Saucony’s newest running shoe, the Hurricane 24, was just released on July 8, 2024. Before the launch, I had the chance to test them out for a few weeks and took these high-cushion shoes out for runs, walks and errands to see how they would perform in the real world. All in all, I’ve now run and walked about 35 miles in them.
My experience as a gear tester and runner: The Hurricane 24 manages to provide a high level of support and motion control while also feeling incredibly soft, plush, and cushy. As a neutral runner myself who often finds even the best stability shoes too aggressive, I was shocked at how comfortable these felt (without pushing my arches out of alignment) both when running and walking. In fact, I’d say these are some of the most comfortable running shoes I have tested this year.
While there are a lot of high cushion, high stability trainers out there, the Hurricane 24 are definitely one of my favorites on the market right now. They’re a great option for runners or walkers looking for a daily shoe that can handle high mileage without weighing them down.
How I Tested
I set out to test the Hurricane 24 during runs, but the great design kept me coming back for more. Not only did I test this shoe over a couple weeks of running, but it also became my go-to for daily walks and weekly errands.
In total I walked and ran around 30-35 miles in them. I wore them on a number of different surfaces including treadmill, track, asphalt, grass and more to get an idea of how they would feel on every type of terrain. With temperatures in the 80s-90s, I was able to assess the breathability as well as how well the shoes did at keeping my feet cool.
Specs
- Fit: Often, high-cushion shoes have a boxier fit and a wide heel. The Hurricane 24, however, have ample toe-box room, are snug on the heel without being tight, but still allow me to cinch the midfoot to my desired tightness. This shoe ran true to size with just the right amount of space in the front of the shoe.
- Comfort: These shoes score a 5 out of 5 in comfort, cradling the foot from toe to heel, pillowy and soft feel without feeling muddy. It also feels quite light and, despite a thick midsole, it’s not clunky underfoot.
- Upper Fit Security: I felt incredibly secure in this shoe. The flared midsole gives the Hurricane a wide look, but the upper tapers at the heel and midfoot, has a tall heel to prevent you from slipping out, and lacing reinforcements around the midfoot to better lock you in. This design also prevents the laces from loosening easily, and re-disperses the tension as you run.
- Upper Comfort: This upper melds breathability with support using a multi-layer mesh, allowing for excellent ventilation while also giving the shoe structure. I’m sometimes wary of plastic overlays, but this one is strategically placed alongside the inside and outside arches, which also reinforcing the upper and giving it a snug, supportive feel.
- Toe box comfort: This is the Goldilocks of toe boxes, with just enough room to allow the toes to spread fully, but not so much as you will slide. The tapered midfoot helps to lock your foot in place and prevent even narrow feet from sliding.
- Heel Lock: A cornerstone of support, the heel lock in the Hurricane 24 is well padded but also quite firm, resistant to collapsing in the back. This combination makes it supportive but the padding ensures it won’t rub or irritate the back of the foot, creating any blisters from chafing.
- Cushioning: Ideal for overpronators looking for a super plush model, the Hurricane 24 has a pillowy soft feel, but doesn’t squish with every step. Using a combination of a soft, bouncy foam on top and the firm PWRRUN foam supporting underneath, this shoe has the optimal balance of support and comfort.
- Midsole Stability: Considered a stability shoe, the Hurricane 24 has a flared base for a more stable football and Saucony’s signature sidewalls that wrap around the foot and support it from the side, rather than underneath. It doesn’t have a highly-aggressive motion control like other stability models, but it’s a great option for anyone wanting to add an insole for additional support or those that have minimal overpronation but like a more supportive feel.
- Ride Responsiveness: For a max-cushion shoe, this one is pretty responsive. The PWRRUN PB foam definitely helps to give it a bit of a bouncy boost, and the lower drop helps the heel-to-toe roll through to promote a faster cadence.
