Hurricane 26 vs. Triumph 24 for Running and Walking

Hurricane 26 vs. Triumph 24 at a glance

At first glance, these two Saucony shoes look remarkably similar. Both are highly cushioned road shoes. Both use Saucony’s new incrediLUX foam, breathable comfort mesh uppers and durable XT-900 carbon rubber outsoles.

The biggest difference is not cushioning. It is what happens when your foot lands on that cushioning. The Hurricane 26 adds Saucony’s CenterPath support system and uses a broader, more supportive design. The Triumph 24 is a neutral shoe that allows your foot to move more naturally through your stride. The Triumph is also lighter and has a higher heel-to-toe drop.

Saucony lists the Hurricane 26 at 9.2 ounces for men and 8.1 ounces for women, with a 6 mm offset. The Triumph 24 weighs 8.8 ounces for men and 7.6 ounces for women, with a 10 mm offset.

Which shoe should you buy?

For most shoppers, the decision can be simplified considerably.

Made your choice?

• Check price on Amazon for the Hurricane 26
• Check price on Amazon for the Triumph 24

The Triumph 24 will probably suit a larger percentage of neutral runners. The Hurricane 26 becomes the stronger choice when stability is an important part of the buying decision.

Cushioning and ride

Saucony made an important change to both shoes by using its new incrediLUX foam.

The Triumph 24’s foam is an ATPU-based compound designed to provide a softer and more energy-absorbing ride while reducing weight. Saucony says the Triumph 24 provides 11% more cushioning than its predecessor.

The Hurricane 26 uses the same general cushioning technology, but the experience underfoot is different because of its supportive geometry.

Think of it this way: the Triumph gives the foam more freedom to do its job, while the Hurricane puts that soft cushioning inside a more controlled platform. That makes the Triumph feel more natural if your feet already move efficiently. The Hurricane feels more planted if your ankles or feet tend to drift inward.

Neither shoe should feel like an old-fashioned, hard stability trainer.

Stability and support

This is where the Hurricane 26 separates itself from the Triumph 24. The Hurricane uses Saucony’s CenterPath technology. Rather than relying on a hard medial post under the inside of the foot, the shoe uses its overall geometry to help guide the foot.

That approach makes sense in a maximum-cushion shoe. Tall, soft midsoles can sometimes feel unstable, especially when walking slowly, turning corners or landing unevenly. The Hurricane’s broader and more supportive platform helps reduce that sensation.

The Triumph 24 does not have a dedicated stability system.

That does not mean the Triumph is unstable. Its cushioning is not so soft that the shoe becomes difficult to control. However, Saucony markets it as a neutral shoe, and neutral runners generally get the most natural experience from it.

If you already know you prefer stability shoes, the Hurricane is the easy choice. If you normally wear neutral shoes and have never needed additional guidance, there is less reason to move into the Hurricane.

Which is better for running?

For running, I would give the overall advantage to the Triumph 24 for neutral runners.

Its lower weight helps it disappear on the foot more easily, while the incrediLUX midsole provides enough cushioning for long runs, recovery runs and ordinary daily mileage. Saucony specifically positions the Triumph 24 for daily training and longer-distance running.

The Triumph is not a dedicated speed shoe, but it should be easier to pick up the pace in than the Hurricane.

The Hurricane 26 makes more sense for runners whose priorities are support, protection and comfort rather than speed. It should work particularly well for easy runs, recovery runs and longer outings where controlling excess foot movement becomes more important as fatigue sets in.

Here’s how the two compare for common types of running.

One mistake shoppers should avoid is assuming that more support automatically means a better running shoe. If your gait is neutral, unnecessary guidance can sometimes make a shoe feel less natural.

Made your choice?

• Check price on Amazon for the Hurricane 26
• Check price on Amazon for the Triumph 24

Which is better for walking?

The comparison becomes closer for walkers.

The Hurricane 26 may actually be the better walking shoe for many people, especially if walking comfort and stability matter more than weight.

Walking places your foot on the ground longer than running does. You also move more slowly through your stride. A wide, stable platform can therefore be very noticeable.

The Hurricane is particularly attractive for long-distance walkers, people who spend much of the day standing and walkers who feel unstable in very soft shoes. Saucony specifically describes the Hurricane 26 as suitable for running, walking and everyday activity.

The Triumph 24 is still an excellent walking option. It is lighter and will likely feel more natural for a neutral walker who does not need extra support.

Made your choice?

• Check price on Amazon for the Hurricane 26
• Check price on Amazon for the Triumph 24

Hurricane 26 vs. Triumph 24 for foot and gait problems

Shoes do not treat or cure foot conditions, and persistent pain should be assessed by a qualified health professional. However, shoe geometry, cushioning and support can make one model more suitable than another for certain types of feet and movement patterns.

Here is the more useful way to shop these two shoes.

There are two particularly important points here.

First, having flat feet does not automatically mean you need the Hurricane. Plenty of people have low arches but move efficiently in neutral shoes. What matters more is whether your foot collapses inward excessively when you walk or run.

Second, runners who supinate, meaning their feet remain toward the outside rather than rolling inward, should be cautious about buying stability simply because it sounds more supportive. The Triumph 24 is the more logical starting point for most neutral or underpronating runners.

Made your choice?

