Saucon Endorphin Speed 5 Review
By Matthew Klein
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5Price: $174.99 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.4 oz, g (men's size 9), 7.5 oz, g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36 mm heel / 28 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Nylon Plated Performance Trainer/Racer
Pros: Performance fit but wider toe box than previous, smooth heel transition, versatile ride that handles longer runs and workouts well, good forefoot and heel cushioning
Cons: Not as fast and slightly heavier than prior version
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 returns as a new twist on Saucony's popular nylon-plated lightweight trainer/racer. A redesigned fit provides a secure hold with a wider forefoot for those who want a bit more room while maintaining a performance fit. A full-length PWRRUN PB midsole continues as usual but feels softer, bouncier and less stiff thanks to a reworked geometry and nylon plate. The reworked geometry and plate create more medial guidance and a far smoother heel transition. Those who found the prior version too firm for longer runs will be happy with the slightly relaxed ride that keeps its cushioning over long miles while still being bouncy and fast enough to handle workouts and races for many.
SIMILAR SHOES: New Balance Rebel v5, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
PAST MODEL: Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The engineered hexagon mesh upper is a thin, breathable material that creates a light but secure fit. The fit is wider than the prior version, with a lower volume that still provides a performance fit. The toe box is slightly tapered but opens up into a slightly wide forefoot. The width primarily stems from the additional room around the lateral toes compared to the more tapered medial side. This transitions into a lower volume but normal-width midfoot. The mild-to-moderately thick tongue is gusseted at the topmost portion, which still secures it to the foot. This small portion of gusseting makes the top-most portion of the midfoot feel lower volume than the rest of it. The heel is normal in width with mild heel collar padding. There is a stiff counter in the back that does have padding in front of it. The counter only bothered me a little at first because it is rounded, but those sensitive to heel counters will likely not do well. Those who want a stiffer counter will do great. The overall security is good. I did not have to lace-lock the shoe, although I did have to tighten the laces slightly. Going forward is great, and I did not have any slippage. Turning caused mild slippage in the midfoot, but nothing abnormal. The upper generally disappears after a few miles, but I would encourage the use of socks as the inner liner is too scratchy to go sockless with.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mildly
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Somewhat
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is a lightweight trainer/racer with a superfoam midsole and a nylon plate. The midsole is full-length PWRRUN PB that feels cushioned, bouncy and responsive underfoot. It is not a completely soft feel, but it is softer than the prior version. The weight still feels light in the mid-8-oz range (men's size 9), although it is slightly heavier than prior versions. It still feels light on foot but not light enough to be awkward running easy in it like other super racing shoes. There is an 8mm heel drop, and it feels consistent with that measure. The heel transition is quite smooth thanks to a decent heel bevel, a lateral heel that compresses easily, and the lack of a lateral extension of the plate into the midfoot/heel. This continues into a smooth midfoot and an easily transitioning, cushioned forefoot. Unlike version 4, the nylon plate is slightly more flexible, which makes the forefoot feel slightly softer. The cushioning no longer bottoms out or feels too firm in the forefoot over long runs as increased mileage in this shoe have felt great up front. The nylon plate still creates some stiffness up front, so those looking for snappiness will still find it and those with mild toe mobility issues will be fine using it (those with a lack of mobility may not find enough stiffness). The slightly softer ride and moderate stiffness make this shoe great for easy runs, long runs, workouts and races for many people. I have run a tempo run, two fartleks, two long runs and an easy run in this shoe. It did well during the easy and long runs, with my legs still feeling fresh enough to pick up the pace at the end of one of the long runs.
During the first fartlek, the shoe felt great at faster efforts but did not feel as fast as other super shoes. During the tempo, I experienced the same thing but it still held the effort well and felt like a great super shoe/training alternative that kept consistent paces. During the second fartlek, I finally figured out how to use the bouncier sole (compared to the stiffer version 4) and was able to really crank down the paces into the low 5-minute range while pushing a stroller. This shoe still has great workout and racing capacity for those who do not do well with carbon plates and stiffer rides. It is not the lightest shoe out there, but it can still move. This keeps the versatile legacy of the Speed series. The major difference from version 4 is that those who do well with a bouncy shoe will do better in version 5 compared to those who did better with a lower feeling stiffer shoe in version 4.
