The Triumph 22 is Saucony's softest, plushest neutral shoe. The Triumph 22 has a Pwrrun PB midsole, a blown rubber outsole and a comfortable upper which is more streamlined and less plush. The Triumph 22 costs $160.
The 1080v14 is one of New Balance's most popular neutral trainers. The 1080v14 is a versatile workhorse with a new Fresh Foam X midsole, new upper and outsole. The 1080v14 costs $165. Which of these shoes is the right choice for you?
The Triumph has a full-length Pwrrun PB midsole made from PEBA. It also has an Ortholite sockliner and it gives the Triumph excellent step-in comfort. The Pwrrun PB midsole is highly resistant to climate changes so it doesn’t get mushy in warm temperatures neither will it firm up in the cold.
The 1080 has a full-length Fresh Foam X midsole made from traditional EVA and rides softer than the Triumph. The Triumph is more versatile than the 1080 and can handle tempo runs due to its medium-soft midsole. The Triumph is also great on long runs but doesn’t possess the comfort that the 1080 has. The 1080 is best suited to recovery or long runs at paces slower than 5 minutes per kilometre.
The forefoot and heel of the 1080 flare out at the base to make it more stable. The Triumph also has a forefoot and heel which flare out and its firmer midsole makes it more stable than the 1080.
Most of the outsole of the Triumph is covered in rubber. It has durable blown rubber on its heel, midfoot and rearfoot. Crystal rubber is incredibly durable but can be slippery on wet surfaces so Saucony changed the entire outsole to blown rubber to help with traction. The blown rubber also makes the ride softer.
The 1080 has rubber on its forefoot and rearfoot with exposed midsole on the midfoot. There are small oval lugs on its outsole which can be felt through the midsole, especially if you are a forefoot striker. Tractions is great on a variety of surfaces, wet and dry but the 1080’s outsole is not as durable as the Triumph’s outsole.
Both the Triumph and the 1080 have comfortable uppers with superb lockdown. The main difference is that the 1080 is more padded and runs warmer. The Triumph’s upper is more breathable and lighter. The Triumph has a more traditional padded heel counter and tongue which are generously filled with foam.
The toe boxes are of adequate height and width but the 1080 upper is overall more snug than the Triumph due to its extra padding and foam.
The Triumph runs true to size but the Triumph only comes in regular and wide (2E) versions whereas the 1080 comes in narrow (B), regular (D), wide (2E) and extra wide (4E) versions. The 1080 fits small so you have to go up a half size.
If you’re a runner looking for a long-distance, comfortable, neutral shoe that glides over the road, the 1080 is the shoe for you. It has a super foam Fresh Foam X midsole that has a great balance of softness, bounce and responsiveness. Its plush upper cocoons the foot with soft foam and its durable midsole and outsole will easily last hundreds of kilometres.
If you’re a runner looking for a versatile, well-built neutral trainer, the Triumph is the shoe for you. The Triumph has a midsole with enough deep cushioning for long runs and enough spring for tempo runs. It has a flared midsole base which makes the shoe very stable and a breathable upper that doesn’t weigh the shoe down.
