Saucony Endorphin Pro Shoe Review:
The Saucony Endorphin Pro is Saucony’s version of the carbon plated shoe. It’s one of the more highly anticipated carbon fiber plate shoes to come out. I’ve reviewed the Nike Next%, Hoka Carbon Rocket, Hoka Carbon X, as well as the New Balance Fuelcell TC, and next up is the Saucony Endorphin Pro.
Saucony created a few models in their Endorphin series including:
- Saucony Endorphin Pro: The full-length carbon plated shoe
- Saucony Endorphin Speed: Lightweight trainer made for more speed
- Saucony Endorphin Shift: Trainer
Both the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Shift aren’t out just yet.
Elite Saucony runners, including Molly Seidel, are using the Saucony Endorphin Pro, so if it’s good enough for their race day, I guess it’s good enough for us. Carbon fiber plates in running shoes allow you to run faster, feels easier, and have more energy return. They are expensive to create (which is why you won’t see a carbon fiber plate shoe under $200 right now).
Saucony Endorphin Pro Quick Facts:
Weight: 7.5 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 8mm
Saucony Endorphin Pro Fit:
The Saucony Endorphin Pro features a single layer engineered mesh. It’s thin and breathable. Saucony took off as much weight as they could from the upper so that you won’t find a lot of structure or seams. There is also no heel counter and only a thicker mesh at the back. Without the heel counter, I think the Saucony Endorphin Pro fits slightly wide and needed to tighten it to the back eyelet to feel more secure.
While it’s not wide, the Saucony Endorphin Pro fits wider in the midfoot. It fits like one of Saucony’s staples: The Saucony Kinvara. In fact, it reminds me a lot of the Kinvara but with more modern technology. As far as carbon plated shoes and uppers, the Saucony Endorphin Pro is probably the most comfortable. It’s light and breathable.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro fits true to size and typically, I wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide and the 10 fits well.
Saucony Endorphin Pro Ride:
When lacing up the Saucony Endorphin Pro, it feels smooth. To get technical with you, the Saucony Endorphin Pro features several different foams and technology including:
PWRRUN PB Cushioning midsole: POWRRUN PB Cushioning is made of beaded Peba material that feels cushioned, slightly soft and responsive. It’s bouncy yet firm, which is a hard combination to create. It’s also extremely light. Many of the carbon plated shoes weigh 8-10 ounces, but the Saucony Endorphin Pro comes in around 7.5 ounces.
The Speedroll Technology provides a very nice, responsive and easy toe off. The Speedroll Geometry creates the forward roll in the shoe. According to Saucony SpeedRoll, works by two components: the elevated cushioning (higher stack height) and stiff forefoot leads to a more responsive forward momentum ride.
The ride of the Saucony Endorphin Pro is different compared to any PEBA or PEBAX based shoes. The density of the foam in the Saucony Endorphin Pro is higher, which provides a cushioned ride without feeling like a marshmallow under your foot.
Saucony uses a signature S Curve carbon fiber plate. The combination of the PWRRUN PB Midsole plus the Carbon fiber plate makes the Saucony Endorphin Responsive and smooth. You feel as though you’re running effortlessly through the gait cycle.
One thing to note as well since the Saucony Endorphin Pro is slightly wider, it feels more stable. If you have any pronation or rotate the ankles at all, the Saucony Endorphin Pro protects your feet more than most carbon plated shoes.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro has a fair amount of traction as well that I wouldn’t be worried about doing workouts in the rain.
When running in the Saucony Endorphin Pro, it felt as though it would be a great shoe to run long in. I don’t see it being the best 5k-10k, but then again, I don’t see many of these carbon plated shoes being great at shorter distances. When I ran longer and faster, I felt better.
Durability:
The durability of most carbon plated shoes has been a topic of concern. The Saucony Endorphin Pro feels as though you could get a couple of hundred miles in it. Not every carbon fiber plated shoe is durable. The Hoka Carbon X, New Balance Fuelcell TC, and the Saucony Endorphin Pro are the only ones I forsee getting more than 100 miles.
It won’t last as long as a traditional trainer, but you’ll get a substantial amount of miles. I expect the Saucony Endorphin Pro to be one of the more durable shoes on the carbon plate market.
Saucony Endorphin Pro Conclusion:
The Saucony Endorphin Pro is one of the better carbon plated shoes out there. Of the brands competing with Nike, I do think it’s probably the most comparable out right now. Plus, I think you’ll get more mileage out of the Saucony Endorphin Pro so the cost per mile is a lot lower.
The combination of PWRRUN PB and the carbon plate makes it suitable for long runs, long workouts, and long races. The upper of the Saucony Endorphin Pro is my favorite of any carbon plated shoe as well. Like most of the carbon plated shoes, it’s not a shoe I would use for a 5k, but it does do well for longer workouts. For me, it will fit nicely into a hard, long run shoe, or half or full marathon racer. Of any Saucony Shoe, the Saucony Endorphin Pro is their fastest shoe and the race shoe I would choose for distances from half marathon and above.
Current Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Saloman Sonic 3 Balance, Brooks Glycerin 18, Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, Nike Pegasus 37, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Asics Cumulus 21
Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2
Long Runs: Brooks Ricochet 2 Shoe Review, New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Hoka Cavu 2
Trail Running/Hiking: Saucony Peregrine 10, New Balance Hierro v5
Races: New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook I talk about why you need a good running shoe, the anatomy of a shoe, neutral vs stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried a carbon plated shoe?
Have you tried the Saucony Endorphin Pro?
The foam looks a lot like some foam on the shoes in my closet 😎