What’s new
- Center Path technology
- Dual-density PWRRUN™ frame
- Plush bed of all-new incrediLUX FOAM
ON THE RUN
Meg: The Saucony Hurricane 26 lived up to its name... in the best way possible of course! This storm rolled in with plush IncrediLUX cushioning, a high-stack design, and smooth stability that kept every stride on course. The ride was cloud-soft yet surprisingly energetic, turning long runs into a tailwind-assisted cruise. Mile after mile, the Hurricane 26 delivered a perfect climate of comfort, support, and confidence. The forecast? A 100% chance of wanting to lace these up again tomorrow!
Blake: Running in the Hurricane 26 has been one of the most comfortable experiences I have ever had in a running shoe. Putting this on, I honestly had one of the seamless runs where the only thing I had to focus on was how fast I was actually going in the shoe. I found I had the perfect amount of pep underfoot, control underfoot, and smoothness from one step to another. As soon as I lifted off for my first run, I went, yep, this is exactly what I want. I'm assuming the reason I feel so comfortable has to come down to the addition of the IncrediLUX top layer that is primarily underneath the forefoot. There is enough added underfoot where the toe and heel do feel significantly the same. There is just that right amount under the toe where you start to feel the shoe pop, but in every other aspect of the run. You have that right amount of control as the foot shifts over to either side with the firmer PWRRUN base that encapsulates the IncrediLUX. One of the biggest improvements I felt underfoot was the inability to supinate in this new version. Honestly, the improvement has brought a new level of confidence I haven't felt in a Hurricane before. I feel like this is one of those shoes you just need to put underfoot to feel how amazing it performs.
THE FIT
Meg: The fit on the Saucony Hurricane 26 is honestly just really easy to get along with. The shape feels natural. Nothing overbuilt or awkward. Just a smooth, stable platform that rolls along from heel to toe without overthinking it. I went true to size and it fits exactly how I’d want a daily trainer to fit. No surprises, no break-in drama (no one likes drama) just lace up and go. The toe box is a big win for me too. There’s definitely enough room up front for my toes to spread out and relax instead of feeling like they’re packed in during a storm warning. The tongue is simple in the best way. Nicely padded, stays put, doesn’t bunch or slide around. It kind of just disappears once you’re moving, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to get miles in, not adjust your shoe every few minutes. Heel cup is secure but not overbearing. It keeps everything locked in without feeling like it’s squeezing your heel in place. No rubbing, no hotspots. Just steady support. The upper is a soft engineered mesh with a slightly structured feel, so it breathes well up front but still holds things together through the midfoot. It’s paired with a gusseted tongue and a padded heel collar, which helps everything feel snug and controlled without ever feeling stiff. It’s like the shoe brings structure to the storm, but lets your foot move freely inside it. Overall, the fit just works. Everything feels calm and dialed, like the Hurricane 26 showed up, cleared the skies, and decided your run was going to be smooth sailing.
Blake: The shape of the newer Hurricane is nearly identical to the previous model. The centerpath technology feels identical, and I would find it to be a little more laterally stable. The improvement in control on the outside of the heel is where I noticed the greatest difference. The shoe's toebox is slightly wider than in the previous model. Visually, the toebox looks identical, but this time around, I do not feel scrunched as I did before. I don't believe I even mentioned this in my H25 review, but I really started getting irritated at the space in the toebox after 2-3 hours on foot. While walking, as my foot spread, I started having blisters between my pinky and pointer toes. This time around in Hurricane 26, I am not noticing it at all. If anything, I found this to be the perfect toebox from every Saucony I have tried on. Mixing with the shoe's length identical to how it felt before. This is the best fit I have had from Saucony thus far. The tongue feels more seamless than ever before! I had major gripes with the tongue of the Hurricane 24, and it was completely re-integrated into the next model. Now at 26, you have a mix of both: a soft, flat tongue that actually stays held onto the foot. Not shifting over to the right side of the foot. That was my biggest complaint with the 24th, but the 25th iteration was quite tight, while fixing that complaint. Then the 26th comes in and completely blends both solutions to the same thing. Therefore, I love this tongue and would love it in every shoe but Saucony’s racing models. On top of having a little bit of space in the forefoot, I found the upper had slightly more give than before. The right amount of give, where I found it comfortable, but then also still feel locked into the shoe. Mixed with the consistent heel cup that I have had in every other Saucony model. This is a proper fit for the foot compared to everything that the Hurricane has done so far.
