Wednesday, June 09, 2021

Saucony Triumph 19 Multi Tester Review: Lighter Weight, Same Plush Versatile Ride

Article by Jeremy Marie, Jeff Beck, and Renee Krusemark

Saucony Triumph 19 ($150)

Introduction

Jeremy: Despite Saucony being one of my “brand of choice” for all things road-running, and having heard and read many positive reviews of the Triumph line, this 19th iteration is my first ever. I’ve always thought of this line to be too much of a shoe for my liking, too cushy-comfy-lazy shoe and always preferred its Kinvara sibling.


So far I can’t tell much how different from its prédecessor it is, but I can tell that the Triumph 19 proved me a bit wrong in thinking it was a  “limo for cool days and not much” kind of shoe. I should have listened a bit more to a friend of mine that had an excellent experience with the previous iterations!

As my age grows.. I tend to be less sectarian on shoes and begin to appreciate a bit more cushioning, and some “easier” shoes. And I discovered that the Triumph 19 fit the bill, without being a lazy shoe.


Jeff: I’m coming to this shoe from the opposite side of things from Jeremy, this is my 8th variation of the Triumph (10/11/ISO1/ISO2/ISO5/17/18/19) and I had a couple pairs of both the 10 and the 11. The shoe has definitely gained weight and cushioning in the last decade, as virtually every shoe model that existed both then and now has, but I haven’t found that to hurt the shoes’ performance. I even had the T17 as my shoe of the year for 2019, I was that impressed by the changes they made coming from the ISO series. Last year we saw the 18 get a minor refinement from the 17, and this year, it’s even less of a change on paper, but out on the road, it’s much more than just an upper revision.

That’s right, welcome to the latest episode of the Saucony Deja Vu Tour! Triumph 18 fans are about to be very happy, because this shoe is incredibly similar to its predecessor, with the biggest change being the weight loss - which is substantial. But we’ll get more into that down below.


Pros:

Premium finish, plush upper very breathable in the forefoot-Jeremy/Jeff/Renee

Almost a perfect fit with a secure yet soft foothold from heel to toes, and more than adequate toebox room-Jeremy/Jeff/Renee 

Elastic laces are a great addition: hold is not compromised but it provides the right amount of give on a longer run. And you even got two pairs of different colors to choose from! Jeremy/Renee 

Nice, comfortable midsole for long miles that still has a pack of punch in it, making also a very effective mid-tempo/marathon pace shoe-Jeremy/Jeff

Weight at 10.2 oz / 290g is more than acceptable for the amount of protection Jeremy/Jeff 

1.13 oz / 32g drop in weight from Triumph 17 is welcome and felt-Sam 


Cons:

Difficult to come with a real con considering how the shoe fits the bill…Jeremy

I didn’t love the slightly stretchy laces, and there’s a small tab that holds the bottom lace that gets in the way of the normal location of my Stryd pod. Those are literally the biggest gripes I can find-Jeff

The shoe has no real cons for me, aside from being a bit heavier than I prefer, even for long easy runs which is a personal preference; the weight does mean the shoe has good cushion and durability-Renee 


Stats

Official Weight: men's 10.2 oz/  290g (US9)  /  women's 9 oz  / 259g (US8)

 Samples:

men’s 9.88 oz  / 280g (US8.5), 315g/305g - 11.11oz/10.75oz (US10.5 -   EU44.5, for left/right); 10.97 oz / 311g (US10.5)

women’s 8.75oz/248g right, 9.03oz/256g left (US8)

Triumph 18 10.8 oz /306g (US8.5)

Stack Height: 32.5mm/24.5mm - 8mm drop

Available July 15, 2021 $150


Tester Profiles

Jeff is the token slow runner of the RTR lineup, and as such his viewpoints on shoe and gear can differ from those who routinely finish marathons in three hours or less. Jeff runs 30 miles per week on roads and trails around Denver, CO (and sometimes on the treadmill when the weather gets too much for a Phoenix native). Jeff only got into running in his 30s, as a result his career PR's are 4:07 for the marathon and 5K at 23:39. Jeff has finished several ultra marathons, from 50K up to 50 miles, and is still debating if he wants to go down that road again.

