Saucony Triumph 24.

The Gavler Review.

Saucony Triumph 24 Review: The Softest Shoe Here, and Finally Light Enough

The Saucony Triumph 24 ranks fourth on our Best Running Shoes list with a 9.3 — the softest shoe in Gavler's top tier, and by Doctors of Running's account, the first Triumph that has ever felt like a genuinely premium daily trainer. At $170, buy it if you want maximum plush cushioning in a shoe light enough to still move. Skip it if you prefer a firmer, more connected ride, or if you spend a lot of the day standing and walking rather than running.

What it actually is

Saucony spent 2026 overhauling its midsole lineup, and the Triumph 24 is the clearest result. It moves to IncrediLUX, an ATPU-based foam that Doctors of Running's David Salas describes without qualification: "IncrediLUX is one of the softest foams that I have ever tried." What makes that notable is the shoe doesn't pay for it in weight — Salas measured it at 8.8 oz / 250g in a men's 9, on a tall 43mm heel / 33mm forefoot stack, a cushion-to-weight ratio Saucony's trainers hadn't achieved before.

To keep that much soft foam from feeling unstable, Saucony built in a wide base, embedded midfoot sidewalls, and a rounded rocker — structural choices aimed at keeping a genuinely soft ride from feeling tippy underfoot.

In use

Salas's verdict is the strongest single endorsement in his write-up: "This is the first Saucony Triumph that I have worn that feels like a) a true premium daily trainer and b) noticeably different from the Saucony Ride." That's a meaningful statement from someone who has tested the line across multiple generations — it signals a real material and design step forward, not just a color update.

The shoe is happiest at daily, easy-effort paces, which is exactly its intended job. But Salas also notes real range: "I found the Saucony Triumph 24 to be best at daily paces, but the light weight allows for it to pick up the pace surprisingly well." That combination — deep cushioning that doesn't feel heavy — is what separates it from older max-cushion trainers that trade speed for plushness outright.

Strengths

• Exceptional softness without the usual weight penalty. At 8.8 oz on a 43mm stack, it delivers more cushioning per ounce than the Triumph line has managed before.
• A structurally stable ride despite the soft foam. The wide base and midfoot sidewalls keep IncrediLUX from feeling unstable, a real engineering solution to soft foam's usual weakness.
• Genuine range for a max-cushion shoe. It's built for easy miles but doesn't fall apart if you pick up the pace, which is unusual for a shoe this plush.
• A real generational leap, not a refresh. Salas's direct comparison to the cheaper Saucony Ride underscores that this isn't an incremental Triumph update.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

• It is a very soft shoe, full stop. Salas is candid: "The Saucony Triumph 24 will not be for everyone. You will need to like softer foams." If you prefer a firm, ground-connected feel, this isn't the shoe to force yourself into.
• Standing and walking is a specific weak spot. Doctors of Running flags that runners sensitive to soft foams may find the compression noticeable during longer ground-contact activities — a real consideration if you're on your feet outside of running too.
• Not the pick for a firmer, more connected daily ride. Runners who want that should look toward the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 or Nike Pegasus 42 elsewhere on this list.

How it compares

One rank up, the New Balance 1080 v15 makes a similar bet on deep, soft cushioning but on a taller, slightly heavier platform — 40mm stack at 9.2 oz versus the Triumph's 43mm at 8.8 oz. Both are max-cushion shoes for neutral runners, but the Triumph 24 is the lighter, arguably more versatile of the pair, while the 1080 v15 leans further into pure plush comfort.

For runners who read this review and land on "too soft for me," the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 further down the list is the direct answer — a firmer, more connected ride from a rebuilt midsole that still delivers genuine value at $150.

Both comparisons point at the same underlying decision: the Triumph 24 is Saucony's answer to "how soft can a daily trainer get while staying usable," and it's worth cross-shopping against anything else on this list that claims maximum comfort before you commit $170 to it.

Who should actually buy this

The clearest buyer for the Triumph 24 is a runner logging mostly easy and long miles who has tried firmer trainers and found them jarring — someone who wants a shoe engineered specifically to be soft without falling apart structurally. Salas's A-range grades across fit, value and performance reflect a shoe with very few rough edges for that specific runner. If your training mixes in a lot of standing, walking, or faster tempo work where a firmer platform gives more feedback, it's worth trying this shoe on in person before buying, since the softness is the entire premise and not something you can dial back.

The Gavler verdict

A 9.3, with a 92 expert consensus built on Doctors of Running's A grades for fit and value and A- for performance. This is the softest shoe in Gavler's top tier of daily trainers, and the honest, repeated caveat is exactly what you'd expect from that description: the IncrediLUX foam is very soft, which will not suit every runner or every use case. Buy it if plush, lightweight cushioning is what you're after. If you want firmness or need a shoe that handles a lot of standing and walking too, look elsewhere on this list.

Common Questions

Is the Saucony Triumph 24 worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you want maximum softness in a lightweight package. It ranks fourth on Gavler's Best Running Shoes list with a 9.3, and Doctors of Running's David Salas calls the new IncrediLUX foam one of the softest he's ever tried — while the shoe still weighs a competitive 8.8 oz. The trade-off: it will not suit runners who prefer a firm, connected ride or need stability for standing and walking.

Is the Saucony Triumph 24 good for standing and walking all day, not just running?

Doctors of Running specifically flags this as a caveat — the very soft IncrediLUX foam that makes the Triumph 24 excel on easy runs can feel like a handful during longer ground-contact activities like standing and walking, where the compression is more noticeable. Runners who are on their feet most of the day should weigh that trade-off.

What changed in the Saucony Triumph 24 versus previous Triumphs?

Saucony swapped in IncrediLUX, an ATPU-based foam, on a 43mm heel / 33mm forefoot stack. David Salas at Doctors of Running called it the first Triumph that feels like a true premium daily trainer and noted it's noticeably different from the cheaper Saucony Ride — a real step up rather than an incremental update.

Saucony Triumph 24 or Mizuno Wave Rider 30 — which should I buy?

Buy the Triumph 24 if maximum softness is the priority and you're not chasing tempo work. Buy the Wave Rider 30 if you want a firmer, more connected ride with genuine range into faster paces — it's the shoe Gavler points toward for runners who find the Triumph's foam too soft.