Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 vs. Pro 3 vs. Speed 3 vs. Elite: Differences and Reviews 2024

Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 Review

• Release Year: 2021

• Official Price: $79.95

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is a powerhouse of a shoe. It was definitely built for race day but performs well at various other speeds. Not much has changed from the debut of this shoe in 2020 except the colorways, but that’s a good thing since V1 was also pretty awesome. This shoe is comfortable, snappy and springy underfoot, lightweight, breathable, and of course, carbon plated! A superior fit and more heel support mean you can keep your eye on the finish line. And with the ultralight PWRRUN PB and a carbon fiber plate, there's no doubt you'll get there faster than ever before.Other features also include SPEEDROLL Technology, FORMFIT, A single-layer engineered mesh upper, and XT-900 outsole with reinforced high-abrasion zones.

The new system gives your foot an overall locked-in fit. You can thank the extra loophole that is placed in the middle of the lacing system, which keeps the top of your foot nice and snug when you’re putting in those miles. The plate is shaped in Saucony’s traditional “S curve” design which helps with the propulsion factor. The combination of the carbon fiber plate and Saucony’s SpeedRoll technology helps the runner maintain momentum and propel the runner forward with speed and efficiency.Additionally, the PWRRUN PB foam offers maximal energy return and keeps the stride feeling effortless and springy.

Endorphin Pro 2 Pros And Cons

Where To Buy Endorphin Pro 2?

• Amazon
  

• Dicks Sporting Goods 

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 Review

• Release Year: 2022

• Official Price: $225

Changes were minimal between the Saucony Endorphin Pro 1 and Endorphin Pro 2, having identical specs on paper. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 puts a game-changing spin on the franchise, with all engineering components receiving beneficial updates.The Endorphin Pro 3 has a new, stripped down upper, a beefed up midsole and a tweaked outsole. The Endorphin Pro 3 has been updated with an additional 4mm of PWRRUN PB, bringing it just under World Athletics' limit of 40mm stack height for marathon racing shoes. It has the S-shaped carbon plate for propulsion as well as the SpeedRoll technology to quicken transitions.It features thinner XT-900 rubber underfoot compared to the previous generation, providing coverage to cater to midfoot and heel strikers without increasing weight.

As Saucony’s ‘super shoe’ for race day, Version 3 has a lot more foam and a wider base, making it softer and more stable; however the new minimal upper runs a half size too small. While it can handle everything from easy runs to fast workouts, it doesn’t have the “oomph” that some of the other carbon-plated racers have so it doesn’t feel as fast. The changes to the upper give you a more roomy feeling overall so that narrowness is gone. And they do their job, which is to go fast, and whether it is your half marathon or full marathon race day, or you just wanna see what it’s like to go fast the Endorphin Pro 3 is a great choice.

Endorphin Pro 3 Pros And Cons

Where To Buy Endorphin Pro 3?

• Saucony (8% super cash back)

• Road Runner Sports 

• Amazon

• Dicks Sporting Goods

• REI 

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Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 Review

• Release Year: 2022

• Official Price: $170

Endorphin Speed is a unique shoe and has garnered quite a loyal following among the runners. A true modern daily trainer, it has a state-of-the-art midsole foam, is lightweight, and has a stack height that can take you nearly the full distance.Many have chosen the Endorphin Speed over the Pro due to the reduced cost as well as having a similar feel. 

Endorphin Speed 3 is the most recent iteration of this shoe, and it has some significant updates.Featuring a softer but more inherently stable ride with a now winged S-shaped nylon plate, the Endorphin Speed combines the best of being both a potential racing and training shoe. New S-curve, winged nylon plate returns energy and better supports you through daily training.A reimagined S-curve winged nylon plate centers and supports the foot betterThe Endorphin Speed 1 and 2 had the same sole unit but the Endorphin Speed 3 has been completely redesigned from the ground up. It features a new plate shape and it has a new midsole geometry which is wider.

