Reviews You Can Rely On

Saucony Triumph 22 Review

A great option for premium max-cushioned comfort, although it struggles at moderately fast paces
gearlab tested logo
Saucony Triumph 22 Review
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $160 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Saucony
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#20 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 9.2
  • Responsiveness - 20% 3.0
  • Stability - 15% 4.0
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 8.7
  • Weight - 15% 3.1
  • Traction - 5.0% 8.0
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The Saucony Triumph 22 is a big departure from the last version, but we still think it's a great option for plush, easy mileage. The change to PWRRUN PB foam completely alters the makeup of this shoe. It adds a more plush and pillowy feeling while sacrificing some ground feel and versatility. For runners who like that type of maximally-cushioned shoe, it's a win, but runners who loved the versatility of the Triumph 21 likely will be disappointed. This shoe provides maximal comfort for your easy mileage, with a soft knit upper, wider base, and a thick chunk of premium foam. If you're looking for a high-mileage trainer to keep the legs fresh, this is a great option. If you are looking for the versatility of past versions, this isn't the shoe for you. See how the Triumph ranks against the rest of our lineup in our comprehensive men's running shoe review.
REASONS TO BUY
Premium comfort
Excellent cushioning
Good traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks versatility
Poor responsiveness

Compare to Similar Products

 
saucony triumph 22
This Product
Saucony Triumph 22
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Plush Comfort
Editors' Choice Award
Best Running Shoes for Uptempo Training
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Men's Running Shoes
Top Pick Award
Excellent Performance without a Plate
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Price $156.17 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$166.99 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$109.95 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$140.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$135 List
$94.50 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
61
73
72
71
70
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line This is our top recommendation for a max-cushioning cruiser, but don't expect a fast, responsive shoeAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Saucony Triumph 22 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
9.2
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
3.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
4.0
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
8.7
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
3.1
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
8.0
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Saucony Triumph 22 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 11.58 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 40 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 11 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 20.5 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 67.2% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Max-Cushioning Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole PWRRUN PB PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole Rubber Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type Finger loop None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 7-15 US, regular & wide 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

Last year, we wondered what would happen if Saucony put their premium PWRRUN PB foam into the Triumph. This year, they answered that question. In some ways, it's a win — the underfoot feel is soft and bottomless. In others, it's a disappointment — the responsiveness and versatility we loved is gone.

Performance Comparison


The PWRRUN PB makes for a very comfortable ride, but the Triumph is a little to soft to have much versatility.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


Let's start with the win: PWRRUN PB in a max-cushioned shoe makes for serious comfort. Of the various max-cushioned shoes in our lineup, the Triumph 22 feels closest to the pricey Hoka Skyward X in terms of plushness. That's a compliment, as the Skyward X is the most plush shoe we've tested.


We measured 40 mm of stack height at the heel and an 11 mm drop, which tracks with how the shoe feels underfoot. The foam is highly compressible and reasonably resilient, although it doesn't feel as energetic as the PWRRUN PB formulations in other shoes. Throughout testing, we didn't bottom out and, in fact, felt very little of the ground under our feet. Runners who want a max-cushioned shoe with better ground feel will likely prefer a different shoe.

saucony triumph 22 - just look at all that foam.
Just look at all that foam.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

This shoe is ideal for easy mileage at relaxed paces. Thanks to the cushioning, we found it to be very comfortable over long efforts, although we did start to notice its overall size as we fatigued. We found that the cushioning of this shoe felt best on hard pavement rather than crushed limestone or dirt roads, where it felt a little mushy underfoot.

The Triumph is still our recommendation for max-cushioned mileage, although for a different reason than last year. Previously, we loved the way the Triumph bounced along at easy paces. It was enjoyable and engaging. The new version of the shoe is extremely comfortable but less engaging. This iteration lost much of what we loved about the previous model (versatility), but the Triumph 22 still gets our recommendation thanks to its excellent overall cushioning score.

saucony triumph 22 - this version is comfortable but really isn't enjoyable to run...
This version is comfortable but really isn't enjoyable to run quickly in.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


As we've already alluded to, this isn't a responsive shoe. It scores pretty low in this metric. On one hand, we wish it was more responsive. On the other hand, this is a shoe designed for cruising, not pushing the pace.


