Triumph 21

The Triumph 21 was the first shoe I bought when I started running, and I have now run more than 500 km in it. I expect at least another 500 km. Saucony calls it a max-cushion, lightweight daily trainer, and for me it covers easy runs, long runs, tempo, speed work and races up to the full marathon. The midsole is the main reason I bought it. PWRRUN+ gives a balanced softness you feel the moment you step in, with a slight energy return that the Nimbus does not have. I get the same softness and return at 9:00/km and at 4:00 to 4:30/km. After 500 km it still has the same pep, and even after a slow 20 km I can still pick up the pace. Saucony keeps it a little firmer than Adidas does in the Ultraboost 5, which makes it easier to go fast and go long. Heel strikers benefit most, because the heel feels extra bouncy. The upper uses a high-quality, flexible mesh with lots of holes, so ventilation is better than the previous version and it saves weight. The forefoot is wide and the toe box is spacious and taller. My US 9 is true to size, with a thumbnail's width of space. The gusseted tongue is thick and attached all the way, so it feels like a sock inside the shoe. An extra eyelet lets you lock the midfoot, but laced too tight it causes discomfort. That was the only issue I felt in 500 km. The stiff plastic heel counter and thick padding lock the heel well. Breathability is fine up to 20 km. Above 25 km it gets slightly uncomfortable, and in very hot weather you will feel it after 30 km. The outsole is hard rubber, and after 500 km it shows no wear anywhere. Traction was excellent in wet and normal conditions. I expect 800 to 1,000 km from this shoe. For absolute beginners the high stack can bring some stability issues, so I would recommend the Ride 17 instead. If you have been running for six months to a year, the Triumph 21 is a superb shoe. Triumph 20 and 21 both come on offer at ₹7,000 to ₹10,000. The 21 is around ₹8,000 to ₹9,000 now, about ₹10,000 on normal days and as low as ₹6,000 during promotions. Anywhere in the ₹7,000 to ₹9,000 range it is value for money. It is online only, through Flipkart, AJIO and Myntra, and I think the price could still come down more aggressively.