Saucony Triumph 20 Shoes Review

Specs

Weight: 274grams / 9.7oz (Men’s US 9 Wide)

Price: $219 SGD

Stack Height: 37/27mm (10mm drop)

Pros & Cons

Background

The Triumph series has been highly successful since Saucony introduced their TPU-based PWRRUN+ foam in the Triumph 17. This trainer boasted a durability of hundreds and hundreds of miles, and it provided one of the bounciest feelings in a max cushioned shoe.

The 18 and 19 further built on the success of the 17, with minor updates to the upper and outsole to further refine its fit and ride. However, I still found the shoe to be blocky and not as smooth as I would have liked.

The Triumph 20 features a couple of changes over its predecessor, such as a thinner upper, increased stack height (32.5/24.5mm to 37/27mm, 8mm to 10mm drop) and a reformulated PWRRUN+ midsole compound (5% lighter and more resilient). Somehow, this version loses 16 grams with all these new updates.

Upper & Fit

The upper is made from an engineered mesh. It features a new woven strap on both medial and lateral sides of the midfoot to enhance foot security. This is one of the better uppers in a max cushioned trainer for me. Foot lockdown was great. I did not have to use the last lace eyelet to lace lock my heel in place. It is not overly padded like the past versions, though I still believe that the amount of foam padding can be further streamlined just a little more to retain its luxurious feeling while losing weight, increasing breathability and providing a better fit. 

Fit wise is true to size, and I got myself a pair in 2E for better toe splay. I did not experience any problems with the upper; it seemed to disappear on my feet after I laced it up. Breathability is decent, though the upper tends to soak up quite a bit of water.

Midsole & Ride

The midsole utilizes Saucony’s reformulated PWRRUN+ foam. Not to be confused with PWRRUN PB (PEBA compound), PWRRUN+ is made from expanded TPU. This foam is heavier and denser than the PWRRUN PB on the Endorphin series, but still provides an excellent amount of cushioning and energy return. The PWRRUN+ is softer and bouncier than the previous 2 iterations, and feels slightly less dense in comparison.

When A/B testing both the Triumph 20 and Endorphin Speed 3, the PWRRUN PB in the Speed felt hollower and definitely lighter than the PWRRUN+ midsole in the Triumph. However, I prefer the denser feeling of the PWRRUN+ for slower paced runs as I found it to feel more protective and comfortable for my feet.

The ride of the Triumph 20 is fantastic! Coupled with the new updated rocker geometry and foam, the Triumph 20 feels smooth, stable and bouncy on foot. I took the Triumph 20 for easy runs, long runs and even an accidental progression run. While I wouldn’t recommend it for faster paces, it is capable of reaching up-tempo paces if you decide to speed up halfway during an easy run. As a max cushioned trainer, the Triumph 20 is designed for maximum comfort, but the responsive midsole just adds a decent level of versatility in this cruiser.

The loss in weight as well as the bouncier midsole results in a nimbler and more responsive ride despite the increased stack height.

Outsole & Durability

The Triumph 20 uses their XT-900 rubber for its outsole. This outsole rubber is the same as the 19. It’s very durable and flexes well thanks to its new pattern. This outsole pattern works noticeably better than the past two versions, which were relatively stiff. This results in a much smoother ride in comparison to both the Triumph 18 and 19.

Grip on dry surfaces is great. However, I found myself having to be extra careful when the ground was wet. I was slipping on every step on wet asphalt, and things got much worse on wet drainage covers. I haven’t had this issue with other trainers I’ve tried, so I hope Saucony looks into this issue in its next iteration of the Triumph.

Areas of Improvement

• Utilizing Grippier Outsole Rubber

• Further Refining Upper Materials

Conclusion

The Saucony Triumph 20 is a max cushioned trainer that performs fantastically for easy runs, long runs and even recovery runs. The prominent bounce adds in a huge element of fun that makes you not want to stop while running. Till now, this is my favourite max cushioned trainer, though only in drier weather.

Reviewed by Xtride Running

Check out Saucony Triumph 20 here