comfortable. But to me, that comfort came at the expense of a shoe that felt burdensome, despite official stats saying there was only a 30 gram difference between the two.

The Saucony Guide 16 feels just like any other daily trainer. It doesn’t feel like it’s holding me back, nor does it feel cumbersome. While I’m currently trying to run more volume at easier paces (around the 6:00 /km mark) to build a stronger aerobic base, I’ve taken the Saucony Guide down to 4:40 /km with ease. That’s just to say, the shoe works and feels comfortable across a variety of paces.

Best Stability Running Shoes

While I’m personally a fan of the Saucony Guide 16, particularly considering you can pick them up for as little as £69.99, other stability running shoes are available. While I’ve not personally reviewed each of these, they all come highly recommended amongst those in need of stability running shoes.

Asics Gel-Kayano Range – The Asics Gel-Kayano is an extremely popular range of shoes in the stability category. Now in its 30th iteration, Asics have clearly been doing something right. However, it’s one of the pricier shoes in this category, the latest model retailing for £180.

Despite this, you can pick up last season’s Gel-Kayano 29 here for £99.99

Brooks GTS Shoes – Brooks do stability running shoes a little differently, offering the majority of their models (excluding the Hyperion Elite and Hyperion max) with GTS (which stands for Go-to-Support) as optional. Their stability running shoes are boosted by their GuideRails technology. Brooks say this “reduces excess shin and heel rotation to keep your natural knee motion in a safe range”, enabling you to run in more comfort and with less pain.

The GTS line can be found by clicking here.

Saucony Tempus – The Saucony Tempus is a revolutionary shoe from Saucony, sporting the same PWRRUN PB foam found in the popular Endorphin Speed line of shoes. A contoured PWRRUN Frame starts above the midsole to support your foot upon landing, and its curved shape and forefoot ground contact give you a snappy transition as you take off. Essentially, it’s a shoe that provides stability but with superfoam energy return. It’s also one of the lighter options at only 252 grams.

While retailing for £170, deals can be found here for as low as £82.50.

Puma ForeverRun NITRO – Puma market this shoe as a stability shoe whose system is so unobtrusive, neutral runners would likely benefit from it on recovery days. Containing supercritical NITRO foam in tandem with Puma’s innovative RUNGUIDE system, it’s a responsive shoe that also lightly guides your stride through the most efficient gait.

You can find the new Puma colourway here.

Gritty Runners’ Verdict

As I mentioned above, most injuries don’t just go away overnight because you’ve introduced a stability shoe to your rotation. They need a mixture of rest, rehabilitation, and gradual loading. Nonetheless, the Saucony Guide 16 has been a key component in my recovery and it’s a shoe that will remain firmly in my rotation. It’s one of the cheapest and lightest stability running shoes currently available, feels capable at a range of paces, and is one I’d highly recommend to anyone who overpronates.