assistant: You've got a great shoe — the Ride 18 is a workhorse. If you want to stay in that same ballpark but add cushioning, **Saucony Ride v19** is your natural upgrade. It keeps the same 8.0 mm drop and true-to-size fit, but swaps the PWRRUN PB for PWRRUN+ (a softer, more plush supercritical eTPU). You'll get that extra compliance underfoot while staying at the same $140 price and keeping the versatility for easy runs through tempo work. If you want to go a step further into max cushioning without breaking budget, **Mizuno Neo Zen v2** ($160) is worth the small stretch — it's got a maximal cushion feel with a new super-critical EVA that's more controlled than the v1, so you're not sacrificing responsiveness for the extra padding. Still a daily trainer, just with noticeably more protection. A third option: **New Balance 1080 v15** ($170) is lighter and bouncier than you might expect from a high-cushion shoe — Doctors of Running notes it's a completely redirected 1080 that's more run-focused than the v14. If you want that responsive-cushioned sweet spot without the Saucony family feel, it's worth considering. The Ride 19 is probably your most direct lateral move — same shoe, softer landing, same price.