Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 review

We believe that the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is a perfect match for:

• Runners who love the Endorphin Speed series and upgrade yearly, as it keeps the same bouncy, fun spirit alive.
• Anyone looking for a versatile shoe with excellent energy return but without the stiffness of a carbon-plated supertrainer.
• Those who want a single shoe for everything (including racing) without compromising flexibility or performance.
• Heel strikers who felt previous versions lacked support.

We think the Endorphin Speed 5 isn’t the best choice if maximum shock absorption is your priority. While it remains lightweight and fun, in our experience, it can’t match the ultra-cushioned feel of maximalist shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Trainer or the Mizuno Neo Zen. From our perspective, those tackling longer efforts may want something more plush and protective underfoot.

Additionally, the third price hike in a row might deter some. For a lower-cost, high-performance alternative, we suggest looking at the Adidas Adizero EVO SL or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.

We're glad to report that Saucony kept the Endorphin Speed 5 as a moderate-stacked shoe, resisting the urge to go full maximalist with added height.

As a result, shock absorption stays around average with 132 SA in the heel and 108 in the forefoot. In our view, this shoe strikes a great balance between protection and an agile ride.

Energy return is absolutely phenomenal for the price. In fact, few shoes on the market can match the 73.2% we measured in the heel, let alone the impressive 78.2% in the forefoot.

These are world-class, supershoe-level numbers in a shoe that's considerably cheaper and more versatile than those.

We found that, despite the official numbers staying the same, the heel stack height increased by 1.2 mm in this version, reaching 37.4 mm. The difference is practically unnoticeable while running and doesn't take away from the usual Endorphin Speed experience.

However, we think Saucony needs to avoid pushing this model over 40 mm in next updates. Ask any Endorphin Speed fan, and they'll tell you one of the shoe’s main appeals is that it avoids the maximalist trend.

At 26.8 mm, the forefoot strikes a solid balance between ground feel and cushioning, making it well-suited for both fast intervals and long runs. And if you're comfortable with the nylon plate, it can handle daily runs just as well.

The difference between both measurements gives us a real heel-to-toe drop of 10.6 mm, slightly higher than Saucony’s stated 8 mm. It’s still an average drop that works for all footstrikes, though it favours heel strikers a bit more.

If you prefer a lower drop in a tempo shoe, the Adidas Adizero Boston 13 is a great alternative, offering a 6.0 mm drop that's better suited for forefoot and midfoot strikers.

The foam used by Saucony is the same one from version 1 launched in 2020: PWRRUN PB. And that’s a good thing—it remains one of the best foams on the market for blending energy return, stability, and durability. In fact, the Speed was one of the first non-racing shoes on the market to feature a Pebax foam.

In terms of softness, we measured it at 18.5 HA. That’s noticeably softer than the Endorphin Speed 4 (22.3 HA) and takes back a bit of the extremely plush feel of the Endorphin Speed 3, which was lost in the previous model.

Basically, we can say that Saucony blended version 3 and 4 to create PWRRUN PB in the 5—and whether that’s a good or bad change will depend on your preferences.

The Endorphin Speed 5 features a rockered design with a late forefoot curve that encourages rapid toe-offs.

In the heel, a bevelled rocker helps heel strikers roll effortlessly into midstance, reducing braking forces. Saucony’s SPEEDROLL geometry blends both rockers with a nylon plate to create a fluid, momentum-driven ride that excels at faster paces.

The Endorphin Speed 5 once again features a nylon plate to enhance stability and add some extra snap to the ride, while still maintaining a high level of flexibility—unlike what carbon plates typically offer.

As a result, the plate (visible in yellow) feels very similar to previous models, although the plate is slightly more noticeable in this version than in the fourth, due to the softer PWRRUN PB foam.

One of the quirks of the Endorphin Speed 4 was its fit—Saucony made it wider at the ball of the foot but slightly tight in the toebox. Has that changed? To find out, we crafted a gel mould of the Endorphin Speed 5 in our lab.

The first measurement showed that, at 93.8 mm, version 5 is actually narrower than its predecessor, which measured 96.9 mm in the same test.

However, the toebox became noticeably wider at 72.9 mm and now fits more like a standard running shoe.

This improves comfort for wider feet and allows a bit more toe splay during long runs. Still, don’t expect extra space, it’s right around average.

Where Saucony really got generous is in toebox height, offering more vertical clearance for the toes, now reaching up to 29.3 mm.

The outsole of the Endorphin Speed 5 combines minimal rubber overlays with turquoise exposed foam. The heel and forefoot receive the most rubber coverage, with circular and linear patterns strategically placed for even wear. It’s clear that Saucony put real effort into this and didn’t just settle for a basic design.

There’s a central cutout under the midfoot revealing a bright yellow section of the nylon plate. Surrounding this area, the exposed PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam remains uncovered to save weight.

