Saucony Triumph 19 vs New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11: Two Cushioned Trainers with Very Different Personalities

Introduction

If you are shopping for a cushioned running shoe, two models tend to show up on nearly every list: the Saucony Triumph 19 and the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11. Both are designed to make high-mileage running comfortable, but they work in noticeably different ways and suit fairly different types of runners. This comparison breaks down the specs, fit, ride feel and durability of each so you can pick the one that matches how you actually run.

Specs at a Glance

The numbers are close but not identical. The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 costs £135 / $149.99, weighs 255g (9 oz), and has an 8mm heel-to-toe drop. The Saucony Triumph 19 costs £145 / $150, weighs 286g (10.1 oz), and shares the same 8mm drop.

In practice, that means the New Balance is the lighter shoe of the pair, while the Saucony carries around 31g more per shoe. That weight difference is not obvious during everyday runs, but it can become noticeable when you try to push the pace over longer race distances.

Saucony Triumph 19: The High-Mileage Cruiser

The Triumph 19 is the latest in Saucony’s long line of cushioning shoes, built for runners who want comfort and a plush ride but still want the option to pick things up for faster training. The midsole uses Saucony’s PWRRUN+ (Power Run Plus) foam, a material that balances softness with a light, springy feel. The updated mesh upper is supportive and breathable, helped by Saucony’s FORMFIT design that locks the foot in place without feeling restrictive, and there is an updated rubber outsole for durability and grip, plus a wide range of colourways.

Fit is true to size and on the generous side, with a little extra room in the forefoot and some width. It is not so roomy that you lose lockdown, so most runners should be able to get a secure fit without sizing up.

In use, this is a cruiser. It is a shoe for long-distance efforts, base-pace daily runs, and simply clocking up miles in comfort. It rolls along nicely, keeps you chugging at the pace you want, and should leave your legs feeling fresh at the end of a run, consistently, over a long time. It is a workhorse that gets the job done without fuss.

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11: The Do-It-All All-Rounder

The Fresh Foam 1080 v11 is designed for comfort and versatility, from long slow miles all the way up to faster training and even racing. The Fresh Foam midsole aims to deliver a high level of cushioning while staying firm enough to feel responsive, and the sock-like bootie-style mesh upper hugs the foot with a supportive fit. An Ultra Heel shape holds the foot securely in place.

Fit is also true to size, but the shoe runs a bit narrower than the Triumph 19. The upper material at the top is an elasticated sock material, so wider feet may feel some gentle pressure on the side of the foot, but the material gives enough that it is easy to ignore. No blisters or rubbing to worry about.

This is the shoe for runners who want one pair to cover everything: slow 3k park runs, long training miles, and even race day. Plenty of runners have used it for marathon training and racing precisely because you can train in it and race in it without buying multiple pairs.

Midsole Feel: Plush Squish Versus Firm Response

The character difference between these two shoes comes down almost entirely to the foam.

The PWRRUN+ foam in the Triumph 19 is genuinely impressive: soft, cushioned, quite dense, with a little bit of bounce. If you are a big cushioning fan who likes a bit of squish underfoot but still wants the shoe to bounce back, the Triumph does that very well. It is simply a very soft, comfortable, plush ride.

The Fresh Foam 1080 v11 has plenty of cushioning, but it does not feel soft in the same way. It is firmer than many squishy midsole foams, and that firmness comes with responsiveness. That is exactly why it works so well on race day: the harder foam lets you pick up the pace far more than something squishier would allow.

The trade-off on the New Balance side is that the ride is not particularly enjoyable or exciting. The foam is not bouncy, not especially soft, but you do not really notice it either. It just does the job, whether that is a long training run or running at pace. It will not propel you forward like a dedicated super shoe with a plate; it is a solid all-rounder that ticks a lot of boxes without being exceptional at any single one.

Durability and Outsole Coverage

The Triumph 19 is built for high mileage, and that shows in the outsole. There is a lot of rubber covering the midsole foam, with no signs of wear and tear so far, and the thickness of that rubber suggests a shoe designed to last.

The 1080 v11 also has plenty of rubber, but with more exposed midsole foam in a section of the outsole. After roughly 80k, that exposed area was already showing noticeable wear, and the previous version (the 1080 v10) wore down significantly in the same spot over about 250k. Even so, the overall outsole rubber still points to a shoe that will last a good while.

Overall Buying Advice

Both are genuinely good shoes, but for different reasons.

The Fresh Foam 1080 v11 is the one to buy if you want a single pair to handle everything. It handles training runs, long slow efforts and race day without complaint. You will never be as amazed by it as you would be by a dedicated racing shoe or a dedicated cushioned long-run shoe, but it does all of those jobs and that is its biggest strength.

The Triumph 19 is not a versatile shoe. It excels at long, slow, workhorse training runs where your focus is simply to get the mileage done in as much comfort and enjoyment as possible. There is a little bounce in the midsole, so you can go somewhat faster when you want, but its real strength is keeping your legs ticking over and feeling great.

That matters for race-day planning: if you train for races, the Triumph 19 likely means owning two pairs, one training shoe and one racer. You could run a marathon in the Triumph if you just want to finish in comfort with fresh legs, but it is too heavy and too thick to help you set personal bests.

Conclusion

Choose the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 if you want one versatile, responsive, relatively light shoe that covers training and racing. Choose the Saucony Triumph 19 if plush comfort over high mileage is your priority and you are happy to add a separate race shoe to the rotation. Either way, both are comfortable, well-built cushioned trainers that will serve a clear purpose in a running routine.