By Kieran Alger
Now in its 23rd generation, the Saucony Triumph is the brand’s longest-serving running shoe. It’s been through a lot of changes over the years but it remains Saucony’s range-topping model in terms of cushioning.
The latest incarnation stays true to the Triumph remit - to deliver cushioned daily miles for those who want softness but response. In fact from a distance you’d be hard pressed to choose the Triumph 23 from the last-gen Triumph 22.
But there are some important updates. Crucially the PWRRUN PB midsole has been fine tuned to add some extra pop while the uppers and outsole have been tweaked to cut the weight.
The big question - does it all add up to an improved Triumph? Or are you better off saving some bucks on the past-gen Triumph 23? I’ve done the test miles and here’s my verdict in our Saucony Triumph 23 vs Triumph 22 review.
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Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price
Let’s kick you off with some of the key specs. The Saucony Triumph 23 stack height remains the same as the Triumph 22 with 37mm in the heel and 27mm in the forefoot for a 10mm drop.
The latest generation has dropped a bit of weight, it now tips the scales at 10.0oz / 283g versus 10.8oz / 307g in my US men’s 9.5 test shoe. But it’s still very much in the mid to heavyweight bracket for a daily shoe.
There’s a little bad news for US wallets, too. The Saucony Triumph 23 price has bumped up ten bucks from $160 to $170. So it’s now pricier than the New Balance 1080v14, the Brooks Glycerin 22 and the ASICS Gel Cumulus 27.
Stats
Saucony | Triumph 23 | Triumph 22 |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Daily training | Daily training |
Support | Neutral | Neutral |
Cushion | Medium cushioning | Medium cushioning |
Stack Height | 37mm Heel | 37mm Heel |
Drop | 10mm | 10mm |
Weight | 10.0oz / 283g | 10.8oz / 307g |
Suggested Retail Price | $170 | $160 |
Fit | True to size | True to size |
Rating | 8.5/ 10 | 8.2/ 10 |
Design
On the face of it, it doesn’t look like much has changed between the Triumph 22 and the Triumph 23. The silhouette and geometry are virtually identical. You’ve still got a big – but maybe no longer what we’d call max-stack – daily trainer with a softer, lighter PWRRUN PB foam. The foam you’ll find in Saucony’s punchier Endorphin Speed shoes.
What you get in the updated Triumph 23 is high-performance cushioning for a plush, responsive ride that adds more spring rather than super soft cushioning.
The Triumph 23 also has a super-responsive sockliner (SRS) that adds an extra degree of step-in comfort to the shoe and contributes a lot to the shoe’s softer overall feel.
Up top there’s new, premium engineered mesh upper for breathability and a luxurious feel.
Other changes include additional padding in the ankle collar and a flared heel tab that bends away from the Achilles to reduce the chance of any possible irritation.
Fip them over and Saucony’s XT-900 carbon rubber still covers the outsole, but there’s more open space to reduce the weight. This does enhance flexibility and provide smoother transitions without sacrificing durability.
Triumph 23
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Triumph 22
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Fit
In testing, I ran in my regular Saucony shoe size – a US 9.5 – in both shoes.
I tend to really get on well with Saucony shoes. They tend to fit me almost like a glove with a really natural disappearing fit. Overall, the same is true for the Triumph 23 and the Triumph 22.
Both shoes offer decent space up front with a big thumb’s width clearance in the length of the toe box and decent wiggle room across the top. Perhaps marginally more in the Triumph 22.
There's lots of room around the toe knuckles, too. Though again, it’s ever so slightly more narrow in the Triumph 22. But both are roomy and comfortable.
Midfoot lockdown is equally reliable and the heel collars hold my heel really well in place. The higher heel collar of the Triumph 23 also wasn’t any trouble for my Achilles.
So overall, I'd recommend sticking true to size in both shoes unless you really want everything to feel a bit more snug or you’ve got very narrow feet. On the contrary, for those with wider feet, the Triumph is also available in a wide-fit option if you need the extra room.
Performance
You have to go back to the Triumph 21 for a version of this shoe that I enjoyed. The 22 didn’t quite land for me, it was all a bit too soft and labored. But the Triumph 23 is now somewhere in between the Triumph 21 and the Triumph 22.
If, like me, you found the Triumph 22 was plush but on the sluggish side at higher paces, the Triumph 23 goes some way to fixing that with a more responsive ride and more energised feel on toe-off than the super-soft feel of the Triumph 22.
That, along with the savings on weight, mean the Triumph 23 is a bit more capable for things like intervals. Though I still find it better suited to the slower, cruising end of the pace range. It definitely wouldn’t be my first choice for those 80% efforts.
I really notice the wide forefoot base that brings a lot of stability and a lot of reliability underfoot, and there is a nice control to the Triumph 23. The added flex in the outsole also helps smooth the transitions for a more natural ride.
My Verdict
The Saucony Triumph 23 is a great update to this very popular, range-topping, neutral daily trainer. The reworked midsole has transformed the shoe once again and made it a versatile shoe suitable for a range of paces.
If you want a soft, wide platform that’ll cushion and cocoon the Triumph 23 offers that, just with a bit more response. If you’re weighing up which of these to buy, the Triumph 23 is the better shoe but in reality these two shoes are largely capable of covering the same kind of runs.
So the decision may well come down to price. If you can find cut-price Triumph 22s, go for it. But if your budget stretches, the upgrades to the Triumph 23 are probably worth the extra.
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