Group fitness instructor and co-founder of Superhero Runners Nelson Wong returns to our shoe review series to share his thoughts with us about the Saucony Triumph 21
"Sole Mates" is a series made by runners created for runners, and a SportPlus.sg initiative to help you find the right running footwear for you and your runs. As part of this series, SportPlus.sg has teamed up with local running content creators, Key Opinion Leaders and athletes to have them share their thoughts on the latest running footwear.
In episode 17 of "Sole Mates", SportPlus.sg has teamed up with iRun Singapore, premier running store and Nelson Wong, to discuss the Saucony Triumph 21 and to find out if these shoes are worth of being perfect Sole Mates!
Saucony’s latest iteration of the Triumph series, the Saucony Triumph 21, looks to provide maximum comfort even as runners aim to deliver their high-performance runs. The latest pair maintains the same features that already made the Triumph 20 a great shoe.
In essence, the soft and light PWRRUN+ midsole cushioning as well as the grippy outsole features of the Triumph 20 were kept in Triumph 21. Saucony fans can again expect a dynamic and secure fit in this pair of shoes.
But what exactly has changed then? The newly revamped upper is the Triumph 21’s most significant change. With the inclusion of a full inner sleeve, the Triumph 21 has a complete sleeve that begins where the heel lining ends, and goes all the way to the front. This is in comparison to the partial gusset found in the previous version.
Is it finally time to cop your your first pair of Saucony’s Triumph series? Is it worth the upgrade for previous owners?
Find out for yourself by checking out the video below as both Nelson Wong and host John Yeong discuss what’s new in the Triumph 21!
Featuring a stack height of 37mm in the rearfoot and 27mm in the forefoot, the shoe has an overall offset of 10mm.
The Saucony Triumph 21 is also available in both wide and regular versions for men's and women's categories, with the pair featured in the video above in a concrete-black colourway with hints of orange in its design.
“Fresh out of the box, I love how easy it is to tie the shoe. When I put it on, it almost feels effortless! I liked how the tongue fits around my leg,” says Nelson, regarding his first impressions of the shoe.
In this episode of "Sole Mates", Nelson also shares with us his three key features of the Triumph 21, followed by his own personal running experience. This can help runners like you, regardless of your level of running experience, decide whether this shoe is the right fit for your next run!
Revamped Upper
A new flat-knit upper that Saucony incorporated into its latest model that feels plush and luxurious. The upper is built with a perforated engineered mesh for breathability which also includes a full inner sleeve.
In Singapore’s hot climate, you should definitely consider breathability as a factor especially if you intend to take the pair for longer runs. There is also a new lacing system for added comfort and a secure midfoot lockdown.
As mentioned, the Saucony Triumph 21 has a complete sleeve that begins where the heel lining ends, and goes all the way to the front. This effectively makes the Triumph 21’s upper more padded and layered, as opposed to the single mesh design of the 20. Providing a plush feel, the double-layering contributes to the shoe’s durability as well.
“Even though it’s plush, you don’t feel like it is too heavily in place and it is not obstructing the whole shoe,” adds Nelson, referring to the tongue of the shoe.
Saucony has also relocated the pull tab towards the rear, which makes it very easy for runners to put on the shoe!
PWRRUN+ TPU Foam Midsole
Lightweight, cushioned and bouncy! Establishing itself as one of the lightest premium daily trainers weighing just under 280g, the Triumph 21 is a great shoe for to clock those kilometres.
Similar to previous editions, Saucony’s incorporates the same PWRRUN+ foam. For those who may not know, PWRRUN+ foam is a type of expanded Polyurethane foam found in the midsole of the shoe and is akin to the foam found in Adidas’ Boost series for example.
“I think the midsole is decent for a neutral runner. I don't feel like too much material is being put in here,” says Nelson.
A thick PWRRUN+ insole adds more cushioning on top. A thin fabric covering the main midsole with hollow sections due to the mould inside the midsole that reduces the weight and increases the cushioning of the shoe. Another reason why PWRRUN+ technology is used is because it also highly resistant to cushioning loss, contributing to the shoe’s durability.
This is also one of the features found in the Triumph 20 that Saucony incorporated to ensure that its latest version is still lightweight and cushioned!
Durable Outsole
There is a decent amount of rubber and the positioning of the rubber is at the right space. The outsole bends and transitions into the midsole without any stiffness. This can help slow down wear and tear as well.
“There's a cavity in the heel area where it actually sinks in. It is supposed to assist you with the cushioning in your rearfoot landings. Particularly if your a heel striker, this is suppose to minimise the impact on your joints” explains John
The shoe delivers an excellent balance of ride comfort, support, and transition-friendly responsiveness. The car tyre-like design helps with the grippiness of the shoe especially during wet weather runs.
Nelson says, “Running on a wet surface, you won’t have any problem!”
My Personal Running Experience
“Comfort-wise, it is awesome for a daily trainer. I like how responsive it is and I feel the bounciness with each step that I take. I also like the upper, as it won't slide too much and also the toe box is just nice as I do not feel any discomfort and there were no blisters caused.” explains Nelson, after taking the pair for runs.
Host John Yeong asked: “If you were the designer of this shoe, what would be one thing you would change about this pair?”
“Maybe add a plate next time. One thing I want to highlight as well is that there are zero heel slippage issues. With the lacing, usually I would have to do a runner’s knot to prevent the heel from slipping. This pair, however, fits perfectly with a regular tie.”
Ultimately, this shoe is most suited for runners who want to go for 8-10km running distance, and also for longer runs. It is a true daily trainer good for mid foot or heel foot strikers due to the stack height and the overall drop of 10mm. The high stack height offers more comfort during long runs, and its semi-rocker shape provides good responsiveness in its transition.
The Saucony Triumph 21 acknowledges its successes in its predecessor, while making specific upgrades that make the latest version worth considering. The PWRRUN+ midsole is cushioned, lightweight and the durable outsole grips well on most running surfaces. I hope my sharing has given you a better insight into the shoe and help you understand its features better!
Sole Mates Overall Shoe Rating:
Comfort - 4/5
Stability - 3.5/5
Responsiveness - 4.5/5
Grippiness - 4.5/5
Value for Money - 4/5
Taking all this into consideration I would give the Saucony Triumph 21 an overall rating of 4.1 Soles, and would recommend people to use it as their neutral daily trainer for slower yet longer runs due to grippiness and comfort.
You can purchase the Saucony Triumph 21 which will be going for S$239 and you can purchase them from any IRUN store or online at irunsg.com.
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