Saucony Endorphin Speed Review

 

Background

The hype was really high on the Endorphin Speed pre-release. The Speed was meant to be a training partner to the flagship Saucony Endorphin Pro. Around $100 cheaper than the Nike Vaporfly Next% while providing a similar pebax midsole and plate (Nylon not Carbon), The Endorphin Speed was greatly coveted by the running community looking for an affordable alternative.

When the Endorphin Speed first dropped in Singapore, I immediately called the local retail store to place a reservation. However, it was already sold out in my size. After a few days of sourcing (with much difficulty), I managed to find a pair. Keep in mind that this shoe was sold out internationally upon release.

The question is, are cheaper plated shoes able to produce the same or at least a similar ride experience to a market currently dominated by the Nike Vaporfly Next%?

Upper

Breathable Engineered Mesh & 3D-printed overlays.

Thoughts

The upper is very built up for its weight, which is both a good and bad thing. The structure offered is really good for a shoe meant to go fast. The 3D-Printed overlays and the structured heel counter kept my feet centered well on the midsole.

The fit is true-to-size. The width is just right for my slightly wide feet.

The tongue is lightly padded but I feel that it can be thinned down ever so slightly. Nevertheless, it was sufficiently protective in the sense that I did not feel any lacing pressure.

Moving on to the ankle collar, the padding is generous. I’m surprised that the ankle collar is so built up for a speed shoe. In fact, Saucony could have cut a little more weight and thinned down the collar padding.

I had a small issue with the lockdown but managed to reduce any heel slippage after toying with the laces for a while.

I found that the upper was very well ventilated even in the tropical weather of Singapore. I didn’t soak through the entire shoe as I would in some of my daily trainers on hotter days.

 

Midsole Technology & Ride

•         Pebax based ‘PWRRUN PB’ Cushion
•        Full length Nylon Plate
•        ‘SPEEDROLL’ Geometry

 

Thoughts

I found the Endorphin Speed to flow very smoothly through my gait cycle. It feels alright at easy paces, but really shines once you pick up the pace. The ‘SPEEDROLL’ rocker geometry combined with the nylon plate has that exaggerated fall forward feeling, not as much as the Nike Vaporfly Next% but similar in feel. The PWRRUN PB foam is springy yet soft. Its firmer than Nike ZoomX foam or New Balance FuelCell foam but is slightly softer yet much more responsive than something like Nike React.

I feel that the Endorphin Speed performs the best on faster runs. The ride was by no means clunky or unprotective on easy runs but I would definitely save these for my faster runs because they transition so well at higher speeds.

The nylon plate does not feel as aggressive as other plated shoes (Usually carbon fiber). I felt that this allowed my foot to work more in tandem with the shoe at slightly slower paces such as tempo/up-tempo paces. Of course, a more flexible plate would mean less responsiveness at top end speed, however it fits the bill as a training shoe.

 

Outsole Tech & Durability

Thin layer of blown rubber covering mainly the forefoot and heel areas.

Thoughts

The outsole grip is sufficiently grippy in all conditions so far. I did not experience any kind of slippage on concrete/asphalt surfaces less metal drain covers.

The rubber coverage is really generous and even more surprisingly durable. I expect the shoe to last much longer than other Carbon-Plated shoes available in the market.

Areas of Improvement

•  Small tweaks to the upper to improve lockdown

I find it difficult to find any other areas of improvement. The shoe has an excellent construction all-round.

Comparisons

Nike Tempo Next% (Review Soon)

Also built as a training shoe, the Tempo weighs 30 grams heavier and $40 more. The nylon plate (only runs from mid to forefoot vs full length in Speed) in the Tempo is more flexible. I find the feeling of the plate to be almost non-existent in the Tempo. At all paces, the Endorphin Speed is more comfortable and smoother than the clunkier Tempo. Save the money, buy the Speed.

Xtep 160X (Review Here)

30 grams lighter, $40 cheaper, durable with a carbon plate and pebax foam. Who would have thought that Saucony isn’t the only one with amazing value in a shoe?  The PWRRUN PB foam in the Speed is slightly more springy while the Xtep 160x feels softer but not as smooth midsole compression. I find the Xtep 160x feels better at easy to uptempo paces due to the more flexible plate while the Speed feels better at anything faster. It’s a matter of personal preference.

New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite (Review Soon)

I have not tried the Fuelcell TC but decided to compare it with the RC instead due to the closer weight range. The Fuelcell foam is much softer and has a more gradual compression while the PWRRUN PB is more springy. I still feel that I am able to go faster in the RC Elite, maybe due to the stiffer plate, although less felt in the RC. The RC is $120 more than the Endorphin Speed, has superior grip, but will not suit overpronators. Personally, I would rather go for the RC Elite but someone who prefers something not overly soft will do well with the Endorphin Speed.

Saucony Endorphin Pro

Being the more expensive relative of the Speed, the Pro is more race oriented with a much stiffer carbon plate instead of a nylon plate. The geometry is very much more aggressive in the Pro. If I was attempting to PR in a race, I would go for the Pro. However, the Speed feels better during training runs and feels less taxing on feet.

Conclusions

All in all, the Saucony Endorphin Speed is an excellent and versatile speed day option that caters to budget friendly runners wanting to get in the plated-shoe hype train.