The RW Takeaway: The Triumph 19 is a mileage base builder, post-marathon recovery shoe, and workhorse trainer. Yes, Saucony’s softest shoe is also its most versatile.
- There are some
- Shoes & Gear
- The increased angle of the heel bevel encourages smoother heel-to-toe transitions
Price: $150
Type: Road
Weight: 10.2 oz (M), 9.1 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
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There are some shoes I fall for hard, reach for on almost every run, and wear well past their 500-mile lifespan. That’s the Triumph: a shoe that made me want to shirk my work duties and ignore the other shoes I was supposed to test. I still keep a pair of Triumph 17s, relegated to easy runs, in my entryway, so my expectations were high with the newest model. Saucony’s most cushioned shoe is on the verge of turning 20, and as most people know, leaving your teens can be a tumultuous time. But the Triumph 19, soft and light, is gracefully charging toward its next decade.
Pros
- Breathable mono-mesh upper has a roomier toebox
- Half Marathon Training
Cons
- Some testers found the heel came up a little too high and felt not as snug as Saucony’s Ride
Responsive Pwrrun+ Midsole
Although it’s technically a heavy shoe, on par with other luxe trainers like the Brooks Glycerin 19 and Altra Paradigm 6, the Triumph rides light and bouncy. Giving it that energetic sensation is a Pwrrun+ midsole and top sole, introduced in the shoe’s 17th version. Pwrrun+ foam is 28 percent lighter than the Saucony’s original Pwrrun; it’s supportive for easy long runs, and responsive during tempo runs and workouts. “The Triumph 19 feels like running on big, spongy paws,” raved one tester who typically runs in Asics Gel-Kayanos. “Like a Kayano, they’re somewhat stiff and solid, but also nicely soft.”
To deliver that comfortable yet stable ride, Saucony increased the angles of both the heel bevel and toe spring in the Triumph 18, promoting a smooth heel-to-toe roll. This geometry is preserved in the 19 and makes transitions feel more seamless. In essence, the newest Triumph model encompasses the best of its recent predecessors: the 17’s Pwrrun+ midsole and the 18’s more rounded heel and toe.
Comfy Mono-Mesh Upper
For the 19, Saucony has refined the fit with a new mono-mesh upper. Lighter and more breathable, it was a favorite feature among our testers. “There was plenty of room in the toebox,” said one. “The upper material was easy to lace up and tighten around the midfoot, and my heel felt supported without the shoe fitting too snugly.”
That’s the real draw in the Triumph: its all-encompassing comfort. Every facet of the 19 is soft. The collar and tongue are pillow-like—securing your foot after knotting the bucatini-thick laces, granting your toes ample wiggle room.
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I started testing the 19 just days after running a marathon, and I appreciated the midsole’s firm cushioning and support—it was like medicine for my weary limbs and sore arches. It’s a trusty recovery shoe when you’re easing back into running, and a mainstay when you gradually start racking up miles again for your next big race. I know I’ll run the heck out of these trainers until every last outsole groove is long worn away.
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Previously tested: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
“The most impressive aspect of this superb shoe is its overall feeling of stability. This was true running easy 9:30-minute miles and faster fartleks at 7:05, 7:45, and 8:30-minute pace on the roads of Philadelphia’s Main Line and on the nature trail around Haverford College. [The trail] is part-dirt, part-gravel, part-wood chips and, in one section, synthetic trail. The Triumph 19 provides such a secure feeling when toeing off the ground and rounding tight turns, and it’s equally good off the roads and on trails or grass. After 80 miles, the shoe does not show a hint of fatigue. The heel and forefoot cushioning is super ample, but never feels overly spongy to the point where you don’t feel the ground solidly. This is a shoe you feel like running fast in, whether it be for 3.1 miles or 26.2. I found the Triumph 19 clearly superior to the Nike Pegasus 38, which I liked a lot. But, the Pegasus was not as stable due to its narrower heel, and the shoe didn’t feel as planted when toeing off the ground.”
Amanda Furrer, Runner’s World test editor, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