Renee is a former U. S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon

Jeremy MARIE, French, 40y/o. Running since 2013 and quickly transitioned to trails, focused on ultras since 2015 : TDS, Maxi-Race, “100 miles du Sud”, 90kms du Mt Blanc, GRP 120kms, Some shorter mellow races (Saintelyon 45kms, Ecotrail Paris 45kms…) with always in the mix road and flat running, but not many road races. Recovery/easy runs ~4’45/km - 4’30/km 

 

First Impressions and Fit

Jeremy: 

Saucony has extended its checkered flag color scheme to shoes out of the Endorphin line. Even the shoe box got the same treatment. I, for one, find this to be a very good thing, as already stated in the Endorphin trail review.


On the Triumph, this color scheme is only visible on a little part of the heel collar, where the inside mesh is sewn with the external one, making for a discrete touch of fun on an otherwise very classic-classy looking shoe.


Some subtle color touches on the Saucony logo, on the visible part of the outsole or the yellow laces if you decide to put them on in place of the black ones the shoe came with (as I’ve done ) stand out on the very bright white upper.

On the heel counter, a grey reflective strip adds a welcome nighttime visibility element to the shoe.


I really like the look of the Triumph 19, the shoe has a classic vibe to it, a very sleek looking running shoe with some eye-catching colors.


The step-in is so comfortable, as for every Saucony road shoe that I’ve owned (lots of Kinvaras, and a Mirage). Perhaps my feet go well with Saucony uppers, but some of my acquaintances have the same feeling: Saucony’s uppers are plush. I really feel like stepping in an old pair of slippers, comfy, cozy, plush without any excess of material.

The rigid heel counter is nicely padded and ensures a secure hold, as for the midfoot. Saucony really has streamlined the midfoot part of their shoes, throwing away the ISO conception, for the best IMO. Foothold is not compromised at all, and the uppers are much more simple and effective, saving weight on the occasion.

The toe-box offers a nice volume and my toes did not feel cramped at all during my runs.


The fit is TTS, and as we say, fits like a glove in my usual 10.5US/44.5EU, with the right amount of space in front of the toes.


The shoe’s comfortable, feels light, especially  for the amount of protection that I can feel while walking and I must say that I was eager to run with them!

Jeff: I was impressed immediately, Saucony fixed/changed the only thing that last year’s shoe really needed: a less substantial upper. Jeremy is right - step-in is incredibly comfortable. Even with a lightweight design, I’d still describe the upper as plush, so well done Saucony. The taxi cab design, complete with optional yellow shoe laces, just heaps on the good stuff. Oh yeah, and the outsole/midsole are virtually identical to last year, and last year they were really good, so right away I knew we were in for a treat. Fit seems spot on true-to-size, with my 10.5 fitting perfectly length and width wise.


Renee: Renee: As with Jeremy, this is my first Triumph. I had no idea what to expect. My note about the ride after my first run was “buttery smooth.” Like all Saucony shoes, the fit is perfect for my feet. I wear a women’s size 8 in my Saucony trail and roadsshoes, and the sizing and fit is similar in the Triumph as compared to other models. The fit and feel is comfortable throughout. My only caveat about the shoes is the weight. My shoes weighed 8.75oz (right) and 9.03oz (left), which is a big difference in weight between shoes in my women’s size 8. At that weight, the Triumph 19 is beyond a daily trainer and exclusively a long, easy/slow day shoe for me. That’s not a negative, just my note on usage. On the flip side of that issue, the shoes run well on pavement and gravel/light trail, providing a good amount of cushion and durability.



