Saucony Triumph 24 Review: Introducing incrediLUX

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

What comes to mind when you think about luxury? For some, it’s a five-star resort on white sand beaches, with fluffy towels and never-ending frozen drinks. For others, it’s a decadent eight-course meal served on fine china and white tablecloths. For me, it’s a running shoe that blends soft, smooth cushioning with a lightweight ride that seems to disappear on foot. Enter the Saucony Triumph 24.

Debuting their brand-new incrediLUX foam, Saucony promises to deliver a lighter, softer and more durable ride than the Triumph 23. Does the latest version of Saucony’s max-cushion trainer, available June 1, live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

What’s the story behind Saucony’s incrediLUX foam? Scientifically speaking, it’s a super-critically foamed ATPU (aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane) blend. In runner language, that means it’s lively and lightweight while maintaining its luxurious feel for miles at a time. The shoe is designed to feel the same from your first mile to your last, no matter the distance.

“The step-in feel of the Triumph is noticeably softer and bouncier than I expected, without feeling unstable or overly mushy. That’s the benefit of an ATPU-based foam,” explains Mason.

Tom and I both tested the Triumph 24 for long runs and felt it lived up to its promise of luxury.

“The Triumph 24 has enough cushioning for easy and long runs, and the lightweight feel and liveliness keeps it fun at faster paces,” Tom says. “Even though it’s generously cushioned, it’s lightweight and peppy on the run without feeling like it's trying to be a fast shoe. I think the incrediLUX midsole truly nails the everyday ride I look for in my training shoes.”

The shoe feels a lot lighter than it looks, with a monster of a midsole and a somewhat chunky appearance. The women’s version is almost a full ounce lighter than the Triumph 23, and the men’s is about a half-ounce lighter than its predecessor. Saucony managed to shave weight while adding even more cushion underfoot, likely due to the new and innovative incrediLUX foam.

“The Triumph 24 feels very light and lively,” Kate says. “I like how bouncy they feel, even at an easy pace. But they’re also very squeaky right out of the box. If I shift my weight just slightly, they groan a little.”

Tom also fell victim to the Triumph’s creaky commentary, but says it fades after a few runs. Think of it as their cry for attention before getting the miles they crave.

The Triumph 24’s upper won’t let you forget it’s a top-tier luxury shoe. Besides the word “incrediLUX” emblazoned on the heel, it sports a silky padded heel collar, a pillowy tongue and thick, tubular laces. To me, the laces are an important detail that can differentiate a shoe between feeling cheap and premium, and Saucony doesn’t skimp here.

“The fit feels thoughtful and well-executed,” Mason says. “It’s one of those uppers that just disappears on foot in the best way, and for me, it’s an easy A+.”

I received my usual women’s 6.5, and found the shoe to feel true-to-size. I have a little bit more length than I need, so I probably could have worn a 6, but it all depends on how you like your shoes to fit. For women who are in between sizes, I would recommend going with the smaller size.

“The Triumph 24 has a really welcoming fit right out of the box,” says Tom. “The toe box is on the wider side which I always appreciate. The padded tongue and laces give it a luxurious feel and make it easy to get a good midfoot lockdown.”

The Triumph 24 is available in standard (B for women, D for men) and wide (D for women, 2E for men) sizing, so you’ll likely be able to find your perfect fit.

Not sure about the width of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height. You can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there!

The biggest update from the Triumph 23 to the 24 is obviously the redesigned foam package. Saucony moved from their PWRRUN PB foam, which is an ePEBA blend, to the ATPU-based incrediLUX for more rebound and less weight.

“The new Triumph is definitely a sizable upgrade compared to the previous versions,” says Mason. “The upper is more refined and dialed-in, with a cleaner fit that works better on foot. But the biggest upgrade is in the midsole — the new foam brings a noticeably more energetic and enjoyable ride. Overall, it’s easily the best Triumph to date.”

As someone who’s worn plenty of previous iterations of the Triumph, I have to agree with Mason. I loved the Triumph 20 and 21, but disliked the 22. The 23 won me over yet again, and it’s hard not to fall in love all over again with the ultralight 24th version.

“I’m so impressed with how light these feel on foot. I truly forget I’m wearing them, which we all know is about as high a compliment as one can give a shoe,” says Tom.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Triumph 24 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The Saucony Triumph 24, ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 and HOKA Bondi 9 are all their respective brands’ versions of a luxurious, maximally-cushioned neutral training shoe. While none of these shoes deliver additional supportive technologies, they do offer wide bases for inherent stability and a balanced blend of softness without too much squish.

If I had to rank the three shoes from softest to firmest, I’d put the Nimbus in the softest end of the spectrum, the Bondi on the firmest and the Triumph in the middle.

The perfect shoe for you will vary based on your preferences, but it’s worth noting that the Triumph 24 is the lightest of the three.

With its soft, bouncy cushioning and luxurious, accommodating upper, the Triumph 24 is a shoe for those who don’t want to sacrifice comfort and quality. It can be used for both beginners and experienced runners alike.

For the serious runner, the Triumph is a key part of your shoe rotation. It can handle high mileage during a training block without feeling boring, and it has enough bounce to carry you through moderate efforts when you pick things up a bit,” says Mason. “For newer runners, it can do a little bit of everything; run/walk intervals, getting you through your first training program and even getting across the finish line of your first 5K. It’s comfortable, forgiving, and keeps the experience enjoyable while building consistency in a running routine.”

“The Triumph is pretty flexible, so if you're someone who needs more structured support, I'd check out the Saucony Hurricane 25,” adds Tom.