100 Mile Review: Saucony Triumph 22

The Saucony Triumph 22 is an everyday running shoe designed to offer comfort, support and a bit of fun. Released in May 2024, this current iteration features a new midsole foam, a more padded upper and an overhauled designed langauge. The previous two versions, Triumph 20 and 21 were fan favorites, so the 22 had big shoes to replace. Let's dive in to see how the 22 fared (spoiler alert: not well).

Saucony Triumph 22 Specs

• Stack height: 37mm heel, 27mm forefoot
• Price: $160
• Foam: PWRRUN PB (more on that below)
• Verdict: NOT Supwell Certified

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Daily trainer

Saucony Triumph 22

Cushioned daily trainer with bulky construction and flat-feeling forefoot

Price

$160

Plated?

No

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

10.1

Drop (mm)

10

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Saucony Triumph 22 Overview

The key issue with the Triumph 22 is that it competes in the max cushioned training shoe segment—one of the most competitive in the running space right now. There are soft and cushioned cruisers like the New Balance 1080v13, marathon training fan favorites like the Asics Superblast and top-tier walking and standing shoes like the Brooks Ghost Max. And high-cushion comfort is even trickling down into the standard everyday training shoe segment, with shoes like Hoka Mach 6 offering the same amount of cushion at a lighter weight and in a more fun package.

But you came here to read about the Triumph. So here's some information about the shoe: the Triumph 22 is a max cushioned daily trainer that Saucony designed to be more comfortable than the previous versions. They added a lot more padding into the upper for a more cushioned on-foot feel, and they widened the base to offer more stability. They also ditched the beaded TPU PWRRUN+ foam of the previous two generations (a personal favorite here at Supwell; the Triumph 20 chewed through 350 miles and is Supwell Certified) in favor of what Saucony is calling PWRRUN PB. Now about that…

Midsole Technology: PWRRUN PB (But Not That Kind)

So here's the thing: PWRRUN PB is Saucony's racing foam. It's supposed to be soft and bouncy, lightweight and fun. And it usually is. In shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 and Saucony Tempus, the foam works its magic, offering a soft yet supportive feel that works well across a range of paces. That's not what we're getting in the Triumph 22.

The midsole foam in the Triumph 22 is a version of PWRRUN PB that's fundamentally different than the compound we've come to know and love in other Saucony shoes. It's not as soft, not as bouncy and not as fun. If you've watched our YouTube channel, you know our thoughts on this: brands need to give different foams different names. If it is softer or firmer than the one we already know, give it a different name. I'm about to start a march on Washington about this. Here's a chant to get us started: IF IT DON'T RIDE THE SAME, IT NEEDS A DIFFERENT NAME. 

It feels illegal to do this. Criminal and deceptive. Different technologies warrant different names. I'm not sure any other consumer goods industry is this loosey-goosey with technology naming. It's like a car brand calling their top-tier 400 horsepower V8 engine "The Barracuda" for years, and then selling a rinky-dink hatchback with "The Barracuda" engine where it's an inline 4. They would get sued into the ground for that.

Brands, please stop this nonsense and don't make me call Elizabeth Warren.

Here's the thing: it's okay for Saucony to offer a different ride experience in the Triumph than the Endorphin Speed 4 and Pro 4. Since at least the Triumph 20, this nameplate has been about comfort and bounce for long miles, not raceday speed. So it's understandable that the foam here isn't the race day foam. Just give it a different name. Since they didn't do that, we'll do it for you. From this point in the review on, the Triumph 22's PWRRUN PB will be referenced as PWRRUN Pretty Boring. Read on below for more on how it feels to run with the PWRRUN Pretty Boring foam.

How It Feels to Run in The Saucony Triumph 22

The ride experience of the Saucony Triumph 22 is Pretty Boring. There's no noticeable bounce from the shoe at my relaxed running pace, and at faster paces the shoe feels heavy and bulky. For some context here, I'm 6' 2" and 160 lbs, and my everyday relaxed running pace during marathon training is anywhere from 7:00 per mile to 8:30 per mile. I typically run faster workouts in the 6:00 per mile range.

The Triumph felt flat and disjointed on my everyday runs. While the 37mm of PWRRUN Pretty Boring foam in the heel felt protective enough for a 22 mile long run and a few afternoon runs on days where I was racking up 20 miles total, the 10mm drop leaves the front of the shoe feeling thin and harsh. At 27mm in the forefoot, it's not the lowest shoe in the game,but other max cushioned shoes like the New Balance 1080v13 and Asics Novablast 4 come in at a much lighter weight while offering more foam in the front. The Triumph 22 is about 330 grams in my size 10.5 US mens with that 27mm stack in the forefoot; the Novablast 4 is 283 grams with a 34mm forefoot stack; and the New Balance 1080v13 is about 285 grams with a 32mm forefoot. And both of those shoes have a more enjoyable ride to me than the Triumph (more on those two below).

Now I've had a few people argue that the Triumph 22 is designed for bigger runners, more relaxed paces or walkers. There are, quite simply, better shoes for that. There are shoes that beat the Triumph 22 on paper—more foam, cheaper price, lower weight. And then there are shoes that are just as heavy or just as expensive or just as cushioned that just work better.

