Saucony Triumph 20 Review: Not an Endorphin, But a Triumph

Intro

MEAGHAN: Saucony has been dropping some gems this year. The refreshed Endorphin line is the crown jewel, so why not expect more greatness across the board? It’s been a couple of years since I laced up a version of the Triumph, but I’m always down to test out a highly cushioned trainer. Bring on the Saucony Triumph 20.

This year’s model comes with a brand new slab of PwrRun+ that’s lighter and softer than its predecessor. Oh, and Saucony bumped the stack height from 32 to 37mm in the heel and 24 to 27 in the forefoot. That means more stack and a higher drop, somehow in a lighter package.

The upper is all-new, too, but it still brings the same plush comfort that Triumph fans know and love. Saucony’s lacing system offers some additional lockdown features at the eyelets, and there’s no shortage of padding in the tongue and collar.

On paper, this shoe checks all the boxes. But how does it feel out on the roads?

ADRIENNE: Meg is right. Saucony has been killing it this year. My personal history with the Triumph starts back at version 17 when Saucony introduced PwrRun+ to the equation. I expected a heavy and dull shoe back in the day, and I was happy to be wrong. That was then, and this is now, so let’s see if Saucony has kept up its winning ways in the Triumph 20.

Once again, Meg is right — the Triumph 20 passes the eye test with flying colors. I don’t even mind wearing the shoe in public, which doesn’t always happen with running shoes. It’s as comfortable as it is stylish, so you know you’re in for a plush ride. For most people, the FormFit design will hold your foot in place and adapt to you rather than forcing you to change your stride for the shoe.

I put almost 50 miles on the Triumph 20, and it shines best as a recovery/easy day shoe. It’s capable of picking up the pace, but there are better options — even within the Saucony stable. The slower I went, the better the shoe felt, and for me, on days where I need not push, this turned out to be a good thing.

Be warned, however, that the Triumph isn’t an Endorphin in disguise. It knows what it is and leaves the high-tech cruisers in their own lane. Let’s see what I mean.

RYAN: I’ve had my feet in more than my fair share of Saucony shoes this year, and I’ve yet to find one I didn’t like. I trotted in the Tempus, felt good in the Freedom, did something that starts with A in the Axon, and thoroughly enjoyed the Endorphin Pro and Speed. Now it’s time to take it home in the Triumph.

Sometimes a shoe happens to land at the perfect time. I’m about a month out from my first marathon at this point, and I’m looking for as much cush as possible to hold me through the heap of road miles. That’s basically what the Triumph 20 is — a fat stack o’ foam with a plush layer of cushion on top. There’s no reason this shoe should be as light as it is, but that’s magic, baby.

Meg and Adrienne covered most of the important stuff above, and they touch on the important tech specs below, so I’m just gonna pass along the vibes. Let’s roll.

The Bad

MEAGHAN: I struggled with this shoe. On paper, it looks great. Even in my hand, it feels like a shoe I would enjoy, but it never came together on the road.

My first issue was the lacing — the laces were too short to double-knot, and tightening them up to add some length put too much pressure on the top of my foot. It didn’t help that the upper felt a bit narrow and seemed to lack volume through the toe box. I just never found that Goldilocks fit.

The experience didn’t get much better underfoot. Despite the new foam with its claims of being lighter and softer, the midsole felt firm and lacked any kind of response. I’ll usually forget about a shoe mid-run, but I was constantly reminded of the Triumph 20’s presence. For whatever reason, I kept thinking the laces needed to be fixed, which threw me out of a comfortable rhythm.

ADRIENNE: It took me a few runs to get a feel for the shoe’s character. At first, it felt bouncy, and then it felt kinda dead, then it was back to bouncy again. The Jekyll and Hyde experience confused me while I racked up the miles, but maybe it’s just a breaking-in period. At any rate, I can see why Meg had some issues with the mercurial traits.

Also, the laces really are that short. Kinda weird.

RYAN: I can understand where Meg is coming from when she says the upper feels a little narrow. My foot isn’t as wide as hers is, but I had a similar experience. I chalked it up to the ridiculous amount of padding, but I didn’t need to tighten the laces as much as she did for a comfortable fit.

Saucony Triumph 20 Conclusion

MEAGHAN: The Saucony Triumph 20 was a miss for me, partially because Saucony has so many good options. I’d grab the Endorphin Shift (more stack, less cash) or the Endorphin Speed (firmer ride, way more pop) before I put the Triumph back on.

ADRIENNE: Saucony set its bar high for 2022. The Endorphin series deservedly overshadows the rest, including the Triumph, but Saucony’s max-cushion trainer still has a home. It’s a good pick for runners who want a classic, neutral ride with a modern twist. The Triumph 20 isn’t a perfect shoe, but it’s one that I plan to continue adding easy miles to during the fall marathon season.

RYAN: Triumph isn’t just a good name for this shoe, it’s an apt way to describe Saucony’s year. I haven’t had a bad experience in any of the half dozen models I’ve run in, and the Triumph is more of a good thing — literally. It has plenty of padding, plenty of foam, and plenty of miles ahead of it. If you’re in the market for a max-cushion trainer, the Saucony Triumph 20 is certainly worth a look.

P.S. Don’t listen to Meg, she’s totally wrong about the Triumph.

You can pick up the Saucony Triumph 20 for $160 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) by using the shop link below.

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