The RW Takeaway: This speed training version of Saucony’s top racer might just be the better option for most of us amateur athletes.
- The best running shoes for 2024, expert-tested.
- A nylon plate is embedded in the midsole instead of the pricey carbon-fibre found on the Endorphin Pro.
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Price: £155
Type: Road
Weight: 7.8 oz (M); 6.8 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
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The Speed is the mid-tier training shoe in Saucony’s new Endorphin collection. It’s the more affordable workout shoe to complement the company’s tested it in a lab and found his running economy improved 4.4 percent, which is perhaps the most exciting marathon racer made by anybody not named Nike. Saucony didn’t claim any performance gains with that shoe the way Nike did with its Vaporfly 4%, but Jared Ward Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network.
While it costs less than the Pro, the Speed gets most of the same features, including the bouncy, PEBA (polyether block amide)-based foam. One key difference: instead of the extremely rigid carbon fibre of the Pro, it uses a nylon plate in the midsole. That makes the shoe significantly easier to flex and boosts comfort for longer runs and workouts.
In our testing, it didn’t feel noticeably slower than the Pro, even for one of our wear-testers who was knocking at the door of an Olympic Trials qualifier. 'My first run was a hilly 15-miler, which is likely not the first run you want to take a new pair of shoes on in case something feels off,' he said. 'However, the Endorphin Speed performed great and felt awesome underfoot. I also wore them on the track, running sub-30 seconds for 200s, and even running an 800m interval in sub-2:00. I found it amazing that a shoe built to handle longer distances felt so comfortable doing true speedwork.'
Speed-training sole
Carbon-fibre 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. It’s technically a takedown model, built to similar specs as the company’s top-tier Endorphin Pro but with some cost-savings features. But don’t mistake the Speed for being a lesser shoe as a result. 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%)
In this case, the raw material is in a pellet form, which Saucony fuses together with steam and pressure. 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.
The foam, combined with the underfoot shape, really makes it comfortable at high speeds. Saucony uses what it calls 'Speedroll' to get you from heel strike to toe-off efficiently. Basically, that’s what we used to call toe-spring—the front of the shoe curves upward. On this shoe, it begins a little further back than typical, beginning its rise slightly back from the ball of your foot. 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.
While most of the fastest runners will still reach for pricier racers with carbon-fibre, like the Endorphin Pro and Nike Alphafly Next%, the Endorphin Speed will be a suitable racing option for most of us. It’s still stiff—though the nylon plate is far more flexible than carbon-fibre—and snappy, and the cushioning works well for short, fast races all the way up to the marathon distance. Where the Speed shines, however, is in your everyday training. For tempo runs and interval sessions, the Speed delivers all the hustle you need for your workout, while saving you some cash vs. those more expensive race-day models.
An upper built for the masses
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. The upper here is an engineered mesh, which provides just a little better control through the midfoot. Also, the Speed has a lightweight heel counter to lock your foot in place over the midsole—the Pro does not have one. The collar and the tongue are lightly padded, making it just a bit more comfortable for longer training runs.
What our Deputy Digital Editor, Jane McGuire said:
'I'm always on the lookout for a running shoe that I could take away for two weeks and wear for all sessions comfortably. I'm a runner with a long-run shoe, a speedwork shoe and an easy-run shoe and the night before any trip often involves a weird juggle as I weigh up the pros and cons of each. The Saucony Endorphin Speed is one of these magically versatile shoes that ticks the right boxes - it's quick enough for fast intervals, but comfortable and cushioned enough for long runs on tired legs. I liked the fit of the shoe - my foot felt locked in and secure and the rocker didn't feel too dramatic during easier miles. If you're looking for a shoe you can train in and wear on race day, these are a good choice.'
