High expectations were met when introduced their Endorphin series in 2020, consisting of three different shoes: one for daily training, one for interval training, and . Particularly, the interval shoe was praised for combining comfort and speed in an unprecedented way.
The shoe is now in its fifth generation, and it is one of the shoes where I've noticed the fewest changes between generations. Saucony has retained the DNA that made the original Endorphin Speed popular but has significantly improved the fifth generation.
Read on to learn what's updated.
Upper with visible and transparent updates
One of the most striking aspects of the shoe I've tested is the upper. The color makes no apologies, and this is also where you find one of the most significant updates from previous models.
The upper is a new, updated Engineered Mesh type, providing more space around the forefoot. Saucony listened to concerns from runners who felt the little toe was pinched in Endorphin Speed 4 – something I also noticed. In the fifth version, I've had no issues with width.
The new upper locks the foot across the instep with the comfort I associate with Saucony's uppers. This – along with the new forefoot width and a new, "sharper" heel cap that grips my heel better than the predecessor's more rounded heel cap – creates an upper that fit well from the first kilometer.
The upper's update is also visible as it has become thinner and more breathable. The thin and transparent mesh is stretched over a coarse woven thread system, allowing you to see the socks through the shoe.
The breathability hints at the shoe's name and the intensity it is built for: speed. In previous models, the upper always seemed slightly out of place compared to the rest of the shoe's focus on speed. It felt a bit warm in summer and heavy in rain – due to the many comfort elements.
For the first time in the series' relatively short history, the upper matches the fast midsole – without compromising on comfort.
How does the (relatively) new midsole feel?
The midsole, which has arguably always been the series' greatest innovation, has changed minimally since the first generation. Saucony has reduced a bit of the upper's stability but added some stability through small adjustments in the midsole, which still has an 8 mm drop.
You'll find a slightly broader contact area in the fifth version compared to the fourth.
Additionally, the outer side of the midsole is made weaker, allowing you to compress it more easily than the inner side. This creates a natural stabilizing effect beneficial for most runners – especially when the pace increases.
You'll still find a nylon plate between the PWRRUN PB foam material, also fine-tuned to guide the foot stabilizingly towards the outer side. Endorphin Speed 4's plate had two "wings" visible under the arch and outer side of the foot. In the fifth version, the wing is only under the arch.
This year, the plate is also more flexible than before. This gives a more dynamic running feel. It slightly reduces the shoe's speed feel, but the transition feels more natural.
The plate update, imitating a carbon plate's response when bent, is again done to offer more stability and increase the shoe's lifespan – ensuring your foot's transition happens appropriately each time and wears you and the shoe as little as possible.
Along with the actual plate, Saucony has also utilized their Speedroll™ technology. The technology gives you a wild feeling of wanting to move forward – the shoe rolls you through each step.
Finally balanced
Saucony adds a bit of midsole and durability to their interval workhorse. This is especially evident on the heel's outer side, where a complete plate is present underneath.
Otherwise, the outsole panels are divided into zones with a strategically grooved design, allowing for flexibility. Thus, the outsole complements the nylon plate's new flexible nature.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is an update that fixes the very small issues that one – if really trying – could find with its popular predecessor.
A less aggressive profile has made the midsole more comfortable, while the shoe's upper has received a worthy update, making it lighter and more breathable.
The shoe's overall fast feel remains similar to what you know the series for, but the balance between the shoe's components is more harmonious than ever before in the fifth version.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 maintains comfort and speed and continues its tradition at the top of all-round shoes.
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