- Transition Quality: This shoe has excellent roll-through. The thicker midsole helps it feel natural without affecting the gait. It has a decent upturn at the heel and toe, so you roll through effortlessly whether running or walking.
- Traction: The outsole is somewhat thin, but relatively grippy, covering the majority of the bottom of the shoe. The largest exposed area is the inside under the arch, but this area doesn’t receive much friction and isn’t where you’ll require the most grip.
- Durability: Saucony models, in my experience, have excellent durability thanks to their materials. With the Hurricane 24, the two midsole foams should hold up excellently over time and keep their original feel much better than EVA-based foams. Since the upper is also made with multiple layers, it is more difficult to wear through.
- Breathability: Even on hot, muggy summer days I felt like my feet were able to breathe and they stayed as dry as one could reasonably expect.
- Weight: This shoe is on the heavier side due to the level of cushioning, but it feels quite light on the foot. The weight is pretty equally dispersed, so it feels very balanced, as well as light and airy when both walking and running.
- Design/Aesthetics: The design of the Hurricane 24 is nothing to brag about, but Saucony does provide a range of color options both with neutrals and some more vibrant colors (some yet to be released).
- Innovation: The Hurricane doesn’t have any real revolutionary changes, but it does make great use of current technology. The dual-foam midsole allows it to be relatively light as well as exceptionally plush and the supportive side-walls make it a great fit for any arch height and flexibility.
- Versatility: This shoe can definitely be used as a do-it all trainer, and I found that it performed well at just about any speed. That said, it feels a bit bulky for low-rep speedwork, especially on a track, so you may want to supplement with a lighter, faster shoe if you’re concerned with it bogging you down too much.
Design and Aesthetics
Chunky shoes are quite polarizing. While the Hurricane 24s are definitely thick, they have a pretty standard mesh upper design. At least for now, they’re being made in two neutral colorways. The midsole is quite chunky, but that’s par for the course with design these days.
I don’t mind a bulkier look so long as it doesn’t translate into the feel: I can honestly say these are some of the most comfortable shoes I have worn this year. I have high arches and a neutral gait so am usually pretty wary of stability shoes. The Hurricane 24, though, works for any type of gait and strike, thanks to the centerpath tech which provides motion control and stability through taller sidewalls and a wider base. A stability system like this will only adjust you as much as you need it to, so whether you overpronate, supinate, or are somewhere in between, the Hurricane 24 could work for you.
Adaptive stability systems like this are also excellent for runners training long distances for a half marathon as our gait tends to deteriorate with fatigue. This will provide you with a ton of cushioning for shock absorption and however much support you need to finish your run.
The shoe uses a combination of Saucony’s PWRRUN PB (plush and responsive) and PWRRUN (firm and supportive) foams to give it a soft and squishy feel without sacrificing the structural integrity of the shoe. To help combat the thickness of the midsole, Saucony designers opted for a lower drop of 6mm to help roll through the foot and encourage a more natural, midfoot strike.
Testing Performance
If it’s not clear: I loved how the Hurricane 24 performed during testing. It is incredibly comfortable, fits true to size, and doesn’t require a break-in period. This shoe provided excellent cushion and support while walking, standing, and going about my daily routine. But it also performed great when I ramped up the pace.
Many max-cushion shoes feel clunky, muddy, and heavy, but the Hurricane avoided all of these for a light and bouncy result. The max cushion will still have you a bit higher off the ground than a lower-cushion shoe, but I found it didn’t inhibit my stride or make me aware of the height with each step. The shoe also felt incredibly stable. I really noticed the wider base on turns and lateral movements as I felt grounded and secure no matter what direction I was traveling in.
When it came to running in the Hurricanes, I found that they performed well on most surfaces. They were stable enough for uneven or loose terrain, though I did personally prefer them on firmer ground, track, and treadmill.
They also transitioned easily to different paces. They don’t have as much kick as a shoe that is intended for speed, but still have a bouncy, responsive feel. Also, they feel surprisingly light underfoot. Though I personally find them to be a bit too much shoe for something supper speedy like 200s, I didn’t feel like they were too bulky for longer track workouts.
