Saucony Triumph 19 Review Analysis (2024)
Last update: March 2024
The Saucony Triumph 19 is a very good running shoe with soft and responsive cushioning for long-distance running.
Discover the latest version: Saucony Triumph 21
Consensus
The main change from the Triumph 18 is a significant weight drop, with a new lightweight and breathable mono mesh upper. By finally going under the 300 g/10.6 oz mark (290g for the men’s version), Saucony has finally corrected the main downside of the previous models according to runners while keeping an excellent foot lockdown.
The midsole still features Saucony’s flagship cushioning technology: PWRRUN+. The ride feels excellent: athletes love the softness and responsiveness of the cushioning.
The outsole is very resistant with a good amount of XT-900 rubber while remaining flexible and allows for miles of running without early wear on the platform. The grip is also perfect on dry and wet pavements alike.
Runners love the shoe’s new aesthetic, which is stylish and has some fun touches (yellow laces, mind you!). They also appreciate the brand’s efforts to use more environmentally friendly materials.
In summary, 2021 is a very good vintage for the Saucony Triumph, with a new version rich in improvements. We see little reason to pass upon it, especially if you’re looking for a comfortable premium shoe for your long runs.
Read our full review of the Saucony Triumph 19 for more information.
- Comfortable and lively cushioning
- Lighter shoe (finally under 300 g/10.6 oz)
- Great fitting and breathable upper
- Nice design
- Recycled materials in the upper
- Round and elastic laces, too soft and not always practical
- Rather expensive even if the comfort and quality are there
Saucony Triumph 19 Complete Review Analysis
Introduction
The Saucony Triumph is the premium high-stack running shoe by the American brand. However, just like a sibling in a big family, it has struggled to find its place, especially between the Endorphin line, which received all the attention in 2021, and the lighter (until now) Saucony Ride. This 19th version with an improved design should help it find the recognition it has lacked in the past.
The most notable change is the weight. The Triumph used to be rather heavy, but Saucony managed to trim down the upper. As a result, the shoe is an ounce lighter (30 g)! The upper didn’t lose anything with the redesign. If anything, it’s more breathable and more comfortable.
As we’re going to see in this review analysis, the Saucony Triumph 19 is a significant upgrade in the collection and may even, at last, surpass the Saucony Ride.
Cushioning
PWRRUN+ foam
Saucony seems to have found the perfect recipe for a midsole that offers both cushioning and responsiveness for long-distance runners. Please take a good dose of PWRRUN+ foam, top it off with an EVERUN layer, and consolidate with a FORMFIT sock liner. The result is a midsole ideal for daily mileage, which is convincing for most runners who have tested the Triumph 19 (even the most cushion-averse!).
Saucony chose not to change the midsole configuration compared to the Triumph 18, but we can see why: it just works. The cushioning is soft without being mushy, absorbing shock while providing an impressive energy return.
The Triumph 19 is not a max cushioned shoe, but it does provide a generous stack with a 32.5 mm heel height (24.5 mm under the toes), which doesn’t impede flexibility. The heel-to-toe drop of 8mm is identical to the previous model. It makes it a practical shoe to train at a marathon pace.
Some runners find it amusing how tastes have changed in recent years. Back in the not-so-distant past, Saucony released their PWRRUN+ cushioning on the Triumph 17; it was a revolution in the soft, plush genre. Considering the midsoles released by competitors since then, it seems almost firm today! Therefore, while the underfoot feel is soft, overall, it does have a hint of firmness that makes us classify it as moderate.
Finally, some dissonant voices find the PWRRUN+ cushioning almost too comfortable to be responsive and perform. It’s a matter of taste, as in many areas!
Foot lockdown (upper)
Mono engineered mesh, FORMFIT insole
The Triumph 19’s lightweight and ultra-breathable upper is the only real improvement over the previous model. While the mesh of the 18 version was thick and made the shoe heavy, the new mono mesh upper of this shoe uses a low density weaved fabric with minimal overlays, which gives:
- A substantial lightening of the shoe, making it more competitive with other models like Puma Velocity, whose upper is lined with an inner sleeve
- Optimal ventilation of the entire forefoot (watch out for drafts!)
The FORMFIT upper design wraps the foot in a comfort worthy of your grandparents’ wool slipper. The (true to size) fit is near-perfect, and the lockdown is optimal while leaving some freedom of movement of the foot. The toe box is spacious for a traditional shoe.
Some reviewers welcome the use of recycled materials in this upper. There’s certainly a demand for more carbon-neutral footwear in general (for information, Brooks did it with its Ghost 14, which is carbon neutral, in addition to being 100% vegan). Even if Saucony doesn’t provide the exact amount of ecological materials used in the upper, it’s still a welcome initiative.
