Saucony endorphin speed pro pro#

Because it could handle both higher mileage and true speed work, it allowed me to execute some great workouts with easy logistics. “The Saucony Endorphin Speed is one of the best shoes on the market for those who want to run fast, but not sacrifice comfort or cushioning. Trevor C., tester since 2017 Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot My size 12 sample weighed just 0.3 ounces heavier. The collar and the tongue are lightly padded, making it just a bit more comfortable for longer training runs.Įven with those changes, the Speed checks in close to the weight of the Endorphin Pro.

Saucony endorphin speed pro pro#

Also, the Speed has a lightweight heel counter to lock your foot in place over the midsole-the Pro does not have one. The upper here is an engineered mesh, which provides just a little better control through the midfoot. Unlike the Pro, which has just enough material to keep the midsole affixed to your foot, the Speed delivers a little more structure and comfort-though it still clearly has a lightweight, racy build. Lakota Gambill An Upper Built for the Masses For tempo runs and interval sessions, the Speed delivers all the hustle you need for your workout, while saving you some cash vs. Where the Speed shines, however, is in your everyday training. It’s still stiff-though the nylon plate is far more flexible than carbon-fiber-and snappy, and the cushioning works well for short, fast races all the way up to the marathon distance. While most of the fastest runners will still reach for pricier racers with carbon-fiber, like the Endorphin Pro and Nike Alphafly Next%, the Endorphin Speed will be a suitable racing option for most of us. The curve underfoot isn’t as dramatic as a rocker-where the whole sole is rounded almost like a wheel-but it’s enough that you can feel yourself being propelled forward. On this shoe, it begins a little further back than typical, beginning its rise slightly back from the ball of your foot. Basically, that’s what we used to call toe-spring-the front of the shoe curves upward. Saucony uses what it calls “Speedroll” to get you from heel strike to toe off efficiently. The foam, combined with the underfoot shape, really makes it comfortable at high speeds. The company says they’ve found better durability with this construction, and compared to the lightweight foam used in Nike’s top racing shoes, we’ve noticed less wear on this shoe at comparable mileage. In this case, the raw material is in a pellet form, which Saucony fuses together with steam and pressure. The midsole foam and the outsole rubber are the exact same as you’ll find on the Pro, so you’re still benefiting from the soft and bouncy PEBA-based foam (similar material to what’s used in the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Next%). But don’t mistake the Speed for being a lesser shoe as a result. It’s technically a takedown model, built to similar specs as the company’s top-tier Endorphin Pro but with some cost-savings features.

That makes the shoe significantly easier to flex and boosts comfort for longer runs and workouts.Ĭarbon-fiber plates have garnered all the headlines over the past couple years, but there is a lot of great technology in the footwear game, like what you find on the Endorphin Speed. One key difference: instead of the extremely rigid carbon fiber of the Pro, it uses a nylon plate in the midsole. While it costs less than the Pro, the Speed gets most of the same features, including the bouncy, PEBA (polyether block amide)-based foam. Saucony didn’t claim any performance gains with that shoe the way Nike did with its Vaporfly 4%, but Jared Ward tested it in a lab and found his running economy improved 4.4 percent. It’s the more affordable workout shoe to complement the company’s Endorphin Pro model ($200), which is perhaps the most exciting marathon racer made by anybody not named Nike- Molly Seidel captured second place in the Olympic Trials Marathon wearing it. The Speed is the mid-tier training shoe in Saucony’s new Endorphin collection. Price: $160 Type: Road Weight: 7.8 oz (M) 6.8 oz (W) Drop: 8 mm

At $160, we expect Saucony to sell a truckload of these shoes.

A nylon plate is embedded in the midsole instead of the pricey carbon-fiber found on the Endorphin Pro.

PEBA-based foam is exceptionally lightweight and bouncy.

The RW Takeaway: This speed training version of Saucony’s top racer might just be the better option for most of us amateur athletes.