Upper

Jeremy

I have not run in the Triumph18 but by reading the reviews, it appears that the upper, and more specifically its breathability, was one of the caveats usually noticed.


Saucony must have listened to their customer’s feedback as the upper of the 19th iteration has been completely revamped. It is now an engineered mono-mesh upper, and I find it very light and breathable on the front part of the shoe, from the midfoot to the forefoot.


It’s very thin and you can easily see through the mesh, a consequence of its low density weaving.


It’s very soft and supple and I really cannot fault it: it has, in my opinion, just the right amount of material for a long distance trainer, on a part of the shoe that requires not much hold. The weight saving here must be substantial, versus the Puma Velocity for instance, where the inner sleeve doubles the outer mesh from mid to forefoot, and was unnecessary. The Triumph has a much better implementation of a light monomesh upper.


A quick word on the usage of recycled materials in this upper. Saucony’s not very talkative on the amount of these materials that are used, but...there’s some...let’s just hope it’s more than green-washing!


The thin mesh on the forefoot allows one to see the bright yellow of the insole.


The semi-gusseted tongue is nicely padded, without excess, and works well. There’s not much to say about it, it gets its job perfectly done. The padding of the tongue works in team with the laces, that are the stretchiest ones I’ve seen! Their rounded profile, their elasticity and the tongue padding result in a pressure free yet very secure foothold, no matter how tight you tie the laces.


A suede insert along the eyelets adds a bit of structure here and I think it plays a big role in the efficiency of this upper construction.



Around the midfoot arch, the Saucony logo acts as an external overlay and there’s a thin fabric inside that doubles the light mesh. The result is a more structured portion of the shoe where the foot needs support and lock.

Getting to the rear part of the shoe, the substantial heel counter is rigid and quite wide, but the padding here is sufficient to get a comfortable heel hold - at least for my foot shape. I did not face any heel slippage even on long up/down hills.

The lower part of the heel counter, with the light grid pattern, continues towards the midfoot and brings a subtle stability touch that is appreciated on longer runs.


The “grid pattern” is rigid to ensure a secude heel hold, and the vertical stripe brings heaps of reflectivity for night runners.


The Triumph 19 continues the Saucony’s streak of comfortable, plush and effective uppers for me, at least in their road shoe department. The Triumph clearly stands up to its reputation of a long distance slipper and I really cannot see something bad to mention about the upper of the shoe. Light, supportive but unobtrusive, I still feel some “foot freedom” which is something I value a lot.

Jeff: Wow, Jeremy did an incredibly good job describing the upper, and there’s nothing above I’d disagree with him about. Last year’s shoe was on the heavier side, not that I minded the weight (my pair of 10.5 Triumph 18 is 32g heavier than the same size T19), but the 18’s upper was heavy. Like wool sweater heavy. This year we got away from the ugly sweater party and went with a lightweight and much thinner material, and as a result, the shoe is much more breathable while still holding the foot well.


The best way to illustrate just how thin and airy the 19’s upper is is with a picture. See how you can see the yellow insole in the 19 in the picture below while you can’t tell that the 18 insole is burgundy? 

That’s all the upper letting light through. And if light is getting through, you can imagine how much air passes through as well.


The fit is unchanged from last year, the toe box is still really good for a standard shaped shoe (as in, not Altra or Topo), and the tongue is still really plush. 


Renee: Jeremy and Jeff cover the details. I agree with both of them about the overall fit and comfort. I have zero fit or comfort problems in the Triumph. The toe box allows for a good amount of air. The rest of the upper felt standard in terms of breathability as compared to other shoes. The toe box is roomy enough with a good amount of space and height for swelling on long, hot runs. I had a good amount of security to adjust using the laces and the lockdown is great. Again, zero problems or issues with the upper. The shoe disappears on foot (aside from the weight, for me). 


