Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 review

Definitely grab a pair now if you want a: 

• fast shoe with loads of kick for both tempo training and race days,
• running shoe that's also cushy and stable for daily runs and long miles.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is a one-stop shop that can take you from a daily workout to a race!

Everything about the Saucony Speed 3 gets a thumbs up from us, save for the heel counter. It's less padded, which is slightly abrasive to the heel. You can stock up on the bandaid or consider Saucony Kinvara 14.

However, if you're head over heels in love with the Saucony Endorphin series but want a comfier heel wrap, it's best to stick with the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. It's also a great alternative for those with slim feet.

With the amount of cushioning that it packs, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a mile eater. And a very good one too! 

Even though our caliper shows an average amount of stack height (34.1 mm in the heel), it definitely feels like plenty on the run.

Important note: the brand advertised slightly different numbers. The shoe is supposed to have 36 mm for the heel stack height.

As for the forefoot stack, our caliper returned 26.7 mm which is over 2 mm thicker than average!

However, it is a little less than the officially stated 28 mm.

At 7.4 mm, we found the shoe's heel-to-toe drop to be close to the official specs (8 mm). This is a middle-of-the-pack drop that works great for both beginner and seasoned runners.

The Endorphin Speed 3 also gets comfier than its predecessor. There is a gentle give in the shoe's midsole and it works better for easy days too!

Turning to our durometer, we found that the shoe's foam is in fact in the top 10% of the softest in our lab!

With a reading of 13.8 HA, the Endorohin Speed 3 is on par with shoes like ASICS Novablast 3 (13.5 HA) and the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 2 (13.9 HA).

It was incredible to find out that the Endorphin Speed 3 remains soft even after 20 minutes in the freezer!

At room temperature, our durometer showed 13.8 HA and after the freezer, it only firmed up by 5%(!) becoming 14.5 HA.

Even after being exposed to the cold, the shoe remained 65% softer than other shoes at room temperature.

Measuring the shoe's insole, we found it to be slightly thinner than average at 3.6 mm. But this is still quite padded for a tempo trainer - no need to be concerned with underfoot comfort.

This time around, the Endorphin Speed 3 comes back with more bounce and a snappier toe-off which makes picking up the pace so easy!

The shoe lives up to our high expectations left by the previous Speed 2.

And this is not just because it's a shoe that has speed written all over it. It's also because the nylon plate it has (responsible for the snappy toe-off) doesn't feel harsh. Compared to other plated running shoes, the Endorphin Speed 3 is more natural-feeling.

At the same time, the shoe hasn't lost its bounce either. So you can still push the pace and go as fast as you want.

What's more, in this iteration, the shoe's Speedroll rocker geometry is very noticeable. Each step feels as if the foot is carried forward. Love it!

Even though the Speed 3 is only average in the widest part of the forefoot (98.5 mm), it feels roomier because of the stretchy nature of its fabric. The latter makes the shoe feel much more accommodating in the toebox.

We believe that Saucony absolutely nailed the fit of the Endorphin Speed 3! The upper does a really great job mimicking the natural shape of the foot. 

We tested the Endorphin Speed 3 using the SATRA TM144 method and recorded a solid 0.50 score. That's higher than the more expensive Endorphin Elite and a good mark for a feather-light tempo trainer like this one.

In our view, that result reflects good traction in wet conditions and high-level grip on dry pavement.

The outsole of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 focuses on weight savings, so rubber coverage is minimal—there's plenty of exposed foam. That said, PWRRUN PB is well known for its abrasion-resistant qualities and holds up better than most PEBA-based foams.

This Saucony shoe doesn't feel very stable and it's not supposed to. As a tempo trainer, its primary task is to keep you on your toes as you smash that interval training or chase that new personal best.

There is not much stability to lean on when you decide to slow down.

Another detractor from the shoe's stability is its high level of torsional flex.

Performing a manual test, we rated the Endorphin Speed 3 with only 2 out of 5 for torsional rigidity. That puts the shoe on the more flexible side of the spectrum.

The heel could use a little more padding.

This is the ONLY complaint we have for the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. The shoe's heel is a tad bit uncomfortable and scratchy because it has minimal padding.

This is definitely due to the choice of materials because the heel counter itself is very soft, it scored 2/5 on our flexibility tests (5 being the stiffest). 

Their recommendation? Wearing thicker socks is a must. As well as carrying a couple of bandaids.

We also found that the Endorphin Speed 3 runs slightly narrow in its platform.

The widest part of the forefoot turns out to be 111.5 mm, 1.5 mm narrower than average. But the good news is that it's not so critical and the brand did its homework to improve the 3rd iteration.

The Speed 3 is proof that Saucony really listens to runners' feedback. In the past, the Endorphin Speed's weak point was its lack of heel stability.

But this model changes all this. Based on our caliper measurements, the shoe's base has been widened by 5 mm in the heel.

As our manual flexibility test shows, the Endorphin Speed 3 leans toward the flexible side. But let’s see what the lab numbers say. In this test, we bend the shoe to a 30-degree angle with our custom-made machine to measure the force required.

Turns out, this Saucony model only needs 10.5N—far below the average for road shoes. It also confirms that the nylon plate in the midsole is noticeably more forgiving than a carbon one.

On average, tempo trainers weigh in at 248 grams/8.7 ounces.

But the Endorphin Speed 3 beats that by weighing only 212 grams/ 7.5 ounces! This is exceptionally light given how much cushioning this Saucony shoe has!

From double-layer mesh to single-layer mesh, this speedster is airy AF. If you plan to use it in the summer, we have nothing else to say, but lace it up! 

This Saucony shoe gets a solid 4 out of 5 for breathability based on our lab tests and on-road experience.

The rubber is not only softer, it is also thinner in this Saucony shoe. Our caliper shows only 2 mm of rubber which is a millimeter thinner than average.

There is also a moderate amount of tongue padding - 3.9 mm, based on our caliper measurement. It is 2 mm thinner than the average but is just perfect for a tempo shoe. 

The shoe's secure wrap is also complemented by its semi-gusseted tongue and padded laces. They work so well together; getting a solid lockdown won't be a challenge in the Speed 3.

This version of the Endorphin Speed doesn't go through a lot of changes, which is why runners continue to rave about it. It has minor touch-ups, which make it an even better version: 

• The wider toebox and thinner, stretchier upper for a more precise fit and a breathable running experience 
• More stability in the forefoot and heel because of the widened base 
• A new plate for a snappier toe-off
• Stripped-down heel padding to minimize the bulk as much as possible