Saucony Hurricane 26 Running Shoe Review – Performance, Price, Comparison, Who Is It For?

Saucony Hurricane 26 Running Shoe Upper

The upper of the Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is made from soft, comfortable engineered mesh with moderate breathability. Since comfort is the main priority in the upper’s design, Saucony has not skimped on materials. As a result, neither its weight nor its breathability is particularly outstanding, although both are better than average.

The upper has a moderately wide fit, but a wide version is also available alongside the standard width. In addition to the standard version, a waterproof GTX version is also available. The toe box provides plenty of room for your toes to move freely without restriction, although runners with narrower feet may find there is too much space. The midfoot has an average width, while the heel area is narrower to provide a secure foothold. Around the heel and midfoot, the midsole sidewalls extend high up around the upper to improve foot stability.

The tongue is gusseted on both sides and has thicker-than-average padding, providing good protection against lace pressure. The laces are flat and wide, preventing them from twisting and helping distribute pressure evenly. The heel collar has generous padding that extends high around the ankle and is moderately stiff, providing excellent foot lockdown.

The removable insole is thicker than average, further enhancing comfort.

The upper delivers exactly what it was designed to provide: maximum comfort combined with secure foot lockdown.

Saucony Hurricane 26 Running Shoe Midsole

The midsole of the Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is made from two foams with different properties. Most of the midsole consists of the new incrediLUX A-TPU foam, which is highly resilient, lightweight, and durable. This foam is surrounded by a slightly firmer, stiffer PWRRUN PB foam, also used in previous versions, which is thicker under the heel and gradually tapers toward the forefoot. The combination of these two foams provides good energy return while maintaining sufficient stability. In addition to the PWRRUN PB frame, the exceptionally wide midsole further enhances stability. Among running shoes currently available, the Hurricane 26 has the widest midsole in both the forefoot and heel. You can feel the sheer volume of material beneath your feet, but thanks to the new foam, the shoe cannot be considered heavy despite its massive midsole. In fact, it is lightweight for a stability running shoe. Stability is further enhanced by the raised midsole sidewalls, which wrap around the upper and cradle the foot as if it were sitting in a channel.

The midsole geometry compensates for this large size to some extent. The forefoot rocker starts relatively early, allowing for quick transitions, while the rear of the midsole also has a pronounced curve. Since this is a stability running shoe, there is no significant inward curvature around the midfoot, but grooves have been incorporated into several areas of the midsole to prevent it from becoming excessively stiff. Its stiffness is relatively low considering its volume. It is noticeably stiffer than average, which helps stability, but the grooves and segmented midsole compensate for this by adding flexibility.

The midsole is not extremely tall, measuring 41 mm at the heel and 36 mm at the forefoot. However, its cushioning is exceptionally high thanks to its width, as the impact of ground contact is distributed across a broad platform.

Saucony Hurricane 26 Running Shoe Outsole

The outsole of the Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is made from Saucony’s well-established XT-900 rubber compound, which is harder than average. Because of its greater hardness, it also offers better-than-average abrasion resistance, and its durability is further improved by the fact that it is thicker than average. Two factors contribute to its traction: first, the rubber covers a relatively large surface area because the midsole itself is also larger; second, the deeper lugs, which are primarily arranged transversely, improve grip. Traction is very convincing on dry surfaces and remains better than average on wet surfaces as well.

The outsole is segmented and does not cover the entire midsole. This segmentation also helps prevent the otherwise massive midsole from becoming too stiff, meaning it contributes to the shoe’s flexibility. Furthermore, because the midsole is extremely wide, covering more of this large surface with outsole rubber would significantly increase the shoe’s weight, as solid outsole rubber has the highest weight per unit volume of any component in a running shoe.

What Is It Like to Run in the Saucony Hurricane 26?

Every part of the Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is designed around comfort, so it is no surprise that it performs best during comfortable, low-intensity runs. At the same time, it is lightweight relative to its volume and offers a high level of cushioning, making it particularly effective for longer runs as well. It is not that the midsole foam lacks responsiveness or that the shoe is heavy, but the width of the midsole reduces its agility. You can run occasional faster sections in it, and you can maintain a pace faster than your usual easy pace over longer distances, but it is not explosive and is not designed for fast, all-out running. Transitions are surprisingly quick, with a smooth and fluid heel-to-toe roll, although the rocker is not aggressive. The midsole is soft without feeling mushy. You can sense that the foam itself has more to offer, but this is exactly the kind of running shoe that you stop noticing after a few kilometers. It simply gets the job done, consistently and reliably. During longer runs, you can clearly feel that your feet take longer to fatigue. Its stability comes primarily from the width of the midsole, but you can also feel that the firmer PWRRUN PB foam is thicker along the medial arch in the midfoot. The medial support is noticeable without being intrusive, gently guiding the foot and lower leg outward.

Who Is the Saucony Hurricane 26 Recommended For – and Who Should Avoid It?

The Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is recommended for runners who pronate (whose lower legs and ankles roll inward) and are looking for a highly cushioned stability running shoe that is not too heavy for their longer runs. If you want a high level of comfort without wearing a heavy running shoe for your everyday longer runs, the Saucony Hurricane 26 can be a good choice

The Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoe is not recommended if you supinate, meaning your feet roll outward. It is not recommended for fast, race-pace running, and there are better options for shorter, easy runs as well.

What Has Changed Compared to the Previous Version? Saucony Hurricane 26 vs Saucony Hurricane 25.

The Hurricane 26 has changed significantly compared to its predecessor. Although its overall volume has increased considerably, it is 20 grams lighter, which seems almost unbelievable just by looking at it. These changes have made the shoe more responsive and versatile.

• The upper has become roomier around the toes, breathability has improved, and foot lockdown is better in the midfoot and heel.
• The midsole now features a new, lighter, more responsive soft foam called incrediLUX, surrounded by a frame of PWRRUN PB foam that was also used in the previous version. The new midsole is both wider and taller, offers greater responsiveness, and provides improved stability.
• The outsole still uses the same XT-900 rubber compound, but its tread pattern has been redesigned to improve traction.

Are There Differences Between the Men’s and Women’s Saucony Hurricane 26 Running Shoes?

There are no differences in the materials used, construction, or technology between the men’s and women’s Saucony Hurricane 26 running shoes. The officially stated reference weights differ because the men’s version is weighed in a larger size than the women’s Hurricane 26 running shoe. There is also no official information indicating that the proportional width differs between the men’s and women’s versions. However, both are available in standard and wide widths.