Midsole


Jeremy: Saucony describes the T19 midsole as having a “generous amount of PWRRUN+ foam”, seconded by a topsole (the black layer on top, which I did not get details on  but it is my understanding Saucony is still using Everun for that, the predecessor TPU midsole foam to PWRRUN+ ) and a comfortable FormFit sockliner”. And all that material makes it obvious that the Triumph is a miles muncher.


It seems that the midsole composition, stack, drop, layers are exactly the same as last year's iteration. If it ain’t broke….


PWRRUN+ is not even remotely close to a soft material. It is comfortable, plush, but not soft. It has a nice density to it that is sensible even when walking in the shoes, or thumb-pushing into it. Personally I find it falls right within my personal preferences of responsive cushioning. Not a  mushy, pillow-like feeling, but more of a...firm mattress.

There’s no rocker profile in the T19 (and no Speedroll as in the Endorphin series shoes) which makes the shoe looks very traditional - not in a bad way.


Despite the stack height, the T19 still offers a nice amount of flexibility with a nice flexing point a bit behind the ball of the foot.

Jeff: I know we’ve said it a few times in the last six months, but this year’s shoe is virtually identical to last year’s shoe under foot. Busting out the calipers, I can’t find a difference in proportions anywhere, and it’s easy to see that they are incredibly similar.


But I don’t write that to insult the shoe, on the contrary, last year’s shoe was one of the best big mileage daily trainers around, so I completely get and applaud them not burning things down and trying something new. One thing I have found funny is how much tastes have changed in the last few years - when the Triumph 17 debuted Saucony’s PWRRUN+ midsole, we all thought it was super plush and soft. Now as more of Saucony’s competitors have brought out their latest generation of midsole materials, I think of PWRRUN+ as a borderline firm, but still plush midsole. They’re very comfortable, and enough cushioning for virtually any distance, but I no longer think of them as the softest game around.


Renee: Again, Jermey and Jeff have all the specs covered. I found the midsole on the “soft” side with some bounce in the ride. I found the midsole comforting instead of mushy. I like the traditional ride (i.e. no Speedroll) when running off-pavement, so the midsole provides a good balance of usage for me.



Outsole

Jeremy: As for virtually every Saucony road shoe out there, XT-900 outsole material still perfectly does the job in the Triumph 19.

There’s nearly a full coverage outsole, with two longitudinal grooves in order to ease transition and flexibility, as well as a weight-saving pattern between the midfoot and the heel where there’s some exposed midsole foam but given it is recessed it won’t be an issue.


There’s not much to say about this outsole: simple, effective, the grip is good even on wet asphalt, and it works well on light dry trails. Durability is excellent and I cannot see any sign of wear after 80+kms.


Jeff: Saucony stuck with their tried and true XT-900 carbon rubber for the outsole. There’s nearly full coverage between the three pieces of rubber, with one piece covering most of the shoe from heel to toe, with a couple vertical slits to allow for a little flexibility. The center of the midfoot is exposed midsole, but it has been recessed enough it should experience almost zero wear, and certainly not any wear of consequence. For a tread pattern Saucony went with alternating diagonal blocks, and the result is really solid traction and good durability. 


And for the folks keeping score at home - yes, this is 100% identical to the T18 outsole (black above). That also had really good durability and traction. I personally really appreciate the solid rubber sweeping along the lateral edge of the shoe, so many shoes elect to save a fraction of an ounce, and seriously compromising a shoe’s potential durability, by removing a patch of rubber along that outer edge - so when a shoe doesn’t do so, it’s a nice bonus.


Renee: The outsole is enough to provide durability and some traction off pavement without being obstructive on pavement. Although it won’t provide a trail-shoe-like grip on gravel, it does run very well on gravel roads. 



Ride

Jeremy: Being less inclined towards “comfortable stack height, plush cushioning” shoes, I’m always a bit wary when I get the opportunity to test one.


I don’t really like soft, plush shoes, even if my knees and back begin to disagree with this. I like to get a bit of throwback from a midsole, something that can handle a gentle push in pace without feeling mushy.


