Overview
The Triumph line has long occupied the top of Saucony’s daily trainer stack: the shoe you reach for when cushion is the priority and you are not in a hurry to get there fast. The Triumph 24 reframes that brief. IncrediLUX, Saucony’s new ATPU-based foam, replaces the previous midsole compound with a material that is simultaneously softer and meaningfully lighter; at 8.8 oz for a men’s size 9, the Triumph 24 is roughly an ounce lighter than its predecessor despite adding 6mm of stack height, bringing the total to 43mm heel and 33mm forefoot. That is an unusual combination. Most max-cushion shoes ask you to accept the weight. The Triumph 24 does not, and that changes who this shoe is for and what it can do.
Upper
The upper is a breathable engineered mesh with plush, padded collar and tongue construction that carries forward the premium fit character the Triumph line is known for. The collar padding in particular is generous without being excessive; it wraps the ankle softly and holds the heel without creating the pressure points that over-padded collars can introduce on longer efforts. Lockdown is secure across the midfoot with integrated overlays providing structure without stiffness. The toe box is slightly more generous than the Triumph 23, with a 130mm forefoot platform that gives the foot room to settle naturally at push-off. Sizing runs true. One worth noting: a small number of runners have observed a faint squeak between the removable sockliner and the midsole during the break-in period, typically resolving after the first few runs. The upper includes reflective details and is built from recycled materials throughout.
Midsole
IncrediLUX is the foam that makes the Triumph 24 worth paying attention to. It is an ATPU compound tuned for a specific character: soft initial compression that does not bottom out, followed by a rounded, compliant energy return that feels more like rebound than spring. The 43mm heel stack delivers genuine protection on long road miles; the foam does not pack out or go flat under extended loading in the way that older EVA-based max-cushion compounds can. The 10mm drop and a subtle rocker geometry guide the foot through the gait cycle without demanding any particular strike pattern, though heel strikers will find the most natural home in the Triumph’s geometry. The platform width, at 130mm in the forefoot, adds inherent stability that keeps the shoe composed underfoot despite the foam’s softness. The Triumph 24 is neutral; runners who relied on the Triumph 23’s mild stability characteristics should take note.
Outsole
XT-900 carbon rubber in a chevron lug pattern covers the heel in two strips and the forefoot in four decoupled strips, with exposed foam between the rubber zones. The decoupled design allows the outsole to flex independently across the foot rather than acting as a single rigid layer, which contributes to the shoe’s smooth, unobtrusive transitions. On dry tarmac, brick, and packed surfaces the rubber performs reliably. Wet concrete and wet stone are the outsole’s clearest limitation: the grip is adequate but not confident on slick wet surfaces, which is relevant for Pacific Northwest runners spending significant mileage on rain-soaked pavement from October through April. The exposed foam zones show cosmetic wear faster than the rubber sections but hold up functionally through normal training volume.
Performance
The Triumph 24 performs best across the middle of the weekly training spectrum: easy days, recovery miles, and long runs where the incrediLUX foam can absorb road impact over time without fatiguing the legs in the way that firmer compounds can. At those paces the foam is genuinely enjoyable; the soft compression and rounded rebound create an underfoot sensation that makes miles feel easier than they are. At moderate and uptempo paces the shoe stays responsive without becoming a liability; it is not a tempo shoe by intent, but it does not resist faster running the way that truly marshmallow-soft max-cushion shoes do. The weight reduction from the Triumph 23 is the most immediately noticeable change on the run: the shoe feels agile in a way that previous Triumphs have not, which opens its range of appropriate use upward.
Overall Conclusion
Saucony built a better Triumph by solving the problem that has held the max-cushion category back for years: getting more foam underfoot without asking the runner to carry it. IncrediLUX at 43mm and 8.8 oz is a legitimate achievement, and the ride character backs up the specs. The wet-surface traction limitation is real and worth knowing before committing to this as a year-round Pacific Northwest road trainer. For runners who want maximum cushion on their easy and long days without the weight penalty that cushion usually costs, the Triumph 24 is the most compelling version of this shoe Saucony has produced.
Final Grade: 9/10
IncrediLUX ATPU foam at 43mm, nearly an ounce lighter than its predecessor, and a ride character that earns its cushion-to-weight ratio: the Triumph 24 makes the case that max-cushion daily trainers do not have to feel like max-cushion daily trainers.
