Saucony Triumph 21 vs Saucony Endorphin Shift 3: Max Cushion Comparison

In today's world of cushioned comfort, one max stack cruiser is no long enough. Brands are now stuffing their lineups with midsole monsters, popping out twins, triplets and quadruplets of max cushion shoes to satisfy the market. The Triumph 21 and Endorphin Shift 3 are the max stack siblings of the Saucony world, and as true siblings, each has a different character and skillset. Both are great options, having racked up hundreds of miles in our rotation over the past year. Here's how they compare. 

Overview: Saucony Triumph 21 vs Saucony Endorphin Shift 3

The Saucony Triumph 21 is the latest iteration in Saucony's long-running series of comfort-oriented trainers. In this latest version, released for summer 2023, the Triumph continues the legacy of comfort with a soft ride, well-fitting upper and durable construction. At $160, it's priced on par with other max cushioned shoes like the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25.

The Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 is the down-tempo option in the Endorphin range, a speedy series of shoes from Saucony that also includes the Speed 3, Pro 3 and Endorphin Elite. The Shift has the same pronounced rocker platform as the other Endorphin shoes, but has a firmer, more supportive and more relaxed feel. At $150, it's $10 cheaper than the Triumph 21 but within the range of normal for max cushioned shoes.

Midsole: PWRRUN+ vs PWRRUN

The Saucony Endorphin Shift 3's midsole is made from PWRRUN, which is a firm and responsive EVA-based material. The Shift also has a rockered platform, which helps the shoe roll along at all paces and makes changing up the speed feel seamless. There's also a plastic heel clip around the back which helps with stability and makes the Shift one of the best mild stability shoes. With a 39mm heel stack, 35mm forefoot and 4mm drop, the Shift has a tall stack that makes it feel like you're high up off the ground.

The midsole of the Saucony Triumph 21 uses PWRRUN+ foam, a beaded TPU compound similar to Adidas Boost

Ride: Bouncy Cushion vs Supportive Cushion

The Endorphin Shift 3 has a firm and responsive that's versatile enough to handle the varied demands of everyday running. While the stack is high, Saucony managed to keep the weight low by using a more minimal upper and outsole—this allows the Shift to feel navigable and nimble at faster paces. We've also found the EVA-based PWRRUN to respond well to faster paces around marathon effort.

The Triumph 21 has a bouncy and fun ride due to the PWRRUN+ foam midsole. It's lively and energetic underfoot while also maintaining a pleasing soft feeling—it's not overly squishy, but it's definitely left best to aerobic-paced runs and not speedy efforts. While some runners may like the Triumph as a daily trainer, in our experience we find it a bit soft to use everyday and instead prefer it as a recovery run shoe and long run shoe for those two hour slogs without prescribed target paces.

Neither the Shfit nor Triumph are designed with speed in mind, but the Shift can handle picking it up a bit better due to the firmer, more controlled feel of the PWRRUN foam and the pronounced rocker platform. The Triumph excels at providing a comfortable ride at slower paces. However, the Triumph is not a good option if you need stability, as the soft PWWRUN+ foam coupled with a narrow heel makes the platform unstable for some runners.

Outsole: Maximal XT-900 Rubber vs Minimal XT-900 Rubber

Both the Triumph and Endorphin Shift 3 use Saucony's XT-900 rubber compound. The Triumph has a generous covering of Saucony's XT-900 rubber, while Shift only has rubber in strategically placed high wear areas. While the amount of surface area covered with rubber differs on the two shoes, we've found the rubber to wear through at around the same number of miles.

The XT-900 rubber used on both shoes is a grippy and all-weather friendly compound. Both shoes have excellent traction and can handle wet roads quite well. The one downside here is durability, as the compound wears through at between 300 and 400 miles—though that is standard for the industry.

Upper & Fit

The Saucony Triumph 21 has a flat-knit upper that's airy and breathable. The overall fit and feel of the material is comfortable, though the shoe works best for narrow-footed runners. The toe-box is normal width, but the midfoot is strangely narrow and can feel tight for some runners. The Triumph does come in a dedicated wide size, so some runners may want to consider that option.

The Shift has a race-like upper that's snug on foot but not overly constraining. The lockdown feels streamlined and helps make the shoe a viable option for uptempo efforts. The toe-box is lower volume than in the Triumph 21, but the platform feels wider and more accommodating in the midfoot than the Triumph's.

Who They're Best For

The Triumph 21 is a great long run and recovery run shoe for neutral runners. It has a soft and bouncy foam that excels at making relaxed efforts feel fun. The narrow heel and midfoot means that runners who need stability or a wide shoe should look elsewhere.

The Shift is a good option for runners who want a supportive and versatile everyday running shoe. The PWRRUN foam and rocker give the Shift a firm and responsive ride, also making it a good option for bigger and taller runners who find other max cushion shoes too soft. The Shift 3 is one of the best mild stability shoes on the market, and it's a viable option for both overpronating runner and neutral runners.

Final Thoughts

The Saucony Triumph and Endorphin Shift 3 are two excellent max cushion shoes that approach the category from different angles. The Triumph is all about comfort and plushness, while the Shift is about support. Both can play different but equally important roles in your rotation.