The Triumph line comes with an image of being the kind of comfy limousine in which you just let go and cruise at an easy pace. At least, this is how I imagined the Triumph would run.


And guess what? I was wrong. Like...miles away. Sure they’re plush shoes with a substantial amount of cushioning, but I find them nowhere near soft nor mushy. It has a subtle amount of firmness that makes the run responsive, something I find ideal for a large spectrum of paces, from easy up to training marathon pace.


It may be less efficient than the latest super high-stack, carbon plated super-foam infused marathon shoes, but for training purposes, I still think that a more traditional shoe, with a more flexible platform despite the stack (thanks for your absence, Miss Carbon plate) is the right choice. And as stated before, despite the comfortable stack, the shoe has a nice flex forward that comes into play once you push up the pace a little bit. Something that shoes in the same category do not usually offer (NB 1080, and older Clifton..),


And I even think that those endurance paces (not easy, and far from hard..something around Z2-early Z3 pace for zones-minded runners) are where the shoe shines the most. You still get the comfortable cushioning, and benefit from the responsiveness of the midsole, and its flexibility that’s really engaging you to push forward, in a very smooth motion.


Nowadays, high stack shoes rely more on a rocker profile (and a quite rigid platform) to achieve this kind of forward motion, but the T19 stays more traditional in its approach,  and as a consequence, it may please runners who prefer some flexibility (whereas some others may really like the rigid rocker profile even in training/long distance shoes).


As a consequence, I must admit that I enjoyed the T19 far more than expected, and it has easily found a place in my shoe rotation. Those long asphalt runs, easy or with some tempo chunks thrown in are a real delight to be run with the T19. I even performed a hill workout, 2’ all out uphill and a “fast return” downhill, where the amount of heel cushioning was a real relief during the downhills on a hard surface and  considering I had heavy legs as the workout came just after a 4 hour bike ride…


For marathoners around 3h-3h30 who want to preserve their legs but still get a responsive run, without going carbon-plated (and some people still don’t like them due to the rigidity of the midsole) I think the Triumph is a safe bet. 


It really hits the sweet spot of comfortable cushioning and responsiveness.


Stability is not an issue here. The stack height is reasonable, the platform is wide enough and the heel collar extending a bit on the sides locks everything in place.


Still want some more? The newfound breathability of the upper is not just a marketing line off the spec sheet. Tried and tested this last week-end under the sun (finally!): my feet were perfectly dry despite the heat and the...active session. Neither hot spots nor any chafing while shuttling up & down a hill.

Jeff: And this is where this shoe truly shines. While the midsole does feel a little firmer than some of its modern contemporaries, when out on the run, there’s a smoothness to the cushioning that few shoes on the market have. There’s a little bit of bounce/rebound when you land, but mostly just some nice squish to dull the road. That’s been the Triumph’s bread and butter, and this year’s version does it as well as any of its ancestors. There’s no sinking feeling as you land, so while this wouldn’t be the shoe I’d recommend for your speedwork, if you happen to be wearing them and the run gets fast, you’ll be fine.


Renee: Like Jeremy, I do not often like high-cushioned, soft road shoes. The Triumph does not feel mushy, and the overall cushion helps with comfort during long runs. The weight makes the shoe a slower/easy day shoe for me, and I do not get responsiveness from the ride/midsole, which is fine for its usage. The ride is “buttery smooth” and traditional on pavement and relatively smooth on dirt/gravel.


I agree with Jeremy that the stability is good, making the Triumph a better option for long runs than high stack shoes with strong rockers or midsole geometry (especially off pavement). The drop feels higher than 8mm to me. I think once I break the shoes in more (closer to the 100 mile mark than the 50 mile mark where I am now), the drop will not feel as high. 