Like the previous version, it uses the bouncy Pwrrun PB (PEBA foam), Nylon plate, and rocker geometry to deliver a ride quality that makes long-distance training and races extremely comfortable yet efficient.The true-to-size upper is very breathable, and its soft material create a secure yet distraction-free fit.It's now more of a daily trainer than a speedwork shoe.

Endorphin Speed 3 Pros And Cons

Where To Buy Endorphin Speed 3?

• Saucony (8% super cash back)

• Champs Sports (4% super cash back)

• Amazon

• Dicks Sporting Goods
  

• REI

Saucony Endorphin Elite Review

• Release Year: 2024

• Official Price: $275

The Saucony Endorphin Elite is a brand new, top of the range marathon racer with a super aggressive toe-spring and a propulsive ride. It’s an S-tier racer which can compete with the fastest marathon shoes on the market. The Endorphin Elite has aims of being one of the best racing shoes on the market. With 95% energy return (per Saucony) and a fast-rolling carbon plate, this shoe delivers a new top-shelf option to the road running scene. 

The Endorphin Elite uses Saucony’s brand-new PWRRUN HG foam which has a slightly firmer feel than PWRRUN PB.If you find the Endorphin Pro 3 too soft, the Endorphin Elite has a firmer, more stable ride.It also has a new, stripped-down upper, a new type of outsole rubber, and a new midsole geometry.However,its main weakness is its low outsole durability.It is one of the least durable super shoes on the market. It’s also a stiff, maximalist racer so if you like flexible racers with a high ground feel level, it’s also not your shoe.If you’re looking for a cushioned, marathon super shoe with an aggressive toe-spring which provides a forward-tipping sensation, the Endorphin Elite is your shoe. 

Endorphin Elite Pros And Cons

Where To Buy Endorphin Elite?

• Saucony (8% super cash back)

• Running Warehouse

• Road Runner Sports 
  

• Zappos

Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 vs. Pro 3 vs. Speed 3 vs. Elite: Side-By-Side Comparison

1.Midsole

Endorphin Pro 2 - The midsole features PWRRUN PB: thousands of granules of PEBA (or Pebax), a flexible, naturally responsive, low-density elastomer that is bonded together and wraps around the sole’s carbon plate propulsion. SPEEDROLL technology is where I think this shoe stands out from the rest.SPEEDROLL  is a slim design that aims to make the midsole’s foam and carbon plate work efficiently to achieve fast propulsion with their smooth transition from heel to forefoot. 

Endorphin Pro 3 - The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 features a redesigned midsole that packs in more PWRRUN PB foam than its predecessor.It’s more bouncy and feels just much more lively while that stiff carbon fiber plate does a great job of transferring energy and allowing you to feel that extremely fun PWRRUN PB foam.It’s an ultra-responsive ride with S-curve carbon plate and aggressive SPEEDROLL rocker geometry ensuring smooth and snappy transitions from heel-to-toe while preserving your energy.

The midsole of the Pro 3 is designed for more stability and support. The Pro 3 also has an additional layer of foam in the heel area for extra cushioning and shock absorption.

Endorphin Speed 3 - The midsole is also made of PWRRUN PB.It was the same foam used in Speed 2 and the Endorphin Pro line. The foam configuration in Speed 3 feels much softer compared to Speed 2. Its softness measures at 22 HA on Durometer, almost the same as Endorphin Pro 3.The midsole of the Endorphin Speed 3 is designed to be lightweight and flexible, while the midsole of the Pro 3 is designed for more stability and support. 

