Price: around R2,699
Type: Road
Weight: 320g (M), 270g (W)
The Right Shoe For: Runners who want a soft ride for long runs

Some runs, you just want a shoe that’s seriously, unbelievably comfy. The Saucony Triumph ISO 4 is that shoe. From its super plush heel cushioning to adaptive-fit mesh upper, the Triumph was made with cozy kilometres in mind – and our wear-testers loved it every step of the way.

“The cushioning is superb,” raved one tester. “My feet felt like they were receiving a little hug, and being sprung back up with every step.”

Heel hugging aside, the Triumph packs ultra-soft cushioning in both the forefoot and heel, especially the women’s version. Unfortunately, the extra padding does come at a cost – already a fairly hefty neutral shoe, the Triumph added a touch more weight in its fourth iteration. Some of our testers disliked having a heavier shoe on foot, but several also felt that weight was no concern given the high level of comfort.

Specifically, a few of our testers who recently completed marathons were especially grateful to have a shoe so mindful of their tired legs. The Triumph made easing into those first few achy post-race kilometres much more enjoyable.

Midsole

The Triumph ISO 4 returns with a full-length midsole of ultra-cushioned Everun foam. While this aspect was unchanged from the 3, the shoe’s overall flexibility took a slight dip. Some testers felt that this made the shoe a bit too stiff, others thought it helped add extra spring into their strides.

While the Triumph does offer slight stability, it serves neutral-footed runners best. In addition, heavier testers found that they needed a little more support underfoot to manage the shoe’s high cushioning.

“As a heel striker in the 88-kilogram range, I had the heel foam give out,” explained one tester. “The shoe just didn’t provide a stable enough ride (for me).”

Outsole

Saucony tidied up the Triumph silhouette by shaving off about two millimeters of midsole and removing some extra rubber from the outsole. While this didn’t lighten up the shoe, it did help create an overall lower profile from the 3rd generation. However, Saucony stayed consistent with the shoe’s tread, borrowing the same zig-zag rubber construction that boosts both traction and flexibility.

Upper

As its name indicates, the Triumph ISO 4 features the ISOFit upper and lacing system, designed to adapt and move with the foot for a fit that feels custom-made. “This shoe fits like a glove,” one tester commented. “The lacing system makes it easy to get a comfortable fit.”

The most significant change testers noticed from the shoe’s predecessor was a softer, more cushioned collar foam around the ankle. While some liked the added padding, others thought it felt a little too bulky and made the shoe feel too loose. However, testers said they never felt as though they were slipping out of the Triumph on runs, which could be owed to the redesigned heel shape in the 4th version.

“Though my heel didn’t actually slip, the heel of the shoe felt loose,” explained one tester. “I got used to the feeling and found it to be comfortable, but initially I felt like I wasn’t tying the shoe tightly enough to keep my heel in place.”

All the Stats You Need!

Men’s

Weight: Heavy | 320g
Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Moderate | 8.1 mm
Heel Height: Very High | 33.8 mm
Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
Forefoot Height: High | 25.7 mm
Forefoot Cushioning: Soft
Flexibility: Very Stiff
Stability Features: Some
Energy Return: More

Women’s

Weight: Heavy | 270g
Heel-To-Toe-Drop: High | 8.9 mm
Heel Height: Very High | 34.4 mm
Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
Forefoot Height: High | 25.5 mm
Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
Flexibility: Very Stiff
Stability Features: Some
Energy Return: More

We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to measuring a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.

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