Saucony Triumph 24 Review: A Taller, Softer Max Cushion Daily Trainer

Introduction

The Saucony Triumph 24 is a big update to a long-running franchise. This year the shoe gets significantly taller, with 43 mm of stack in the heel and 33 mm in the forefoot, keeping the familiar 10 mm drop. It also introduces an all-new midsole compound called Incred Lux, replacing the previous setup entirely.

The result is a genuinely comfortable max cushion daily trainer that manages to feel soft without being mushy. If you have followed the Triumph line over the years, this version finally leans fully into what the franchise name suggests: maximum cushion, tuned for everyday running.

Specs and Construction

The Triumph 24 uses one single midsole component: Incred Lux foam. While Saucony’s earlier Incred Run foam, seen in the Endorphin Elite series, was made from TPEE, Incred Lux is built on aliphatic TPU instead. That compound family covers a wide range of feels, from daily-training grades to race-grade formulations, and here it is tuned for comfort rather than explosiveness.

The outsole uses Saucony’s XT-900 rubber in a pattern similar to previous Triumphs. The rubber thickness is sensible: enough coverage and traction for high mileage without adding so much material that it deadens the feel of the foam underneath.

The upper is a comfortable engineered mesh, consistent with past Triumphs. Padding on the tongue and heel cup has been trimmed back this year, with ventilation added through most of the tongue, so the shoe should cope better in warmer weather. The heel cup carries a good amount of plastic structure to keep the heel seated squarely, and the padded Achilles flare comes up fairly tall.

Fit, Weight, and Sizing

Fit is straightforward. Going with your regular running shoe size worked well, and the fit is very similar to last year’s Triumph. Despite how much shoe is here, the weight is surprisingly reasonable: a US men’s size 9 measured 8.8 oz, or 248 g.

On the Road: Comfort Without Mushiness

This is where the Triumph 24 earns its keep. The ride is very soft, but not mushy, with noticeable bounce that keeps it lively. The Incred Lux foam brings to mind a modernized, lighter, airier version of classic TPU Boost-style cushioning: that same plush, dynamic compression and decompression, without the heavy weight penalty.

It is not an explosive shoe, and it is not the pick for the hardest workouts, even though aliphatic TPU can appear in performance trainers. But it is well tuned for its purpose: an extra-comfortable daily trainer with a modern max cushion ride that can handle most of your runs, most days, plus easy and recovery running.

At 43 mm of stack, some runners will raise an eyebrow at the height. In practice, because the foam is so soft, it does not feel demonstrably taller than other max cushion shoes around the 40 mm mark.

How It Compares

The Triumph has changed a lot over the years. The Triumph 22 was dense and almost stability-like in feel, so if you liked that version, the 24 will likely feel too soft and too unstable. If you have wanted the Triumph to be a true modern max cushion shoe, these changes are exactly what the franchise needed.

Saucony Triumph 23

Last year’s Triumph 23 remains a smart way to save money. It uses a beaded PEBA foam and straddles the line between max cushion comfort and daily-training pep, so it feels a little less soft, a little bouncier, and a bit denser than the 24. Visually the two are similar. It originally retailed for $170 and is now available on sale for $135.

Saucony Ride 19

The Ride has traditionally been Saucony’s daily trainer, with the Triumph as the max cushion option. The Ride 19 felt remarkably close to the Triumph 23 in testing. If you are looking for what the Triumph used to be, today’s Ride 19 is that shoe, and it currently retails for $145.

Saucony Paramount Max

Everything good about the Triumph 24, the Paramount Max takes to an almost exaggerated extreme: more softness, more squish, and more bounce from its Incred Run foam. It retails for $200 and released on July 1st. If the Triumph 24 sounds good but you want something more over the top, this is the one, provided you are willing to pay for it.

Puma Magnify Nitro 3

The Puma Magnify Nitro 3 targets a similar brief. Its stack is slightly shorter but with the same 10 mm drop, and its PEBA-based foam is peppy enough for daily training while keeping extra comfort on hand. Its busier upper makes it slightly heavier than the Triumph 24. If you want less squish and a more stable, predictable foot strike, it retails for $160, saving you $10.

New Balance 1080 v15

The New Balance 1080 v15 also gets a brand new foam this year, called Infineon. It delivers sensations close to the Triumph 24: very soft and squishy, but responsive with plenty of bounce back, never mushy. The 1080 has long balanced max cushion comfort with everyday versatility, and with Infineon it now leans a touch more toward max cushion. If the Paramount Max turns the Triumph’s dials up, the 1080 v15 turns them down slightly.

Buying Advice

The Triumph 24 is an excellent max cushion shoe that is super comfortable without feeling excessively tall. It is a great option for easy running and recovery days, and a strong pick if you are on your feet all day or want one shoe that works comfortably for both running and walking.

It releases on June 1st at a retail price of $170, which feels fair, though a slightly lower price would be welcome. If that figure is a stretch, the $135 Triumph 23 is a genuinely good bargain, and the $145 Ride 19 covers the more traditional daily trainer role.

Conclusion

The Triumph 24 finally gives this franchise a clearer identity: a modern, lively, max cushion daily trainer built on an impressive new TPU foam. It is soft without being mushy, surprisingly light for its height, and comfortable enough to wear well beyond your runs. If max cushion comfort is what you are after, it belongs near the top of your list.