Thomas: I didn’t like the ISO Zealot. It turned me off to the whole ISO concept. The vinyl cage that frames the lacing system seemed cumbersome. Would I like the Triumph ISO 2 any better? I was excited to find out. Below is the men’s and women’s review of the flagship neutral trainer from Saucony.
[supsystic-gallery id=2 position=center]
Thomas: Ahhh yes, this is a different animal than the Zealot. The bounce from the softer cushioning and addition of the TPU foam EVERUN® is noticeable out of the box. The upper, after fiddling around with the ISO fitting system fit better than expected and with less puckering than I had with the Zealot.
The moment I got the shoes on, I wanted to take a spin. On the run is where you find the joy in the Saucony ISO Triumph 2. This shoe is smoooooth underfoot and the cushioning was perfect for me and my high mileage training runs. We were training for The North Face GORE-TEXr 50 Mile Endurance Challenge when the shoes arrived from Saucony. There were a lot of back to back high mileage days where a little extra cushioning went a long way.
The outsole of the new ISO Triumph 2 is radically different from the previous model, it adds to the smooth ride and durability of the trainer. After just under 100 miles on the ISO Triumph 2, there is little to no noticeable wear on the shoes.
Meaghan: It was love at first sight. I couldn’t get the ISO Triump 2 on my feet fast enough. Colorway: on point. Comfort level: out of control. Upper design: #nailedit. I thought we had picked out our top shoes for 2015 and then the ISO Triump 2 showed up.
The ISOFIT upper design is one of my favorite features. It’s like having a custom fit shoe. Although I usually prefer a minimal upper, the technology overrides any added weight here. Plus, all the extra padding around the tongue and collar make for a super plush shoe. Saucony left the POWERGRID cushioning in the outsole, but incorporated some EVERUN into the “topsole.” The transition from landing to toe-off is smooth, but what I noticed most was the responsive, bouncy ride. It’s like you get an extra little kick with every stride. I like that.
Thomas: The men’s color choices are ugly. Meaghan’s looked so much better. That is cosmetic though and easily fixed.
I am still not sold on the ISO fitting system. The shoe fit well, but it probably could achieve the same fit without the big overlay cage.
The heel counter is odd. It is soft, unstructured, and curls in. If you are not careful to put the shoes on properly, I would gamble that you will end up having an issue with the heel counter.
Meaghan: The only issue I had with the shoe Thomas noted above. The heel counter. There is a lot of padding around the heel that can get tucked into the shoe when you drop your heel in. It’s REALLY frickin’ annoying. It’s totally fixable with a little maneuvering. But totally annoying.
Thomas: I liked running in the Saucony ISO Triumph 2 a lot. So much so, we included it on our Best In Gear or B.I.G. Awards. The price tag is a little steep at $150, but the durability will make up for it. This shoe can be your one and only trainer too.
The Triumph isn’t too heavy at 11.4 oz (size 10.5) for so much shoe. I found it fun to mix in the New Balance Vazee Pace on the speedier days, but you could get by with the ISO Triumph 2 for both long runs and speedwork.
I would put the ISO Triumph 2 in the company of Nike Pegasus 32 and Brooks Glycerine 13. I highly recommend the Saucony ISO Triumph 2. I love it when I am getting ready for a run and look forward to lacing up. This shoe had me ready to roll every morning, even though I don’t love the way they look. The ride is that good. Runner’s World gave the Saucony ISO Triumph 2 “Editor’s Pick.” I don’t always agree with RW, this time they got it right.
Meaghan: I really like this shoe. I’m talking HOKA-Clifton-like this shoe (if you know my preference, I bloody love the Cliftons). They’re comfortable right out of the box, the fit can be tailored to your foot shape thanks to the ISOFIT upper and the midsole/outsole combination is an amazing balance of durability, comfort and bounce. Although a late contender in 2015, the ISO Triump 2 easily made it into our list of Top Shoes this year. Go take this shoe out for a run.
OVERVIEW
SPECS
Thinking about getting a pair? Head over to Running Warehouse.
Have something to say? Leave a Comment
I love how detailed your reviews are without being too dense. I also love the male and female perspective. When will you guys review the Triumph ISO 3?? Can’t decide between the new model and this version.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the kudos. We are expecting some items from Saucony soon. Sorry I can’t give you an exact date.
-T