At the rear, the heel counter is rigid and padded, while the heel collar provides a snug fit for a soft foothold. The gusseted tongue is less padded than on the previous version (presumably to shave some more weight), but it doesn’t impact the comfort.
The little plus appreciated by users: the vertical reflective cage in the heel for safe night runs.
Finally, the Triumph 19’s round, stretchy laces received mixed reviews from runners. Some like the combination with the padded tongue and find the lacing easy and effective. Others find them difficult to adjust and wonder how anyone can still offer rope laces these days. However, they agree on the yellow color of the optional laces, which brings a contrasting touch of fun to this otherwise sober and stylish shoe!
Grip and durability
XT-900 Carbon Rubber, Tri-Flex
The XT-900 carbon rubber has proven to be very effective on the Triumph 18, as well as on the majority of the brand’s road shoes. It was therefore logically renewed identically on the Triumph 19.
It covers almost the entire length of the sole for optimal grip. With its alternating diagonal blocks and 2 longitudinal flex grooves, the platform’s design aims to provide the shoe with durable traction, easy flexibility, and good durability. Proof of the effectiveness of this pattern: testers found no signs of wear after 80 km/50 miles.
The reviewers who tried the T19 are unanimous on the subject: there’s nothing to complain about this simple and effective outsole. The grip is excellent on its favorite playground, the asphalt, and even wet pavement after a good heavy rain. It also works very well on dry trails or gravel roads.
In short, the outsole ticks all the boxes and makes the hefty price tag easier to swallow.
The Ride
The result of the Saucony Triumph 19’s soft, responsive cushioning is a smooth and lively ride. Runners appreciate this shoe’s flexibility and energy return, which few competitors can boast at this level of comfort.
Although designed for all kinds of paces (from recovery runs to uptempo sessions), the majority of testers consider it more suitable for daily training and long runs than for speed workouts.
They also noted a nice forward motion during the toe-off phase when picking up the pace, which some of its competitors (New Balance 1080, Hoka Clifton) don’t have. Some compare it to the Brooks Glycerin. As far as the ride is concerned, the shoe feels great and does the job!
Conclusion
The Saucony Triumph 19 is a comfortable daily trainer for comfortable longer runs at easy to moderate paces. The midsole cushioning delivers a moderately soft ride, while the new upper is a game-changer by significantly reducing the shoe’s weight.
Without any type of fancy performance-enhancing technology like a rocker or a carbon-fiber plate, the Triumph 19 will delight runners who love running with traditional shoes but are still looking for a little bit of bounce to spice up their long run.
Comfort, responsiveness, smooth ride, durability, grip, discreet and fun look: this latest model was unanimously appreciated by runners, even those who didn’t particularly like the Triumph before. Some of them compare the Triumph 19 to the interior of a Mercedes: putting on this shoe gives an immediate feeling of premium comfort under the foot designed to last.
Facts
Technical Specs
Terrain | Road |
Pronation type | Neutral |
Drop | 8 mm |
Heel stack height | 33 mm |
Forefoot stack height | 25 mm |
Weight (men) | 290 g/10.2 oz |
Weight (women) | 259 g/9.1 oz |
Release year | 2021 |
Cushioning
Softness (1-5) | 3 – Moderate |
Bounce (1-5) | 3 – Moderate |
Technologies
Outsole | Tri-Flex, XT-900 |
Midsole | PWRRUN+ |
Upper | Engineered Mesh |
Use
Speed | Slow, moderate |
Distance | 10K, mid, long, half marathon, marathon |
Workout | Daily runs |
Comparisons – Saucony Triumph 19 vs.:
Saucony Triumph 18
The improvement is clear from one version to another. The Triumph 19 is much lighter with a more breathable upper. Unless you can find an unbeatable deal on the Triumph 18, we recommend the latest model. Your feet will thank you!
Saucony Ride 14
See the side-by-side comparison with our comments.
Saucony Endorphin Shift 2
See the side-by-side comparison with our comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, this shoe runs true to size. So you can choose your usual size.
While it’s not designed specifically for overpronators, the Triumph offers good stability. It’s to be tested but there should be no problem.
Reference:
- Saucony’s official site (here)
This comment concerns the earlier version (Saucony Triumph 18):
Shoe is a very smooth ride on flats, or down hill runs. Problem is when running hilly terrain, or whenever landing on the front foot pads; the soft squishy sole under those pads is too soft, causing for an uncomfortable ride.
+ PROS: running on flats, or downhill good lock on heel
– CONS: running on the front foot pads
Most comfortable shoes that I have ever used.
On the negative, the quality is rather poor. The upper mesh is weak resulting in toe lift. The seems on the side are disintegrating. I have given my feedback to saucony and their response was for me to take the shoe to a cobbler and get them stitched up.
This is rather a poor response considering the very high cost of the triumph 19.