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. Personal: A- (This will be in my easy day rotation, will be great cooldown shoes, but will not be my first choice for easy days with strides) Seiler, Stephen. (2010). What is Best Practice for Training Intensity and Duration Distribution in Endurance Athletes?. International journal of sports physiology and performance. 5. 276-91. 10.1123/ijspp.5.3.276.

There are a few small things that I don’t quite understand about this shoe. For example, I (and it seems like society) would’ve preferred a flared heel counter, which is industry standard now. Also, it just feels like this shoe should have a pull tab. I’m not a tab addict like some runners out there, but it definitely would have a spot on this one. 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 Triumph 19 comes with a second set of colorful yellow laces if you want a bit more pizzaz. Not a big deal, but a nice touch. Thumbs up for night running 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.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… 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.

One problem I did have with the shoe during the 80km of testing is that on a couple of runs over 16km long where I was progressing the pace, I developed uncomfortable hot spots under my forefeet. They came and went in the later stages of the run, and it wasn’t something so painful that I had to stop or slow down, but it was a bit surprising given the amount of cushioning. 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. 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 Jeremy: Marketed as a faster shoe, I think that those two fit the same purpose of long distance responsive comfort.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. 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. 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 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. One gripe, there’s a bit of heel slip thanks to the extremely stiff heel counter. I just don’t love stiff heel counters, but it’s amply padded and although there was some movement it didn’t cause any hot spots or adverse rubbing. Cadillac of running shoes

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! 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.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. Almost a perfect fit with a secure yet soft foothold from heel to toes, and more than adequate toebox room-Jeremy/Jeff/Renee The first change I noticed is how much lighter the Triumph 19 is compared to the 18. In fact, it’s almost a full ounce lighter. This makes all the difference when you’re on those long runs. I think this is a great shoe. It’s not WOW!!! But it’s comfortable, stable, consistent, and feels great on your feet.

Adidas Ultraboost 21- For those on their heels more, the towering boost with new torsion system feels smooth and forgiving 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 fit of a shoe is crucial to me. So, when it feels like the shoe is made for me I have to celebrate. And let me tell you, I definitely celebrated when my toes splayed in this toe box. It’s wide enough for me and gives me all the room I need, especially when my feet swell up on those long runs. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the toe box. 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.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. 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. 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.” Like I mentioned before, I’ve had the opportunity to run in the past 3 models of the Triumph. That being said, Saucony definitely made some changes to the Triumph 18 to make the Triumph 19 one of the best ones yet. 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