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Buyer's Guide

Saucony Triumph 23 Review & Sizing Guide

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Buy Triumph 23 on clearance for 4-6/mile easy days and rainy long runs; skip it at full retail if you want a modern rocker geometry or low-drop ride — owners with rocker-trained legs report it feels like bricks and like a 14mm heel drop Saucony Triumph 23 (bricks and felt like a 14mm heel drop).

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Key facts

Category
Premium max-cushion daily trainer; PWRRUN PB midsole with full-coverage outsole rubber.
Stack and drop
~37mm heel / 27mm forefoot listed, ~42/32mm measured; 10mm drop — steep by 2025 standards.
Fit
True to size in length, generally roomier toebox than Triumph 21; D and 2E wide widths offered.
Best use
Daily 4-10mi easy runs, recovery, all-weather long runs; not built for fast tempo or race day.
Outsole
Bulletproof rubber grip in dry and wet; asymmetric onto heel bevel for slight lateral guidance.
Watch-out
Chunky with noticeable arch support — sole break-in took ~30mi for one owner; cornering is sluggish.

Full breakdown

Saucony Triumph 23 is the brand's premium max-cushion daily trainer for 2025 — PWRRUN PB peba-blend midsole, ~37/27mm stack with a steep 10mm drop, padded engineered-mesh upper, and bulletproof outsole rubber. r/RunningShoeGeeks owners describe it as a heavy, stable, slightly chunky daily trainer that shines on clearance: a 5'6" 163lb midfoot-striker review at 50 miles calls it an energetic, responsive, and protective midsole that does not get the dreaded squish in soaking wet conditions, with bulletproof grip energetic, responsive, and protective midsole that does not get the dreaded squish in soaking wet (or maybe highly sweaty???) conditions... durable outsole with bulletproof grip. Buy it at clearance pricing; skip it for runners who want a low-drop or rocker-driven daily.

FAQ

How does the Triumph 23 fit, and is the toebox roomier than Triumph 21?

Stay true to size on length for a normal foot; the Triumph 23 toebox is meaningfully more accommodating than the Triumph 21 and the 1080 v14 it competes against. A 163lb true-9E midfoot striker review wore a size 9.5 D and reported the upper fits perfectly, with much more vertical toebox volume than the 1080s — and explicitly said he has not had any issues with bruised toenails like he did in the 1080s there's much more vertical toebox volume. I haven't had any issues I had with bruised toenails like I did in the 1080s. The Endorphin Trainer reviewer separately notes returning the Triumph 21 for being too tapered I have returned the Triumph 21 and the Endorphin Speed 4 for being too tapered in the toe box — so the 23 is the toe-box rebound. Wide-foot buyers should still consider the 2E version.

Triumph 23 vs Nimbus 27 vs Vomero Plus vs 1080 v14 — which max-cushion daily wins?

Triumph 23 sits between Nimbus 27 (too bottom-heavy) and Vomero Plus (geometry mismatch for some) — the comparison-shopper review explicitly chose Triumph 23 after trying Nimbus 27 and Vomero Plus in store and walking out with the Saucony tried on the Gel Nimbus 27 (too bottom heavy), Nike Vomero Plus (geometry felt wrong for my feet)... I ended up purchasing these. Buy Triumph 23 if you want soft-and-stable without modern rocker; buy Vomero Plus if you want longer-stride geometry; buy Nimbus 27 if you want max stack; buy 1080 v14 if your forefoot tolerates the narrower 1080 last.

Is the Triumph 23 worth full $170 retail, or should I wait for clearance?

Wait for clearance — the Triumph 23 is widely available at $120-$130 at REI, running retailers, and on Saucony direct ahead of the Triumph 24 release that drops PWRRUN PB. The 50-mile reviewer explicitly says clearance deals that drop it into the $120 range will get you a very high quality shoe with a premium foam, comfy upper, and great outsole, and one observer at REI in-store saw it for $125ish clearance deals that drop it into the $120 range will get you a very high quality shoe with a premium foam, comfy upper, and great outsole. At retail it competes against newer rocker-driven trainers; on clearance it is one of the best value max-cushion daily shoes on the market.

Does the Triumph 23 work for fast tempo runs or marathons, or is it strictly an easy-day shoe?

Buy it strictly as an easy-day shoe — the chunky dimensions and noticeable arch support make cornering a chore, and rocker-trained runners describe the ride as bricks. The detailed review lists chunky dimensions and noticeable arch support make cornering a chore as a clear con, and notes the midsole had a break-in period of about 30 miles chunky dimensions and noticeable arch support make cornering a chore... Midsole had a break-in period. A separate reviewer who tried it and didn't like it said it felt like bricks and felt like a 14mm heel drop Saucony Triumph 23 (bricks and felt like a 14mm heel drop). Skip it for tempo and race-day use; pair it with a faster shoe like the Endorphin Speed for those runs.

How does PWRRUN PB hold up in wet weather and sweat compared to TPU midsoles?

Excellent — the Triumph 23 PWRRUN PB does not absorb water the way TPU-based midsoles do, and one Florida-summer runner explicitly confirmed no squish under heavy sweat or rain. The 163lb midfoot reviewer ran through puddles in a downpour and reported the midsole never really absorbed water like my 1080s, contrasting with his 1080s where sweat eventually gave me the 'squish' in my midsoles despite running through puddles in a downpour, the midsole never really absorbed water like my 1080s... I sweat a ton during summer running, and that sweat eventually gave me the 'squish' in my midsoles. No such issue in the rain in the Triumphs. Buy the Triumph 23 if you run in hot humid climates or wet conditions and prior peba-blend shoes have held up; the PWRRUN PB chemistry is one of the most weather-stable peba blends in the daily trainer category.