| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| + New incrediLUX foam + Responsive and energetic ride + Shed nearly a half ounce + More breathable upper + Supremely comfortable | – No heel pull tab (jk) |
After a two-year hiatus, Saucony’s premium neutral daily trainer is back on my feet. Does an all-new midsole foam make this the best Triumph yet? I detail my experience with the pair through 40+ miles, in this Saucony Triumph 24 review.
Saucony Triumph 24
| STACK | WEIGHT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 43/33 mm (10 mm drop) | M9: 8.8 oz/250 g W8: 7.6 oz/216 g | $170 |
Intro
With its 10 mm drop, extreme softness, and responsive ride, the Saucony Triumph has always worked very well for my running form, dating back to my introduction with the shoe in version 17 in 2019. Back then, the shoe was heavier and much less versatile than its current iteration. But one thing that’s remained constant over the years: it’s always been a supremely comfortable shoe, from its plush upper to the soft, forgiving midsole. And despite its bulkier design, it was both my go-to daily trainer and long run shoe. But in the next couple editions (18 and 19), the shoe gained even more weight and the ride just didn’t feel as smooth as before compared to the competition.
Fast forward to version 20, and a complete overhaul of the shoe’s geometry and significant weight loss made this one of my all-time favorite pairs in my 20+ years running. After skipping a minimally updated version 21, version 22 had reverted back to the Triumph of old: heavy, bulky and dare I say, too soft. The re-introduction of the excellent Saucony Hurricane had actually overtaken the Triumph in my shoe rotation.
But it’s safe to say, the Triumph 24 is, hands-down, the best version of the shoe yet.
Ride
My first few strides in the Triumph 24 felt familiar. It reminded me of why I first fell in love with the shoe seven years ago. The initial sensation I experienced was the extreme level of softness. Look, I hate cliched marketing language like “running on clouds and pillows” more than anyone, but I’m not exaggerating when I say this shoe feels like you’re running on marshmallows. Which would normally be problematic, given the MVP of s’mores doesn’t have much resiliency. You land on a marshmallow and it’s just going to stick to your shoe—like dog shit. But thankfully, in addition to being soft, the new incrediLux midsole foam is highly responsive and provides excellent energy return. So, think of it as running on marshmallows…on steroids. Or something like that.
incrediLUX replaces the PWRRUN PB Peba-based foam that’s not too shabby itself. But the new Aliphatic Thermoplastic Polyurethane (A-TPU) incrediLUX is undoubtedly an upgrade in the Triumph. A-TPU is quickly replacing Peba as the foam of choice, as it’s lighter and provides superior energy return.
What could’ve been just another mushy, lifeless ride where it feels like you’re sinking into the road with a lesser foam, is instead one of the energetic midsoles I’ve tried in some time.
In addition to the Triumph 24, the supercritical incrediLUX makes its debut in Saucony’s Hurricane 26.
But incrediLUX is just one element of what makes this shoe so special. Somehow, despite adding 11% more cushioning, or 6 millimeters of foam to both the heel and forefoot, the Triumph shed nearly half an ounce from the 23, weighing in at an awesome 8.8 oz (250 g) for men’s size 9 and 7.6 oz (216 g) for women’s size 8. Surely the lightest weight in the shoe’s history by far.
A premium daily trainer with a 43/37 mm stack height and plush upper at sub-9-oz (for men) is almost unheard of. It’s a testament to switching from PWRRUN PB to the lighter incrediLUX foam. Ok, so technically this is still about the midsole. But that’s exactly what a game-changing foam can do. It rejuvenates a shoe and transforms your runs.
Rounding out the ride is the subtle rocker geometry that aids in easier heel-to-toe transitions, along with a prominent heel bevel to smoothen ground impact.
Uses
I feel like I can run forever in this shoe, as evidenced by me extending each of my test runs with it. My first run with the pair was supposed to be an easy 5 or 6 miles, close to high 8-minute/mile pace. I ended up running 8 miles at 8:20 pace and would’ve gone even farther had a mid-run thunderstorm not derailed my maiden voyage. My second outing was a rainy long run of 13 miles at around 7:50/mile average that I originally planned for 11. Again, I felt great and just wanted to keep running in the pair. It held up nicely throughout despite getting soaked in continuous downpour, and I nailed my targeted 7:30/mile pace for the last 8 miles with no problem. The bouncy midsole combined with the rocker design push me forward with ease.
Bottom line: The Triumph 26 is more versatile than ever before. With a tremendous weight, and soft yet lively midsole, it is indeed a great long run shoe in addition to a phenomenal daily trainer. It could even work as a recovery day pair, with its uber-soft landings and comfy, luxurious feel from top to bottom. While not designed for speed work, I easily tackled some strides and hill sprints in subsequent runs and had no regrets.
Upper and Outsole
No surprise here: the new engineered mesh upper is a winner. What is surprising, despite the plush, luxurious upper that boasts ample padding in the heel collar and tongue, it’s a much more breathable upper than past versions, without sacrificing any comfort. It’s a shoe you’ll never feel the urge to take off, and one of the best uppers of the year. It truly feels like your feet are being pampered. The gusseted, thick tongue and snug upper make for a secure foot lockdown with no irritation to the tops or sides of my feet.
The Triumph has always been known for its durability, and this edition is no exception. There’s a solid amount of XT-900 carbon rubber coverage on the outsole that also provides excellent grip. I had no issues with slippage in my rainy 13-miler, even when picking up the pace. You can expect this shoe to go the distance, and it wouldn’t surprise me if you get 500+ miles or more out of the pair. In Triumphs of the past, I would get to 300+ miles and there’d only be minimal wear and tear. 500 miles was practically guaranteed.
Conclusion
One of the best shoes of the year, the redesigned Triumph 24 has a winning formula: introduce a game-changing midsole, shed the weight by nearly a half-ounce, add 11% more cushioning, and increase upper breathability, all without sacrificing comfort or durability.
I’m not surprised too often with running shoes, but a pair that performs as well as this doesn’t usually come in packages that look like the Triumph.
The Triumph 24 is available now on Saucony’s website.
Saucony graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this Saucony Triumph 24 review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this Saucony Triumph 24 review before I published.