Conclusions and Recommendations

Jeremy: Well I must admit that my first foray into the Triumph line was a tremendous discovery. Comfort for endless miles under the foot, a welcome responsiveness to handle many different paces, all in a smooth motion, the plush step in of the upper that I love so much in Saucony’s road shoes, an understated look with touches of fun, durability, grip...I can’t see anything to  really gripe about here. It has easily found a (large) place in my shoes rotation. This amount of protection, responsiveness, outsole at just shy over 300gs for a US10.5 is a homerun.

Jeremy’s Score 9.3/10

Ride: 9.5 (50%) Fit: 10 (30%) Value: 9 (15%) Style: 10 (5%)


Jeff: How often do shoes come out that have just one glaring flaw, and we see the following year’s shoe address that flaw, perfectly, and change literally nothing else? Well, now it has happened at least once, and as someone who enjoyed last year’s shoe (but got frustrated with how little breathability its upper had) and the weight  couldn’t be happier. Saucony seemingly took a year with lots of uncertainty, and used it to take a murderer’s row lineup of great shoes, and fine tune them to make them even better. It doesn’t have a super springy bounce sensation as you land, but it does eat up the miles and protects your feet and legs with zero compromises. All that and more than an ounce of weight loss? That’s a *chef’s kiss* good thing.

Jeff’s Score 9.5/10

Ride: 9.5 (50%) Fit: 10 (30%) Value: 10 (15%) Style: 10 (5%)


Renee: The Triumph 19 is a great option for a long, easy/slow day shoe, especially for runners who prefer traditional riding shoes that are stable. The weight is a bit heavier than I would prefer as compared to some other options, but the cushioning is nice without feeling mushy. Plus, the shoe’s geometry and outsole make it durable and useful for pavement and buffed gravel/dirt surfaces. 

Renee’s Score: 9.0/10 (- .50 weight, -.50 usage limited to a easy/long day)


13 Comparisons

Index to all RT reviews: HERE


Saucony Triumph 18 (RTR Review)

Jeff: We’ve seen Saucony reinvent the wheel a few times this year, but this is the cleanest/most effective update yet because this upper was the one that needed a little more refinement the most. The shoe dropped more than an ounce, but more importantly the upper just became breathable. If you run exclusively in cold weather then the 18 is probably better for you, but for the rest of us, the update is a welcome change.


Watch RTR Editor Sam's A/B Test & Review Triumph 18 vs Triumph 19 (9:24)



Saucony Endorphin Shift 2 (RTR Review)

Jeff: Triumph has the softer and more premium PWRRUN+ midsole, the Endorphin uses the firmer (but higher stacked) PWRRUN with a more aggressive/modern midsole geometry. Since there’s more than one way to skin a cat, it’s a matter of personal preference. If you prefer a firmer ride with faster turnover, go Endorphin. If you like a softer landing with a little more bounce, go Triumph. Either way, great shoe.


Renee: I agree with everything Jeff wrote. Both of these shoes are long run shoes, and both weigh about the same in my women’s size 8. Go with the Shift 2 for a firmer, faster turnover ride. Go with the Triumph for a softer cushion. The Triumph works well off pavement, whereas the high stack, the limited rubber outsole of the Shift 2 does not. The Shift 2 has a lower drop, which I appreciate. 


Saucony Ride 14 (RTR Review)

Jeff: And here’s one more Saucony for your daily trainer consideration. It’s a slightly lower stack than the Triumph, but uses the firmer PWRRUN. The Ride now has amuch more plush upper, and even though it’s got less going on under foot, it’s only 7 grams lighter than it’s big brother. The Ride is a great shoe, but the Triumph brings so much more to the table, it’s hard not to spend the extra $20 on the more premium shoe.


Brooks Glycerin 19 (RTR Review)

Jeff: This is the Coke vs Pepsi matchup in this level of trainer, and I’ve enjoyed both models a lot - and the current generation of both shoe is easily the best version of it. Head to head (or really foot to foot) the Brooks feels softer under foot, and it has a more plush upper. The toebox is also a little bit wider than the Triumph, also it’s 6 grams lighter. But the Triumph midsole feels much more dense (which can make all the difference 3+ hours into a run), and has better outsole rubber coverage. Which would I pick? Ultimately I like the slightly softer ride of the Glycerin, but it’s incredibly close.


