Triumph 22

The Triumph 21 is one of my all-time favourite shoes, so I bought the Triumph 22 with a lot of excitement. The midsole now blends PWRRUN+ with PEBA, the same blend Saucony uses in the Endorphin Speed. To be frank, I was disappointed. Saucony has turned the Triumph into a max-cushion, recovery-type shoe. That is not wrong in itself, since every brand is doing it. But the foam gives a plush feeling, not very soft like the Nimbus or the More v5 and v6, and it has no energy at all. I expected max cushioning with a lot of energy, and it is not there. At a steady 7:00 to 10:00/km marathon pace it will carry you smoothly and safely, even without the energy return. After 40 km I started to feel a little more softness and bounce, so I expect it to become a bit more fun after 100 km, though not like the 21. Everything else is premium. You feel it the moment you step in, which only a few shoes like the Vomero Plus give me. Apart from the midsole, everything in it is 10 out of 10 for me. The one other issue is the upper. It is thick and cosy, designed for a cooler climate, and should have been more breathable for our weather. The outsole is very durable as always, and Triumph shoes last over 1,000 km. It is also one of the best walking shoes. It suits heavy runners, beginners who need a stable neutral shoe, slow runners who want a highly cushioned, plush and durable shoe for the full marathon, and people in cooler climates. If you want fast running, high breathability, or the fun of a Novablast or the springiness of a Vomero Plus, it is not there. It lists at $170, which is about ₹20,000 in India after tax. I bought it at a discount. With the 23 out for six or seven months and the 24 coming, the 22 should be on heavy offer. In India I only see it on Flipkart, and I doubt those are original, because a Triumph 20 and 21 I bought from the same seller were fake. Outside India, if you get it for ₹8,000, go for it.