Endorphin Elite - The Saucony Endorphin Elite uses PWRRUN HG foam. It consists of two different pieces:

• Green foam at the top provides your feet some stability

• Uncolored foam at the bottom

This combination makes the Saucony Endorphin Elite look huge. PWRRUN HG is a very different foam to PWRRUN PB and it doesn’t consist of tiny pellets which have been fused together. HG still feels like PEBA but it has a slightly firmer ride than PB. HG feels more similar to the older PWRRUN PB version that was in the Endorphin Pro 1 and 2: denser and less lively than the updated version in the Endorphin Pro 3.Saucony touts the new PWRRUN HG foam as its most energy efficient cushioning yet.The Endorphin Elite features a full-length carbon fiber plate that’s slotted into four sections at the toe box, which is designed to give the plate more flexibility for an accommodating feel. The carbon-fiber plate flexes during landings and rebounds during takeoffs, springing you forward into the next stride.

2. Outsole

Endorphin Pro 2 - The Endorphin Pro 2 has an XT-900 outsole with reinforced high-abrasion zones that provide you with traction and durability. This outsole is strategically placed in all the right places. They performed well in wet and dry weather conditions.

Endorphin Pro 3 - The outsole uses targeted pieces of XT-900 rubber for a little extra grip and durability in key areas.It is slightly thinner regarding its thickness.On the Pro 3, there’s much more coverage than there was in the last two years of this shoe.There’s a massive cut-out in the midfoot and a smaller one on the forefoot, which allows you to see the carbon fiber plate and allow the Pro to shed a bit of weight.The Pro 3 has a outsole design with an additional layer of rubber in the heel area for extra cushioning and shock absorption.It has a outsole design with an additional layer of rubber in the heel area for extra cushioning and shock absorption.

Endorphin Speed 3 - Both the Speed and the Pro have XT900 rubber just placed differently.The rubber of Speed 3 used is similar to what was used in Speed 2, but the volume is a bit more compared to earlier, and the traction was fairly fine. It does feel a lot more durable this time.The Endorphin Speed 3 has a lightweight and flexible design which provides traction and durability.The shoe hasn’t got any cut-out and so they’ve kept the weight down actually by using less rubber than there is on the Pro 3. This is a little bit surprising.

Endorphin Elite - It features thinner XT-900 rubber underfoot compared to the previous generation, providing coverage to cater to midfoot and heel strikers without increasing weight. Keep this fast running shoe purely for racing and intermittent training sessions to crush your PBs and inject excitement into every stride.

3. Upper

Endorphin Pro 2 - The upper on the shoe is inspired by Saucony’s cross-country and track shoe lineup and is a single layer of engineered mesh. It is ultralightweight and very breathable.The upper was overall very comfortable and almost not even noticeable.The new lacing system has elastic bands that are strategically placed to help achieve a more locked-in fit and helps to keep the tongue in place.

Endorphin Pro 3 - The Endorphin Pro 3 features a paper-thin and reduced upper reminiscent of racing flats.It features engineered mesh upper, and FORMFIT upper for a custom fit.This is an interesting “fishnet” type of upper which is just a super thin mesh that’s pretty much see-through.The upper on the Pro 3 is just going to be very lightweight and extremely race-ready.In terms of security, the upper on the Pro 3 is kind of floppy and has no real strength there to keep that upper structured, but the back is fairly stiff. 

Endorphin Speed 3 - Endorphin Speed 3 features a more traditional light and airy mesh that’s more comfortable and more race-oriented.The upper is a little bit toned down from the Endorphin Pro 3.And,it has a more fabric-like feel to it than the Speed 2 which I thought was a little bit more synthetic-like and a little bit more plasticky.When you manipulate the upper between your fingers, you can find out how thin it really is, but it’s not translucent in any way and so it gives the appearance of being thicker than it actually is.

Endorphin Elite - The purpose of the Saucony Endorphin Elite knit upper was to be light.  It uses a combination of knit and mesh plus has ample side ventilation holes. The upper sports a new design, with several cut-outs in the thin knit mesh to reduce the weight.There are also lots of small holes punched into the tongue, while the mesh in the midfoot/forefoot is very porous so it lets through a lot of air. The thin, flat tongue is gusseted and there isn’t excessive tongue slide during runs.

