Saucony Ride 17 vs Triumph 22: Which Cushioned Daily Trainer Deserves Your Money?

Introduction

The Saucony Ride 17 and Saucony Triumph 22 sit side by side in Saucony’s cushioned trainer range, but they represent two very different ideas of what a daily shoe should be. The Triumph 22 is the more expensive option at £170 in the UK and $160 in the US, while the Ride 17 comes in at £135 and $140. The Triumph is also the heavier of the two at 322g in UK size 9, against 306g for the Ride, and it stacks taller at 37mm heel and 27mm forefoot with a 10mm drop, compared to the Ride’s 35mm heel, 27mm forefoot and 8mm drop.

On paper they look like close siblings. In practice, testing revealed two shoes aimed at quite different runners.

Saucony Ride 17: The Versatile All-Rounder

The Ride 17 uses a PWRRUN+ midsole and sock liner, an engineered mesh upper with decent padding around the tongue and heel, and a rubber outsole with good coverage. All the key impact areas are covered, with only a few exposed foam areas in places unlikely to see heavy wear.

This shoe is a significant update to previous Ride models. Earlier versions were simple, lightweight shoes without standout foam, but the Ride 17 essentially brings the kind of feel and cushioning the Triumph 21 offered. That makes it more versatile than its price suggests: it leans toward easier runs, but you can pick up the pace a little when needed. It is comfortable, solid, and cheaper than the Triumph 22, which makes it a genuinely well-rounded daily trainer.

Saucony Triumph 22: The Max-Cushion Shift

The Triumph 22 moves to a PWRRUN PB midsole, the PEBA-based foam previously used in shoes like the Endorphin Speed and Pro. It pairs that with a PWRRUN+ sock liner, a wide base with tall foam sidewalls for added stability, a substantial internal heel counter, and an upper with even more padding around the tongue and collar than the Ride. The rubber outsole has more coverage too, though both shoes cover the key areas, so durability differences should be minor.

Despite the impressive foam pedigree, the result surprised our testers. The shoe feels firmer in the midfoot than expected, with softness mainly felt at the heel, and noticeably less bounce and rolling action than anticipated from PWRRUN PB. It has clearly evolved into a max-cushion, stable cruiser: big, wide, soft and comfort-focused, much like other shoes in that category. For heel-strikers on easy runs that softness works well, but the shoe has become far more niche than the versatile Triumph 20 and 21 that came before it.

Fit and Upper

Both shoes fit true to running shoe size and Saucony is a consistent brand across the range. The Ride 17 runs slightly narrower and a little more fitted, while the Triumph 22 offers a thicker, plusher upper overall.

One caveat on the Ride 17: the eyelets drew criticism after one tester ripped through them while tightening the laces. The Triumph 22 uses a more traditional and stronger setup, so if durability of the lacing area matters to you, that is worth considering.

Verdict

Take price out of the equation and the Ride 17 still wins for versatility, comfort and rolling feel, essentially delivering the Triumph 21 experience. Include price and it wins by an even wider margin. The Triumph 22 has gone from versatile daily trainer to a specific big-cushion cruiser, and unless you know exactly that you want that kind of shoe, the Ride 17 is the better-rounded buy.

Which Shoe Should You Buy?

The Ride 17 makes sense for most runners: anyone wanting a versatile, protective, cushioned shoe for daily training, newer runners, or fans of the previous Triumph 20 and 21 who won’t be losing much by stepping down in price. The outsole quality and upper are close to the Triumph, and it remains lightweight for how cushioned it feels.

The Triumph 22 suits a narrower buyer: heel-strikers chasing maximum softness and a big, stable, premium cruiser for easy runs. If that is exactly what you are shopping for, it delivers. Otherwise, the Ride 17 offers more shoe for less money.

Conclusion

The Ride 17 is the standout of this pair. It is more versatile, more comfortable for a wider range of running styles, and significantly cheaper, while the Triumph 22 has traded its do-everything identity for a committed max-cushion role that only a specific type of runner will truly appreciate.