Saucony Triumph 23 Real-World Testing of Max Cushion

This is now the 4th iteration of the Triumph for my foot and we continue to be a very happy match. Let’s talk about what’s new for the Saucony Triumph  23 and why it’s a great daily trainer for so many.It’s a rare thing to love a shoe over many years and many iterations. The Saucony Triumph has seen some changes since I first felt the pure joy of it’s cushion in the 20th model.

While I enjoyed the Triumph 22, I noticed that as the year progressed I didn’t reach for it as often as other max cushioned shoes in my closet. But the first run in the Triumph 23 had me wondering if I’d lost my mind because it was once again an enjoyable ride.

There’s a reason we have included it in our updated best cushioned running shoes list year after year. Even with changes they seem to only be making a good thing better!

Saucony Triumph 23 Review

If you want a great cushioned shoe that isn’t one of the massive stack heights, the Triumph is coming in hot. It’s both cushioned and stable, but at 37mm instead of many of the new shoes hitting 45mm+.

The 22 switched from their standard PWRRUN foam, to their super trainer PWRRUNPB™ foam, which is the same as the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. That change last year was nice to get that combo of EVA and PEBA. It gives the shoe more softness, but without sacrificing the durability we want in a daily trainer.

In this update, we find the shoe is dropping weight!Losing over an ounce on a shoe used for many long runs while maintaining the stack height might be why it’s feeling a smidge softer to us than the 22?  Saucony also claims it’s softer due to a slightly new blend of the two foams and we agree!

I was pleasantly surprised on step in and knew immediately I’d be recycling the 22’s to start running in the 23’s more often.

Part of the weight reduction came from reorganize the outsole to remove a little rubber. The result of that is increasing the flexibility in the toe off, which is probably where it lessened some of the firmness or stiffness from last year.

As I often do, I put both shoes on side by side to compare the feel.Not everyone loved the change from the 21 to the 22 because the shoe wasn’t quite as soft. However, that update made the shoe feel more stable and provide better support for longer miles. It’s definitely not a daily trainer designed to pick up the pace, but the reduction in weight absolutely feels nice.

Why do we keep calling it a great all around daily trainer?

The foam combo makes it durable. The lower stack is more comfortable for so many and now they lighter weight is an added bonus on those long run days. It’s a shoe that the middle and back of the pack can happily wear on half marathon and marathon race days!

While it’s by no means a speed shoe, the foam used does help with energy return compared to other big plush cushioned running shoes.

The stack height remained the same on this one, so it was mostly about reducing the weight and making some changes with the fit that also seemed to improve the softness.

Quick Take

Some highs and lows as we have with all shoes! Honestly our biggest drawback for this shoe is the 10mm drop, which is still just a little high for some folks who deal with knee pain while running or IT Band issues.

Saucony Triumph 23 Fit

In years past, I would describe some Saucony shoes like the Kinvara as having a more narrow fit; I would not say that for the Triumph. This is a very average fit shoe and they made a couple other updates to try and improve the overall fit.

I wore my normal size, but I will say if you have a wide foot go for the wide simply due to the thick padded tongue and heel collar taking up space in the shoe. Both are comfortable, but sizeable and do nothing to help the shoe feel light or breathable.

They made a couple changes around fit this year.

First you might notice the heel collar sticking up more and being more narrow. I was really turned off looking at the shoe and expecting some discomfort. However, I never actually noticed it on the run, there was no rubbing or other issues.

The goal here is likely to help the heel remain more locked in, which is going to provide more stability and control with a highly cushioned shoe.

Second, they moved to a sock like fit with the gusseted tongue. I’m a huge fan of this across the board in running shoes because I hate when the tongue is moving all over the place. It’s a big cushy tongue, cushy heel collar and overall nice fit.

The one complaint from many is that the shoe runs warm. I guess I sweat a lot no matter what shoe I’m in so this has never been a complaint from me about the Triumph.

Saucony Triumph 23 vs Triumph 22

For me the big question is always how does it compare to the recent model that many of you are familiar with (and that I have run a lot of miles in myself!).

Often I’ll tell you that the previous model on sale is what you should go snag at a discount, but this time I really prefer the 23 and think it’s worth paying the extra $20-$30. UNLESS you can find the 21 on sale for a real steal.

A quick peak back at the 20, 21 and 22, which have all now be lovingly donated to a new home.

I’ve noted many of the changes above, but a quick run down:

• 23 is an ounce lighter than the 22
• 23 returns to that slightly softer feeling
• More structured heel collar is going to increase stability and control
• Modifications to the upper, but didn’t really make it much more breathable

Saucony Triumph vs Saucony Ride

Both the Triumph and Ride from Saucony are considered neutral trainers, but they are definitely different shoes. Depending on your foot type and running style, one shoe may be a better fit for you than the other.

If you already know that you want MORE cushion then the Triumph is going to be your neutral shoe of choice. Of the three, it’s the shoe that I recommend most for long distance runners.

Those who are focused on shorter runs, even up to 10 miles are going to be just fine in the Ride. It’s also much more like the running shoes that many of us started out wearing in the early 2000’s. So if your body has done well with that, no need to change!

• Ride is an 8mm drop and now the lighter shoe!
• Triumph is 10mm drop with more cushion.
• Triumph may now provide a little more stability
• Ride has a slightly lower stack height (slightly less cushion)
• I prefer the lower drop and moderate cushion for those who will be using the shoe as a consistent daily trainer.

All right, I really hope this Saucony Triumph 23 review helped you in making a decision! I may not love every single shoe that I test, but I’ve found that just sharing the details helps you find a shoe that YOU LOVE.

And that’s all that actually matters.

Checkout our complete breakdown of the best Saucony running shoes >>

Looking for other running shoe reviews??

• Saucony vs HOKA
• Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 Review
• How to Tell if Running Shoes Fit Properly
• How Long do Running Shoes Last

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