The Saucony Triumph 22 is designed for runners seeking a max-cushioned, comfortable experience on long or relaxed runs. For the first time in the Triumph series, this shoe uses a version of Saucony's PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam for its midsole, otherwise found in their more premium shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. This shoe aims to deliver effortless transitions and reliable performance, whether you're hitting the pavement for recovery miles or leisurely runs.
Our Verdict
The Saucony Triumph 22 is not primarily designed for marathon racing due to its considerable weight, which can be a limiting factor for long-distance runs where lighter shoes are more efficient. Additionally, it lacks a plate in the midsole to add snappiness. However, the shoe offers good cushioning and lateral stability, providing comfort and support during extended runs.
Premium foam provides better energy return.
Heavy weight.
Unplated.
For shorter distances, the Saucony Triumph's 22 performance is not bad. The forefoot foam is quite stiff, but the foam doesn't have the bouncy response runners typically prefer for these distances. The lack of a plate also affects its overall performance, making it less suitable for runners looking for a fast-paced experience.
Premium foam provides better energy return.
Forefoot foam is quite stiff.
Heavy weight.
Unplated.
With the introduction of PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam, the Saucony Triumph 22 provides reasonable energy return, especially for a max-cushioned trainer. While it's not specifically designed for speed, it can pick up the pace for a few strides if needed. However, it's not as snappy as a racer.
Premium foam provides better energy return.
Energy return is still just okay.
The cushioning in the Saucony Triumph 22 is good, providing a balanced level of comfort and protection. The heel and forefoot cushioning are well-distributed, offering a smooth ride and reducing impact on the joints.
High stack height.
The Saucony Triumph 22 offers very good lateral stability, making it a reliable choice for runners who need extra support to stay balanced, especially on longer runs or uneven terrain. Its wide arch base plays a big role in this, creating a solid foundation that helps prevent wobbling. However, what keeps it from being exceptionally stable is its relatively soft heel and high stack height, which makes you feel elevated off the ground.
Wide outsole base.
Forefoot foam is quite stiff.
Heel is quite soft.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Oct 22, 2025:
We've adjusted this review's writing to align with the new test bench, including updates to all usage scores and test boxes for Cushioning, Firmness, and Energy Return. We've updated the side-by-side comparisons with other shoes accordingly.
- Updated Oct 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.2, which updates our methodology for the impact force range used in our compression tests to improve their accuracy. This also affects all usage and performance usage boxes using those compression tests as score components.
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Updated Aug 21, 2025:
We mentioned the recently reviewed PUMA Magnify NITRO 3 and added a comparison in the Popular Running Shoe Comparisons section.
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Updated Jul 30, 2025:
We revised the phrasing in the Marathon Racing, Lateral Stability, Heel Cushioning, and Forefoot Cushioning boxes to reflect the changes in the latest test bench.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Saucony Triumph 22 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label. The color shown here is ViZiBlue | Pepper. This model is available in a variety of other colorways, including Cloud | Navy, Navy | Gum, White, Vapor | Moon, and Moon | Eggplant. A waterproof GORE-TEX version in a Mirage | Navy colorway is also available for both men and women.
Wide versions are offered separately for both men and women. Additionally, there's a Brindle version in collaboration with Nordstrom, featuring a suede and brindle hair upper. Due to the different materials, the specifications (like weight) and test results for the Brindle version may differ from the standard Triumph 22.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
As a daily trainer, the Saucony Triumph 22 caters well to runners who prioritize stability and cushioning for their easy runs. Thanks to its PEBA-based foam, it also offers acceptable energy return, especially for a daily trainer. You could pick up the pace in it for higher intensities, but it wouldn't be the ideal choice for speed. Runners looking for a lighter, more energetic daily trainer with similar cushioning might want to check out the PUMA Magnify NITRO 3.
Within Saucony's lineup, the Triumph 22 serves as a max-cushioned daily trainer, offering comfort above anything else. In contrast, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is a lighter super trainer that returns more energy, making it better suited for faster training sessions. For those seeking even more speed, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, one of the brand's carbon-plated super shoe, delivers great energy return while remaining versatile enough for both racing and faster workouts.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes.
The Saucony Triumph 22 and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 come from the same brand but serve different purposes within a runner's rotation. The Endorphin Speed 4 is a super trainer featuring a plastic plate, which enhances stability and provides significantly more energy return. This makes it well-suited for faster-paced training and racing. The Triumph 22, in contrast, offers more cushioning, providing greater comfort for daily mileage and recovery runs. That said, the Endorphin Speed 4 is a more premium model aimed at more performance-oriented runners.
The Saucony Triumph 22 and the HOKA Clifton 9 are two popular daily trainers that share a similar level of stability, with the Saucony having a slight edge in this aspect. However, they differ significantly in other key areas. The Saucony offers far superior cushioning and energy return compared to the HOKA, making it a great option for runners prioritizing comfort and a more bouncy ride. On the other hand, the HOKA is considerably lighter, by approximately 35 grams, making a noticeable difference for those who prefer a more effortless, lightweight feel during their runs.
The ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26 and Saucony Triumph 22 are both premium daily trainers built for comfortable, easy runs. Both are on the heavier side, but the Triumph 22 is lighter and uses a higher-end midsole that delivers more energy return. The GEL-NIMBUS 26, on the other hand, has a higher stack height and more balanced cushioning. If you want max softness, go with the Nimbus; if you value a bit more versatility, the Triumph is the better pick.
The Saucony Triumph 23 is the successor to the Saucony Triumph 22 and contains a number of noteworthy tweaks and improvements. The 23 is noticeably lighter, and although both have PWRRUN PB foam, the 23 is softer and better cushioned. The Triumph 23's midsole has more medial flare, leading to a wider base and a slightly more stable ride than the 22.
We've recently started buying and testing running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The shoe leans towards the heavier side, which can make it feel less nimble compared to some lighter daily trainers like the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4.
The energy return from the heel is alright: there's some responsiveness from the foam, but it lacks the springiness found in more performance-oriented shoes like the adidas Adizero Evo SL. It doesn't provide much rebound to propel you forward.
The forefoot is better than the heel at returning energy, offering a moderate bounce. While it doesn't have the aggressive snap of a super shoe, it still provides an adequate amount of energy return.
This model features very good heel cushioning, delivering a mushy feel, especially for heel strikers.
The Saucony Triumph 22 absorbs a good amount of energy at low forces, contributing to its plush feel, which is ideal for easy miles. As the forces applied increase, the energy absorption also rises (as expected with any shoe), but it does so proportionally less than other running shoes. This results in decent overall forefoot cushioning, providing comfort without feeling overly cushioned at higher intensities.
This shoe lacks rigidity in the heel, which can be both good and bad. The low stiffness contributes to a softer feel, which is ideal for runners seeking comfort. Unfortunately, the lack of stiffness compromises the shoe's stability, and it may not perform as well in situations where a firmer heel is beneficial for control.