Saucony Triumph 24 Review
By David Salas
Saucony Triumph 24Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.8oz, 250g (men's size 9), 7.6oz, 216g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 43 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot
Drop: 10 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training, Max Cushion
Pros: Incredible cushion to weight ratio, excellent upper, smooth rocker
Cons: May be too soft for some (especially for standing and walking)
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Triumph 24 is a premium neutral daily trainer that features an incredibly soft midsole in a lightweight package for the stack height. The Saucony Triumph 24 is now using IncrediLUX, a lightweight ATPU based midsole that provides a highly compliant foam that still has some bounce. At sub 9 ounces, the Saucony Triumph 24 feels like a huge step forward in midsole foams for Saucony in their training lineup. The shoe wont be for everyone, but it clearly separates itself from the Saucony Ride and their other models.
SIMILAR SHOES: Puma Magnify 3, ASICS Superblast 3 (sort of)
PAST MODEL: Saucony Triumph 23
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Saucony Triumph fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The upper is consistent with the rest of the shoe. It is very plush and the mesh material is very soft on foot. The upper material is surprisingly breathable and it is one of the more comfortable upper materials that I have worn. The dimensions are sound throughout. The width is normal through the heel and midfoot, with a slightly wide forefoot. The volume is normal throughout. The tongue is padded well. The laces are a bit thicker and tubular. The lockdown of the shoe is good and I had no issues with biting from the laces. The hold in the heel was good and I had no issues with heel slippage. It felt like there was sufficient space behind the Achilles as well. I did not get any pressure posteriorly. This is one of the better uppers of the year so far.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Good (If you like soft)
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Average
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mild
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: Potentially
Durability Expectation: Good
PERFORMANCE
David: The Saucony Triumph 24 was a pleasant surprise for me. On step in, the shoe feels immediately soft. IncrediLUX is one of the softest foams that I have ever tried. I was nervous that my foot would struggle with stability when I was running, but I did not have any issues. This is in large part to the rocker. The rocker is noticeable, but not overly dramatic. It is rounded just enough to give sufficient help at initial landing and toe off phases of gait. The large amount of compression in the foam is negated by the quicker transitions of the rocker. The base of the shoe is also wider, helping with keeping this shoe feel neutral without being unstable.
IncrediLUX is a massive change for the Triumph 24. It is noticeably soft and lightweight. The Triumph is now at 8.8 ounces in Men's 9 with a 43mm stack height. These are considerable changes that are noticeable in the shoe. IncrediLUX is a foam that has a lot of compliancy, though it still has some rebound and bounce to it. I found the Saucony Triumph 24 to be best at daily paces, but the light weight allows for it to pick up the pace surprisingly well. The outsole traction is good and I had no issues with grip so far.
The Saucony Triumph 24 will not be for everyone. You will need to like softer foams. I do think this is a massive change in the right direction for Saucony though. It is a jump in both foam quality and differentiation. This is the first Saucony Triumph that I have worn that feels like a) a true premium daily trainer and b) noticeably different from the Saucony Ride. This is a daily training shoe for those that want soft max cushioning and light weight in the same shoe.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The Saucony Triumph 24 is maximum cushion neutral training shoe. The Incredilux midsole is very soft. This does take away from stability. Thankfully Saucony did make the shoe on a wider platform with a good rocker. There are sidewalls embedded in the medial side of the midfoot as well that provide some inherent stability. For how soft the foam is, the shoe does not feel unstable. I think that is a huge win.
Thoughts as a DPT: Choosing a Shoe for Running or Walking?
By David Salas
When you are choosing a shoe, it is important to look at your intended use. Shoes come in all shapes, sizes, and geometries. Some shoes will work okay for both running and walking, while others are better for just one intended use.
The Saucony Triumph is a shoe that dances on that line of working for both. I think the shoe operates fine while running, but may be difficult for some when walking. The main reason for this is the midsole. Incredilux is one of the softest foams that I have ever tried. When we walk, our ground contact time is much longer. The foam compression can make you feel like you are balancing on the platform if it is too unstable. It is good that the Triumph 24 has a 10mm drop ratio to offset some of the foam compression in the heel. At times, the amount of foam compression can make you feel like you are climbing out of the heel onto the forefoot. I was able to figure out the shoe and I didn't have any issues after my initial use. Those sensitive to softer foams may struggle with this shoe for standing and walking though. However, if you don't have major stability concerns and you like softer foams, it will serve that purpose nicely.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I really enjoyed my time in the Saucony Triumph 24. I think they made some massive improvements from previous models. My main recommendation for this model is increase the forefoot stiffness some. When shoes are this soft, I don't normally want much give in the forefoot. The forefoot stiffness is decent in this model, but there is still some mild flexibility up front. The marshmallow soft forefoot can create some irritation if it is too flexible in that region. This is me being picky though.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Saucony Triumph 24 is a maximum cushioned neutral training shoe for those wanting a really soft midsole and a gradually rockered ride. The Incredilux midsole is one of the softest foams that is currently on the market. It offers highly compliant cushioning in a very lightweight package. The Triumph 24 is best for daily efforts and long runs, but the sub 9 oz package offers some versatility for some uptempo efforts as well. This version of the Triumph won't be for everyone, but I do think it is the most premium of Triumphs to come out.
GRADES
David
Fit: A (One of my favorite uppers this year)
Performance: A- (Very soft ride that does not feel unstable, good rocker, good traction, mild flexibility in the forefoot)
Stability: B (Super soft foam decreases stability but the wider base, good upper lockdown, and outsole traction help)
Value: A (Certainly comparable with the competition at $170)
Personal: A- (I tend to like shoes a little firmer than this, but I still really liked it)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Triumph 24Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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