4. Durability

Endorphin Pro 2 - The durability of this shoe is exceptional.Most running shoes can get about 300-400 miles and the Pro 2 definitely can get close to 400 miles if not more.The cushioning used just does not seem to break down as fast as other traditional running shoes.

Endorphin Pro 3 - It looks ok from a durability perspective. Though the mesh looks thin, it’s reinforced with a synthetic underlay near the midsole edge.Though the outsole rubber is thinner than the Pro 2, it’s softer than before. This allows it to flex inwards instead of taking hard direct knocks from the landings and transitions. This kind of behavior usually does a better job of delaying the rate of abrasion.All in all, I estimate that the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 should last 400 miles without a drop-off in performance.

Endorphin Speed 3 - The jury is out on the overall durability, but 400 – 450 miles should be doable. However, there are a couple of changes that could potentially affect durability.When compared to the Speed 2, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 uses an outsole with thinner rubber strips. In theory, since the thin strips are soft and bend with the midsole, they should not be a problem from a durability standpoint.

Endorphin Elite - Endorphin Elite is one of the least durable super shoes on the market. There isn’t any rubber on the medial side of the heel, so they wear down quickly, and the exposed PWWRUN HG doesn’t last long. Not just that, but the shoe’s rubber is thin, so it gets beat up very quickly. This is the biggest contributor to low durability and traction.

5. Fit And Sizing

Endorphin Pro 2 - The Endorphin Pro 2 is true to size and has a ton of room in the midfoot and toe box.Others who have tried the shoe did have some issue with their pinky toe rubbing the side, so be aware that this is an issue for some. Other than that this shoe should fit most feet comfortably.

Endorphin Pro 3 - Not only is the upper awesome, but it’s also wide. The Saucony Endorphin 3 fits better than any other carbon-plated shoe. The padded heel collar, as well as the tongue, fits and feels premium. The Pro 3 is slightly more narrow and more race-like fit compared to the Speed. But the Pro isn’t as snug as some other top-tier super shoes and so you do have a decent amount of room in the toe box but a nice secure lockdown.

Endorphin Speed 3 - The fit of the shoe is perfect.While the Speed 2 fit was good, it felt a bit too snug for the longer runs. Speed 3 fit is a lot more relaxed, and there is plenty for toe room. The additional comfort makes it a lot more versatile. The shoe didn’t need any break-in time, and you settled right in.

Endorphin Elite - The Endorphin Elite offers a classic race-day fit, meaning it’s slightly snugger than your average training shoe. This eliminates movement within the shoe, helping you run as efficiently as possible.The shoe fits true to size and is fairly easy to slip in and out of.The heel tab and collar are made from a knitted material and don’t irritate your ankle. The heel tab also has some padding on the inside to prevent blisters.The overall fit is still on the narrow side so I don’t recommend it for wide-footed runners.

6. Ride

Endorphin Pro 2 - The combination of being lightweight, responsive, and stable is a recipe for success in the Endorphin Pro 2's. Thanks to the carbon-fiber plate and speedroll technology, these shoes are extremely responsive and make for a very smooth ride. The heel cup and midsole are snug, allowing for confidence when going around sharper turns. 

Endorphin Pro 3 - For a carbon shoe, it has a relaxed ride. It’s very fast as you’d expect, but the soft foam and Speedroll rocker create a smooth and comfortable ride, which means the Pro 3 can handle pretty much any kind of run while still being a great racing shoe for any distance.

Endorphin Speed 3 - The Endorphin Speed feels just a bit softer at toe-off due to the nylon plate compared to the Endorphin Pro 3. It also feels a bit more stable .Being light and having a large stack of foam, it offered an excellent balance on this rolling terrain. Though it may not be the best, uphill repeats, shot intervals, strides, the shoe can handle all of them well.

