https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101l5cvvtThe Saucony Hurricane 26 is one of those shoes that took a long time to get reviewed, and not because of a lack of interest. Between a trip away and, more honestly, a genuine reluctance to keep putting miles into it, this review has been a while coming. That reluctance is really the story here, because the Hurricane line has long been one of the standout stable max cushion shoes on the market, and the 26 marks a significant departure from what made the previous version so well liked.
The Hurricane 26 retails at £170, though it can already be found for around £138. It's true to size, weighs 280g in a UK 9.5, and comes in noticeably lighter than the 310g of the previous version. Stack height has grown to 41mm in the heel down to 35mm in the forefoot, giving a 6mm drop. The engineered mesh upper is very similar to what came before, and the XT-900 rubber is still doing the work on the outsole.
The real headline is the midsole. Saucony has replaced the PWRRUN PB foam used in the previous Hurricane with a new ATPU-based foam called IncrediLUX, the same material recently introduced in the Triumph. It's still a dual-layer setup, with IncrediLUX sitting on top and running through the core, wrapped in the familiar PWRRUN frame, an EVA compound that provides the shoe's structure.
Side by side with the older model, the uppers, lacing, and general shape look almost identical, aside from a pull tab on the newer version that the old one lacked. The wear and tear on the outgoing pair, despite heavy use including regular wear to work, held up impressively well, which speaks well of the shoe's durability generally.
The change that matters most isn't visible at a glance, but it shows up with a tape measure. Comparing the same point on both shoes, the newer version measures around a centimetre wider on the medial side than the outgoing model. That might sound trivial, but it reflects a deliberate shift in what Saucony is doing with this shoe. The previous Hurricane was a stable shoe, but it wasn't marketed as a dedicated stability shoe. With version 26, Saucony has pushed it firmly into that category, making it something closer to a stability sibling of the Triumph rather than the standalone daily cruiser it used to be.
That extra medial flare is achieved by building up more foam on the inside edge of the shoe, and for a runner whose gait naturally rolls outward, the effect is pronounced. Even standing still in the shoe produces a noticeable lean, and out on a run that translates into the shoe actively pushing the foot in the opposite direction to where it wants to go. For anyone whose gait doesn't need that kind of medial support, this is exactly the wrong direction for the shoe to have moved in.
There's also a squeak that shows up during runs, seemingly coming from the new foam, and it's loud enough to be genuinely annoying rather than a minor quirk.
Who This Shoe Is For
None of this makes the Hurricane 26 a bad shoe outright, and it's an important distinction to draw. The IncrediLUX foam itself is excellent, and the same material makes the new Triumph a standout shoe, arguably better than something like the Paramount Max. If you're a runner who genuinely needs medial support and gravitates toward shoes like the Gel-Kayano, the Hurricane 26 is likely to be a considerably nicer ride than what you're used to, with a plusher and more responsive underfoot feel than a traditional stability shoe typically offers.
The issue arises for anyone who liked the Hurricane 25 simply for its stable, comfortable ride and the feel of PWRRUN PB underfoot, without ever needing it to function as a dedicated stability shoe. That group is likely to find the 26 doesn't work the way the 25 did, because the added flare fundamentally changes who the shoe is built for. Given the choice among current max-stack stability options, a shoe like Nike's Structure lineup ends up being preferable for a neutral-leaning runner who still wants that stable, cushioned platform without being pushed around by it.
This is a case where a shoe's changes might delight one group of runners while alienating another, and it's a useful reminder that with any stability shoe, it's worth checking carefully that the specific type of support on offer actually matches your gait, especially when a brand reworks the geometry between versions. The Hurricane 26 is lighter, uses genuinely impressive foam, and will be a great option for runners who need real medial guidance. But for those who loved the outgoing model purely for its comfort and stability without needing correction, it's worth trying before committing, since this version has moved meaningfully away from that all-rounder feel. As ever, the previous Hurricane 25 can still be found at a discount for anyone who wants to stick with what worked.You can get discounts on your next running shoe purchase at Sportsshoes.com by either becoming an affiliated club member with FORDY RUNS Running Club where you will get 15% off or you can join the club for free and get 10% off your next purchase by getting our latest discount code from our website