THE FEEL
Meg: The IncrediLUX foam in the Hurricane 26 is kind of like running on a well trained cloud that actually knows what it’s doing. It’s soft upon striking, but it doesn’t collapse or turn mushy on you. It bounces back with just enough energy to keep things moving forward without feeling like you’re working for it. There’s a nice balance here that surprised me. Some max cushion foams feel like you’re sinking into a pillow and hoping for the best, but this one stays composed. It absorbs impact like a sponge that immediately forgets it was ever stressed, then smoothly returns you to the road without any drama. All the energy of the perfect storm, but you won't have to board up the windows. The ride feels steady and calm, almost like the foam is quietly conducting the run behind the scenes. No big personality swings, no weird softness spikes, just consistent comfort mile after mile. It’s the kind of cushioning that makes you realize halfway through the run that you haven’t been thinking about your feet at all… which is usually a good sign. If I had to sum it up, IncrediLUX feels like the difference between floating through a storm and actually being carried by it, in the best way possible.
Blake: The cushion underfoot is night and day more comfortable and responsive than every previous version of the Hurricane. The layer of “LUX” foam really ups the feel underfoot. I found it immediately bouncier underfoot, at the same weight we had before. I would consider this version of Hurricane 26 slightly more stable than the previous one. The new option has an exceptional amount of control that the previous model lacked. Specifically, when shifting any weight to the outside of the heel, or just randomly flexing the foot to the lateral side. At 25, I felt unstable on more technical terrain, whereas at 26, it was not even a second question for me. I am locked in while also being more flexible underfoot. Something I would have never imagined would be achievable after trying in the 25’s. That shoe was so comfortable; this new update takes every complaint I had about it and turns it on its head.
THE NITTY GRITTY
Meg: The IncrediLUX foam in the Hurricane 26 feels like running on a marshmallow that has its life together. It's soft and plush when you land, but instead of turning mushy, it keeps things smooth, stable, and rolling forward with very little effort. This is the shoe I'd grab for easy runs, long runs, recovery days, or honestly any day I just want to enjoy the miles. It's not trying to be a speed shoe, but more of a comfort cruiser that thrives when you settle into a nice rhythm. Despite all the cushioning, it never feels clunky. The ride is surprisingly smooth and well-balanced, and the foam does a great job taking the edge off without feeling disconnected from the road. It's also an easy recommendation for walking or anyone on their feet all day. Think nurses, teachers, retail workers, or anyone who wants their feet to feel a little less grumpy by the end of the day. Overall, the Hurricane 26 feels like a marshmallow with a purpose: soft, supportive, and always happy to go the distance.
Blake: This is a shoe I would take for long runs and long periods on foot. But with how soft and responsive the blend between the two layers of cushioning is, I would take this out as my daily trainer. I could imagine running the entire 500 miles in these shoes without experiencing a major drop-off, unlike other hurricanes have in the past. I would give the best range as at least 400 miles in the shoe, and at most around 550 Miles! I wouldn't pull this out for any faster runs for myself, as the Hurricane is slightly bulky underfoot. But I would bring it out for that use, compared to the previous versions. I found that at any pace, going faster, I was just too high off the ground. I would recommend options like the Endorphin Speed. Therefore, I will be bringing this out for my longer runs. I would recommend this shoe to more people than I have ever recommended the Hurricane for. As we gain flexibility, while keeping the shoe just as stable. The more people feel comfortable, stable, and responsive underfoot. I love the feel of it, and I find that everyone else would have a similar feeling of being in these shoes. The best blend between control and having softness underfoot I have tried so far. (Mostly where you don’t feel the control of the base when running or walking*) If I were to compare it to other shoes, it would honestly be the more premium version of the Guide. Underfoot, but also visually speaking, too. But if I were to find another shoe to feel like it from another brand, it would have to be most similar to the Gaviota 6. Both roll you through your step but have different cushion densities underfoot. And the Asics Kayano 33 has cushioning that feels just as plush but stabilizes the foot in a slightly different way. But at the end of the day, all the options I mentioned support you in the same way; it just depends on the cushioning you are looking for underfoot.
THE RUNDOWN
Meg: After skipping the Hurricane 25, I'm really glad I gave the Hurricane 26 a chance. The fit feels more accommodating, the ride feels lighter and smoother, and the updated upper and IncrediLUX foam make the whole experience more comfortable from start to finish. Saucony kept everything I liked about the Hurricane, stability, cushioning, and protection, while refining the areas that held previous versions back. Instead of weathering the storm, it feels like Saucony learned how to harness it. The Hurricane 26 rolls in with all the comfort and stability you'd expect, but leaves behind the rough edges for a much smoother forecast.
Blake: I loved every update that they put into Hurricane 26. Everything I wanted to be improved was improved. It looks sexier, it feels sexier, I feel sexier in this version of the Hurricane. Saucony somehow managed to shave off the feeling of weight underfoot, and I have never felt more stable and fluid. My foot has never felt more like it fits around like a glove when I put this shoe on. All in all, this is just a sexy update that blends high cushion running, stability control, and freshness underfoot. Everything I could have ever wanted from a Hurricane update. You hit it out of the park, Saucony. 9.5/10
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