There's certainly no shortage of alternative running shoes to the Nike Vaporfly, but that's not a bad thing at all. Take the Saucony Endorphin Pro for example - it's a very decent long-distance running shoe with a very good heel construction and plenty of cushioning underfoot. Does Saucony Endorphin Pro meet the Vaporfly concept? Not really, but these shoes are still among the best running shoes around today.
Unlike the aforementioned Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%, the Saucony Endorphin Pro could be recommended for less experienced runners, as the sole construction is more forgiving, even if you have a slight pronation. I've seen too many people using the Vaporfly on the run, their feet giving out with every step. Thanks to the wider midfoot platform, that may not be the case with the Endorphin Pro.
Are the new Saucony Endorphin Pro really worth the price of €220?
high-end technology
The Saucony Endorphin Pro is packed with technology, as you'd expect from a high-end running shoe. Naturally, the main show-stopper here is the 5-curve carbon fiber plate that acts as a cushioning propulsion plate. The plate also provides some stiffness to the otherwise soft PWRRUN PB foam.
You can definitely feel the presence of the carbon plate in the midsole: you can't roll the Saucony Endorphin Pro into a ball like a contact shoe. In fact, the sole is relatively stiff and recoils when you're about to lift off the ground. Interestingly, they have such an efficient roll that it might diminish some of the springy effect the carbon plate was supposed to provide.
Oversimplifying the process, the carbon plates work by snapping back into shape once they've been bent and this in turn pushes your feet off the ground a bit with each step. Now if you run efficiently and take off without bending the plate too much, you can lose some of the propulsion generated by the plate.
The PWRRUN PB , a PEBA-based 'super foam', as Saucony calls it, is incredibly soft, especially right under the heels, so if you're a heel striker, you'll appreciate the extra cushioning there. The foam thins out towards the front of the shoes, allowing the carbon plate to work its magic and help with takeoffs (again, no trampolines here).
For comparison, the foam on the Vaporfly NEXT% is softer than the Endorphin Pro, but the Endorphin Pro is softer than some Hoka One One models like the Mach 3.
Tailor-made ergonomics
The Saucony Endorphin Pro is a highly cushioned road shoe , so you'll get a nice bounce, but you will lose some ground feel, which is to be expected. The heel area is particularly well constructed: the heel counter has a tight contour so the shoe hugs the back of the foot very well. There's plenty of padding behind the heel that narrows as the collar curves around the ankles. The collar areas on the ankle side have very little padding, but you generally don't experience any chafing or discomfort.
Around the midfoot area, the Formfit upper becomes less rigid, and unfortunately, this means you lose that lovely locked-in feeling you want from a running shoe. The reinforced section at the front of the toe box keeps the upper away from your toes, creating a bit of empty space between them.
On the plus side, the Speedroll technology works very well and the heel-to-toe transition is incredibly smooth. There are no discernible hard or soft spots, which is what you'd expect from a composite sole, and the foam and carbon plate work harmoniously together.
It has a futuristic aesthetic.
I like the look of the Saucony Endorphin Pro, and they definitely look much better than the Saucony Ride ISO 2, for example. The word that comes to mind when looking at the Saucony Endorphin Pro is "fluid": the wave pattern seems to be present in many ways throughout the shoe's design, from the way the soles flow to the Saucony logo.
Some random colors are mixed in here: she has teal soles, bright orange highlights, and a neon green collar, all of which offset the main color (white) nicely. We're not reaching the levels of Nike React Infinity Run or Adidas Ultraboost style, but it's also great to see efforts from other manufacturers.
You will be able to find the sneakers next July, available on their official website for €220.