Saucony Triumph 24 vs Hurricane 26: Which Cushioned Daily Trainer Should You Buy?

Introduction

The Saucony Triumph 24 and Hurricane 26 have never been more similar on paper. Both are max cushion daily trainers built on Saucony’s new Incredilux foam, both cost £170 or $170, and both are available in regular, wide, and GTX versions. The real difference comes down to ride character and support: the Triumph 24 is a neutral shoe with a livelier, bouncier feel, while the Hurricane 26 uses a dual-density PWRRUN frame with center path technology to guide your stride. After around 60 km in the Triumph and 50 km in the Hurricane, the verdict is clear: for most runners, the Triumph 24 is now the pick, and it marks a genuine return to form for a line that has drifted in recent years.

Spec and Price at a Glance

The numbers are close, but not identical. The Hurricane 26 weighs 274 g (9.7 oz) for men in a size 9 and has a 6 mm drop. The Triumph 24 weighs 256 g (9 oz) for men in a size 8 and has a 10 mm drop. Both retail at £170 / $170, so price is not a deciding factor here. The key structural difference is the midsole: the Triumph runs a full Incredilux midsole, while the Hurricane layers Incredilux inside a dual-density PWRRUN frame with a broader base and higher sidewalls to keep the foot centered.

Saucony Triumph 24: Return to Form for the Neutral Range

The Triumph 24 gets one of the biggest updates the range has seen in years, replacing the previous PWRRUN PB midsole with full Incredilux foam. The result is a lighter, softer, more cushioned ride than the Triumph 23, and a big step back toward what the Triumph line is meant to be. The foam feels balanced and smooth, offers genuine energy return, and works well for easy miles and long runs. The engineered mesh upper improves breathability while keeping the plush feel the line is known for, and the XT-900 carbon rubber outsole covers the key contact areas for durable traction over high-mileage training.

On the run, it is comfortable, roomy, and plush, and surprisingly light for the stack. It is not especially agile and is built broader than most shoes, so it will not suit anyone chasing a snappy, nimble ride. But as a cushioned daily trainer, it does almost everything well: comfy, rolls nicely, protects over two to three hour runs, and has just enough bounce if you push the pace. If anything, it leans cushion over energy, which heavier landing runners will appreciate.

Saucony Hurricane 26: Stability Without the Clunk

The Hurricane 26 is a max cushion stability trainer designed to guide your stride without relying on a rigid medial post. Its Incredilux foam sits inside a dual-density PWRRUN frame with center path technology, combining a broader base with higher sidewalls. The outsole is XT-900 carbon rubber, slightly thicker and grippier than the Triumph’s, and the upper is a breathable mesh with thick padding for a plush but secure fit.

This is one of the springiest stability shoes we have come across. Bounce and energy are not far off the Triumph 24, which is high praise for a stability shoe. It handled paces up to 7:30 per mile surprisingly well, and the wide platform gives a reliable, cradled, controlled landing that feels noticeably firmer in the heel. The trade-off is bulk: the width and ground contact hold it back at faster paces, and it is simply a big shoe on the foot. Compared to traditional blocky stability trainers, though, it is far livelier and more fun.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes fit true to size in regular Saucony sizing and both are on the roomy, spacious side, especially in the forefoot, with lots of plush padding around the heel and tongue. Testers consistently found comfortable fits at their normal Saucony sizes across long runs, with no heel slipping once laced down properly.

The Triumph 24 is arguably the roomier of the two. One tester with a UK 8.5 / US 9.5 felt a bit swamped by the flexible upper and suggested going half a size down in the Triumph, though not in the Hurricane, which has more structure in the toe box holding the upper off the toes. Both are quite wide at the back of the toe knuckles and need firm lacing to feel fully secure. If you like a spacious, relaxed fit, go true to size in both. The thick tongues and padded collars can feel a little oppressive if you prefer a low-profile upper.

Ride Comparison: Control vs Pop

Wearing both side by side, the distinction is straightforward. The Hurricane offers a bit more control and a bit less bounce, feels firmer in the heel, and stays tamer and more consistent overall thanks to the wide platform and central guidance system. That guidance is most noticeable when landing further back in the shoe, where the Triumph can feel slightly wobbly. The Triumph edges it when the pace picks up and feels a little more sprightly, with its full Incredilux midsole giving it a softer, bouncier feel and a smoother heel-to-toe transition despite the 10 mm drop.

Neither shoe is especially light or agile in the grand scheme of things, and both are best for easy and long runs rather than fast work. But the Triumph has more pop when you push through the gears, while the Hurricane dampens its Incredilux benefits slightly with the firmer PWRRUN foam around it.

Durability and Outsole Grip

Both shoes use XT-900 carbon rubber with very similar coverage, and both outsoles performed well. The Hurricane 26 has a slight edge: the outsole is a bit more solid, thicker, and grippier than the Triumph 24’s, though the difference is not large. Expect plenty of protection and durable traction across daily mileage from either shoe.

Which One Should You Buy?

This is simpler than it used to be. If you are a neutral runner and do not need extra support, the Triumph 24 is the more enjoyable daily trainer of the two: softer, bouncier, lighter, and a genuine top-pick candidate among cushioned shoes this year. It fits the role of a comfortable all-round daily trainer for easy miles and long-distance running, with enough energy return to handle steady paces.

If you need any kind of stability, the Hurricane 26 is the one. It is a really good stability shoe that is comfortable, springy, and far from clunky, but you do notice it is a stability shoe now, which was less obvious in previous versions. It is also a sensible pick for neutral runners who worry about their gait fading on very long runs and want that extra underfoot support and consistency. On really long efforts, that broader platform is a welcome safety net.

One caveat for picky riders: if you generally prefer compact, snappy shoes, neither of these will fully convert you. The Triumph leans soft and protective, the Hurricane leans wide and steady. But within the max cushion category, they cover the neutral and stability bases as well as anything currently available.

Conclusion

The Saucony Triumph 24 is the best shoe of this pair for most people. Full-length Incredilux foam makes it a comfy, smooth, bouncier cushioned daily trainer and a proper return to form for the line. The Hurricane 26 remains an excellent shoe and an improvement on its predecessors, and it is the obvious choice if you genuinely need stability. Pick based on support: no need for it, go Triumph; need it, go Hurricane, and enjoy a similar quality experience either way.