I might be one of them. I am training on Hoka Carbon X2 and Rocket X but taking advantage of a 20% Black Friday discount got the Endorphin Speed 2 yesterday after all the positive reviews I have read. I’m happy with the Hokas but even though I like the fit but they do not feel very fast to me. Will report back…
Went from Pegasus 37 to Endorphin Speed. Got last years model on sale + medical discount for under 100 bucks. Loved the first pair so bought two more. So it’s my daily, use the Nike Air Zoom Tempo Next % for speed work/long race pace runs.
I loved the early versions of the kinvara, and also the A type line for shorter stuff, but had moved away from Saucony to skechers and hoka (mainly the razor, ride 8/9, and rincon). Then tried the Endorphin speed last year and wow, what a great shoe. Great for tempo, intervals, and racing. Thought I’d try the Nike hype train and got a Vaporfly next 2, but sold it on after two runs. For me it was too soft and unstable, and foresaw injury.
Durability of the endorphin speed is fantastic, and the upper is one of the best I’ve used sockless.
I’m done with hoka until they update their foam. For eva its good, but then you run in something livelier like pebax or hyperburst and realise they are at risk of getting left behind
Changed from Newton to Saucony Endorphin Pro this past year. Have been in newtons since 2008. The Endorphins allowed my 53 year old legs run again like I haven’t in a long time.
I’m using the Saucony Endorphin Speed’s for long or fast runs. In general, my legs aren’t as tired afterwards, but I do feel some hamstring tightness.
Most of my runs are in minimalist Merrell’s, so this is a big change for me.
Anybody knows what is the durometer value of the PEBA foam of Saucony Endorphin Speed / Pro ?
They definitely last longer than Nikes and Hokas. They have this thin plastic/rubber thing on the bottom sole and they are light and sturdy. It seems like everyone has Saucony Speed or Pro. I also own Pro 1 & 2 and they are really comfortable. I want to buy Pro 1 Mutant White, but they are impossible to find. All gone I guess. They are just so comfortable and easy to run. I still get my PRs with Nikes though.
Agree on durability. I have the Speed with 200km+ and the rubber just looks dirty but shows zero wear. I expect them to easily last 600km+.
Endorphin Speed replaced a pair of Zoom Fly 2 as a fast training shoe. The Speeds feel faster, softer, and more comfortable.
My wife recently switched to the Endorphin Shift as her long day shoe, and loves them so far.
My 2021 rotation:
- Endorphin Speed for Interval/tempo days. They don’t feel quite as fast as the Next% but they are also far more comfortable, stable, cheaper, and will last long enough to be used in training.
- Asics Novablast for tempo/easy days. Their foam is really nice. Very forgiving but the shoes still feel fast enough for any kind of workout, from tempo days to easy or even long.
- Asics GlideRide for long days. Most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn without feeling slow. Even on 50km/30mi days there is absolutely zero discomfort. Maximal cushion but has a rocker shape for toe off that makes it feel quicker than it should (for a cushioned long run shoe) even the upper is super padded everywhere, making it feel like a pillow.
- Next% for racing. They aren’t very stable or long lasting but holy smokes they are fast. Did a 10k yesterday and held an even pace that is normally challenging for a few km in “regular” shoes for me (3:45k/6:00mi)
My 2022 rotation purchased this weekend (always replace all shoes on Black Friday deals):
- Endorphin Speed 2 for interval/tempo/easy days. I like to experiment and change shoes up, but these are just too good leave out.
- Tempo Next% for interval/tempo/easy days. They felt very fast in store and squishy stack is beyond allowable max by World Athletics. 2022 will be a high mileage year and I want to BQ, so this shoe seemed like a good pick for fast/long training at 86kg/190lb. Had a hard time chosing between these, the Novablast 2 (bit slower), and Magic Speed (bit firm).
- Probably Glideride 2 for long days if I can try them on. They didn’t have my size and I heard v2 got firmer, so I still need to try it before committing. Since I like the foam in the Speeds, I tried on the Triumph 19 and those feel pretty nice, too. Doesn’t roll or have quite the cushion of the v1 Glideride, though.
- Metaspeed Sky for racing. Felt similar to Next% in terms of propulsion but with far more stability, so I will give these a try.
