Our Take On The Evolution the Saucony Endorphin Speed Running Shoes

We’re kicking off a new series celebrating the iconic running shoe lines that paved the way for the shoes we know and love today. First up is the legendary Saucony Endorphin Speed training shoes—a fan favorite with a rich history over the past five years.

The Original "Super-Trainer": Endorphin Speed 1

While the OG Nike Vaporfly ushered in the era of the “super shoe” in 2017, it was Saucony who would bring the learnings from this new category of racers to the training market with the release of the Endorphin Speed in the summer of 2020. Pairing bouncy race foam with a nylon plate, the OG Endorphin Speed helped to pioneer the now-popular category of plated training shoes.

A Worthy Successor: Endorphin Speed 2

With the revolutionary concept of the plated training shoe established, Saucony moved to refine what made the OG Endorphin Speed a runaway success. Coinciding with the surge of running popularity during the COVID 19 Pandemic and delivering a fun, energetic, even untamed, ride experience, it is no surprise that Saucony created one of the most beloved shoes of the 2020s among hobby joggers.

An Endorphin Speed for All: Endorphin Speed 3

By 2022, Saucony sensed that the market was shifting toward providing stability and comfort in training shoes. Enter the Endorphin Speed 3, a more accessible iteration of the Speed series for a broader spectrum of runners. Saucony introduced a new winged plate design, widened the shoe’s platform for better inherent stability and tuned PWRRUN PB for better comfort over long distances. While the shoe saw mass adoption in the hobby jogger community, some diehard fans of the Endorphin Speed line felt that the shoe lacked the aggressive ride that gave the first two shoes their character.

Popular, But Divisive: Endorphin Speed 4

Responding to community feedback that the Speed 3 had strayed too far from the original Endorphin Speed formula, the Speed 4 turned the dial back toward the speed training direction. While Saucony attempted to find a happy medium between the wild, unstable fun of the Speed 2 and the comfortable bounce of the Speed 3, many runners felt that the update failed to capture the magic of either of those shoes. The narrow toebox, slighly firmer foam and chunky heel geometry led to a shoe that complicates rather than clarifies  the future of the Endorphin Speed line.

Supwell Shoe Matcher

Whether you're looking for a reliable easy run shoe, pampering comfort on recovery days, a long-run cruiser, race day weapon, or Saucony Endorphin Speed replacement, check out our Shoe Matcher tool to get matched. We've done the extensive testing, so you don't have to.