Hoka Clifton 8 (RTR Review)

Jeff: My first Clifton since the 2, it comes through 39g grams lighter than the Triumph, with a noticeably higher and narrower platform, much less rubber on the outsole, and an adequate width toebox. But stack height isn’t everything, and the PWRRUN+ midsole is a big step up from Hoka’s EVA foam. The fit is completely subjective, but the narrow midfoot is less than ideal for me, limiting the shoe to just a few miles before I get an arch blister. And while the light weight and $20 lower cost is nice, the difference in rubber is everything, making the Saucony last substantially longer for that ounce and change and extra money. Efficient and light runners may disagree, but I’ll take the Triumph all day.


ASICS Nimbus 23 (RTR Review)

Jeff: Another brand’s long running big cushion daily trainer, the Nimbus has a firmer ride, more narrow toebox, is an ounce heavier, and doesn’t have the same confidence in cushioning as the Triumph. On its own, the Nimbus is a very solid daily trainer, but in an A/B comparison to the Triumph, it’s hard not to see the value the Saucony gives you for the same cost.


Nike ZoomX Invincible Run (RTR Review)

Jeff: Immediately one of my favorite shoes of all time, the Invincible is a new breed of shoe that has tons of squish and just as much bounce back as you land. As polarizing as it cushioned, it seems that the almost hyperactive ride of the shoe is not for everyone, and there’s no doubt that its upper harkens back to the Triumph 18’s heavy wool sweater, and it also costs $30 more. It’s really a question of what you are looking for - do you want one of the best versions of a traditional well-cushioned daily trainer? Or are you looking for the bounciest shoe ever made? In an A/B test, the Invincible is certainly more fun on the foot, but that bouncy and high stack has much less stability. For me, I think the Invincible is a great part of a line up, but wouldn’t want to run it every day, while the Triumph shines as the bread and butter of your lineup. If you are a one shoe quiver kind of runner, I’d definitely recommend the Triumph for that role.


Skechers Performance GoRun Ride 9 (RTR Review)

Jeff: On paper, the GRR9 brings plenty of fight to the table. $25 less, two ounces lighter, a similarly firm-but-well-cushioned ride, even more bounce, just as breathable of an upper, I could keep going. And on foot? It is just as good, if not better, with a fun ride slots in cleanly right between the super bouncy/borderline out of control Nike Invincible and the plush firmness of the Triumph. I’ve been a Hyperburst fan for a few years, but this is easily the best implementation they’ve found for it, and runners still sleeping on Skechers Performance in 2021 are missing out.


Salomon Sonic Accelerate 3: 

Jeremy: Leaning more on the dynamic side of running shoes, the Sonic 3 still packs a nice amount of responsive cushioning and shock absorption thanks to its Optivibe insert.

The fit of the T19 is far more plush, at the cost of a little bit of weight.


The Sonic 3 can handle long miles, but I find that my legs were more tired after long runs than in the Triumph. On the up-tempo side, I do not find the Sonic Accelerate much more efficient, and it may be due to its lower weight. 

Shock vibrations are less sensed in the Sonic 3 due to its elastomer insert  but the Triumph’s cushioning makes up for it.

The T19 will handle more miles, more paces, and will be comfier. The fit is also better in the T19. 


Puma Velocity Nitro: (RTR Review)

Jeremy:  Marketed as a faster shoe, I think that those two fit the same purpose of long distance responsive comfort.


The Velocity is clearly biased towards the more dynamic side of the spectrum and is lighter by 1 oz, but I find that its heel EVA layer kind of mitigates the otherwise fantastic Nitro foam.


The upper is no match as the T19 achieves a comfier fit with far less materials, and as a consequence, far more breathability, without any compromise on foot hold.


While the weight difference favors the Velocity, the T19 run is also far smoother. Price-wise it’s difficult to beat the Velocity, as it will be as durable as the Triumph. If a more..peppy, firm ride is your thing, and breathability(i.e autumn and winter runs is less important, the Velocity can be a good choice. 


Otherwise, the Triumph 19 is simply a better shoe, more comfortable, equally durable, more breathable.


Topo Phantom 2:  (RTR Review)

Renee: Both shoes fall into the heavier, long-run shoe category for me, weighing about the same. In a women’s size 8, I have more room in the toebox (almost too much) in the Phantom. The Phantom 2 is a lower-drop shoe with the same amount of rubber coverage on the outsole. Underfoot, the Triumph 19 feels more comfortable. Choose the Phantom 2 if you need a big toebox, low drop, and firmer midsole. The Phantom 2 might be slightly better at “faster” paces because of the firmer midsole. Otherwise, go with the Triumph 19. 


ASICS Novablast 2: (RTR Review)

Renee: The Novablast 2 is a lighter shoe and more suited to daily training when compared to the Triumph 19. Still, the Novablast 2 is slightly heavier than I prefer for a daily trainer and I prefer it as a long-run shoe rather than a daily shoe. The bounce and impulse forward for quicker paced running is better in the Novablast, but the Triumph 19 provides better all-day cushion. Both shoes are 8mm drop (the Novablast 1 was 10mm drop and had some stability issues). The outsole of the Triumph has more durability and traction. For a lighter long-run option, go with the Novablast 2. For a cushioned ride on and off-pavement, choose the Triumph 19. 


New Balance 880v11: (RTR Review)

Renee: Like the Novablast 2, the NB 880v11 is a daily trainer that can be a long-run shoe. The shoe is about .50oz lighter than the Triumph 19, and weight-wise the 880 is better for me as a long-run shoe for that reason. The 880 provides enough stack and cushion for long runs, but the Triumph 19 midsole is softer and bouncier. If you want a long-run shoe that is relatively light and can handle marathon paces mixed in, choose the 880v11, especially if you hate heavy shoes. For comfort, choose the Triumph 19. I wore a women’s size 8 in both and found the fit similar. 


The Triumph 19 is expected to release July 15, 2021

Tested samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. No other compensation was received by RTR or the authors for this review beyond potential commissions from the shopping links in the article. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi RTR - I see you compared the Triumph 19 to the Salomon Sonic Accelerate, but I would think the Sonic Balance would be a more appropriate comparison. The Balance is more in the daily trainer/long run category than the Accelerate. Version 4 of the Sonic series is now available, and they look to have dropped an oz from version 3.

Sam Winebaum said...

Hi Anonymous,
Unfortunately not every tester can run every shoe and providing a contrast here can be helpful. Balance is for sure a good comparison I have run Triumph 19 and Sonic 3 Balance and T19 is plusher, less responsive, heavier and more cushioned. Balance is very stable at the forefoot maybe more shock vibration absorbing but a bit duller in feel but also more purposeful. If one needs a faster oriented daily trainer with more pop Balance is a good choice,
Sam, Editor

Feel said...

Hi RTR, I think you've made a mistake when comparing Triumph vs Velocity Nitro. Velocity is lighter.

Sam Winebaum said...

Hi Feel,
Thank you very much for picking up on that. The Velocity is a solid ounce / 28g lighter.
Sam, Editor

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I recently bought a pair of Saucony triumph 19 size 11 (45 EU) and noticed that the left shoe weighs 309 grams while the right 323.
As it was the first time I saw such a difference, I visited the local saucony store to replace it with a new pair, to only find out that the other pair of size 11 (available) had the same issue (left 303 gr, right 318 gr).
The local store says such differences are acceptable.
What is your opinion? (I suffer a tear of the medial meniscus,left knee)

Thanks,
Konstantinos