5 Good Things About the Triumph 22

At this point in the review, I thought it pertinent to include a few good things about the Triumph 22. Here you go:

• I didn't get injured when running 100 miles in it
• I did a 22 mile long run in it and I didn't get injured
• The ankles have a lot of padding so if you run through a rosebush your ankles won't get cut by thorns. The other parts of your legs might though
• The cushion doesn't feel horrible when mashing your heel running downhill
• The upper is not breathable whatsoever and heats your foot up, so this will be a great option for winter running

I'm trying to be positive here, but it's hard. I'm too disappointed. The Triumph 22 is a flop any way you look at it. The foam is average, comfort is subpar, and there's just too much weight and bulk on the shoe to justify the harshness and lack of protection I get in the forefoot. Here's to hoping Saucony axes this take on the Triumph quickly and moves on with a banger of a 23. Until then, here are 10 shoes you should buy instead of the Triumph.

10 Supwell Certified Alternatives to the Saucony Triumph 22

My goal with reviewing shoes is to find the one thing that a shoe does better than any other shoe on the market. I like to answer the question: Which type of runner out there will be best served by this specific shoe? If that one thing doesn't exist, I can't recommend a shoe for anyone. I've run in 50+ shoes in 2024, and I've been able to find that special thing about all but two of them (the New Balance 880v14 is the other dud).

That being said, there's no runner or walker or person out there for whom the Triumph 22 is the best shoe. Said another way, there's a shoe that does whatever it is you're looking for a shoe to do better than the Triumph 22 will do that thing.

Below is a list of 10 shoes that do something better than the Triumph 22 (all links take you to Running Warehouse or the website with the best deal we've found on the shoe at the time of publication. Email at yowana@supwell.io if you see a better deal). Every one of these shoes is more enjoyable to have on foot than the Triumph 22. If you've gotten this far, apologize for the negativity of this article but I hope I saved you from buying the Umph. Thank me later. And make sure to subscribe to the YouTube.

1. Saucony Triumph 21, $110: Just get the last version of the Triumph. It's softer, bouncier, lighter, more versatile, more streamlined and more fun. I took my pair of Triumph 20s (same midsole as the 21) to 350 miles and it still has life left. This is one of the best long-distance running shoes on the market. Only downside is that heel stability isn't great, which leads us to the next recommendation…
2. Asics Novablast 4, $140: One of the best marathon training shoes on the market. Comes in $20 cheaper than the Triumph 22 and has more foam at a lighter weight. Can feel like a lot of shoe on foot, but works great for spending 2+ hours on feet. Only downside is that it's a little firm, which leads us to our next recommendation…
3. New Balance 1080v13, $165: More comfort, softer cushion and more protection in the forefoot than the Umph 22. One of our favorite soft and cushioned shoes. My pair has 300 miles on it and is an all-time favorite
4. Saucony Tempus, $140 deal: For the same price as the Triumph 22 (actually $20 cheaper at the time of writing), you get a better version of the PWRRUN PB foam—a version that's actually the same compound that's in the Endorphin Pro and Speed. The Tempus is a stability shoe designed for speed, so the ride manages to be both stable and fun, with a firmer cradle of standard training foam providing some support around the PWRRUN PB. It's also not too restrictive for runners who don't typically rock stability shoes
5. Adidas Supernova Rise, $140: If you were considering the Triumph 22 because you want a 10mm drop shoe that's soft and bouncy, this is your ticket. The Supernova Rise is one of the most comfortable shoes you can buy for $140. It's everything the Triumph 22 wants to be—versatile, bouncy and comfortable. If you want something that leans a little faster, check out the next rec…
6. Hoka Mach 6, $140: Like the Supernova Rise, this is soft, bouncy and comfortable. However, it's a little less stable and more speed oriented. I put some of my fastest marathon training workouts on my pair earlier this year and it's in my top 5 favorite shoes tested. Get this if you want versatility and speed
7. Brooks Ghost Max, $150: If you were considering the Triumph 22 for a walking shoe, get this instead. It's more cushioned, lighter and easier to walk in than the Triumph. The Ghost Max has a nice, soft squish once broken in and a gentle roll forward for walking. It's also a great shoe for our medical staff and hospitality industry friends who want a comfortable shoe for long hours standing
8. Nike Vomero 17, $95 on sale: If you want a durable shoe that's also comfortable, get the Vomero. This is similar to the last generation of the Triumph with it's smooth and bouncy ride that works well across a range of paces. It's definitely not a fast workout shoe, but it'll leave you feeling comfortable and protected for long mid-week miles
9. New Balance 860v14, $140: This is one of our biggest surprises of 2024. It's a stability shoe that rides better than nearly any of the standard daily trainers we've tested this year, save for the Novablast 4. The ride has a rockered, rolling feel reminiscent of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3, but the midsole has enough structure to it so that it won't bottom out for longer runs or bigger runners. Sleeper pick for daily trainer of 2024. Buy now before the price of the brick goes up
10. Saucony Kinvara Pro, $180: If you are a bigger runner and want a firm and fast ride, this is the shoe for you. It's a lot firmer than the Triumph, and because of that, the midsole holds up a lot better to force—whether that's weight or speed. There's no bottoming out here whatsoever, and the forefoot is much more cushioned. This is very firm shoe, but it's also one of the better shoes we've tested for runners who want that structured and supportive ride alongside the raceday technology (three-quarter length carbon-fiber plate and top-layer of the real-deal PWRRUN PB foam)

If you're still not sure what shoe to buy, head over to our shoe matcher tool. Otherwise, we'll see on the YouTube channel tomorrow with a new video.