As far as grip goes, the outsole gave a good amount of traction — much better than the Triumph 22 which is lacking on the outsole.
I also felt that Saucony nailed the fit of the shoe. It felt secure in the midfoot and heel, but also had ample room in the toe box so I never felt cramped or uncomfortable. Even when my feet swelled a bit from heat and use, I never felt like they were too tight or were at risk of rubbing or chafing.
Pros and Cons
Any shoe will have pros and cons, but with many running shoes, these are going to help determine more who the shoe is a fit for than if the shoe is good or bad. Although there are a couple duds out there, most running shoes work for someone — and there are few that will work for all.
Pros:
- Incredibly comfortable
- Ample room in toe box
- Super plush feel
- Adaptive stability works for all gaits
Cons:
- Looks kind of bulky
- Currently available in limited colorways
How the Shoes Stack Up
Although there are a couple shoes that have similarities with the Saucony Hurricane 24, there aren’t a ton that fulfill their exact niche. The models that most closely align with the Hurricane:
The Hoka Gaviota 5 is the most similar model on the market— max cushion, high stability, but with a bit firmer of foam. These factors are what make Hoka a great half marathon shoe. It also has a 6mm drop and is only 0.3 ounces heavier than the Hurricane. The Gaviota 5 uses a similar stability system but with a meta-rocker that propels the foot forward, encouraging a roll-through from heel-to-toe and a flared midsole that gives it a wider, more stable base. The biggest difference: Hokas can run a bit narrow while the Hurricane 24 have an ample toe box (though the Gaviota does come in a wide option). The Hoka Gaviota 5 runs $175 — $15 more than the Hurricane.
The New Balance Vongo v6 is more of a high cushion shoe than a max, but it has a similar squishy, bouncy feeling to the Hurricane 24 thanks to the Fresh Foam X midsole foam. The Vongo v6 also has a 6mm drop and hits right in the middle, price-wise, at $165. New Balance is also known for a roomy toe box. The Vongo v6 has an engineered mesh upper which is soft, breathable, and slightly stretchy, which makes it the best of the three when it comes to moving with the foot. The Vongo v6 also uses a Stability Plane which is a super thin but rigid EVA film that is sandwiched between two layers of foam. This gives the shoe the support you need without compromising the plush feel.
Although all of these shoes have the potential to work great for different runners, my top recommendation—and choice for myself—is the Hurricane 24. Not only is it the most affordable, but I also think that it works the best for all kinds of runners.
Price and Value
On the scale of price versus value, the Hurricane 24 lands firmly in the ‘would buy’ end of the spectrum for me.
When compared to shoes that offer similar levels of cushion and support on the market, the Hurricane 24 is the most affordable — especially when dipping into the max cushion category. Moreover, its design makes it a great option for runners or walkers that are prioritizing comfort and support but aren’t willing to sacrifice performance. Since Saucony uses a PEBA foam instead of an EVA based one like most other brands, it’s not only more bouncy and responsive, but it’s also likely more durable with a better longevity of wear.
While it is on the bulkier side, it doesn’t feel too clunky or lifted under the foot. It’s, therefore, still capable of handling speed work and workouts if you aren’t too concerned about ground feel.
Final Word: Should You Buy the Hurricane 24?
I cannot recommend the Saucony Hurricane 24 enough. In my opinion having tested dozens and dozens of running shoes, it is the most comfortable max cushion stability shoe currently on the market. It also manages to feel more like a high cushion shoe when running, meaning it doesn’t feel as bulky or lifted as competitors.
Of course running shoes are still quite subjective, and if you are looking for a lightweight minimalistic model, this won’t be the fit for you. But it does excel in its chosen category, and is definitely worth a try for anyone after a plush but supportive ride.
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Buy It: Saucony Hurricane 24
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