Saucony Triumph 22 First Run Review: A Comfort-First Cruiser With a New Character

Introduction

The Saucony Triumph 22 marks a bigger shake-up to the line than the number suggests. The headline change is a new PWRRUN PB midsole, a PEBA-based foam replacing the PWRRUN PLUS found in the Triumph 21, aimed at improving cushioning, energy return, and responsiveness. The same foam family powers Saucony’s fast Endorphin Pro 4 and Endorphin Speed 4, so expectations were high.

Priced at £170 or $160, the men’s size 8 sample weighs 306 g (10.8 oz) and carries a 10 mm drop. It is a fair bit heavier than the Triumph 21 despite the theoretically lighter foam, thanks to a noticeably wider base and extra rubber and upper material. After a marathon, a post-marathon easy 5-miler, and a 6 to 10 km tempo check, the verdict is nuanced: this is a very different Triumph.

Key Specs and Updates

• Price: £170 / $160
• Weight: 306 g / 10.8 oz (men’s size 8)
• Drop: 10 mm
• Midsole: new PWRRUN PB (PEBA-based) foam, replacing PWRRUN PLUS
• Updated, plusher upper with more padding
• Wider base across the full length of the shoe for outsole stability
• Generous rubber coverage protecting the midsole

Fit and Sizing

Most testers stayed with their normal Saucony size and were happy. UK 9 (US 10) and UK 8 testers both found their usual size worked, with a roomy toe box and solid hold around the heel and midfoot. It is one of the roomier shoes in the Saucony lineup, so if you sit between two sizes, the smaller one is the safer bet.

That width cuts both ways. One tester ran the London Marathon in the Triumph 22 and struggled to lock down the fit, re-lacing several times because the wide forefoot felt alternately too tight and too loose. Narrow-footed runners should take the extra volume seriously. Compared with the Triumph 21, there is noticeably more padding in the tongue and heel collar, which wraps nicely and keeps things secure, and no heel rubbing was reported.

Ride and Performance

The Triumph 22 feels softer, cushier, and bigger than the Triumph 21. The heel strike lands on a big wedge of soft foam that feels protective and pleasant on easy runs, and the wider platform makes it a genuinely stable shoe that holds the foot in place.

But this is not a rocket shoe. Despite the PWRRUN PB badge, the foam here feels firmer and denser than it does in the Endorphin Pro 3, with less perceptible bounce. A midfoot striker found the midsole section deadening, with a flat heel-to-toe transition at easy 5:20/km paces. Over the marathon, the shoe started comfortable but felt too firm deep into the race, without the plush protection expected from a max-cushion trainer.

The outsole, however, is excellent. Rubber coverage is slightly more generous than the Triumph 21, and over a full marathon it showed no significant wear with solid grip in dry conditions and light rain. Durability looks promising for high mileage.

Strengths

• Very comfortable, plush upper with generous tongue and heel collar padding
• Wide, stable platform that beds the foot in securely
• Protective, well-cushioned heel for easy-paced running
• Durable outsole with good grip and strong mileage potential
• Good choice for new runners or tired-leg recovery days

Things to Consider Before Buying

• The ride is noticeably firmer and less smooth than the Triumph 21, with a clunkier transition
• PWRRUN PB here does not feel like the bouncy version in Saucony’s racing shoes
• Extra weight and width reduce the versatility the Triumph 20 and 21 were loved for
• Narrow-footed runners may find the fit too spacious
• Fans expecting more of the same from the Triumph line may be disappointed

How It Compares

The Triumph 22 sits comfortably in the max-cushion cruiser category alongside the Brooks Glycerin and the Asics Gel-Nimbus. Compared with the Gel-Nimbus, it is slightly lighter with a firmer-feeling midsole and rocker, which some may find more comfortable. The Glycerin is probably its closest match, with a softer midsole edge and slightly heavier build.

If you loved the Triumph 21’s firmer, more versatile daily-trainer character, the Saucony Ride 17 remains the closer spiritual successor in the current lineup. The Triumph 22 has moved toward a comfort-first role, using PWRRUN PB more as a comfort foam than a speed foam thanks to those wide sidewalls.

Buying Advice

Buy the Triumph 22 if you want a comfortable, protective, stable easy-day shoe, if you are a newer runner building mileage, or if you are recovering on tired legs and want something forgiving. Stick with your normal Saucony size unless you are between sizes, and think twice if you have narrow feet.

Skip it or try before buying if the Triumph 20 or 21 was your favourite versatile, cushioned daily trainer that could still handle moderate tempo work. This is a different animal: firmer through the midfoot, heavier, wider, and built around comfort rather than speed. It may soften up with more miles, but through the first 47 km the character stayed consistent.

Conclusion

The Saucony Triumph 22 is a noticeable change from its predecessors: bigger, a touch firmer, a bit more responsive, and far more comfort-focused. It does the easy-mile job well, but runners who valued the Triumph’s versatile cushioned ride may find the edge has been traded away. Test it with your own expectations in mind before upgrading.