By Brian Metzler

Winter has arrived in Colorado, so running in snow and slush has been part of my daily jam for the past week. Does that mean I’ve been wearing Gore-Tex-lined running shoes? Not necessarily. I’ve always had a hot-and-cold feeling about waterproof shoes – literally – so for me it depends on what kind of running I’m doing – what kind of terrain, how long, what kind of conditions – for me to be able to determine which shoes I’m wearing.

I’ve run in several Gore-Tex-lined shoes every winter – including the Saucony Triumph 22 GTX ($180) the past few days – but it’s not a no-brainer decision for me. Some Gore-Tex lined shoes can have stiff-feeling and crinkly uppers and seem overly warm from a lack of breathability – even in cool and cold weather – and both situations can lead to discomfort on runs longer than about 30 minutes. For years, I shied away from Gore-Tex shoes because my feet would overheat and sweat too much on long runs, then get cold even though they rarely got wet from the puddles.

The Saucony Triumph 22 GTX is one of the better waterproof shoes I’ve worn in recent years, mostly because it mimics its standard road-shoe cousin and it doesn’t have the stiff feeling or create a sauna around my feet. It has a thick and responsive foam midsole and a unique outsole with a mix of corrugated rubber and exposed foam that works surprisingly well at providing traction on snow and wet surfaces. I’ve really enjoyed running in it lately because it has kept the snow and slush away from my feet.

What’s New: This year’s inclement weather version of the Triumph is actually waterproof, thanks to Gore-Tex Invisible Fit technology built into the upper. (Last year’s Runshield version was highly water resistant, but didn’t include Gore-Tex and wasn’t waterproof.) This year’s edition has the same stack heights, but the PWRRUN+ midsole has been replaced by the more energetic PWRRUN PB foam, and it has a slightly wider footprint for increased stability.

Fit/Feel/Ride: The Saucony Triumph 22 GTX fits true to size with a medium interior volume, but it has a shorter and narrower toe box than many other road shoes. I don’t think it’s worth going down a half size, but my toes are definitely much closer to the edges of the toe box than just about every other shoe I’ve worn this year. The step-in feel is soft and cozy, thanks to the foot-wrapping sensation created by the well-padded heel collar, soft, fully gusseted tongue, and premium sockliner. The ride is soft and cushy but only slightly bouncy. Like its standard-edition cousin, this edition rolls with a stable flow from heel to toe. (It has a sturdy interior heel counter that supports the rear of your feet.) The key to the smoothness of the ride is the upper not being inhibited by the Gore-Tex Invisible Fit waterproof construction and allowing an easy-flexing movement with each stride. 

Why It’s Great: The Gore-Tex technology that goes into running shoes has evolved considerably through the years and the Invisible Fit application is the most breathable yet. While it blocks liquid water from entering, it’s also relatively breathable because it allows water vapor – the steamy sweat from your feet – to exit. Although the upper is virtually impenetrable to water and slush, the drawback is that if your socks get wet, that moisture can wick downward into the shoe and then you’ll still have wet, and potentially cold feet. However, if you live in a climate with cold-weather winters, you’ll like it because it will allow you to keep running outdoors (within reason) during the chilly months from November to February. Running in the Saucony Triumph 22 GTX this week, I called on my Chicago running roots and ran uninhibitedly, plowing through snow and splashing through slush puddles just for the fun of it.  While the tops of my socks did get wet, my feet remained mostly warm and dry, and that’s good enough for me.

Specs

Weights: 9.1 oz. (women’s 8);  10.4 oz. (men’s 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm; 37mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot) 

Why You’ll Love It: I really like the Saucony Triumph 22 GTX for the same reasons I like the standard Saucony Triumph 22, and that’s really based on the highly responsive PWRRUN PB cushioning platform. It’s a very smooth-riding shoe that’s ideal for easy-day runs of any length or slower recovery runs. I’ve only run as long as 8 miles so far in the snow in this shoe, but I can tell that it has long-haul comfort and responsiveness to go much longer. It’s not a shoe that I would dream of taking up to tempo pace, especially not in sloppy winter conditions. It’s a bit singularly purposed, but if it encourages you to get out and run in the snow when you otherwise would have run on a treadmill or skipped running entirely, then it seems like it’s worth the $20 spike in price over the standard Triumph 22.

Pro: The Saucony Triumph 22 GTX is extremely comfortable and protective from the elements. I have to admit, the interior feels like a comfy pair of snow boots. I’ve splashed through a lot of slush and puddles recently and my toes never got wet. 

Cons: Gore-Tex is composed of expanded PTFE (ePTFE), a stretched-out form of the PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – otherwise known as “forever chemicals” that have recently been banned in many applications because they may increase the risk of certain cancers. While it’s not prohibited to use it in footwear as of yet, I hope there will be new formulations that aren’t so harmful to the environment or humans in years to come.