No matter how old you are, or what time of year it is, there’s nothing like getting outside for running, walking, playing, and doing other activities. Undoubtedly, you’ll always require the proper footwear, to get the game started.
So, if you’re in the market to pick the perfect pair of sneakers that you can’t wait to wear for a run or stroll, we’ve narrowed your options down to two of the finest on the market: Ryka and Saucony.
Let’s examine these two labels to see how their distinctive designs compare against one another.
Comparison Table Between Ryka And Saucony:
| Ryka | Saucony |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1987 | Founded in 1898 |
| Only for women | For Men, Women, and Kids |
| Cushioned | More Cushioning |
| Durable | Highly Durable |
| Many shoe options for different activities | More athletic and performance shoe options |
| Less sustainable | Incorporated environment-friendly materials |
| EVA soles | PWRN Technology |
| Sporty looks | Retro Vintage Appearance |
| Mesh Upper | ISOKNIT Upper |
Overview of Ryka:
Since its beginning, the mission of the brand Ryka has been to constantly believe in and celebrate each day as every woman deserves strength and happiness in the world.
Sheri Poe founded Ryka in the United States in 1987 intending to develop a better-fitting sporting shoe for women. It was the first company to design sports shoes specifically for the “foot shape, muscle movements, and build” of women. Moreover, the company manufactures athletic apparel, bags, activewear, and other accessories.
In addition, Ryka merged with Global Sports in 1997, and later this sports industry sold its branded division to American Sporting Goods Corporation in 1999.
Presently, Brown Shoe owns this brand after buying American Sporting Goods in 2011.
In their huge collection of shoes, Devotion plus 2 Fitness Walking shoes are the latest version of their iconic style and one of their bestselling models with more than 800 positive customer reviews on the website to date.
It is a classic sneaker silhouette with leather overlays that reinforce the lacing holes, heel, and toe for increased durability.
Furthermore, the Ryka FIT Program and the company’s partnership with fitness organizations like Curves are aimed to develop and boost women’s confidence.
Overview of Saucony:
Saucony Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance running shoes specifically for marathon runners and triathletes. It is one of the oldest names in the footwear industry, with a history that dates back to 1898 and was founded in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
In the 1990s, the company grew its leading position by offering walking and hiking shoes and trying to stay true to its roots by bringing back “classic” models from the 1980s.
Its products were sold in over 5,500 retail locations in the United States and 23 foreign countries by 2000.
Within a few years, the brand gained a lot of popularity and become a prominent manufacturer of “racing shoes, producing track spikes and cross-country racing flats”, they also offer footwear for particular track and field activities. “Saucony Jazz” is one of the brand’s iconic best-selling sneakers and a favorite among sneakerheads because of its retro style.
The company also claims that they emphasize the idea that the future of running and our planet are closely linked. So, they are continually on the lookout for strategies to improve their production methods and make them more eco-friendly.
Moreover, the brand actively seeks to embrace and empower minority communities through its policies and programs. This embraces persons of “multiple sex identities, races, ethnicities, disabilities, faiths, cultural backgrounds, and ages.”
Major Differences between the Brands:
Now that you know the history behind both brands, let’s compare their features and see which provides better value for money.
1) Comfort:
Wearing a pair of Ryka performance or walking shoes will be very comfortable due to the anatomical footbeds molded EVA cushioning. This provides targeted support to the parts of your foot that need it most, significantly contributing to the overall versatility and comfort of the shoes. Their footwear also features lightweight stability and unique technologies for superior fit.
You can also walk around all day with ease in Ryka shoes due to the RE-ZORB responsive cushioning that offers shock absorption and impact protection. Furthermore, their performance shoes are made with ASFTM midsole technology that smooths each phase of a runner’s stance.
On the other hand, when it comes to cushioning and comfort Saucony relies heavily on its PWRRUN technology. Many shoe experts believe that it outperforms EVA foam in a significant way as it is flexible, bouncy, and more durable. This incredibly soft cushioning choice of Saucony is obviously due to making shoes more light in weight yet high in speed.
Moreover, the uppers of Saucony’s shoe models include “ISOFIT,” technology that comprises a floating support cage that cradles the foot and an ultra-soft inner layer composed of flexible air mesh for a sock-like fit.
Also, all of the latest Saucony running shoes have EVERUN, an additional layer of padding that resides near the foot and provides more responsive cushioning.
2) Popularity:
Saucony running and athletic shoes are more popular among professionals and beginners alike. From winning awards for running gear on the road, trail, and track for decades the brand is also appreciated as one of the Best Running Shoe brands.
The Runner’s World’s spring 2022 Shoe Guide also gave Saucony three Editor’s Choice Awards.
Alternately, Ryka shoes are a go-to choice for women who have active lifestyles and fitness walkers. Their shoes have been featured in PR Newswire, CNBC, Outside Business Journal, and NBC News, among many other media.
3) Target Market:
The main target market of Saucony was fitness freaks between the ages of 20 to more than 50, and the majority of their customers are men. Moreover, their lifestyle sneakers are intended for people living in urban areas who desire shoes with a contemporary appearance.
Alternatively, Ryka intended all of its offerings for women’s feet and bodies which keep them from getting injured while doing performance activities. The age of their target customers is 21 to 35.
4) Price:
Ryka and Saucony shoes are moderately priced according to the quality of the products, the average price of Saucony is anywhere between $60 and $120, whereas the price range of Ryka is from $59 to $169. The cost of these shoes mainly depends on the model you choose and its technology.
5) Design:
Running, trail running, racing, walking, and everyday collection are just some of the footwear options offered by Saucony. Each of these shoe styles employs specialized technology appropriate to the intended activity.
Saucony shoes are basically designed to be lightweight, the brand typically decreased midsole thickness contributes to increased mobility and response. The lighter weight also makes them more suitable for high-speed activities like fast running.
Moreover, the brand manufactured its footwear with consideration for the runner’s foot size, running style, arch type, pronation, and running location.
However, the snugger fit of Saucony shoes makes you feel like you have more control and support on your feet.
It’s impressive and worth mentioning that Saucony always keeps the stylish appearance of shoes while yet maintaining their “luxury” iconic status.
Alternatively, the Ryka shoe’ design highlights the dedication to offering a ‘women-specific’ fit. For a more personalized feel, the brand also gives options to select varied widths like medium to Wider.
Specifically, the structure of the shoe takes into account the unique anatomy, foot shape, and muscular mobility of women, so you can expect a roomier forefoot, stable footbed, thinner heel, and greater instep volume.
The upper of most Ryka shoes is permeable, preventing your feet from perspiring, and allowing them to feel cooler and more relaxed while hiking, strolling, and participating in other outdoor activities.
You may adjust the fit of the upper by tightening or extending the lacing, which runs the length of your foot. In addition, you can choose from a wide range of colors and designs to get the perfect pair for your choice.
Conclusion: What Should You Buy?
These are all the similarities and differences between Saucony and Ryka that we’ve discovered and hoping that it may help you choose the best option.
Ryka highlights itself in terms of walking and athletic shoes specifically made for women’s lifestyles and body types in consideration.
Saucony is my recommendation if you’re an athlete or searching for more responsive, performance-based, and lightweight running shoes. Furthermore, their shoes are more technologically advanced and last longer than Ryka footwear.
Obviously, your choice might be different from ours, and we’d like to know your opinion about it in the comments.