Endorphin Elite - It is an all-out racing shoe, with a firm and uncompromising ride that throws you forwards and demands you run fast.  It’s similar to Hoka running shoes; your feet sit very low in the shoe. You won’t feel as rockered as other versions, but it will feel fast.It is faster than the Pro 3.I love it.There are certainly caveats, but when you’re going for it in a race or hard training session, the Elite feels special.

Comparison Table

Conclusion: Which Is Best For You?

The Endorphin Pro is the same great shoe just designed for racing. And not meant to take the wear and tear of everyday training miles. But they are fast.Saucony had the Saucony Endorphin Pro 1 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 being very similar so it gave the engineering department two years essentially to execute and produce the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.The main difference between the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 and  Pro 2 is the elevated stack height, with the Endorphin Pro 3 being higher off the ground and offering a snappier feel while the Endorphin Pro 2 stays more honest to the original Endorphin Pro.As Saucony’s ‘super shoe’ for race day, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3’s weight has been stripped back with a lightweight, well-ventilated upper and a foot-hugging heel counter for a race-ready fit.

The Endorphin Speeds are great shoes for any runner looking for a great neutral every day running shoe. Something you can train and race in. The Endorphin Speed 3 is a good update.

The Endorphin Elite is like the Endorphin Pro 3, but on steroids.The Elite has an even more aggressive rocker shape, firmer midsole foam and, of course, the slotted carbon plate.Looking purely at performance, the Saucony Endorphin Elite is Saucony’s best racing shoe, offering a faster, more efficient ride than the Endorphin Pro 3. If you are looking for one of the fastest carbon-plated shoes on the market, it’s a good option. It has an aggressive toe spring and tipping sensation. If you want the “closest carbon-plated shoe to the Vaporfly, the Endorphin Elite is it.

FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 as daily trainer?

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 doesn't feel like an exclusive race day only shoe like the original. You can definitely wear it as a daily trainer based on how comfortable the midsole felt and how your legs didn't feel beat up after their runs.

How long do Endorphin Pro 3 last?

It will last about 100 miles.

Is Endorphin Pro 3 good for marathon?

It has excelled during all of these, but does particularly well during longer intervals, tempo runs and marathon efforts. While some people may prefer a little less shoe for 5k and below, the Endorphin Pro 3 will be a 5k to marathon racer for a large population of people.

How long do Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 last?

The durability of this shoe is exceptional. Most running shoes can get about 300-400 miles and the Pro 2 definitely can get close to 400 miles if not more.

Does Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 have a carbon plate?

The Saucony Endorphin Pro is an elite shoe with a carbon plate. It offers a very responsive ride and firm cushioning ideal for the half marathon.

Are Endorphin pro 2 good for long runs?

They performed very well for speed workouts and tempo runs. If you're looking for a shoe for slower long runs or recovery miles, I wouldn't recommend using this shoe for that.

Is the Endorphin Pro faster than the speed?

The critical difference is the type of propulsion plate in the midsole: carbon fiber for the Pro and nylon for the Speed. The result? The propulsion of the Pro is more explosive and shines in competition. Clearly, it's a shoe to go fast and crush your Personal Bests.

Is Endorphin Speed 3 carbon plate?

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a multipurpose trainer/racer which can fill many roles in your rotation. Its nylon plate doesn't provide the propulsion that carbon racers have but it's still a very fast shoe. Version 3 has a more stable platform with a softer and more relaxed ride.

Is Saucony Endorphin 2 a neutral shoe?

Is the Saucony Endorphin Speed a daily trainer?

Version 3 has a more stable platform with a softer and more relaxed ride. It's now more of a daily trainer than a speedwork shoe.

Are Endorphin Speed 3 good for marathon?

The Speed is an incredibly light shoe for the high level of cushioning it has. This means that it’s a great shoe for not only training but also for racing marathons. The Speed was designed for running fast, hence its name.

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