Saucony Triumph 20 review

9 expert score
10 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Running Warehouse with our own money.
Review written on 05th May by Olivia Yoder Ultrarunner, personal trainer and soccer coach.
35 other reviews

Saucony Triumph 20 Verdict

The Saucony Triumph 20 is a long-distance, everyday running shoe. It offers premium features that surely won’t disappoint. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a pair of these babies.

The pros

  • Max cushioned comfort
  • For runners who want a bit of everything
  • Excellent traction

The cons

  • Shoe laces cause light pressure on top of foot

Where to buy

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

Rating breakdown

Comfort
9.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
9.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
8.0
Transition
9.0
Toe-off
9.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
7.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
Triumph 20
Family
Previous model
Weight
9.7 oz (275 g)
MSRP
$160.00

Heel
mm.
Toe
mm.
Heel drop
10 mm.
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials

Size/Fit

Sizing
True to size
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Normal

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Responsive
Amount of cushioning
Highly cushioned
Stability
Some stability
Flexibility
Medium

Usage

Racing
Speedwork
Daily training  
Long distance racing  
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Saucony Triumph 20 ?

These shoes are made for the runner who is looking for daily comfort. You’ll find that they are perfect for everyday jogs to those long-distance runs where you need that extra support. A great choice if you’re looking for a max-cushioned walking shoe as well.

Who should not buy the Saucony Triumph 20 ?

It’s hard to find a reason not to buy a pair. I wouldn’t recommend these to a person who may not be comfortable wearing a high stack height shoe. Although they are pretty stable, that higher height might cause some uneasiness. I would not recommend them for a racing shoe either. They do ok with picking up the pace but I prefer wearing these for long-distance / slower-paced days.

Saucony Triumph 20 Introduction

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

The Saucony Triumph 20 has been my favorite shoe to run in right now. It delivers in all areas and I can understand why Saucony just keeps making this shoe. This is the 20th iteration with a few updates that make this version the best yet. The two big updates would be new PWRRUN+ foam cushioning that is softer and lighter and a newly updated geometry. This gives you a more cushioned underfoot and a slight rocker feel.

Because everyone getting on board with making the world a better place, Saucony has made this style vegan and designed it with recycled materials.

It is categorized as a neutral daily trainer that weighs in at 10 oz. (283 g.) for a US M10.5 / 8.3 oz. (236 g.) for a US W7.5 and has a heel-to-toe offset of 10mm. You’ll pay around $160 but that is typical of daily trainers now. It is still a pretty penny to pay for a shoe but it’s loaded with many great features that will leave you feeling like your money was well spent. They fit true to size and allow for plenty of room in the toe box. Not too much, but just enough.

Its similarities remind me of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 24. The difference I notice between the two would be the stack height. The stack Height for the Nimbus 25 is 26 mm/16 mm forefoot (Men), and 28 mm/15 mm (Women). The stack height for the Triumph 20 is 37 mm/27mm.

Saucony Triumph 20 First Impressions

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

When I first opened the box and saw the colors I immediately became excited. I couldn’t wait to put them on and take them out for a test run.

The design and brightness of neon orange that dominates the front of the shoe just sells the shoe. The color is called “VIZIPRO.” This color and model have reflective details that help provide visibility in low-light situations. A great choice for those who are early morning or sunset runners.

A few key features that first stuck out to me were the round shoelaces that have tiny rainbow-looking designs throughout the lace and the built-up heel counter.

Getting to the good part, I first laced them up for a moderate 5 miles on the treadmill. Putting them on felt amazing. I will honestly say they are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes in my current rotation right now.

I love that level of comfort for recovery or long easy runs. The all-over plushness also reminds me of the ASICS Gel Cumulus 24.

Slipping your foot into them you’ll notice the max cushioned sole, as well as the upper that seamlessly covers your foot with a marshmallow-type feel.

Saucony Triumph 20 Upper

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

When you first look at this shoe you notice the upper first. It’s well-crafted and thought-out. It’s made with a brand new mesh upper that hugs your foot and fits like a glove, a padded snow glove. It wraps around giving you comfort and support in all the right areas.

Saucony’s lacing system gives you some extra lockdown features at the eyelets. The laces themselves look great but I can’t say they are my favorite and that’s one area of the shoe I would change. They are thick round laces that are hard to double knot and they add pressure on the top of the foot when pulled tight.

The tongue and collar of the shoe are made to give you comfort and that’s just what they do with the all-over padding. The heel counter, it’s nicely built and keeps my heels locked in and secure.

Saucony Triumph 20 Sole Unit

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

The sole of this shoe is what makes it. Its pillow-like feel is credited to Saucony’s new PWRRUN PLUS foam. This makes for a soft and smooth ride. I enjoyed wearing them for various runs but also liked them for just walking.

Saucony originally introduced the PWRRUN PLUS with the Triumph 17. A few years later and they continue to improve this foam to allow it to be lightweight, flexible, and have just the right amount of bounce.

It’s actually more bounce in the forefoot than I intended it to have. There is a slight rocker in the Triumph that does an excellent job of helping you transition with ease. This is credited to the midsole material PWRRUN+ and Saucony’s SpeedRoll technology.

Triumph 20 has a higher heel-to-toe drop than the previous version making them a nice choice for individuals who may be suffering from a common running injury. The higher heel-to-toe drop takes the pressure off of your Achilles and calves.

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

I noticed how much impact they absorbed when running on roads and sidewalks. After a long run, I typically can feel the pounding in my knees. With the Triumph 20s, they help to alleviate that.

They have a durable rubber outsole that has a superb grip on all types of surfaces. I’ve tested them out on road, track, gravel, and sidewalks with no problem with traction or slipping.

Saucony Triumph 20 Conclusions

Picture of Saucony Triumph 20

The Saucony Triumph 20 is worth it if you are looking for a maximum comfort daily trainer. This shoe will cover all those areas and then some. I don’t know how Saucony made such a lightweight shoe that offers so much all-over cushioning, but they nailed it.

How does the Triumph 20 compare?

Asics Novablast 3
Saucony Triumph 20
Skechers GO RUN Ride 10
Expert score
8
9
9
User score
Best price
Retail price
US$140
US$160
US$145
Weight
8.9 oz
9.7 oz
8.4 oz
Heel Drop
9 mm
10 mm
6 mm
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training, long distance racing
Daily training
Cushioning type
balanced
responsive
balanced
Cushioning amount
Highly cushioned
Highly cushioned
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
flexible
medium
flexible
Stability
very stable
some stability
very stable
Sizing
buy half size smaller
true to size
true to size

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Saucony at Running Warehouse  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.
Lowest price:

$65

Saucony Triumph 20 price comparison

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

Reviewed by Olivia

This review was written by Olivia Yoder on 05th May.
Lives in Marietta, Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and dog. Olivia is a personal trainer and soccer coach. She has been running for 10 years and competes in various distances. For the past few years she has been concentrating on the ultra distances. She never would have thought that one sport would change her whole outlook on life like running has.

User feedback (2)

  • avatar-comment-1031042
    Hafeez
    7 months ago
    10 score

    Bought this based on great review everywhere. Starting my base training, we’ll see how it goes. But so far so good!

  • avatar-comment-1029168
    Brian N
    9 months ago
    10 score

    Thanks for the review. I just got these and they are great. Super comfortable and my heel stays locked in. Definitely a long distance shoe but can handle my speed work too.

Lowest price:
$65

Where to buy

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

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