Since Saucony launched the Endorphin line in 2020, it has received praise. Especially the two fast models, and , fused comfort, durability, and speed in a new and refreshing way. Left was the somewhat awkward younger brother Endorphin Shift, intended for everyday training, but which, apart from the use of SPEEDROLL technology, didn't really offer anything special.
The shoe never got a sequel, but has since given the everyday trainer several attempts. Think of Kinvara Pro, a shoe whose plate, naturally brought thoughts back to the popular, comfortable, and established Endorphin Speed. This year the attempt is called Endorphin Azura, and I dare say we are dealing with a shoe that lives up to the original Endorphin Speed and Pro.
Azura combines the comfort of a max stack shoe with the speed and low weight of a plated shoe, without truly being either. All in a price range where you normally get neither. In fact, I've often chosen Endorphin Azura over Endorphin Speed for interval sessions.
- Foam: PWRRUN PB
- Drop: 8 mm (40 mm / 32 mm)
- Weight: 241 grams
- The shoe is for those who want a comfortable shoe for interval training without a plate.
Saucony Endorphin Azura's midsole: Technology-free pace (almost)
When I write in each article, “The shoe is for you…” it’s so you, as a buyer, can quickly assess if the shoe is for you. In Azura's case, I could almost have stopped the sentence there. For it's hard to see who the shoe wouldn’t work for.
If you are a very heavy runner needing stability, you might need to look elsewhere. Otherwise, it's a shoe most runners would love to rack up miles in.
The midsole has a clear tendency for speed, which is why I call it excellent for intervals. But even if you don't run intervals, the roll the midsole provides offers a fantastic feeling during jogging and easy runs. It's a privilege to finally recommend something that feels like a tempo shoe to almost everyone.
Often, in tempo shoes, you find technologies like plates, which you want to avoid in everyday training to train the body more naturally. But with Azura, the only thing creating the feeling of speed is how the foam is shaped.
The midsole consists solely of PWRRUN PB, the same foam you find in Endorphin Speed 5 and Pro 5. Your foot is protected by a solid layer (40 mm at the heel and 32 mm at the forefoot), and a traditional drop of 8 mm does not immediately reveal the aggressive feel the shoe provides at takeoff.
The feeling can best be described as a significant push right when you shift weight over the ball of the foot. The midsole is designed with a distinct break here, which tips the weight forward. Compared to the flat platform you land on a moment earlier, it feels like an active takeoff.
Saucony calls it SPEEDROLL technology, as they did in 2020, but for me, it’s the first time I feel the roll I normally associate with plated shoes, in a shoe without.
Precisely the absence of a plate makes Azura particularly appealing for daily use. It gives me the freedom to use the shoe day after day, something I would consciously avoid if it had a plate. Plates are good in moderation, but overuse can quickly become a crutch.
Azura has therefore quickly become one of my go-to choices for training.
Saucony Endorphin Azura: Basic upper
There's limited to say about Azura's upper. It is what it is – and that's positive.
Saucony has focused on comfort and uses an engineered mesh upper with plastic reinforcements in exposed areas, particularly along the outside of the foot and around the heel.
Despite the shoe's low weight, you'll find relatively soft and ample foam in the heel, combined with a reasonably stiff heel counter. It gives a clear feeling of being locked in place. Although the upper is of the simpler type, I experienced no issues with comfort around the toes, instep, or heel.
The laces are entirely basic but functional. The tongue is thin and secured, forming a stable frame around the foot.
Saucony Endorphin Azura: XT-900 outsole – Do we find the speed here?
Saucony has ensured the shoe's longevity with an XT-900 outsole, their most durable rubber. The outsole is divided into three panels: two under the heel and three smaller ones under the forefoot.
The outsole, however, does not cover much of the midsole's porous PWRRUN PB, which has already given my pair visible wear. It doesn't affect the foam's function, but the shoe quickly looks used. I miss the rubber extending further to the edges, where the shoe primarily wears.
On the other hand, the outsole likely also contributes to Azura's aggressive SPEEDROLL feel. The panels under the forefoot follow the midsole's break, which gives the shoe a natural shape it seeks to return to when you bend it. A feeling usually associated with a plate.
It's noticeable if you bend the shoe with your hands: It gives more easily where the outsole is absent than where it is present.
Is Endorphin Azura for you?
Most likely.
The only caveat I'd point out is if you are a heavy runner in need of stability. The shoe isn't stable, and I did roll my ankle on a jog in the woods. It's not something I usually do, nor something I directly blame the shoe for, but stability isn't its strength.
On the other hand, it delivers on almost everything else: price, weight, comfort, and speed come together in a combination without reservations like plates or black nails.
If you are looking for a running shoe where you don't need to worry about whether a better alternative is coming soon, then Endorphin Azura is just that alternative to many established categories.
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