Hi, I’m Lars from runningxpert.com. In the last year I’ve run in about 20 different running shoes, and the one I ran in the most, by far, was the Endorphin Speed from Saucony.
But that stops now, because the new version is here.
Introducing Saucony Endorphin Speed 2!
Hi, I’m Lars from runningxpert.com. In the last year I’ve run in about 20 different running shoes, and the one I ran in the most, by far, was the Endorphin Speed from Saucony.
But that stops now, because the new version is here.
Introducing Saucony Endorphin Speed 2!
Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 review
Specs:
Category: Neutral/competition
Cushioning: PWRRUN PB midsole
Drop: 8mm (35,5/27,7)
Weight: Men 221g / Women 192g
Similar shoes:
- New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2
- Hoka Mach 4
Midsole
The midsole is made out of PWRRUN PB, Saucony’s fastest and most lightweight foam. It is essentially the same foam that you can find in their most aggressive racing shoe, the Endorphin Pro 2, substituting the stiffer carbon plate with a more forgiving nylon plate. The foam is springy and light but not super soft, which gives a highly responsive ride that despite the high stack height gives a nice ground feel.
The nylon plate is S-shaped, and it is the basis for Saucony’s SPEEDROLL technology, which is their fancy word for saying “this shoe really helps you forward!” It also creates a bit of stability in an otherwise tall shoe.
Upper
The midsole is made out of PWRRUN PB, Saucony’s fastest and most lightweight foam. It is essentially the same foam that you can find in their most aggressive racing shoe, the Endorphin Pro 2, substituting the stiffer carbon plate with a more forgiving nylon plate. The foam is springy and light but not super soft, which gives a highly responsive ride that despite the high stack height gives a nice ground feel.
The nylon plate is S-shaped, and it is the basis for Saucony’s SPEEDROLL technology, which is their fancy word for saying “this shoe really helps you forward!” It also creates a bit of stability in an otherwise tall shoe.
Outsole
The outsole has strategic placed rubber to reduce weight, while still preserving optimal grip. The rest of the outsole is exposed PWRRUN PB foam, which is surprisingly durable.
I have almost nothing bad to say about the grip. I generally haven’t had any issues with it slipping, only on very dry and fast gravel runs, where the dry sand on top makes me spin when I increase the pace or in the wet and snowy environments during the winter when nothing sticks.
Running in the shoe
All these features make for a very light running shoe. It weighs only 221g in a men’s US 9 and 192g in women’s us 7.5, and you notice the light weight as soon as you start to run.
These characteristics are the reason why this shoe is so versatile and brilliant. It can be used on close to every run imaginable, whether it is a tempo run, race day, long runs, easy days or a recovery run. Especially on the type of runs I do, where I mix asphalt and forest roads along the river, this shoe really shines more than most other shoes with plates than tend to be a bit less stable.
I really like the firmness and responsiveness it still has despite the tall stack height, but I can imagine that for some runners this shoe will feel a bit too firm for everyday use. On the other hand, in those cases this shoe will be ideal for intervals and race days, the perfect supplement for a heavier daily trainer.
So, whether you need a lighter shoe for intervals and race day, or you’re a lighter runner that just wants an everyday speed monster, this shoe really delivers at a very high level.
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