• Check price on Amazon for the Hurricane 26
• Check price on Amazon for the Triumph 24

Heel-to-toe drop could decide it for you

The 6 mm versus 10 mm drop is one of the biggest differences between these shoes.

Heel-to-toe drop tells you how much higher your heel sits than your forefoot. (Drop explained here.)

The Hurricane’s heel is 6 mm higher than its forefoot. The Triumph’s is 10 mm higher. Neither number is automatically better.

A 10 mm shoe such as the Triumph often feels familiar to traditional running-shoe users and heel strikers. Some runners with tight calves or sensitive Achilles tendons also prefer having the heel positioned somewhat higher.

The Hurricane’s 6 mm drop creates a flatter platform. Some runners prefer this because it can feel more balanced from heel to toe.

If you already know that 8 mm to 12 mm shoes work well for you, the Triumph is the safer transition. If you like moderate-drop shoes around 4 mm to 8 mm, the Hurricane is closer to what you already wear.

Shoe Experience

Here’s how fit, feel and experience come into play with these two shoes.

Fit and width

Both models come in regular and wide versions, which is useful because maximum-cushion shoes are often popular among people who spend long periods on their feet. Saucony’s current U.S. product listings show regular and wide options for both models.

Both also use breathable comfort mesh uppers designed to provide a plush but secure fit.

I would not choose between these shoes based on width alone unless you can try them on.

Foot volume matters as much as width. Someone with a wide forefoot and low-volume midfoot can experience a shoe very differently from someone whose entire foot is large and high-volume.

If you are between sizes, Saucony recommends sizing performance shoes up from your normal lifestyle-shoe size.

Traction and outsole durability

There is little reason to choose one shoe over the other based on outsole material.

Both use Saucony’s XT-900 carbon rubber. Saucony uses this rubber to improve traction and protect high-wear areas of the shoe. That makes both suitable for pavement, sidewalks, treadmills and ordinary paved walking paths.

Neither should be treated as a trail shoe. If your walking or running regularly involves mud, loose dirt, technical trails or snow-covered terrain, a dedicated trail shoe will provide a more appropriate outsole.

Which feels lighter?

Triumph 24 wins.

The men’s Triumph weighs 8.8 ounces compared with 9.2 ounces for the Hurricane. The women’s Triumph weighs 7.6 ounces compared with 8.1 ounces for the Hurricane.

Half an ounce does not sound dramatic when you hold a shoe in your hand, but weight becomes more noticeable over thousands of steps.

The Triumph should therefore feel a little easier during longer runs or faster walking.

The trade-off is straightforward: Hurricane gives you more stability structure, while Triumph saves weight and allows the shoe to feel less controlled.

Pros and cons of the Hurricane 26

The Hurricane’s strengths center on support and protection.

Pros:

• Excellent stability for a highly cushioned shoe
• CenterPath guidance without a traditional hard medial post
• Plush incrediLUX cushioning
• Very good choice for walkers
• Broad platform should inspire confidence
• Good option for runners who overpronate
• Wide sizes available
• Durable XT-900 rubber outsole

There are also reasons a shopper might choose the Triumph instead.

Cons:

• Heavier than the Triumph 24
• Less natural choice for some neutral runners
• 6 mm drop may require adjustment if you normally wear high-drop shoes
• Not designed for faster running
• Extra stability may be unnecessary for some buyers

Pros and cons of the Triumph 24

The Triumph is the more versatile choice for runners who do not need dedicated support.

Pros:

• Lighter than the Hurricane
• Plush incrediLUX cushioning
• Excellent neutral daily trainer
• Well suited to long runs
• Good running-and-walking crossover shoe
• 10 mm drop will feel familiar to many runners
• Wide sizes available
• Durable XT-900 outsole

Its biggest limitation is straightforward.

Cons:

• No dedicated stability system
• Less suitable for runners with significant overpronation
• Tall cushioning may not feel stable enough for everyone
• Not a dedicated tempo or racing shoe
• Walkers wanting maximum support may prefer the Hurricane

Which shoe is better value?

This one is unusually easy because both shoes currently carry the same $170 U.S. retail price at launch.

That means you should not choose based on the idea that one is the premium model and the other is the cheaper alternative.

Choose based on your gait.

If you need stability, the Hurricane gives you substantially more support without costing more.

If you do not need stability, the Triumph gives you a lighter shoe for the same money.

For a neutral runner who runs several days per week, I would buy the Triumph 24.

For a walker, heavier runner, overpronator or someone who repeatedly feels unstable in tall cushioned shoes, I would buy the Hurricane 26.

Made your choice?

• Check price on Amazon for the Hurricane 26
• Check price on Amazon for the Triumph 24

Hurricane 26 vs. Triumph 24: final recommendations

The best shoe changes depending on how you plan to use it.

The Triumph 24 is the better all-around choice for a neutral runner. It weighs less, feels less restrictive and combines maximum cushioning with enough versatility for daily runs, long runs and walking.

Check Triumph 24 sizes, colors and pricing on Amazon

The Hurricane 26 has a different job. It takes similarly plush cushioning and puts it on a more controlled platform. That makes it the stronger choice if you overpronate, want more stability while walking, feel unsteady in soft shoes or simply prefer a more planted sensation underfoot.

Check Hurricane 26 sizes, colors and pricing on Amazon

Frequently asked questions about the Hurricane 26 and Triumph 24