The outsole traction is fair with XT-900 rubber in strategic areas. It is best on roads and I did not slip on wet man-made surfaces. On dirt and gravel, the exposed PWRRUN PB gets chewed up, so I would keep this only on the road and track. I have 45 miles on my pair and am starting to see some wear on the exposed PWRRUN PB outsole parts. I have not pulled off the posterolateral heel piece of my left side but I am seeing wear in that area. The thinner upper, slightly softer ride and slightly early wear make me suspect the Endorphin Speed 5 will have average durability compared to other shoes in its category.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is supposed to be a neutral shoe but has mild guidance elements, especially in the heel. There is a plate that provides some torsional rigidity but the lack of an extension on the lateral side with a medial extension creates a lateral bias. As mentioned, this also smooths out and softens the lateral heel and midfoot, which creates medial stability in those areas. The heel also features more medial sole flare than lateral, which further creates a lateral bias. This is partially present in the midfoot as the lateral aspect is elevated compared to the medial side. This somewhat offsets the narrowed midfoot, making it solidly neutral. The heel has decent lateral bias, making it a great shoe for those with mild medial stability needs. The forefoot is wider with medial and lateral sole flare, a smooth rocker and a plate to create torsional rigidity. This provides mild centered guidance at the forefoot, compared to the more neutral midfoot and laterally biased heel. Overall, those with mild medial stability needs in the heel or neutral mechanics will do best in this shoe.
Thoughts as a DPT: Plate Placement and Ride Perception
By Matthew Klein
Within the first few steps wearing the Endorphin Speed 5, I could already tell the heel clunkiness I experienced with version 4 was already gone. The ride felt smoother, softer and bouncier. While there have been some geometry changes, such as the increased sole flare medially compared to laterally and midsole composition changes (just because something is PWRRUN PB, ZoomX, Lightstrike Pro, etc doesn't mean the composition is the same between shoes), one of the largest changes is the removal of the lateral protrusion of the nylon plate. As referenced above, this contributes to the perception of lateral deviation of the shoe at the heel and midfoot, which makes the shoe feel more stable for someone like me who needs medial stability. From an underfoot feeling perspective, the removal of a part of a stiffening agent will naturally make a ride softer.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Saucony Endorphin 5 addressed my major complaint about version 4. The heel has been smoothed out significantly, creating mild lateral guidance and a much better transition. The things I did not mention, that I learned about as I ran more miles on the Speed 4 (>150 miles), was that the cushioning bottoms out. That has also been addressed in the Endorphin Speed 5 with softer cushioning underfoot. The trade-off is the shoe is less stiff, which further differentiates itself from the Endorphin Pro 4 while still being a shoe that can handle training, workouts and racing.
My only recommendation at this time to see if the weight can be brought down slightly. Each Speed has gotten a bit heavier, which moves it more toward being a lightweight trainer than a potential racer. A large amount of rubber has already been removed from the outsole and that needs to be preserved given the slightly early wear I have experienced. The upper is fine as any reduction in thickness might compromise the training capacity and durability. My biggest suggestion is to consider updating the PWRRUN PB. All midsoles are now some kind of blend. With the transition of the Elite series to IncrediRun, I would love to see PWRRUN HG be used in the Endorphin Speed (and Pro?). It is a tiny bit firmer but still incredibly responsive, which would match the personality of the Speed while reducing weight. Outside of that, the Endorphin Speed 5 is a great update.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is for those who want a versatile lightweight nylon-plated trainer/racer that can handle easier, longer and workout paces. The fit is lower volume while still having a slightly wider forefoot for those that need more room on the lateral side, making it a good option for those with normal to slightly wider feet that want a performance fit. The midsole is softer and bouncy, making it best for those who want a smooth and bouncy heel transition and a plated but not stiff forefoot. The heel will be best for those with either neutral mechanics or medial stability needs given the lateral bias. The Speed 5 improves on the slightly clunky heel transition and firmer ride of version 4, keeping its ability to move while making it more comfortable over longer miles. The change of plate and heel design make it one of the first in the Speed series that may work for those with medial stability needs, while those with lateral stability needs may struggle. The slight weight gain makes it even more accessible as a trainer and workout shoe for anyone who wants one shoe that can do it all.
Although this is my favorite Endorphin Speed to date, the slight price increase is not completely justified, as it does not showcase any new foams or performance upgrades. It is even more accessible to recreational runners due to the changes above, but if the price is to continue going up, we may need to see a new midsole compound. At the moment, it feels like this brings the series back to where the Speed 3 was, but with a bouncier, more responsive, and better-fitting upper.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Slightly wider forefoot with a lower volume and fairly secure fit)
Performance: A- (Versatile ride that can handle easy runs to workouts and races for some. Smooth transitions with enough bounce to easily handle faster runs)
Stability: A- [Mild Heel Guidance] (Medial sole flare and plate geometry create medial stability in the heel, offsets the narrow midfoot and the plate creates a stable neutral forefoot. )
Value: B+ (Slight price increase with average durability and no foam upgrades. Still the best Speed to date in my opinion but getting more expensive)
Personal: A (This is now a go to shoe thanks to the heel guidance and softer ride that handles longer runs better)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Endorphin Speed 5Price: $174.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
Brooks lightweight plated trainer.
New Balance's lightweight workout trainer.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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