Triumph ISO 5 & Triumph 17

Triumph ISO 5

Saucony’s Triumph ISO 5 (replaced by the Triumph 17 reviewed below) was the company’s premier neutral trainer and the final model of the Triumph to use the ISO Fit system. These durable, comfortable, and well-cushioned shoes are my go-to trainers for long runs.

Technical Information

The ISO Fit system essentially consists of a series of straps in the upper. These theoretically allow for a most customized fit, as tightening and adjusting the laces allows each strap to loosen or tighten over the tongue. The fit is good, though I can’t say that I notice a major difference between these and more traditional shoes, including its successor.

The ISO Fit straps. The mesh over the toe box allows for ample airflow.

Midsole material consists of Saucony’s Everun, which made of polyurethane. The exposed portions of the midsole have a distinct “pebbled” look to them.

Though not as soft as the midsoles seen in the Hokas, the Triumphs boast a smooth, comfortable ride with a degree of responsiveness that partially compensates for the shoe’s substantial weight.

The thick Everun midsole effectively cushions long runs.

The outsoles are made of crystal rubber, with hard rubber in the heel and center under the forefoot. The soles are durable, though the crash pad shows minor wear after 110 miles.

The uppers feature a well-ventilated mesh over the toe box. The heel collar is plush and supportive, adding to the shoe’s comfort. These are great shoes for warm-weather running, though I’ve had no problems with cold feet in frostier conditions with the right socks.

Impressions and Best Applications

These are durable trainers that can handle miles of abuse. While they’re on the heavy side, the Triumphs are responsive enough so as not to throw off a long, steady run and cushioned enough to absorb hours of impacts. They may not be the best for spadework, but they’d work well for a half marathon or longer race.

Crystal and hard rubber outsoles. 110 miles of use so far.

The fit is interesting; the toe box is tall enough to accommodate my relatively “tall” big toes, and is relatively wide—not so much as to feel sloppy on my regular-width feet, but runners with narrower feet might want to look elsewhere.

The shoe is also a little shorter than other size 10 shoes. This hasn’t been an issue for me, but we had to return a pair of women’s Triumph’s that were too short for Traci’s size 10 feet.

Saucony had a great clearance price a few months back and sold out. I’ve included a link to their UK site for specs.

Road Runner Sorts has men’s and women’s Triumph ISO 5s on their clearance page.

Type: neutral trainer

Uses: Long runs, distance races6

Weight: (men’s size 10): 1 pound, 8.1 ounces per pair

Drop: 8mm

Cost: $160 ($99; might be found for less)

Product Site: https://www.saucony.com/UK/en_GB/triumph-iso-5/35039M.html

Triumph 17

Saucony abandoned its ISO Fit system to create a completely new shoe in the Triumph 17. The outsole resembles ISO 5’s, but the rest of the shoe bears little similarity to the 2018 model even as it retains that model’s durability.

Subjectively, I find these to be among the most attractive of all running shoes; Saucony has some striking designs this year, and the two-tone color on my gray Triumphs is classy and understated.

Technical Information

The Triumph 17 remains a neutral running shoe well-suited to longer runs. The upper now has a traditional lace system in lieu of the ISO Fit straps of the past five iterations, and Saucony replaced the 5’s Powerun midsole with its new PWRRun+ material. Saucony claims the material is lighter than Powerun, and my measurements seem to bear this out: the new model sheds 2 ounces per pair while looking more substantial. The shoe has a stack height of 33.5mm; these are well-cushioned shoes.

The Triumph 17s have more conventional—and very plush—laces.

The outsole uses crystal rubber, with carbon rubber on high-wear areas on the crash pad and toe (as opposed to the center of the mid foot, as in the ISO 5). Durability hasn’t been an issue so far, and I expect these to wear as well as their predecessors.

The upper is completely reworked, with a plusher feel. Even the shoelaces have a luxurious quality to them. The heel collar is plush, comfortable, and has a degree of stretch. As with the ISO 5, the toe box is covered with a perforated mesh to aid breathability.

Impressions and Best Application

Lighter and more responsive than their predecessors, Triumph 17s are excellent companions on long, slow runs, but the could hold their own in longer races as well. I used these to good effect in a recent (virtual) half marathon, and while I wasn’t aiming for a personal record, I finished with a decent time and plenty of energy left for a sprint. The Triumphs have enough spring and flexibility to keep things moving along on a lengthy run.

The outsole has seen some changes, but it’s still covered a durable mix of crystal and carbon rubber.

The fit has changed considerably. The shoes are longer than the ISO 5s with narrower toe boxes. These fit me well, and anyone who found the ISOs too short or wide might want to give these a look.

Breathability is fine, though perhaps not quite as good as the ISO’s, with its more open vents. This makes them more adept in cooler weather, though I wore these for a 10 miler in Florida last December and didn’t suffer from overheating. The same might not be said for a hot day in July, and I will update this review accordingly.

The shoes have virtually no wear after 50 miles. The outsoles may be even more durable than those of the ISO 5s. Grip on asphalt is good in dry conditions; some reviewers have been critical of the crystal rubber’s grip on wet roads, but I prefer a little Gore-Tex in such conditions.

These are premium shoes, and Saucony sweetened the deal by lowering the price by $10. They’ve already been on sale once, so interested buyers might wish to keep an eye on Saucony’s site.