Nike Vomero Plus vs Saucony Triumph 24: Which Max Cushion Trainer Should You Buy?

Introduction

Max cushioned neutral trainers are having a moment, and the Nike Vomero Plus and Saucony Triumph 24 are two of the better options on the market right now. Both are built around a simple promise: a huge amount of foam underfoot, genuine comfort and support for easy miles, and a little bit of versatility on top.

What sets these two apart from more one-note max cushion shoes is that both have impressive midsole foams and a slightly more fun, energetic ride than the category average. They are not just about protection. One leans into bounciness, the other into a lighter, nimbler feel, and that difference shapes the whole comparison.

Specs and Pricing at a Glance

The Saucony Triumph 24 costs £170 or $170, while the Nike Vomero Plus is £155 in the UK but $180 in the US, so which is cheaper depends on where you shop. In weight, the Triumph 24 comes in at 272 g (9.6 oz) in a UK 9 / US 10, with the Vomero Plus at 300 g (10.6 oz) in the same size.

Both shoes share a 10 mm drop. The Vomero Plus has the higher stack at 45 mm heel and 35 mm forefoot. The Triumph’s stack is a little confusing: Saucony’s US site lists 43 mm at the heel and 33 mm at the forefoot, while the UK site says 40 and 30. Either way, the takeaway is the same: it is a genuinely cushioned shoe, just slightly less cushioned than the Vomero Plus.

Design and Build Quality

The Vomero Plus goes all in on plushness. Its upper is a very thick engineered mesh with generous padding around the tongue and collar, which delivers a lot of step-in comfort even if it is not the most breathable material around. Underfoot sits a ZoomX midsole, a TPE-based foam that is very springy and resilient, giving you a little squish on landing and then bouncing you straight back. The outsole is a waffle-pattern rubber with essentially full coverage, which has held up well in use and bodes well for a shoe you expect to rack up serious mileage in.

The Triumph 24 uses an engineered mesh upper too, but it is a bit lighter and more breathable around the forefoot, and slightly thinner there than the Nike. You still get loads of padding on the tongue and collar, plus a big internal heel counter for a thick, secure feel at the back of the shoe.

Upper and Outsole Details

The Triumph’s midsole is Saucony’s IncrediLock foam, an aliphatic TPU that is new to the Triumph and Hurricane this year. It is not quite as squishy as the ZoomX on the Nike, but it delivers a resilient feeling with plenty of bounce back and energy return.

On the outsole, the Triumph runs XT-900 carbon rubber with good coverage on the forefoot and heel, though it is not as extensive as the Vomero Plus and the rubber is not quite as thick. There are no major durability concerns, but the Nike’s fuller coverage should give you a bit more longevity, which matters in a trainer built for hundreds of miles.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes fit true to size in a UK 9 (US 10), and that is the straightforward advice here: stick to your normal running shoe size. Both give a nice amount of room around the toes, roomy in the way a max cushion daily trainer should be, without feeling oversized.

Heel and midfoot hold is good in both, and the heavy padding on the tongue and collar secures you comfortably at the back of the shoe. That padding could feel a touch oppressive in hot weather, but it did not become a problem even on long runs in either shoe. All around, the fit is reliable in both.

Nike Vomero Plus: The Bouncier, Sinker Ride

The Vomero Plus has the softer, squishier feel of the two. You sink into that ZoomX midsole and then get bounced right back, which is the key thing. Plenty of max cushion shoes are sinky without returning energy quickly, leaving you wading through foam on easy runs. The Vomero Plus avoids that trap: the more you put in, the more energy you get back.

Despite the 10 mm drop, it rolls through with a fairly smooth, slightly rockered feel onto the forefoot, and the squish at the heel means you never get that snapping sensation you find in firmer 10 mm drop shoes. Even though it is neither light nor small, it works surprisingly well at steady paces because it returns everything you invest at speed. Tempo and interval sessions would be a stretch too far, but as a daily trainer it handles easy runs, recovery runs, long runs and easy-to-steady work with aplomb. A wide base also keeps it reasonably stable for a high-stack shoe with soft foams, and it has been a long-time favourite in this category for good reason.

Saucony Triumph 24: The Lighter, Nimbler Alternative

The Triumph 24 is a big return to form for the line, largely thanks to the new IncrediLock aliphatic TPU midsole. It is not quite as soft as the Nike’s foam, but it is definitely soft and comfortable at the heel, and the transition is smooth for a 10 mm drop shoe.

It feels a little snappier than the Vomero Plus, moving you onto the forefoot cleanly and pushing off the toes with a nice resiliency. It is not quite as bouncy as the Nike, but it is a bit lighter and nimbler, with a slightly more secure, traditional feeling underfoot that some runners will prefer. Beyond easy and long run paces, it handles steady runs reasonably well for such a cushioned daily trainer, and it may have a slight edge if you occasionally want to push a faster workout in the same shoe.

Head to Head Verdict

Riding back to back, both shoes have lovely soft heel landings with plenty of protection, and neither feels wiggly or wobbly underfoot. For high-stack shoes with fairly soft midsoles, both feel reasonably stable. The uppers are broadly equivalent, with perhaps a touch more breathability from the Triumph.

The Nike leans into bounciness with a poppier feel and more energy return, while the Triumph gives you a lighter, more agile sensation. The outsole is where the Vomero Plus earns a clear win: its fuller, thicker rubber coverage should reward the high-mileage daily runner, and that extra durability probably explains some of the extra weight, but in a good way for this category.

On price, the Triumph is more expensive in the UK but cheaper in the US. However, the Vomero Plus has been out for a while and is nearly always on sale somewhere, so it will likely be the cheaper option at most times you go looking. If it is cheaper, it is also the more fun and enjoyable daily trainer, which makes the decision easier.

Conclusion

If you are picking one trainer to do everything, the Nike Vomero Plus is the max cushion shoe to go for here. It has that extra bounce and fun factor on daily easy miles, it does not sacrifice stability, and frequent discounts make it the better value in most cases.

The Saucony Triumph 24 still has a strong case as the slightly lighter, slightly more stable and traditional-feeling option, with perhaps a hair more versatility for faster sessions. Both work best in tandem with a faster shoe in a rotation, but for pure comfort with genuine energy return, the Vomero Plus just about wins.