The Tempo Next% is a brand new shoe which was designed to provide a similar ride to the Alphafly in a more durable package. It replaces the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2. The Tempo costs $200.
The Endorphin Speed 4 shares features with its more expensive sibling, the Endorphin Pro 4. It is also a brand new shoe. The Endorphin Speed 4 costs $170.
Which one of these training companions is the right choice for you?
Both trainers have plates inside their midsoles but the Tempo has a composite plate compared to the Endorphin Speed which has a nylon plate. Both plates are flexible but they make the shoes feel more snappy.
The midsole of the Tempo is made from a combination of ZoomX foam and React foam, ZoomX being Pebax which is lighter and bouncier than React.
The midsole of the Endorphin Speed is made entirely of Pwrrun PB which is a Pebax foam and translates to a softer ride.
The Tempo has large Zoom Air units in its forefoot which the Endorphin Speed doesn’t have. These air units activate at higher speeds and provide an extra spring on toe-offs.
Ride transitions are smoother in the Endorphin Speed due to its outsole being full ground contact. The Tempo’s midsole floats above the ground so you transition straight from the heel to the forefoot.
The Speed’s single-density midsole also results in a much smoother ride than the Tempo which has a lot of components in its midsole.
The Tempo has less ground feel due to it having a larger midsole stack height compared to the Endorphin Speed. The Zoom Air units in the Tempo also reduce ground feel because of their thickness and shock absorption.
Stability is better in the Endorphin Speed than the Tempo. It has a lower stack height and a full ground contact outsole which results in less lean bias. In the Tempo, you have to slow down considerably when taking corners.
The Speed has an 8mm drop compared to a 10mm drop in the Tempo. The extra 2mm of foam in the heel makes the Tempo more suited to heel strikers as there is more cushion in the rear to soften heel strikes.
On the outsole of the Endorphin Speed, there is strategically placed rubber on most of its forefoot and a small portion of the heel posterior. There is a large area of midfoot and rearfoot which is exposed midsole foam.
The Tempo’s outsole has a thick slab of rubber covering its entire forefoot with two thick strips of rubber covering its rearfoot.
Of the two outsoles, the Tempo has the more durable outsole and also has better traction on wet surfaces. The Endorphin Speed’s outsole rubber is flat, unlike the ribbed rubber on the Tempo which grips the road better.
The upper of the Tempo is a bootie construction made from Flyknit material. There is no tongue slide and an internal heel counter ensures good foot lockdown with no heel slippage.
The upper of the Endorphin Speed is a traditional engineered mesh which is more breathable than the Flyknit upper of the Tempo. The Speed has an external heel counter for structure and support compared to the internal counter of the Tempo. Its tongue is gusseted so there is no tongue slide.
The main difference between the Speed and the Tempo is that the Speed’s upper has more padding and has a lower collar, making it more comfortable for long runs.
If you’re a runner looking for a more responsive shoe for shorter distances and price isn’t an issue, get the Tempo Next%. It has Zoom Air units for explosive toe-offs, a flexible composite plate for snappy transitions and thick, durable outsole rubber.
If you’re a runner looking for a responsive shoe for longer distances, get the Endorphin Speed. It has a comfortable upper, a single-density Pebax midsole for smooth ride transitions and a rocker which rolls you through transitions. The Endorphin Speed is lighter than the Tempo Next% and also $30 cheaper.
