Saucony is one of the oldest running brands in the United States. And today we’ll be looking at two of their most popular and longest running models. Comparing the Saucony Kinvara vs Triumph. One being the brand’s premier light and quick road runner. And the other offering a more plush ride, taking any impact the road may offer. Below we’ll break down the specs, differences, and compare images. Doing our best to answer the question, which road running shoe is better for you?
Saucony Kinvara vs Triumph
- Both are neutral running shoes. Meaning they will work for the majority of runners.
- Saucony’s Kinvara are noticeably lighter. Weighing 7.2 oz compared to the Triumphs at 10.2 oz.
- The extra weight in the Triumph comes in the form of extra “ultra plush” cushion. While the Kinvara are considered very minimalist in cushioning.
- Added cushion means a 4mm higher stack height on the Triumph. Coming in at 32.5 mm / 24.5 mm vs 28.5 mm / 24.5 mm on the Kinvara.
- The drop on the Kinvara is 4mm. Compared to an 8mm drop in the Triumph.
- Both shoes feature Saucony’s durable XT-900 rubber in high wear locations. Along with a single piece upper design.
Saucony Kinvara 13
MSRP Price: $120
Men’s – Click Here
Women’s – Click Here
Surface: Road Running
Weight Men’s: 7.2 oz. / 213 g
Weight Woman’s: 6.2 oz. / 184 g
Stability: Neutral
Drop/Offset: 4mm
Stack: 28.5mm heel / 24.5mm forefoot
Saucony Triumph
MSRP Price: $150
Men’s Link: Click Here
Women’s Link: Click Here
Surface: Road Running
Weight Men: 10.2 oz
Weight Women: 8.4 oz
Stability: Neutral
Drop/Offset: 8mm
Stack: 32.5 mm / 24.5mm
Performance Summary
Founded in 1898 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Saucony has a long history of making quality running shoes. And with their headquarters currently located in Massachusetts, are especially popular in the northeastern United States. Producing a wide range of both road and trail running shoes. Today we’ll be looking at two of their more popular road runners, comparing the Saucony Kinvara vs Triumph. Below is a more in depth breakdown of each shoe.
Saucony Kinvara
The first thing you will notice about the Saucony Kinvara is how incredibly light they are. Coming in at 7.2 ounces, you will be hard pressed to find a lighter shoe on the market for the price. And the overall look and aesthetic of the shoe comes off as speedy and minimalistic. On the feet the shoe fits snug, with the one piece upper build hugging the foot. If you like a wider shoe, half or full sizing up is probably a good idea on these.
Running in the Kinvara they are incredibly responsive. And while they manage to take a lot of the road shock for being so light. You definitely are going to get that “feel the road” vibe from these road runners. Featuring a 4mm drop, you feel like you can run in them forever without them pushing you at max speed. Because at max speed these things can fly. They are so light, your turnover will be faster than ever.
I do have a few concerns with the Kinvara. One concern being the lack of padding for logging a lot of training miles. To me these would be better race day shoes. And second would be how they will hold up over a lot of miles. The build feels quality but with the overall weight being so light. There has to be a catch somewhere, and lightweight materials don’t tend to handle the miles as well.
Saucony Triumph
The first thing you will notice about the Saucony Triumph (especially compared to the Kinvara) is the overall weight and heavier build quality. With build elements including touches of suede, the Triumph is just a more substantial shoe. On the feet it’s clear where that extra weight went. These things are plush. They are also wider then compared to the Kinvara but still form fit to the foot. With a slightly more roomy toe box and a nice heel contour/lift.
Hitting the road in the Triumph is like running on two firm cushions. They take away the road feel and provide a soft stable landing. With a 8mm drop, they manage to feel somewhat quick in spite of their weight and comfort focus. Doing a good job in providing a noticeable spring to your cadence.
Overall my only concern with the Triumph is how the 8mm drop will affect me over my longer runs. But that is purely a personal (my body) preference. The other concern being how many miles they will hold up for. I notice wear after 35 miles and would love a shoe this hefty to hold up 300+ miles. And from a few runs, I question if that’s possible.
Image Comparison
Below is a side by side image comparison of the Saucony Kinvara vs Triump.
From the profile images below you can see the thicker sole in and higher heal in on the Triumph. And how lean the Kinvara is by comparison.
Saucony Kinvara Profile
Saucony Triumph Speed Profile
The top view of both models. The two shoes have a very similar shape. You will notice the difference in upper fabric.
Saucony Kinvara Top
Saucony Troumph Speed Top
Below you can see the difference in the two soles. They are actually very similar in design.
Saucony Kinvara Sole
Triumph Sole
Saucony Kinvara Video
Triumph Sole
Conclusion – Saucony Kinvara vs Triumph
Two of the brand’s most popular models, these shoes couldn’t be more different. The Kinvara is ultra lightweight allowing an agile feel of the road. While the Triumph is a high stack cushioned road runner. But which one is right for you?
Which road running shoe to buy?
The two shoes are so different it really comes down to what you want in a road runner. But for my two cents, I feel the Triumph is going to be the better choice for most people. The plush cushioned ride is going to allow you to run a lot longer and save a lot of impact on your joints. And if you’re just looking at a walking shoe, then the Triumph is the perfect choice. It’s a better fit for the majority of the general runners needs.
For me the Kinvara is a more advanced shoe, for someone that has been running for a while and knows what they want in a running shoe. Light, fast, and responsive with a good amount of road feel. They just scream running fast and are a great race shoe. And if that is what you are looking for then the Kinvara are perfect.
