Saucony Endorphin Speed — I’ve found a new shoe friend

When I worked in running stores fitting people, the best indicator for a pair of shoes potential success was always the very first impression. I helped make suggestions (how much support, how much cushioning etc.), but the first few steps were the most important. If you want a deep dive on shoe fitting ideology, and the move toward using “habitual motion path,” check out this article. But for me, after running in many brands and styles, I have a great idea what shoes will work best for my body. The first few strides in the Saucony Endorphin Speed let me know. I have a new running shoe friend.

Saucony launched the Endorphin line in the middle of last year, in a clear attempt to regain customers lost to Nike and the Vaporfly revolution. The Endorphin line featured the Endorphin Shift as the everyday trainer, the Endorphin Speed as the springy do-everything shoe, and the Endorphin Pro as the direct Vaporfly competitor.

I ran multiple races in the Nike Vaporfly 4%, and I gave up on trying the Next% quickly. Neither shoe felt right for me. In all of my 4% marathons, I felt strong in the first half and just crumbled in the second half. My training obviously influenced those results. But I never felt comfortable running faster paces in Nike’s most elite marathon shoes. After a little less than a year of using the 4% as my go-to tempo workout and marathon race day shoes, I was injured and frustrated.

Saucony’s Endorphin line excited me as soon as I read about it. I’ve always loved the Kinvara, Saucony’s lightweight trainer. The specifics on the Endorphin Speed and Pro sounded perfect for my running style.

I do have a pair of Endorphin Pros. Sadly, I haven’t run well in them. They are slightly stiffer than the Endorphin Speed, and they have a carbon fiber plate, similar to the Nike shoes that haven’t worked for me. So I don’t run in the Endorphin Pro much. The only shoes with a carbon plate that I have been able to use consistently are the Hoka Carbon Xs.

But the Endorphin Speed … they’ve been my absolute favorite shoes since I first slipped them on last summer. It was like Goldilocks finding the perfect porridge. The Endorphin Speed is just right. The Endorphin Speed has been so great, I specifically worked hard to run in other shoes so I wouldn’t wear my first pair out immediately.

I logged 508 total miles on my first pair of the Endorphin Speeds. That was probably a few too many miles. They felt great until around 425 miles. I stubbornly forced them to make 500+. The wear pattern followed my other shoes. The outside heel of my right shoe always takes the most punishment. The Endorphin Speed handled the wear well, though. Only after 400 miles did the rubber outsole wear away on the right heel. It’s still in tact across the rest of both shoes.

The Endorphin Speed has a curved plastic plate inside of the midsole instead of the carbon fiber plate that the Nike shoes and the Endorphin Pros have. Saucony uses PWRRUN PB cushioning in the midsole. That is a new technology that launched in the Pro and Speed from the Endorphin line. Basically, it’s a lighter and bouncier foam. The Endorphin Speed weights 7.8 ounces (.3 more than the Pro and .7 more than the Next%).

Saucony also uses a technology called SPEEDROLL, claiming “always forward geometry.” Every brand has a ton of proprietary technologies with names like that. I don’t pay much attention to all of the specifics outside of how a pair of shoes feels when I run in them.

I haven’t raced much in the past year, but I’m considering making the Endorphin Speed my race-day shoe going forward. It’s already the shoe I use it for key workouts and long runs. I purchased the Pro to be my marathon shoes, but I have more confidence in the Speed at this point. I will continue testing both out, but for now, the Endorphin Speed is king.

And it’s the No. 1 shoe in my rotation.

So anyone who is considering trying out the Endorphin line, take the plunge. And consider starting with the Endorphin Speed.

As always, don’t take the advice of someone writing an article on the internet. Go to your local running store and try shoes on before buying. If you have never been fitted before, definitely find a store that offers that service.

Now it’s time to lace up my new pair of the Saucony Endorphin Speed (seen nice and fresh in the top picture) and hit the road for some more quality work.