One of the best things about a nylon plate is that it doesn’t compromise longitudinal flexibility, and we confirmed that with a 12.9N score from the Endorphin Speed 5. It remains a comfortable shoe for slow paces that doesn’t feel stiff in the slightest, and we’re glad Saucony kept it that way.

The ES5 still feels incredibly light on foot, with only a modest 1.6% weight gain over version 4 for 8.5 oz or 241g.

However, the upward trend is starting to add up, as version 4 was also slightly heavier than version 3. We believe Saucony is nearing a limit it shouldn’t cross, and in our view, this shoe really needs to stay around its current weight at most.

When we unboxed the Endorphin Speed 5, we immediately noticed how well-ventilated the upper looked, with impressive transparency that highlights just how thin it is.

First, we connected the shoe to our custom smoke machine to see how easily it escaped. The result was excellent as smoke flowed out effortlessly, earning it a well-deserved 5/5 score.

When placed over a light source, the upper revealed a clear performance focus. It lacks heavy structural overlays and allows light to pass through with no resistance.

Under the microscope, the engineered mesh looks outstanding, with each hexagonal cell featuring over a dozen ventilation holes. These extend from heel to toe, so there are hundreds of them—making it clear how well the shoe manages heat.

Despite being built for speed, the upper doesn’t sacrifice comfort. There’s still some padding that Saucony could trim in future versions to reduce weight, but overall, this upper marks a big leap forward. We think it’s one of the best in the industry.

Being softer than version 4, it was easy to assume that version 5 might lose some stability. Fortunately, both in our runs and lab tests, we found that Saucony made several smart tweaks to maintain a stable feel at every pace.

However, these tweaks come with some trade-offs, as the shoe now feels slightly bulkier and a bit less natural underfoot.

The first of these changes is in torsional rigidity, which increased from 3/5 to 4/5. Still reasonable for a tempo shoe, but we believe this should be the upper limit, and any future Endorphin Speed shouldn’t hit a 5 in this area.

The heel counter stiffness also received an upgrade, moving from 3 to 4 and adding extra support for heel strikers. The trade-off is the same as before: sacrificing a bit of flexibility and comfort to gain more stability.

Moving to the midsole dimensions, we noticed small changes as well. The forefoot is now 3.5% wider as it reaches 118.1 mm, which slightly reduces agility but helps deliver a more stable toe-off.

The heel has also grown from 89.5 mm in version 3 and 93.4 mm in version 4, to 95.0 mm in version 5. See the trend we’re pointing out?

In our view, the Endorphin Speed is nearing its limits and should not, under any circumstances, turn into a maximalist running shoe. Please, Saucony!

The upper is so thin and breathable that scoring 2/5 in this test actually feels pretty decent. While it’s still below average, we believe it’s not a bad result for a shoe with this kind of construction.

On the other hand, the heel padding performed exceptionally well, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 in our test. It practically guarantees long-term durability in this area, even for runners who typically wear it down quickly.

We revved up the Dremel to 10K to test the outsole under the same conditions as every other shoe, and it showed 1.0 mm of damage—not great, but not terrible either.

To improve durability, Saucony chose to add some weight by increasing the outsole thickness from 2.0 mm in version 4 to 2.5 mm in version 5. Probably a smart move, as adding a few grammes matters less than destroying the outsole too soon.

The insole adds a touch of cushioning to the overall system with its 4.7 mm thickness, a very standard design.

The midsole of the Endorphin Speed 5 turned out firmer than we expected from a Pebax foam, losing 31% of its softness after just 20 minutes in the freezer. That’s a disappointing result.

The insole is removable, allowing you to swap it out for custom orthotics or an insole from another shoe or brand. For example, if you want extra cushioning, you can use a thicker option like the one from the Saucony Ride 18.

Another small bonus of this shoe is its multiple reflective elements, which help make night running safer.

The main reason why weight went a bit up from version 4 is the tongue padding. Saucony moved fro 2.0 mm in its predecessor to a plush, comfy 5.7 mm in version 5. It definitely improves the feel of the shoe, but for those worried about weight it could be bad news too.

We also noted that the Endorphin Speed 5 features a classic lacing system with flat laces and six eyelets per side, including an extra top hole for heel lock lacing. The laces run through reinforced fabric loops or punched eyelets, and there's a small TPU overlay for added structure at the top.

We found a semi-gusseted tongue that works perfectly for a tempo shoe aiming to reduce weight. It uses a tiny piece of perforated fabric to keep the tongue in place, and most brands should definitely take note of this simple yet effective design.

Saucony has raised the price of the Endorphin Speed again. Version 5 launches in the US at £180, up from £170 for version 4 and £160 when the line debuted in 2020. So this isn't the first hike, but it still offers solid value for a versatile, fast tempo trainer.

The heel tab features an extended collar design that makes the shoe easy to pull on.