The Saucony Triumph 23 is a premium daily trainer that marks another chapter in the long history of a Triumph series that has undergone so many changes in recent iterations. Saucony addressed some of the most notable flaws of the Saucony Triumph 22, shaving off over 20g of weight, and making the PWRRUN PB midsole a bit softer and bouncier. The thickly padded upper of the Triumph 23 is designed for comfort, but it is not very breathable and can get uncomfortably hot in summer temperatures. The firm forefoot can also feel harsh at faster paces. Overall, the Triumph 23 is a solid shoe designed to get through the grind of everyday runs with no frills and no thrills.
Our Verdict
The Saucony Triumph 23 is a decent shoe for runners who are just focused on finishing a marathon. The shoe has enough cushioning and stability to get you through 26.2 miles, but it's too sluggish and heavy for runners chasing a fast time.
PWRRUN PB foam has good springiness.
Too heavy for racing.
The Saucony Triumph 23 is a passable option for a 5 or 10k race. It's not built for speed, but with its firm forefoot and good energy return, it can turn over quickly when called upon. Despite its mighty name, though, this shoe is too heavy to triumph in a competitive race.
PWRRUN PB foam has good springiness.
Too heavy for racing.
The Saucony Triumph 23 gets good energy return from its PWRRUN PB midsole. However, the shoe's weight and geometry somewhat mitigate the bouncy foam, making it feel more cumbersome than its score would suggest.
PWRRUN PB foam has good springiness.
The Saucony Triumph 23 has very good cushioning, and the PWRRUN PB foam's ability to absorb impact will especially appeal to larger or heavier runners. The heel can feel a bit mushy, but the overall ride is solid and consistent.
Very soft foam in midsole.
The Saucony Triumph 23 offers great stability, thanks to its balanced construction and fully gusseted tongue. The shoe's platform is more flared on the medial side than the Triumph 22, contributing to the wider base and greater medial stability.
Wide midsole creates stable base.
Fully gusseted tongue helps with with lock down.
Soft heel foam can be unstable.
The Saucony Triumph 23 fits remarkably true to size. The arch is accommodating without being too loose, the length is spot on, and the forefoot is gently tapered, allowing enough room for some toe splay. Most runners can buy in their usual size.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 11, 2026:
We updated the Popular Running Shoe Comparisons box to mention the latest iteration of the Saucony Ride in the brand's lineup.
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Updated Feb 27, 2026:
We updated the review to include text for the new Fit usage box, which was recently added to our test bench.
- Updated Feb 20, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.10, adding a new set of fit tests to the Design section and an overall fit performance usage. Check out the details in our changelog.
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Updated Oct 23, 2025:
We updated the review to include text for the Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test, which was recently added to our test bench.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Saucony Triumph 23 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label for our pair, in the Grey/Shadow colorway. The shoe is also available in numerous other colorways, depending on your region. The shoe is available in Regular and Wide versions for both men and women. There is also a GTX version, which has a waterproof, GORE-TEX lined upper. The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other sizes and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Saucony Triumph 23 is a premium daily trainer that captures some, but not all, of the qualities that have made the Triumph series a popular shoe for so many years. As a comfort-oriented everyday running shoe, it stacks up well against the Brooks Glycerin 22, Nike Vomero 18, or ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27. The Triumph 23 is now significantly lighter than these rivals, thanks to Saucony trimming weight from the Triumph 22. Nevertheless, the Triumph 23 is still not a speedy shoe, and remains better suited for easy, everyday runs than harder workouts.
Saucony's lineup contains a robust selection of daily trainers, with the Triumph 23 being at the more cushioned end of the spectrum. The Saucony Ride 19 is more of a classic daily trainer with a more consistent ride that can handle a wider range of paces. The Saucony Guide 18 is a stability-focused daily trainer that has multiple guidance features to correct overpronation. The Saucony Hurricane 25 is also a stability shoe, but with enough cushioning and energy to be a good long-run shoe.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes, as well as the best running shoes for men and the best running shoes for women.
The Saucony Ride 18 and Saucony Triumph 23 are two of the American brands' most popular daily trainers, each providing a different experience underfoot. The Triumph 23 is the softer, more cushioned option and has a steeper heel-to-toe drop, which will appeal to heel strikers. The Ride 18 gives a firmer feel underfoot, but is less bulky than the Triumph 23, and is an overall more versatile shoe. Both shoes have good energy return from their midsoles, but the overall geometry makes both of them somewhat less lively than their scores would suggest.
The Saucony Triumph 23 and Brooks Glycerin 22 are both popular cushioned models from their respective brands, and are part of product lines that are undergoing significant evolution. In this respect, the Triumph 23 is a step ahead of the Glycerin 22, as Saucony has managed to make this iteration of the Triumph significantly lighter while still providing better cushioning. The Triumph 23 also returns energy much better than the Glycerin 22. One area where the Glycerin 22 has an advantage would be for heavier heel strikers, as the cushioning in the rearfoot of the Glycerin does a better job of absorbing impact at higher force levels.
The ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 and Saucony Triumph 23 are both highly cushioned daily trainers that prioritize cushioning over performance. However, the Triumph 23 is noticeably lighter and has more bounce than the NIMBUS 27. This weight difference is largely due to the NIMBUS 27's much higher stack height, and the taller stack of foam in the ASICS shoe does provide better impact absorption.
The HOKA Clifton 10 and Saucony Triumph 23 are similar on paper in terms of weight and overall geometry, but they deliver different daily-training experiences. The HOKA is a comfort-first, cushioned trainer that prioritizes protection and a smooth ride, making it a dependable choice for relaxed miles when you want a plush feel. The Saucony feels more modern and well-rounded, combining cushioning with a more energetic, bouncier sensation that keeps the shoe engaging. It also feels more stable overall, which can make it easier to trust for longer steady runs when form starts to fade.
We buy and test 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 so team members can log in miles. This real-world testing is conducted at various paces and conditions, across 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
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