Runners looking for a highly cushioned shoe that can handle a range of paces should consider other options — we struggled to run threshold pace in this shoe and found it frustrating to maintain an uptempo effort. During relaxed long runs, this shoe worked well. During long runs with faster segments, we didn't care for it.

The two most significant issues are the compressibility of the foam and the overall weight. The PWRRUN PB does compress well under our weight for comfort, but we didn't get the energy return we've come to expect. That means the shoe feels like it's stealing some power as we start picking up the pace. The shoe isn't tiny, either, and that gets in the way when we try to change gears. There is a slight amount of rocker geometry, but it's subtle and doesn't do much for faster-paced efforts. As with most of its max-cushioned competitors, this shoe makes a significant tradeoff between comfort and performance.

saucony triumph 22 - the compression that makes comfort so high makes pushing off when...
The compression that makes comfort so high makes pushing off when running fast harder.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


High-stack, soft shoes such as this are rarely stable. The Triumph is no exception. While Saucony built the shoe on a wide platform that promotes inherent stability, the PWWRUN PB foam is very compressible, which makes it somewhat wobbly.


The shoe's lateral stability is good, which we expect from a wide base. However, the Triumph 22's support through the impact and stance phase of a stride holds it back. Runners with strong mechanics will likely have no issues, but those who struggle with knee and hip issues might find that something firmer is a better fit. This isn't option we'd recommend for runners who prefer more support underfoot.

saucony triumph 22 - the wider base through the mid and forefoot aids in countering the...
The wider base through the mid and forefoot aids in countering the lateral squish of the foam.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Upper Comfort


The Triumph 22's upper is excellent. It's one of the most comfortable uppers in our lineup, thanks to plush padding around the heel and ankle, a good fit, decent breathability, and good lockdown.


The upper follows the premium comfort theme of the rest of the shoe, using high-quality soft-touch materials. We experienced no rub in this shoe, and the well-padded tongue never caused any issues. The toe box is reasonably wide, which should make the shoe suitable for most runners. However, our lead tester found that he had to snug up the toebox a bit more than usual to prevent his narrow-average width forefoot from sliding. While the materials are comfortable, the knit upper doesn't breathe as well as some competitors.

saucony triumph 22 - the knit upper is comfy but runs warm on hot days.
The knit upper is comfy but runs warm on hot days.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


11.58 ounces for each shoe in a US men's size 10.5 is pretty heavy. As a result, the Triumph scores poorly in this metric. It gained weight in this version, likely due to the overall more plush upper.


We don't mind our easy-day shoes being a little heavy, but as we mentioned earlier, we do feel the bulk of the Triumph towards the end of a long run. Similarly, that heft contributes to the lack of overall responsiveness.

saucony triumph 22 - these shoes are pretty bulky.
These shoes are pretty bulky.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Traction


Thanks to some decent lugs and a good rubber compound, the Triumph has excellent overall traction.


We found it bites well on wet pavement and had no issues on looser surfaces, either. While it isn't as good as the PumaGrip outsoles, which remain best-in-class, it's a great choice for runners who want a durable and confidence-inspiring landing.

saucony triumph 22 - we think more daily trainers should have grip like this.
We think more daily trainers should have grip like this.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Saucony Triumph 22?


If you're after premium comfort and aren't concerned about pace, the Triumph 22 is for you. We found it to have leg-saving levels of cushioning and excellent upper comfort. On the other hand, if you like to change up the pace and don't have a faster daily trainer or speed trainer, this probably isn't the right choice for you. This shoe is best as part of a rotation, where it can share the mileage with something a little lighter and faster.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


The only shoe that insulates you from the ground more is the Hoka Skyward X, which has the best cushioning score in our lineup and better responsiveness and stability — but is also significantly more expensive. If you like the idea of a well-cushioned shoe for easy days but want more lateral stability and motion support, check out the Asics Gel-Kayano 31. Finally, the Asics Novablast 4 is one of our all-time favorite trainers and provides excellent cushioning and versatility.

Nathaniel Bailey