Saucony Triumph 21 vs Brooks Glycerin 21: Which Cushioned Daily Trainer Wins?

Introduction

Few matchups in running are as long-running as the Saucony Triumph line versus the Brooks Glycerin line. For more than two decades both have served as the flagship cushioned trainers from their respective brands, and the latest iterations continue that tradition while shifting from pure max-cushion easy-day shoes toward more versatile cushioned daily trainers. Both shoes share a 10mm drop, nearly identical weights, and a similar traditional ride with padded heel collars, so choosing between them comes down largely to midsole foam character and ride feel. Here is how they compare.

At a Glance

The Brooks Glycerin 21 costs £165 or $160, weighs 283g (10 oz) for men in a US size 8 equivalent, and has a 10mm drop. The Saucony Triumph 21 costs £170 or $160, weighs 280g (9.9 oz), with the same 10mm drop. On the scales they are almost identical, though the Brooks feel very marginally lighter on the foot in testing.

The Glycerin 21 refines a major overhaul from the previous generation, adding more DNA LOFT V3 midsole cushioning, a new upper for comfort and breathability, and an improved outsole using Road Track rubber for better grip and midsole protection. The Triumph 21 keeps its PWRRUN+ cushioning in the midsole and sockliner and focuses its updates on the upper: revamped flat knit material for fit and breathability, a modified lacing system for better lockdown, a heel lock design, and a rear pull tab for easier on-and-off. It runs slightly heavier than its predecessor.

Fit and Sizing

Across multiple testers, both shoes worked best at true to size. One tester took a UK 9 in both, another a UK 8 in both, and reported that these are among the few shoes that fit perfectly with no need to size up or down. Both offer a comfortable amount of room in the toe box, a secure hold around the heel and midfoot, and padded collars and tongues that avoid lace pinch and do not irritate the Achilles.

The Glycerin 21 is the roomier shoe of the two, with more wiggle room across the top of the toe box and extra space toward the end of the shoe. The Triumph 21 feels slightly more dialed in. A nice bonus for Saucony fans: the brand’s upper shaping and fit is consistent across its current range, so if you like how other Saucony shoes fit, the Triumph 21 should feel familiar from the first lacing.

Ride Feel and Midsole Foam

This is where the shoes genuinely diverge. The Triumph 21 has a bigger overall stack of PWRRUN+ foam, with more foam in the midfoot and especially the heel. Although both shoes share the same 10mm drop, the heel landing feels earlier in the Triumph, producing a slightly more tilted, rockered ride that punches you forward through your stride. The ride is more immediate and, in one tester’s view, a touch more versatile as a result, though it leans toward the softer side.

The Glycerin 21, with its thinner wedge of nitrogen-infused DNA Loft V3 foam, feels flatter and more connected to the ground, closer to a slipper-like, whole-foot landing. That firmer midsole makes it slightly more responsive and easier to pick up the pace in, and one tester who raced in the previous Glycerin found it surprisingly good at faster efforts. Both platforms are springy with good energy return and solid cushion protection, and both outsoles gripped well on wet and hilly roads throughout testing with no issues.

For slower, easy paces around 5-minute kilometers, the softer Triumph came out ahead for one tester. Over long runs, the DNA Loft V3 foam retained its bounce beautifully deep into the run and gave the Glycerin the edge for another tester, who found it felt slightly nimbler and lighter despite the near-identical stats. The PWRRUN+ foam is dense and durable but asks for a bit more force to get the most out of it, so heavier runners may extract more from that platform.

Which One Should You Buy?

Neither shoe is a bad choice, and both would sit at the top of a shortlist for a comfortable, cushioned daily trainer. If you love cushioning, a high stack, and pure comfort at easy paces, the Triumph 21’s softer, more forgiving and more punchy ride is the more enjoyable pick. If you prefer a slightly firmer, more resilient foam that stays lively over long runs and handles the occasional faster effort without working as hard, the Glycerin 21 is the stronger option.

Value matters here too. Both are expensive at RRP, so it is worth shopping around. The Triumph 21 is the older shoe, with a successor expected soon, so finding it at a notable discount is a realistic scenario, and performance loss would be minimal. As alternatives, the Saucony Ride 17 offers a similar setup at a lower price, while the older Glycerin 20 remains an excellent shoe with a similar feel, though the Glycerin 21 adds a bit more cushion. If one shoe is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, go with the cheaper one.

Conclusion

The Saucony Triumph 21 and Brooks Glycerin 21 are two of the most capable cushioned daily trainers available, and the decision comes down almost entirely to ride character: softer and more immediate with the Triumph, firmer and more grounded with the Glycerin. Pick the one that matches your preferred feel, or simply take whichever is on better discount. Either way, you are getting a comfortable, durable, well-gripping shoe for easy and long miles.