Saucony Triumph 22 First Impressions: A Plush Daily Trainer Gets Performance Foam

Introduction

The Saucony Triumph 22 arrives with one genuinely significant change: the deeply cushioned neutral daily trainer now uses a full PowerRun PB foam midsole, the same performance-driven foam found in Saucony’s faster road racing shoes, the Endorphin Pro and Endorphin Speed. That should have a real impact on how the shoe performs, and it is the headline update that makes this version interesting.

Even better news for buyers: despite that substantial midsole change, the price stays the same. There was every reason to expect a price increase with an update like this, so keeping it at the same point is a welcome move. The pair tested here came in a bright orange, yellow and grey colorway that suits anyone who loves a bold everyday trainer.

Key Specs and New Upper Design

Here are the core facts for the Triumph 22:

• Price: £170 in the UK, unchanged from the previous version
• Weight: 314g in a UK 9.5, a slight increase of about five or six grams
• Stack height: 37mm at the heel, 27mm under the forefoot, a 10mm heel offset

The upper moves to a twin-layer engineered mesh construction with plenty of perforations over the toe box and tongue for extra breathability. There is a nicely padded gusseted tongue, generous cushioning around the ankle collar and heel, and a substantial heel cradle for support at the back of the shoe. An adaptive lacing system finishes things off to keep the foot secure without slippage.

The midsole geometry has also been updated. Saucony claims the rocker is now more efficient, and the midfoot profile is slightly wider for added stability and to accommodate a wider range of foot shapes. Underneath, XT-900 blown rubber covers the high-wear areas for grip in varied weather and durability over training miles.

How It Felt on the Road

The test run covered roughly 8 miles at a steady tempo of around 8:30 per mile, running through a Cornish village with a climb past a golf course along the way. From the first strides, the shoe felt very much like a Triumph: the upper is super plush and comfortable, the fit was true to size with good length, width and toe box volume, and the midfoot lockdown and heel hold were excellent with no movement at all.

Out of the box, it has that comfy old slippers vibe: the padded tongue, collar and heel cushioning make it feel immediately welcoming rather than needing weeks of bedding in.

Over the full run, the new PowerRun PB foam seemed to add a bit more bounce and energy return compared with the PowerRun Plus foam in the Triumph 21, though honestly the difference between the two midsoles is fairly small. The rocker geometry felt efficient, and the wider profile made the shoe feel grounded and stable.

Midsole and Ride Feel

The wider midsole profile is the update some riders will notice most, and it cuts both ways. On the positive side, the shoe felt very stable and planted through the whole run. Anyone who found the previous version slightly tippy will likely appreciate the new footprint.

The trade-off is balance. With more foam compound spread across a wider base, the shoe feels slightly bottom-heavy. Comparing directly against the Triumph 21, the older shoe felt lighter and better balanced on the foot. It is a familiar pattern when brands widen a midsole, and it will come down to whether you prioritize stability or that nimble, neutral feel.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is still a very comfortable, deeply cushioned neutral daily trainer that soaks up steady weekly mileage with ease, exactly what a workhorse daily should do. The plush upper may even be slightly more comfortable than the previous version, though that comfort appears to come at a small cost in breathability compared with the Triumph 21.

The one clear downside is the weight, which increased slightly rather than dropping despite the performance foam. For a shoe with this much cushioning material, 314g is not excessive, but anyone who valued the lighter feel of the previous model should try before buying. Expect a firmer-leaning PowerRun PB feel rather than a dramatically softer ride.

Buying Advice

The Triumph 22 makes the most sense for runners who want a maximum-comfort daily trainer with a touch more spring underfoot and extra stability from the wider base. If you found the Triumph 21 lacked stability, this update is aimed squarely at you. If you loved the older shoe’s lighter, more balanced feel, it is worth testing both back to back before deciding.

Conclusion

The Triumph 22 remains a standout plush neutral trainer, and the PowerRun PB midsole adds a modest but welcome energy boost to an already comfortable platform. The wider footprint improves stability but makes the ride feel a touch more bottom-heavy, and the slight weight gain is a small step backward. Longer-term testing will show how the foam beds in over the coming weeks.