Saucony Triumph 20 vs Nike Invincible 2: Which Max Cushion Shoe Deserves Your Money?

Introduction

Max cushion shoes have quietly become the comfort-first backbone of many running rotations, and two of the most talked-about options sit at the very top of the category: the Saucony Triumph 20 and the Nike Invincible 2. Both are premium trainers built around plush foam and generous heel-to-toe cushioning, yet they feel noticeably different on the run.

One leans fully into soft, bouncy enjoyment for easy miles. The other trades a little of that squish for a firmer, more directed ride and broader versatility. Here is how they stack up.

Key Specs at a Glance

Both shoes are expensive, but the Invincible 2 is the slightly pricier of the pair at £165 in the UK or $180 in the US, while the Triumph 20 comes in at £155 UK or $160 US. The Triumph carries a 10mm heel-to-toe drop, and the Invincible is believed to be around 9mm, though Nike never confirms exact numbers.

Weight also favours the Triumph: it tips the scales at 292g (10.3oz) in a UK size 9, versus 303g (10.7oz) for the Invincible. The Invincible 2 is broadly similar to the original version, adding a bit more foam for a softer feel and a lighter flyknit upper with generous padding around the collar and tongue.

Construction and Midsole

The Invincible 2’s midsole uses ZoomX, Nike’s best and bounciest foam, the same material found in the Vaporfly. There is no carbon plate here, so the result is a very soft, springy feel underfoot. To tame that soft foam, Nike adds a heel clip around the back of the shoe and a notably wide base for stability. A full waffle outsole means there is no exposed foam to worry about.

The Triumph 20 uses a breathable mesh upper with plenty of heel and collar padding, plus a firm plastic heel clip built into the upper for stability. Its PWRRUN+ midsole and PWRRUN+ sockliner carry over from previous Triumph models, but the foam has been tweaked to be lighter and softer, which drops the weight and adds a bit more fun to the ride. A more pronounced rocker profile aims for a smooth heel-to-toe transition. You do not get a full rubber outsole, but coverage is strong across all the key impact zones, so the small patches of exposed foam are not a real concern.

Fit and Sizing

Both testers found both shoes true to size, with no need to size up or down in either. The Triumph offers a comfortable, roomy fit with no heel slipping.

Nike sizing can vary between models for some runners, but the Invincible 2 fit bang on in normal size, with a good amount of toe box room and no slipping. If you are usually nervous about Nike’s fit quirks, this one behaved well.

How They Feel on the Run

These are both premium cushion shoes built for a similar purpose, but they feel very different underfoot. The Invincible 2, with its ZoomX foam, makes easy runs genuinely enjoyable. It feels bouncy into the later miles, protects your legs and knees, and leaves you feeling fresh even after long efforts. That said, it is largely a shoe for easier running. Push the pace and it feels a bit undirected: you squish into the foam and it bounces you along rather than rolling you forward.

The Triumph 20 has more to offer beyond easy miles. Compared with its predecessors it is more versatile, handling everything from recovery runs up to short marathon-paced efforts. Its cushioning is slightly firmer and less bouncy, but the ride rolls more smoothly with a nicer turnover, and it can genuinely handle faster running even though it is not a speed shoe. The new rocker is more subtle than something like the Endorphin range’s speedroll, but the transition still feels smoother than the Invincible’s pure bounce.

Outsoles and Durability

Both shoes performed well on wear. Nike pulled the Invincible’s outsole back slightly in this version to cut weight, but coverage remains good, and the waffle tread, while it may wear down a touch quicker, held up fine over 200km on previous versions with no durability problems.

The Triumph’s outsole offers strong coverage on key impact areas despite not being full rubber, and there are no real concerns about the small exposed foam areas. Both are shoes that should last comfortably in a rotation.

The Verdict

Both are among the favourite cushion shoes out there right now, and neither is a wrong answer. It comes down to what you want from the shoe.

The Invincible 2 is the more exciting and more fun shoe, unbeatable for easy miles, protective over long mileage weeks, and pleasant to walk around in. But it is arguably a bit of a novelty shoe: within a larger rotation it works best as a dedicated easy-day cruiser, and it really sticks to that role. The Triumph 20 is the more versatile option, capable of covering more types of runs, and arguably the better pick if cushioning and comfort are your main focus and you might want to race in it, particularly for first-time marathoners.

One buying note: with the Invincible, it is worth hunting down a deal on the previous version, since the shoes are so similar and the older model can be found much cheaper. With the Triumph, go for the newest version; it is noticeably better than the last two, though if you only ever plan easy-day running, a significantly discounted Triumph 19 would still do the job.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you are a one-shoe runner or a newer runner who wants a cushioned shoe that can handle a variety of runs, the Triumph 20 is the more sensible choice. It handles easy days happily while still coping with faster efforts, and its smoother, more directed ride suits marathon training blocks.

If your rotation already has a do-everything trainer and you simply want the most enjoyable, most protective easy-day shoe money can buy, the Invincible 2 is hard to beat. It makes easy runs feel like a treat, and that alone justifies its place in a bigger rotation, even if it should probably not be one of your only shoes.

Conclusion

The Triumph 20 wins on versatility and value for the money, while the Invincible 2 wins on pure enjoyment and cushioned comfort. Match the shoe to your rotation: the Triumph if you need one shoe to do more, the Invincible if you want easy miles to feel special.