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Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 review: my pros and cons after running 60 miles
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is simultaneously one of the best running shoes I’ve tested so far in 2025 and one I probably wouldn’t buy.
That’s because all of its excellent features are also present in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, which is now available at a big discount in sales, making it the better value buy.
The Endorphin Speed is a terrific running shoe, though, and its own time in sales will come. It offers tremendous versatility thanks to its comfortable and fast ride, and it’s a great do-it-all option if you just use one shoe at a time, or a superb speed-focused trainer to slot into your rotation.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 review: Price and availability
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 launched in spring 2025 and costs $175 in the U.S. and £180 in the U.K., which is a $5 rise on the Endorphin Speed 4.
It’s an expensive shoe, but the price is comparable to other super-trainers like the Hoka Mach X2, though there are some cheaper plated trainers like the Nike Zoom Fly 6.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 review: Design and fit
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is currently available in five colors, including the White / Mutant design I tested, which is a throwback to the color of the original Endorphin Speed, launched in 2020.
Compared to many running shoes these days, the Endorphin Speed 5 has a relatively low stack height of 36mm at the heel and 28mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop. Most super-trainers now have stacks of 40mm or more at the heel.
It’s a pretty lightweight shoe, weighing 9oz in my US men’s size 10, which is about the same as the Endorphin Speed 4, and I found it fit me well in my normal running shoe size.
Upper
The Endorphin Speed 5 has a lightweight engineered mesh upper that I found breathable during long runs on hot days, and it held my foot securely on fast runs with no lateral movement or heel slip.
There is a little padding on the tongue and collar of the shoe to make it more comfortable for daily training, but in general, the upper is quite stripped-back to keep it light.
Midsole
One thing that hasn’t changed a great deal about the Endorphin Speed since the original version is the midsole, which has been made from Saucony’s PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam in all five versions of the shoe.
Running through this lightweight, responsive foam is a nylon plate, which is less stiff than a full carbon plate to make the Speed 5 more comfortable for regular use. This plate has wings on the sides to add stability.
The Speed 5 uses Saucony’s Speedroll tech. This is essentially the rockered shape of the shoe, which helps to roll you from heel to toe.
Outsole
To keep the shoe light, there is sparing rubber coverage on the bottom, and a midfoot cutout also reduces the weight of the Endorphin Speed 5.
There is a rubber covering the forefoot and two strips at the heel, though, which are the main impact areas. The grip has been good for me so far in testing, and I haven’t seen any signs of wear and tear yet.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 review: Running performance
When the original Endorphin Speed launched, it was something quite new. A training shoe that used the same impressive midsole foam as Saucony’s racer (the Endorphin Pro) and had a plate, albeit a nylon one.
It set a template for super-trainers that many brands have now followed, and became one of the most popular shoes around as a fast and versatile option you could use for any kind of run, including races.
Four generations later, the design has changed a little, but the key elements of the Endorphin Speed remain the same, which is both a good and a bad thing.
The Endorphin Speed 5 is a very versatile shoe, and I used it for a bit of everything during my testing. I did an easy long run and used it for recovery plods after races, but also ran a 16:14 5K at a local parkrun, as well as doing several hard workouts on the road and track in the shoe.
It performed well in all those runs, offering almost as much speed as the best carbon plate running shoes while still having enough comfort and stability for slow stuff.
There are some weaknesses to its performance, though. It is not as comfortable and bouncy as some higher stack super-trainers, like the Hoka Mach X2 and Nike Zoom Fly 6, with the forefoot stack on the Speed 5 in particular being low in comparison.
For long, hard runs, this relative lack of cushioning makes the Speed 5 less appealing, though some will enjoy its lower, more direct ride feel for shorter workouts and races.
Should you buy the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5?
The Endorphin Speed 5 is a great running shoe, and if you pick it up, it will serve well as an all-rounder you can use for everything, or as a workout shoe you use in rotation with a full carbon racer and a more cushioned shoe for easy runs.
It’s one of the most versatile shoes you can get, with a couple of similarly impressive alternatives being the Hoka Mach X2 if you want a more cushioned ride, or the Adidas Adizero Evo SL if you prefer to train without a plate in your shoe.
The main competition for the Endorphin Speed 5 is, however, the Endorphin Speed 4, which is now routinely discounted — it’s available for $114 in the Saucony sale at the time of writing, for example.
From my testing, the Endorphin Speed 5 is not a noteworthy upgrade on the Endorphin Speed 4, so while the older shoe is available and cheaper than the new one, I’d pick it up instead.
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