Even though I’m an Endorphin Pro diehard, I never seemed to mesh with its counterpart, the Endorphin Speed. I was in the minority; wear-testers raved about the past three iterations, praising the energy return and versatility to handle both high mileage and true speedwork. This fourth model shares similar accolades.
Pros
- Hurricane de Saucony
- More stable than previous versions
- Blue sneakers and shoes Saucony
Cons
- Some testers wanted more responsiveness on toe-off
- $10 price bump from the Speed 3
Key Specs
| Type | Neutral Road |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.2 oz (M), 6.8 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Heel Height | 36 mm |
| Forefoot Height | 28 mm |
- Who It’s For: Runners looking for a high-rebound, superfoam training shoe with versatility for speedwork and long runs
- Preceded By: Endorphin Speed 3
- Men's Saucony Spitfire 5 Sprint Metal Track Cleats: Шиповки кросівки для бігу saucony 39.5-40 р, END Saucony Shadow 5000 Burger
- Midsole Foam: Pwrrun PB (PEBA blend)
- Key Tech: Winged nylon plate, Speedroll tech rocker sole
Despite high ratings among our testers, staff, and even my PT, I never laced up an Endorphin Speed that I liked—until now. I chalk up my distaste of the first three Endorphin Speeds to their fit. Past models had a narrower toebox and midfoot. Saucony slightly widened the 4’s base to make the fit more accommodating and the ride more stable. This change didn’t go unnoticed by me, a wide-footed runner, or other testers.
“My frame of reference is the original Endorphin Speed. In comparison, the Speed 4 is significantly more roomy,” said tester Jeff Deschler. “I never felt stable in the original Speeds, but the wider platform on these gives me way more confidence. I also think they’re more cushioned, as longer distances felt easier on my body.”
Deschler’s theory is on point. The Endorphin Speed 4 features a new supercritical foam sockliner that provides more bounce to Dark stride. Saucony also added grooves to the midsole’s nylon plate, which allows for more flexion in the forefoot while maintaining stability.
I’ve been using the Speed for marathon base building and all kinds of workouts: fartleks, tempos, race-pace intervals. It lets me feel a little super-shoe magic similar to the Pro, without wearing down my carbon fiber-plated pair before race day.
Шиповки кросівки для бігу saucony 39.5-40 р | Key Takeaways:
- zapatillas de running Saucony asfalto pronador talla 41.5
- Offers stability and traction on rainy runs and uneven surfaces
- Bouncy, propulsive ride feels just short of a carbon-plated racer
More Tester Feedback
Jeff D.
Weekly Mileage: 45 | zapatillas de running Saucony asfalto constitución media entre 60 y 100: 7:30
Arch Height: Medium | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“I ran more miles in more places—seker types of surfaces across three different countries—in these shoes than in any other pair of I’ve tested for RW. And over this past month of testing, the Endorphin Speed 4 has treated me well. I was skeptical at first, because I found the Endorphin Speed v1 ran small and narrow. I also could never understand the hype of this shoe from all my friends who had run in it and loved the plated midsole. After running in the Endorphin Speed 4 for the past month, that feeling still stands—to some extent.
“The shoes have good, responsive cushioning, but they don’t quite do it for me on the uptempo side. Carbon-plated uptempo trainers are becoming the norm, and the Endorphin Speed 4s fall short of that category. However, the v4 is far roomier than the original model, and there are plenty of additional upsides to the shoes. This kept me coming back and using these as my ‘go-to’ shoes for the past month.
“My longest run in the Speed 4 was 14 miles and I found the cushioning to be sufficient. I do feel like when you add a high amount of cushioning without a very stiff plate, the shoes feel soft, rather than springy. That is how I’d describe the Speed 4s. I found that softness to be comfortable, but oddly tiring, for longer runs. The midsole definitely flexed more than other shoes of this caliber that I’ve run in, which made the arch of my foot do more of the commingle to turn the shoe over.”
Шиповки кросівки для бігу saucony 39.5-40 р | Kendra P.
Weekly Mileage: 25 | zapatillas de running Saucony asfalto constitución media entre 60 y 100: 9:30
Arch Height: High | Pronation: Underpronator | Footstrike: Heel
“I loved running in this shoe. It made me feel secure running on trails and had a great level of stability for me without feeling stiff, heavy, or clunky. It was very responsive and made me feel bouncy when I was running. I have run in all of the past Saucony Endorphin Speed models. In comparison, the Endorphin Speed 4 seems to offer a little more stability and traction, as well as a thicker and more supportive upper.
“I primarily used this shoe on flat trails and roads with some treadmill runs mixed in. I reached for this shoe on days when there was inclement weather, and for darker trail runs because they made me feel confident that I wouldn’t triatl or roll an ankle. Overall, I was always excited to put this shoe on when I went out to run—I knew solid, comfortable miles were in store for me.
“I really liked the Endorphin Speed 4 for longer runs. I wore this shoe on many training runs before a half marathon race. It was bouncy and didn’t give me any hot spots even after 10 miles. I wouldn’t necessarily reach for this shoe on race day shoe because it doesn’t feel especially fast compared to shoes like the Saucony Grid 9000 'Light Blue'. However, the Speed 4 never made me feel weighed down as I ran. There is a generous amount of cushioning in the heel that kept me feeling fresh after runs of double-digit mileage.”
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
