Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 - Women's Review

While the fit of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 may feel slightly unnatural, its performance benefits are undeniable. This 9 mm drop, lightweight, plated road shoe could be the key to unlocking your elusive PRs.

Performance Comparison

Landing Comfort

The Endorphin Pro 4 has a heel stack of 38 mm and a 9 mm drop. Though this is rather standard in the world of racing shoes, the configuration of this shoe's undercarriage feels more extreme than others.

When moving at slower paces, the heel stack feels high and kind of off-kilter, which we will discuss more in the stability metric. The PWRRUN PB/PWRRUN HG midsole provides the snap and energy return we seek in a racing shoe without compromising underfoot comfort. If you loved the previous iteration of the Endorphin, know that the landing pad of this one feels a bit different. The additional layers Saucony stuffed into the midsole feel a bit more rigid underfoot, but they combine well with the rocker to create inherent speed.

Responsiveness

Saucony set out to make a racing shoe with the Endorphin Pro, and they certainly succeeded. While it doesn't top the chart when placed head-to-head with some of the other super shoes on the market, it holds its own.

Shoe Responsiveness Over Varying Effort Levels

Product	Easy (Recovery)	Moderate (Marathon)	Threshold (10K)	Fast (5K)
Best	3	4.5	5	5
Saucony Endorphin Pro 4	3	5	4.5	4.5
Average	3.3	3.3	2.8	2.7
Worst	2	2	1	1

In fact, the responsiveness ride that the Endorphin Pro offers might suit some runners better than comparative options by Nike and Puma. Let's get into it.

The rocker of the updated Endorphin Pro is wildly aggressive. We measured it at 24.5 degrees, with the apex just 65.4% forward from the heel — among the most aggressive rockers we've tested. This comes together to create the sensation of your feet being pushed toward the front of the shoe as your paces heat up. The updated layering in the midsole provides a strong snap as you bound through your strides.

This new style of underfoot technology feels super propulsive once you start pushing your paces. We do not recommend the Endorphin Pro to runners needing mellow distance shoes. The slightly uncomfortable features and rigid technology make this a great racing shoe for shorter races.

Stability

The stability feels all wrong when moving slowly in the Endorphin Pro. Even on slightly slanted roads and sidewalks, these shoes almost make you feel like you will slide right off them. When taken on straightaways and level curves, though, the stability feels decent. The lateral edges of the Pro are more built than those on most racing shoes, but the thin mesh of the lateral midfoot is too stretchy to provide much support. After careful consideration and a few somewhat dangerous maneuvers, we found the Endorphin Pro to be more stable than it originally presented. It stays with you as you power around corners without imposing upon your gait. We don't recommend this shoe as a stable super shoe, but it is worth checking out.

Upper Comfort

As we mentioned, the aggressive rocker of the Endorphin Pro 4 feels like it forces your foot slightly forward, pressing your toes against the front edge of the shoe. The overall upper engineered mesh is very stretchy, which doesn't do a lot to hold your feet in place. The stretchy tongue is comfortable even without any cushion.

We had a bit of trouble getting the lace bed tamped down properly. The stretch of the upper textile prevented the usual snugness we prefer. We threaded the laces through the additional eyelet to rectify this, but that didn't help us find a midfoot lockdown. Instead, the tension of the laces dug into our ankle joint, and the midfoot felt floppy. The bootie-like fit allowed us to run in moderate comfort, but this wasn't our favorite fit. If you find that the upper creates a fit you like, then the mesh and breathability will definitely keep you comfortable.

Weight

The 6.13 ounces of the Endorphin Pro feels incredibly light underfoot. The comfortable underfoot stack feels nearly weightless. There are a few super shoes that weigh an ounce to an ounce and a half less, but the underfoot foam of this one makes it worth it. We think the weight of the Endorphin Pro shouldn't sway your decision in either direction.

Traction

The traction of this shoe is well-configured, with concentrated patterning at the forefoot. When running at high speeds, it keeps you firmly on the ground thanks to the agility-centered location of the patterning. The high-functioning traction helps provide some of the support that the meshy upper lacks, allowing this shoe to score slightly higher than anticipated.

Should You Buy the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4?

We enjoyed our runs in the Endorphin Pro and think you probably will, too. It is not our favorite super shoe or racing option, but runners seeking a more approachable super shoe option might enjoy the sensation. It is expensive, though not out of the realm of typical when it comes to racing shoes. If left to our devices, we would probably spend our money on a different racing shoe, but the Endorphin Pro might offer what you want. If it does, its responsiveness is worth the price.

What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is similar but scored higher across our metrics. The Speed has a softer crash pad, a minutely-less-responsive nylon plate, and a significant amount of upper comfort, making it one of our favorites for speed days. Because of these attributes, the Endorphin Speed is more equipped to act as your daily speed trainer and makes a great entry-level almost-super shoe for runners wanting speed without a true propulsion powerhouse. If a serious super shoe is, in fact, what you are after, check out the latest and greatest offerings from Nike, the Alphafly 3 and the Vaporfly 3. Alternatively, the Asics Metaspeed Sky is another powerful speed shoe that offers a kind balance of comfort and speed, similar yet slightly stripped back from what the Endorphin Speed offers.