Four Upcoming Running Shoes Previewed: Hoka and Saucony Compared

Introduction

Four upcoming releases from Hoka and Saucony are on the radar, and early impressions are mixed. Some look like solid incremental updates, one could be a genuine bargain alternative, and at least two are leaving us unconvinced until proven otherwise. Here is how each one shapes up.

Hoka Mach Supersonic

On the outside, this looks like a departure from the Mach 4, but closer inspection suggests otherwise. The heel-to-toe stack appears almost identical, with the same ProFly foam setup and the same rubberized EVA outsole material. The tongue may be slightly more padded, and there is a new pull tab, but that is about where the differences end.

For a shoe wearing the “Supersonic” name, there is surprisingly little that feels supersersonic about it. The Mach 4 was a shoe that did many things acceptably without excelling at anything in particular, and this appears to be more of the same, likely at a similar price. Without meaningful innovation on show, it is hard to justify picking these up.

Early verdict: skip it unless you loved the Mach 4 and simply want another pair.

Saucony Surge

This one is intriguing. Visually it bears a striking resemblance to the Nike Invincible Run, from the plush upper down to the overall silhouette, and the upper itself harks back to the cushioned comfort of the Saucony Triumph 17. The midsole uses a PWRRUN-family foam described as PWRRUN+ VIZI, with translations suggesting an eTPU material, plus an extra three-millimeter layer of PWRRUN+ underfoot for additional shock absorption.

This fits a clear current trend: maximal shock absorption over propulsion or responsiveness. With a standard full-length rubber outsole and a heavily cushioned ride, the Surge could end up being a viable lower-cost alternative to the Invincible Run, which was criticized heavily for its price point. It may also be a regional-only release, so availability is a question mark.

Early verdict: hold on for now. There is real potential here, but the ride needs to be experienced before committing.

Hoka Carbon X3

The Carbon X2 left a lukewarm impression: very firm, unforgiving, and with an upper so voluminous it felt tent-like on foot. The ride was controlling in a way that punished anyone who did not run exactly the way the shoe wanted.

The Carbon X3 keeps the same outsole rubberized EVA foam, a similar midsole stack with roughly 37 millimeters at the heel and 32 at the forefoot, and ProFlite X in the plate and foam combination. The big news is the updated upper, which uses a Flyknit-style material around the collar for a sock-like feel, echoing the Vaporfly 4% Flyknit. That change alone drops the weight from 8.4 ounces to 7.8 ounces, a very welcome cut.

Early verdict: it depends. The weight reduction and better upper are genuine improvements, but the relatively uninspiring midsole foam and carbon plate combo, at a premium price for not a huge change, keeps this off the shortlist for now. A few strong hands-on impressions could change that mind.

Saucony Ride 15

The Ride 15 looks like the most immediately usable shoe of the four. It is a neutral daily trainer with an eight-millimeter drop, a noticeably increased midsole stack over the Ride 14, and PWRRUN foam throughout. It carries the lace-loop wrap system seen previously on the Endorphin Pro 2, and the side profile is genuinely attractive. Expected price sits around the 125 mark when it lands.

One caveat: information accompanying the shoe suggests the midsole rises up around the foot in a containing way, so the effective stack may not be as tall as it first appears. Online chatter also points to some diminishing enthusiasm for this older generation of PWRRUN material. A trail version of the Ride 15 appears to be launching as well, which is worth watching.

Early verdict: hold. This could make a great firmer-cruiser daily shoe, but with rotation slots already full, more information is needed before committing.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want a max-cushion trainer and balked at the Invincible Run’s price, the Saucony Surge is the one to watch. The Ride 15 is the safest bet for a dependable daily trainer, provided the PWRRUN foam experience holds up. The two Hoka options are harder to recommend sight unseen: the Mach Supersonic looks like a Mach 4 repeat, and the Carbon X3 improves where the X2 was weakest but not enough to justify the price without stronger confirmation.

Conclusion

Of the four, the Saucony Surge and Ride 15 show the most promise, while both Hoka releases need to prove more before earning a spot in anyone’s rotation. Waiting for full hands-on testing is the sensible move here.