I have run in Saucony shoes for years, starting with the triumph 3 shoes all the way up to the triumph 7. Unfortunately the triumph 7 introduced a new, slightly porky mid sole connecting the forefoot and heel with a relatively stiff chunk of rubber. I tried a pair, but returned them after a few short, but painful heel-striking runs. I stocked up on Triumph 6's, ordering as many as I could, hoping to weather the storm until the next shoe. Unfortunately I run a fair bit so shoes only last a few months before they reach the 400 mile retirement point. With the triumph 8, things were improved, but not perfect, the shoe still felt like it had a slightly heavy awkward heel. Nearly out of triumph 6 shoes, I found myself shopping for other neutral + shoes. After trying nearly every brand, I found some good, workable shoes but nothing that rode or fit as well as the triumph 6 shoes.
As soon as I saw the triumph 9 show up as available online I eagerly purchased a pair; the specs are impressive, nearly an ounce lighter than the triumph 8's, with new features such as 8mm offsets and an ibr+ rubber compounds.
The smell of new shoes wafting out of the familiar red and brown box I pulled the new triumph 9's out. They look like an entirely new shoe. Gone is the characteristic Progrid "window" on the bottom; instead in its place is a simplistic Powergrid logo. Most importantly the awkward mid sole material that was added in the triumph 7 and 8 has been dramatically changed. First impression on fit is that the toe box is pretty big (actually just average compared to other brands). Gone are the round laces, instead the triumph 9 has flat laces. Shoe flexibility is good much better than previous triumphs. Overall the shoe feels light, and somewhat minimalistic. Fabric padding in the heel is much less prominent than in previous triumphs, but seems to be strategically placed.
After the first 15-mile run I was reminded why I like the triumph line of shoes so much, they provide an excellent, balanced, and plush ride that has great upper shoe support. The triumph 9 has the traditional arch lock / support that is characteristic of the triumph line. Gone is the heavy hoofed heel of previous triumphs; in its place is a plush, balanced, cloud like ride. Given the new lighter weight materials it will be interesting to see how they hold up as the miles add up.
Update: After about 2 weeks running in these (about 150 miles) it is apparent that after some longer 20+ mile runs they are not for me. I have unfortunately started to feel it in my knees. I had to stop running in these shoes. These do still feel ok on shorter runs, they just don't work for me for the long distances.
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I've been wearing the Saucony Triumph running shoes since I bought my first pair of Triumph 4's. This version has the same roomy toe box and large ankle opening that I like from the previous models with the advantage of a less pronounced heel to toe drop. At over 220 lbs. I was afraid I'd miss the extra cushioning in the heel, but my ongoing efforts to land more mid-foot instead of on my heel have been rewarded with this shoe. Less rubber between the heel and the ground has promoted a better stride for me since the thickest part of the sole isn't hitting the ground as quickly as it did in the previous versions of this shoe.
Very well ventilated and easy to unlace after a run.
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Best running shoe I have owned. I started with the Triumph 6 and loved them, moved on to Triumph 7 when they came out and hated them (very uncomfortable). With my experience with the 7, I was hesitant to go back to Triumph, and skipped the 8, but others' reviews on the 9 convinced me to give them a try: This shoe combines great cushioning with great stability (though it is not a stability shoe). I highly recommend.
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Impossible to draw a comparison this early in the life of the shoe, but after a couple of 3-4 mile runs, these shoes (and my body) feel great. As a heavy guy (250+lbs), I usually wear Brooks Beast ($140). These Saucony's were a little more than 1/3 of that cost, and comparably comfortable so far. Even if they last half as long as the Brooks I'll be money ahead. Can't beat that.
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As a 24 year veteran of the U.S. Army, i have had plenty of running shoes over the years, but i can honestly say that these shoes are the best that I have ever had. I am currently in Afghanistan and needed a new pair of running shoes and the pickings here were slim so I was forced to buy some online for the 1st time ever. I did alot of research before making my choice and a runner's magazine named these shoes as the best for Male runners over 170 lbs (i am 6ft tall 190). Being that i suffer from flat feet and wear arch supports in my military boots, I was definitely careful in making my choice in shoes, but these were advertised so well and the product description, on and off Amazon, seemed to speak directly to me. I received these shoes sooner than expected and they were exactly as advertised. These were my first pair of Saucony's, but they wont be my last. Very light, very comfortable and very durable.
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