Saucony's latest tempo shoes have a wild reputation: Either the shoes, like and , are among the fastest and most popular shoes on the market, or the shoes, like Shift and Kinvara Pro, fall into a strange category – one that can't decide whether it's for volume training or intervals.
This year, attempts to erase the confusion. uses super foam and a carbon plate and is the American brand's answer to a super trainer: a shoe that endures many miles, fused with technologies used in super shoes.
But has it succeeded in making a super trainer, which in the best cases is essential for most runners, or does the Saucony Endorphin Trainer fall into the category with its predecessors – shoes that have yet to get a sequel but instead change name? Read on for the verdict.
Comfortable, yes, but…
The shoe is on the heavier side at 280 grams (US 9). This wouldn't normally be remarkable, but when adds super foam and a carbon plate to the shoe, it's odd that it weighs more than some volume training shoes.
However, the weight has its advantages, and comfort is one of them – something Saucony mostly gets right in their shoes. The mesh upper locks the foot comfortably, and the soft heel counter has no "slip". Generally, Saucony rarely misses when it comes to uppers: The Formfit recipe has set new standards for how soft an upper can feel. But considering that Saucony previously succeeded with comfortable uppers on lighter shoes, the Endorphin Trainer feels somewhat clunky.
The upper resembles the one Saucony uses on volume training shoes, and the many comfort elements concern me slightly when I think about how the shoe feels on a warm summer evening when intervals are on the schedule. In winter weather, it was no problem, but if you tend to have warm feet at high intensity, you might want to look at the lighter 4.
Clap and Carbon in the Midsole
The midsole on has a drop of 8 mm and is two-part. The bottom part consists of Saucony's classic EVA foam type, PWRRUN. On top of the firm EVA foam, you'll find a relatively large layer of Saucony's newest and fastest foam type, IncrediRun. This is the same super foam type that Saucony also uses in Endorphin Elite 2.
The combination is exciting: PWRRUN foam is there for stability and gives the shoes a distinctive sound. With each step, a sound arises that can best be described as a clap against the asphalt. It doesn't bother me – it rather gives a quick sense of response that is not only felt but also heard. An effect found in only one other pair I know of.
The extra stability is felt in the large sole landing platform, where the foot is effectively stabilized, no matter the pace. However, the shoes wouldn't have much wow-factor without the layer of IncrediRun foam on top. The foam gives a pleasant and bouncy feel when you step in the shoe for the first time. In fact, I had to hold back the first time I ran in the shoes, as they encouraged a faster pace than I had planned.
This is possibly also due to the ¾-length carbon plate that lies between the two foam types. This increases responsiveness by making the shoe stiff. I've used the shoe for jogs, where it felt too fast, at half-marathon intensity, and for high-speed strides. For me, the shoe works best at half-marathon intensity.
The shoes have been criticized for not being fast enough. In my opinion, speed isn't a problem – you will have to work for it, but they will give you the response you seek in a super trainer. The bigger question is whether the shoes are comfortable enough for, say, half-marathon training, where softness has become a necessity. The shoes are harder than, for instance, Endorphin Speed 4, and here you undoubtedly also get a fast shoe that is additionally soft.
Outsole Like Midsole
The large outsole of durable EVA foam has allowed Saucony to save on rubber coating. Instead, you run directly on the PWRRUN material, except for the most exposed areas, where panels of durable rubber protect the midsole.
Considering the shoe's weight, I expected more outsole. It feels wild to wear such an expensive shoe where there is really nothing protecting the most important thing for a good feel – the midsole – from the ground. Having said that, my experience with Saucony's durability is good, and I remember Guide 17, where you also almost only ran on an EVA sole. And those were volume training shoes that were hard to wear out.
Lots of Attitude – but Also Speed
Did Saucony find a home for their super trainer? I still see potential for more, but Endorphin Trainer is the closest they've been yet. The shoes feel great on the foot, and you can confidently wear them for long tempo runs. Interval training they also handle, but you'll find you have to work a bit more than you might be used to. This is because the shoes weigh significantly more than other super trainers on the market. On the other hand, you sit comfortably in a shoe that also offers stability.
I recommend the shoes to runners looking for more stability in their interval shoes or to runners who want a shoe that can do many things at once.
Didn't Find a Favorite?
See the full selection of running shoes here:
