Saucony Triumph 22

• Posted on 6 August 2024
• By Running Lab Staff
• 0

THE INTRO

I don't know about you but the Triumph is twenty-two, everything will be alright if you just wear the shoe! 

Meet the totally transformed, totally tubular Triumph 22. Look good, feel good, run good, in the Triumph 22! 

THE SPECS

Support: Neutral

Weight: 10.1 oz / 286 g (men), 8.8 oz / 250 g (women)

Stack Height: 37 mm in the heel, 27 mm in the forefoot

Midsole Drop: 10 mm

Cushion Level: High

ON THE RUN

Charlie: The Saucony Triumph has been in a weird position for a while now. As a premium cushion shoe, it gives you tons of cushion for everyday use. For someone who is injury prone (myself) and needs a good recovery shoe, the Triumph worked well for me but running wise it probably wouldn’t be my first option. 

THE FIT

Charlie: To start, the fit of Triumph 22 is an upgrade compared to the previous few models. I found the midfoot to be a bit wider, adding in the tad bit of stability the shoe needed. I enjoyed the upper, however, when reading through other reviews and articles about the Triumph, some found it to lack breathability. It also comes with a nice padded heel that doesn’t feel stiff. Though the heel felt nice and soft I did have a slight bit of slipping, which I’m unsure if it is from my more narrow foot/heel or if the heel counter wasn’t properly adjusted to keep my foot down. I absolutely loved the tongue on the Triumph which is no surprise as I find Saucony has mastered what a good feeling tongue should feel like. Lastly, the toe box was roomy but again I have a narrow foot so my opinion may be a bit skewed on that.

THE FEEL

Charlie: Now the cushion of the Triumph 22 may have been the biggest highlight of the shoe. Let’s start with the heel. The shoe is a 10mm heel to toe drop. However, the heel is so squishy and soft that the heel to toe drop goes to 8mm. This was hands down my favorite part of the new Triumph. As someone who was primarily using this shoe as an everyday walking shoe, the cushion gave me a soft landing without losing any sort of stability. I felt balanced and in control while moving from heel to midfoot to toe. The shoe never sacrificed more cushion for less stability or less cushion for more stability. Combined with an expanded midfoot, the PWRRUNpb foam didn’t disappoint. 

THE NITTY GRITTY

Charlie: Now if you’re looking to use this shoe as a running shoe I would definitely recommend it for a longer run where you want a bit more cushion for an easier pace. Being a higher cushion option, the Triumph 22 is going to have a little bit more weight to it. I wouldn’t say the weight is a turn off as it doesn’t feel like a brick but you’ll have a little bit more lead in your step. 

THE RUNDOWN

Charlie: Overall, I found the Triumph 22 to be a nice ride when walking around the store or in public. While I love it for daily use, I don’t know if I would put it in my rotation of shoes for running, especially the premium cushion side of things. I find other higher cushion shoes like the New Balance 1080 or the ASICS Gel-Nimbus to be better fits for smoother rides. The Triumph 22 is, in my opinion, a step in the right direction for where Saucony should take this shoe but it doesn’t give me any sort of WOW factor. I feel that once Saucony finds that last piece of puzzle, the Triumph will be rolling with the big dogs. 

Get your own pair HERE!

MEET CHARLIE

Charlie has been running since middle school. He loves the sport and is passionate about the community. He is hoping to one day coach cross country and/or track at some level one day as teaching and helping others improve is something he enjoys.

All time favorite shoe: New Balance Vongo v3 or the New Balance 1080v12