Saucony Triumph 9
First Impressions
I have been running in Saucony shoes for three years and have been impressed with the comfort and support given by the company’s shoes. Although Saucony bills the Triumph 9 as a minimalist shoe it’s more modest in its approach keeping the shoe within my comfort level. Out of the box, the Triumph 9 sample delivered good looks in white with blue and yellow accents.
Features
The Triumph 9 is part of Saucony’s move to a more minimal approach to running shoe design. In keeping with that philosophy, the Triumph 9 provides a modest (at least by more traditional running shoe design standards) 8mm drop from heel to toe. To keep the shoe feeling plush, Saucony employs a new foam padding called PowerGrid, which is an improvement over their older generation ProGrid technology.
Despite the use of the new PowerGrid foam, the cushion was decidedly modest compared than previous shoes from this brand. The loss of 4mm of padding in the heel contributes to the feel and gives the shoe a lower profile.
Specs
Upper: : Nylon Mesh
Sole: XT900 Carbon Rubber
Weight: 22 oz per pair
The laces too had a different look, flat as opposed to the rounded laces from previous models, adding to the streamlined look.
Fit
The Triumph 9 delivered the comfort and fit I expected given my experience with the Saucony brand. The shoe provided enough support and cushion for longer runs. One of the stated purposes of minimal design is to encourage a forefoot strike and that was successful. I noticed this from the first step.
The shoe’s light weight was also a welcome benefit as was the air circulation provided via the mesh upper.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Saucony Triumph 9 is pretty well suited for its purpose as a light weight minimal shoe. However, I did notice that during the initial break in period that I developed a calf strain, due to the forefoot strike which worked my calves more than they were used to. If you’re transitioning to a more minimal running style – from heel strike to forefoot – I suggest a break in period. Alternate the Triumph 9 with a regular shoe for a number of training sessions before making the leap into full time use.
Available at TriVillage.