I'm no professional runner or shoe critic, but I log a lot of miles every year and I've tried a bunch of shoes.  After a few years of different brands and shoe styles, the Ride 4 is the hands-down winner, especially when price is factored.

ABOUT ME:  49 years old, 165 lbs, neutral pronation, forefoot striker, 5-8 miles/run, 1500/year.  Your results may vary if you pronate or heel-strike, I don't know. . ..

Shoes I've tried:  New Balance 760, 1080 and 890, Asics Gel Cumulus, Brooks Pure Connect, Saucony Kinvara 2, Nike Pegasus, Nike Zoom Vomero, Hoka One One, Vibram Bikila

Last year I joined the "barefoot running" craze.  After chronic injury (including a stress fracture) I became convinced the whole barefoot thing, for most runners, is a fad. At least to my 49 year old bones. Great running technique, just do it with some cushioned shoes.  So I went back to a traditional running trainer like the Asics Cumulus and the Saucony Progrid Ride.  Oh, and no 8mm heel-to-forefoot drop for me either, that's another marketing fad in my book and leads to nasty plantar fasciitis in my experience.  Even the avid runners at my local running shoe store hate the 8mm drop.  Hopefully manufacturers will realize this and return to, or continue making, a traditional 12mm drop like the Ride.  Until then, get them while you can!

Anyway, the Ride 4 is a middle of the road shoe.  Not the lightest, but certainly not as heavy as other trainers.  Cushioned, but not too much like the Vomero.  Somewhat lively heel and retains its "springiness" longer than the New Balance, which is my major complaint with that brand.  More durable and comfortable, by far, than the Kinvara (although I think they've improved that).  Much better performance than the Pegasus.  About the only thing that comes close is the ASICS Cumulus but, here's the kicker, the Ride 4 can be had for under 60 bucks!  Such a deal!  I've even found them on sale for under $40.

I had about 275 miles on my first pair when I decided to retire them.  To my surprise they weren't quite done yet but, at this price, why wait around for the indication it's time to change?  By they way, they looked a lot better at this mileage than any other shoe I've mentioned, most of which were shot at the 200 mile mark.  Many people talk about 350-500 miles for a pair of shoes but that's never worked for me.

Running shoe brands make huge dollars preying on buyers who think their life is gonna change with the latest, greatest "feature".  Don't waste your money.  They're just shoes and, besides, all that technology eventually trickles down to mid-range models like the Ride, but the manufacturers don't brag about it because it would hurt their top-end sales.  Save your money and enjoy the Ride!