The foam preferences are greatly related to weight and pace, imo. I’m probably on the “heavier” side of the spectrum, at least for the paces I run. Because I’m heavier, I like cushion. But also because I’m heavier I can compress shoes more than a lighter runner. React foam without a place feels great to me, but some lighter runners will say it’s too firm. Regarding pace, Next% is a great example of a shoe that feels odd at 4:30km/7:30mi or slower, but turns into magic fuel at 3:45km/6:00mi pace.
Long lasting. Super competitive on price. The Speed2 is a GREAT shoe. Their carbon plated Endorphin Pro2 is $100CAN less than Nike Alpha and a great shoe.
Performance wise here is a great article.
https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/malindi-elmore-shoe-test-vaporflys-saucony/
I very rarely ran in Saucony until the Endorphin series release.
Need a bit of stability/control and for the past few years have trained on Brooks Ravenna and raced on Saucony Fastwitch. Didn’t want to be left behind in the whole supershoe thing so switched to the Endorphin Shift as a trainer with a mind to race in the Endorphin Pro. Injury derailed my running season so never got around to running fast. Am looking at the Asics shoes as a racer next year, but was happy with the feel of the Endorphin Shifts for training. Can’t run with them on treadmill though… Feels too weird
I tried the Shift first and fell in love with it after trying one or two of the Nike’s and found them to be really squishy at slower speeds and unstable.That led me to the Guide, and then I saw the Speed on sale and picked them up and loved them too, which led to try the Kinvara 12 which then led to two pairs of those. Also got the Metaracer on a crazy sale just to try something different …also a great shoe but I am pretty much all in on the Endorphin line. Great shoes and really durable.
I went all in on Saucony because of their eco-conscious choices. I wear their vegan Jazz shoes and have three pair of shoes for training. I can’t speak for performance comparisons - I just liked the company.
I’ll be intrigued when other companies come out with carbon neutral shoes as well.
From Altra Escalante to the Endorphin Speed. I know … big switch. The cushion of the sole makes it feel like I can run all day in a light weight shoe and the propulsion of the Speed Roll just makes me run faster. I tried Nike Vaporfly and Hoka CarbonX but both were too narrow.
I switched to endorphin speeds from Hoka Clinton’s and Brooks launches for faster runs. For me they are super comfortable and quick, I feel like they save 40 seconds a mile at the same intensity. They like to go fast. I have a pair of Pros too that I use for races. They are not as comfortable as the Speeds but seem fast.
long time asics runner, Kayano, noosa tri 11, 12, DS…
Switched to Endorphin pro for racing and loved it and then bough the shift for the easier tempo runs. As much as I love the Pro for racing, I am thinking of the new asics Sky if it offers more stability
Slowtwitchers? Yeah, it’s probably the Endorphin line-up that’s done it.
That said, Saucony’s meat and potatoes line up (Ride, Guide, Triumph, Kinvara) have been crushing it. And unlike a lot of other companies right now…actually have availability. That’s going to help. We’re talking about a four to six month gap in futures orders and no at-once availability from a lot of brands. (So, Slowtwitchers: if you like a shoe right now and you’re likely to need another one in the next six months, run to your local run shop and get it now.)
I’ve got two reviews of them coming: Endorphin Pro 2, and the new Freedom.
Allegedly, 25.5 according to another review site.
That seems off. I’ll see if I can get an answer from them directly, but it’ll likely take a while to get there.
I moved from ON CloudFllow which I had worn for several years to Saucony Endorphin Speed, but also rotate with New Balance Rebels. Both new shoes are way more comfortable to run in than any ON shoe I’ve tried.
I find I cannot wear the Endorphins for every run or soleus/calves get too tight. Use them mainly for faster runs and racing. Use the rebels the rest of the time.
I still do my road training in bondi’s; i get last year’s model on sale. at 190 lbs, my joints need the extra cush. saucony endorphin speed for faster road training, and for all racing.
I did pick up the Saucony endorphin speed since so many people rave about it. I still wear my new balance for long steady runs. Any type of speed work I wear the Saucony.
After three knee surgeries, I got back into running with the Newton Kismet to teach myself to forefoot strike and minimize knee pain. After doing that for a couple of years, I feel pretty good and switched to the Endorphin Speed this summer.