SUPPORT: Neutral
STACK HEIGHT/DROP: 36mm in the heel, 28mm in the forefoot (8mm drop)
WEIGHT: 8.2 oz Men’s 9 / 7.2 oz. Women’s 7.5
USE: Speed workout / tempo runs, Budget race shoe, Daily training
SURFACE: Road, sidewalk, track
Things I like about the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: Adaptability, one of the things I appreciate most about the shoe is being able to do it all, and do it all pretty well. This shoe has a comfortable lively feel for daily miles, a little bit more ground feel than some of its competitors. Very snappy at faster paces, not an aggressive rocker but a little more traditional, “flat” feel. It has a comfortable and breathable upper, a good lock down on the whole foot. These could be budget race shoes, not quite as aggressive plate or quite as light. But, $100 cheaper than most race shoes on the market. In a matter of percentages this is one that has a similar fit and feel and performance feel without the extra cost.
Things I don’t like about the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: A little bit of a narrower fit, not dangerously narrow, just something to be aware of especially if you have a wider foot. As far as the ride of the shoe goes, in this modern field of shoes it is on the stiffer end. Some of these shoe’s competitors will be a little softer and more compressive. But some of those shoes won’t be quite as snappy for speed work. It’s a broad spectrum, and really comes down to personal preference. If you’re used to running in shoes with a 40-46mm stack height, this shoe will probably not fill the shoes of your daily trainer. Still a great option for shorter, faster paced runs though.
Conclusion: This is a great update to the Endorphin Speed line, back to the roots with a stiffer more performance oriented feel. I have almost no complaints about this shoe. It checks all the boxes. The only thing that comes to play is what you are wanting. If you are used to a max cushion or higher cushion shoe from other brands, this would take some getting used to in order to check that daily/speed trainer box. If you do wear higher cushion shoes, this would still be a great speed trainer.
