Saucony Guide 18 reviewed: My new favourite shoe for ParkRun

I love a good ParkRun: the physical challenge, the community spirit, the volunteering, the thrill of chasing a new PB and the chance to visit new places across the UK. It’s a fantastic initiative and a perfect way to kick off your weekend in a healthy, wholesome way.

I only really started running ParkRuns seriously in 2024, but I’ve now ticked off 40 ParkRuns across 16 locations – and that 50 milestone t-shirt isn’t far off being mine! I’m also hoping to tick off my first ParkRun abroad with a March 2025 visit to the Haga event in Stockholm.

I’m a bit of a speed merchant – one of those super-keen “athletes” limbering up at the front of the crowd, looking overly competitive and psyched up – you know the type. I’ve won seven different ParkRuns, achieved a best age grade of 80.49% and run a PB of 17mins 05secs at the Arrow Valley ParkRun in Redditch, near Birmingham. Suffice to say, I like to take my ParkRuns seriously.

For speedy PB-chasing attempts, there’s only one real approach – to wear carbon-plated “super shoes”. The Nike Vaporfly 3 or the new Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 are excellent choices, if you’re a fast runner and want to chase even faster times.

But carbon-plated shoes are not for everyone. While they are unbelievably energetic, bouncy and forward-propelling, they also have big drawbacks – they’re crazily expensive, only suitable for racing (not daily training) and lack almost any lateral stability.

Instead, in my opinion, the average ParkRunner should look elsewhere. If you’re not too worried about PB chasing, and don’t want to spend a fortune, then you need a trainer that’s more versatile – something with a touch of speed when you’re on the ParkRun start line, but also loads of comfort, stability, cushioning and support for your regular daily runs. Or, in other words, one shoe to do it all.

Step up the Saucony Guide 18. This trainer is a dreamy everyday trainer. It seems to hit a sweet spot, striking a lovely balance between competing priorities. It’s stable and supportive, yet feels quite zippy and quick. It’s pillow-y soft underfoot with plush cushioning and top comfort levels, yet the outsole grip is decent and the fit feels locked-in.

After 100+ training miles in this trainer, I’ve been really impressed with the Saucony Guide 18. For the average ParkRunner, who only wants to buy one running trainer, it’s a great versatile choice.

Upper

The Saucony Guide 18's upper is meticulously engineered to provide a secure and comfortable running experience. It features a breathable mesh material that enhances airflow, ensuring your feet remain cool throughout your run. The padded heel collar offers a snug fit, reducing slippage and enhancing overall comfort. This design ensures a “fresh, locked-in feel” from start to finish.

The Saucony Guide 18 is not a waterproof running shoe. The fit is true to size and comfort levels are high straight out of the box, in my opinion. On your foot, it feels perhaps a little chunky, with quite a broad profile, as if the shoe has a larger-than-average footprint.

This reduces any sense of precision and close-fitting agility, but it enhances comfort and avoids the risk of an overly tight, restrictive fit – so, in my eyes at least, it’s a good design decision.

Midsole

The midsole is the real hero of the Saucony Guide 18. It feels pillow-y soft underfoot, with lovely cushioning and a soft, easy ride with a touch of energy and speed. It certainly doesn’t feel slow. Yet, at the same time, it delivers good stability and support.

Saucony states that the Guide 18 is “made for daily movement”, with “maximal” support and “all day comfort”. Its midsole features PWRRUN cushioning, Saucony’s proprietary EVA foam blend that provides “legendary shock absorption”, reducing joint stress without overtaxing muscles.

This versatile foam offers a supportive and reliable ride, forming the backbone of Saucony’s most popular running shoes. The shoe's 6mm offset (35mm heel, 29mm forefoot) ensures a balanced stride, while CenterPath technology—a broad base platform with higher sidewalls—cradles the foot for smooth, protected transitions.

Saucony has several version of PWRRUN foam. The regular PWRRUN in the Guide 18 is billed as the correct choice for “dependable all-round comfort”, with a “soft feel from the moment you step in”. The brand claims PWRRUN foam “strikes that ‘just right’ feeling - firm enough to support, soft enough to cushion”. This seems fair and accurate – it really is a lovely foam technology. However, if you want more speed, switch to a trainer using Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam.

A question mark with all foam technology is how long it will retain that bouncy, soft feel. I can’t really comment on this for the Guide 18 yet. After 100 miles, it still feels quite plush, but more time is needed to judge its long-term durability.

Outsole

The Saucony Guide 18's outsole is not particularly aggressive. The lugs are quite shallow and this isn’t anything like a deeply-cleated trail running trainer. As such, it’s not a trainer for off-road trail runs across mud or rocky trails. If your local ParkRuns are particularly rugged, it might be best to look elsewhere.

However for the average ParkRun, which sticks mostly to good paths and tarmac, it hits the spot. The outsole’s rubber compound provides solid enough traction for these conditions and I never experienced any slipping or unstable foot placements during my test runs. Overall, the Guide 18's outsole offers a balance of grip, flexibility and durability for a secure and comfortable running experience.

Versions

The Saucony Guide 18 is available in both men's and women's versions, each designed to provide stability and comfort for runners. Men's sizes range from UK 6 to 15, while women's sizes span from UK 3 to 10.

Both versions offer regular and wide width options to accommodate various foot shapes. The Guide 18 comes in multiple colourways, including classic black, white and vibrant hues like blue and red. This variety allows runners to select a style that suits their preferences.

Sustainability

The Saucony Guide 18 incorporates sustainable practices in its design. Notably, the shoe is vegan and contains recycled materials, reflecting Saucony's commitment to environmental responsibility.
This aligns with Saucony's broader sustainability goals, which include ensuring that by 2025, 90% of their products will feature recycled, organic or renewable materials.

However, specific details regarding the exact recycled content or materials used in the Guide 18 model are not readily available online, which is a little disappointing.

Verdict

A lovely daily trainer with a pillow-y soft underfoot feel, stable ride and a touch of speed – but it’s not super-fast for PB chasers

About the Author

James Forrest writes regular features and route guides for Trail and LFTO, and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells.