Saucony Triumph 24 review: lighter, softer, better but still not for me

The Triumph 24 is the best version of Saucony's plush daily trainer yet, and if you've been running in the Triumph line for a while, the 24 is the version that finally moves things forward in a noticeable way.

Saucony's flagship neutral daily trainer has swapped its long-running PWRRUN PB midsole for a new foam called incrediLUX, dropped meaningful weight, and added a taller stack underfoot. The brief is the same as before (plush, protective miles for runners who want comfort over speed), but the execution feels sharper.

It's also $10 more than the Triumph 23 at $170. Here's how the changes shake out after putting some miles in.

Key specifications

• Price: $170 at saucony.com - Available for purchase June 1.
• Weight: 8.6oz / 244g (Men's US 9, my pair on the scale)
• Drop: 10mm (43mm heel / 33mm forefoot)
• Upper: Breathable engineered mesh with a plush, secure fit
• Midsole: incrediLUX foam (new for this version)
• Outsole: XT-900 carbon rubber with some exposed foam zones
• Extra attributes: SRS sockliner, vegan construction, contains recycled materials

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Sizing and fit

The Triumph 24 fits true to size with a medium width, but there's noticeably more volume in the shoe overall compared to the 23.

If you found the previous version a touch snug through the midfoot or over the instep, this one gives you more room without feeling loose.

The collar and tongue are still beautifully padded, and lockdown is secure without any pressure hotspots around the Achilles.

Performance review

The Triumph 24 keeps the DNA of the 23 (a comfort-first daily trainer for easy miles and heel strikers), but almost everything around that core idea has been improved, or at least 'updated', depending on who you ask.

The new foam, the lower weight, and the more breathable upper add up to a shoe that feels meaningfully better to run in.

Softer foam, but it doesn't bottom out

The new incrediLUX foam is the headline change, and it's the right kind of soft.

There's a gentle sink-in feel at every footfall that the PWRRUN PB midsole on the 23 didn't quite have, but it doesn't bottom out or feel mushy when you push off.

For long, easy miles, this is exactly what you want. The cushioning soaks up the road without making the shoe feel dead, and there's enough rebound underneath to keep things moving forward smoothly.

The 10mm drop still encourages a heel-first landing, and that's where the shoe feels at its best. If you're a heel striker logging slower-paced miles, the Triumph 24 cradles every step in a way that feels protective rather than punishing.

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My one geometry gripe is the drop itself. I'd love to see Saucony bring this down to 8mm or even 6mm in a future version, just to give forefoot and midfoot strikers more reason to consider it.

The weight drop changes the whole ride

This is where the 24 surprised me most. My pair came in at 8.6oz / 244g in a US 9, compared to 10oz / 283g for the 23. That isn't a marginal difference, that's a transformation.

You feel those grams at every transition. The shoe lifts off the ground more easily, the swing phase feels lighter, and the whole ride has a livelier, more energetic expression than the 23 ever managed.

It still isn't a tempo shoe, and it isn't trying to be, but it no longer feels like it's holding you back when you do want to pick up the pace a little.

For me personally, this is what makes the 24 a much more interesting shoe. The 23 felt a bit much for my training. The 24 doesn't.

An upper that finally breathes

The engineered mesh on the 23 was fine, but breathability was a weak spot, especially in Florida heat and humidity. The 24's upper is genuinely more breathable, with a more open weave that lets air move through properly on warmer runs.

The plush upper feel hasn't gone anywhere. The collar and tongue are still beautifully cushioned, the fit is secure, and the upper conforms nicely to the shape of the foot. It's a more refined version of the same idea.

The squeak you'll probably notice

I have to flag this honestly. There's an annoying squeak coming from the insert rubbing against the midsole on my pair, and I've noticed the same thing across the latest Saucony releases that use the new incrediRUN and incrediLUX foams.

Sticking the insert down with a bit of glue would almost certainly fix it, but it shouldn't be on the runner to do that out of the box. It's not a deal-breaker, but in a quiet park or on a treadmill it's distracting enough to be worth mentioning.

The outsole keeps the same compromise

The XT-900 carbon rubber covers the key abrasion zones, but as with the 23, there's exposed foam in the center (drops weight and allows for more flex) that will probably wear faster than the rubber.

For traction on dry roads and damp pavement, it's been more than adequate. I wouldn't take this anywhere near light trails, but for the kind of runner this shoe is aimed at, that isn't really the point.

Easy days are where this shoe lives

The Triumph 24 is a recovery and easy-day workhorse. Long Sunday miles, conversational training runs, walking around between sessions, even some treadmill work, this is its zone.

If you want a faster, lower-drop, more responsive shoe for tempo work or progression runs, you'd want something like the Endorphin Speed 5.

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My verdict

The Saucony Triumph 24 is a much better shoe than the 23, and the changes are the right ones.

The new incrediLUX foam delivers a softer, more sink-in ride, while maintaining responsiveness.

The weight drop is significant enough to change how the shoe feels at every pace, and the upper finally breathes the way you'd want a max-cushion daily trainer to breathe.

The squeak from the insert is annoying, the price has crept up to $170, and I still wish the drop sat lower than 10mm. None of those are enough to undo what the 24 gets right.

If you're a heel striker, a heavier runner, or simply someone who wants plush, protective cushioning for slower-paced daily miles, the Triumph 24 is one of the most enjoyable versions of this shoe Saucony has put out.

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