Tested by 
- Weight: 233g (M), 204g (W)
- Stack height: 36mm (heel), 28mm (forefoot)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm
- Who it's for: Runners looking for a high-rebound, superfoam training shoe with versatility for speedwork and long runs
The shoe
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is intended to fit into Saucony’s Endorphin line up as a training companion to the race-day Pro 4 — or even the more speed-focussed Elite models. But even though I’m an Endorphin Pro diehard, I never seemed to mesh with 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.
Despite high ratings among our testers, staff, and even my PT, I never laced up an Endorphin Speed that I liked — until now.
How does the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 fit?
I chalk up my distaste of the first three Endorphin Speeds to their fit. Past models had a narrower toe box 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 your stride. Saucony also added grooves to the midsole’s nylon plate, which allows for more flexion in the forefoot while maintaining stability.
The upper is light and extremely breathable, fitting fairly snug for good lock-down. There’s a surprising dash of plushness from the rather thin looking tongue and an almost bucket shaped heel adds comfort, stability and hold.
What is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 like to run in?
I’ve been using the Speed for marathon base building and all kinds of workouts: fartleks, tempos and race-pace intervals. It lets me feel a little super-shoe magic similar to the Pro, without wearing down my carbon fibre-plated pair before race day.
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More tester feedback
Jeff D.
Weekly mileage: 45 | Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3: Tried and tested: 7:30
Arch height: Medium | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
'I ran more miles in more places — multiple 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 work to turn the shoe over.'
Kendra P.
Weekly mileage: 25 | Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3: Tried and tested: 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 slip 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 best beginner-friendly running shoes. 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.'
