Saucony Axon 3 vs Ride 17: Which One? (2024 Comparison)
The Saucony Ride is, along with the Triumph, one of the Saucony brand’s most popular road-running collections. It’s a shoe that ticks many boxes in comfort, versatility, durability, and stability. In short, it’s an all-around great value for most runners, beginners, and experienced alike, including supinators and light overpronators.
On the other hand, the Saucony Axon is a rather recent new model, as we are only in its third version in 2024. Saucony launched this series to expand its entry-level range. It has some features of the brand’s more premium models but with a slightly inferior finish and comfort.
The heel stack height is the same on both shoes: 35 mm. This configuration ensures shock absorption for comfortable long distance running.
However, the heel-to-toe drop is lower on the Axon 3 (4 vs. 8 mm), giving more stack under the forefoot. Such a low heel-to-toe drop may come as a surprise if you’re not used to it, so caution is advised.
Cushioning is firmer on the Axon, which allows good stability (the Ride also does very well in this respect). In terms of energy return, the Ride 17 is clearly more responsive with its more advanced PWRRUN+ foam.
Finally, another important point: the rubber of the outsole. The Axon 3 uses a generic compound, while Saucony Ride 17 benefits from XT-900, a highly resistant material that offers greater durability.
Axon or Ride: Which One Should You Pick?
Overall, the Ride is a more versatile and comfortable choice, thanks in particular to its more balanced cushioning and greater responsiveness. However, the Axon may be a good option if you’re looking to make a few savings and prefer more firmness underfoot.
Side-By-Side Comparison Table
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| Overview | ||
| Description | The Axon 2 is Saucony's entry-level road running shoe. This value-packed daily trainer comes with minor tweaks to the original Axon that runners already loved. | The Saucony Ride 17 is a highly versatile running shoe that runners love for daily training. |
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| Facts | ||
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Heel stack height | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 31 mm | 27 mm |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 4 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight (men) | 286 g | 270 g |
| Weight (women) | 259 g | 238 g |
| Features | Vegan, Heavy runner, Recycled materials, Rocker | |
| Athletes | ||
| Release year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Technologies | ||
| Outsole | Carbon Rubber | XT900 Rubber |
| Midsole | PWRRUN, Speed-Driven Geometry | PWRRUN+ |
| Upper | Engineered Mesh | FORMFIT |
| Cushioning | ||
| Cushioning | Firm | Balanced |
| Responsiveness | Medium | Medium |
| Use | ||
| Distance | Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon | Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon |
| Speed | Slow, Moderate | Slow, Moderate |
| Workouts | Daily running | Daily running |
