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Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 review

6 expert score
10 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Saucony UK with our own money.
Review written on 18th November by Brandon Law Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
186 other reviews

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Verdict

The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is an extremely soft and squishy racer which doesn’t feel as fast as other super shoes. It’s best suited to neutral runners who are midfoot or forefoot strikers because heel to forefoot transitions are slow. Version 2 has a new, much softer midsole foam and a more flexible plate compared to v1 with a ride that feels slower. It has an improved upper with better heel lockdown but it has lost the aggressive forefoot rocker that made v1 so good.

The pros

  • Accommodating upper fit
  • Lighter than the Endorphin Elite 1
  • Doesn’t have the bad chemical odour of v1
  • Improved upper with excellent heel lockdown

The cons

  • Terrible outsole durability
  • Very unstable due to the marshmallow midsole
  • Forefoot rocker is less aggressive than the previous version

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Rating breakdown

Comfort
8.0
Build quality
7.0
Upper
9.0
Sole unit
6.0
Landing
6.0
Transition
6.0
Toe-off
6.0
Traction
5.0
Durability
3.0
Value / Price
6.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
Endorphin Elite 2
Family
Previous model
Weight
7 oz (198 g)
MSRP
275.00

Heel
39.5 mm.
Toe
31.5 mm.
Heel drop
8 mm.
Carbon plate
Full length carbon plate

Size/Fit

Sizing
True to size
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Normal

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Plush
Amount of cushioning
Highly cushioned
Stability
Not particularly stable
Flexibility
Rigid

Usage

Racing  
Speedwork
Daily training
Long distance racing
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 ?

If you’re a runner who wants a super soft, bouncy racing shoe, the Endorphin Elite 2 is a good shoe for you.
If you’re a neutral runner with excellent form, the Endorphin Elite 2 is suitable for you.

Who should not buy the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 ?

If you overpronate excessively, the unstable Endorphin Elite 2 is not for you.
If you are a hard heel striker or you’re hard on outsoles, it’s also not for you due to its soft outsole.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Introduction

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

When a brand makes significant changes to the sequel of a successful shoe, some runners love the new changes but others hate them. In the case of the Endorphin Elite 2, I think most will fall into this second group.

It’s always a big risk to stray too far from what made runners love the previous versions. That’s why Nike doesn’t change the Pegasus too much from update to update. The same goes for the Brooks Ghost and the Hoka Clifton. It’s too big a risk to upset the loyal fanbase. The Endorphin Elite doesn’t quite have the same large fanbase but I know plenty of runners who love version 1.

The Endorphin Elite is the pinnacle of Saucony long-distance racers. It’s the top of the range, most expensive Saucony road racer. It’s lighter than Saucony’s other racer, the Endorphin Pro and it has a newer midsole foam.

The original Endorphin Elite was my favourite super shoe of the past 2 years. I loved how stiff its midsole was and how its aggressive forefoot rocker made fast running feel easy, especially in the second half of marathons when my tired legs felt like lead.

The global launch of the Endorphin Elite 2 is 1 March 2025. Saucony was forced to launch a small batch to the public because a Saucony elite athlete used it in the Paris Olympic Marathon. I was able to purchase a pair on the Saucony UK website.

There wasn’t any marketing campaign for the Endorphin Elite 2 so not much is known about it except that it weighs 7 oz (199 g) for a men’s US 9, it has a 39.5mm/31.5mm stack height and it features a “next generation” super foam.

The price is 280 GBP or $275, the same as the previous version.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 First Impressions

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

My first run was a track workout consisting of 400 m intervals. My main thought was that version 2 felt like a completely different shoe to version 1. The squishy, new midsole foam made it feel like I was running on a marshmallow. It felt very squirrelly underfoot.

The ride felt really unstable and the plate was more flexible than its predecessor. The aggressive rocker feeling had also been toned down. It didn’t feel as fast as version 1 but it was the most bouncy ride I’ve ever experienced.

The ride reminded me of the Nike Invincible Run versions 1 & 2 which also had extremely squishy rides but the Endorphin Elite 2’s ride was even softer and less stable.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Upper

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

The Endorphin Elite 2’s upper is an improvement over version 1 mainly because of its new heel cup which results in better lockdown. It’s now a semi-bootie construction but it has the ability to do a runner’s knot.

Breathability is good but not as good as v1 due to the new knitted tongue which doesn’t have ventilation holes in it. The new heel cup flares away from the Achilles and reminds me of the one on the New Balance 1080v10.

It has an accommodating midfoot and forefoot with a normal toe box. I recommend going true to size and it should be suitable for runners with wide feet.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Sole Unit

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

Over the years, many brands have used marshmallows to advertise and convey how soft their midsoles feel. Most of the time, it’s an exaggeration. With the case of the Endorphin Elite 2, you get the first and true “running on marshmallows” experience.

The ride of the Endorphin Elite 1 was targeted at runners who wanted a stable, firm ride with a prominent forefoot rocker. This is in stark contrast to the Endorphin Elite 2 which is targeted at runners who prefer a super soft, bouncy ride with a mild forefoot rocker.

The bad news is that the Endorphin Elite 2 doesn’t feel as fast as the previous version. Transitions feel more relaxed and it feels more like a training shoe than a hardcore racer now. This is mainly due to its new midsole compound.

The original Endorphin Elite had a midsole made of PWRRUN HG, a Pebax foam. It had a firm ride with little compression.

In the new version, the unnamed midsole foam is now a TPEE (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer), similar to Lightstrike Pro in the Adidas Adizero series but much, much softer. This foam has a very squishy ride with a lot of compression.

I enjoy soft shoes for training; the Invincible Run 1 and 2 were my favourite trainers of all time. But for racing, I prefer a firm ride. A firm ride translates to better stability for long distances and a more responsive ride. When the foam is as soft as it is in the Endorphin Elite 2, it takes a long time for it to compress when loaded and then to decompress.

During transitions in the Elite 2, it feels like my heel is sinking in too much before rolling onto my midfoot and forefoot. I felt similar transitions when testing the PUMA Fast-R Elite 2, a racer with an aliphatic TPU midsole; it doesn’t feel efficient.

I used the Endorphin Elite 2 for a 30 km race. I’m a heel striker with slight overpronation- it felt way too squishy and unstable for my form. I also didn’t feel a high level of speed assistance from it, just a lot of bounce.

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

One of the features that made the Endorphin Elite 1 stand out was its high toe spring and stiff forefoot that made it feel like it was tipping you forward. With the softer midsole foam of version 2, the plate has to be more flexible and it doesn’t feel like it’s throwing you forward during toe-offs.

Durability is one of the worst I’ve ever experienced. On the outsole, the exposed foam is so soft that it gets chewed up by the road. On my pair, on the heel section, the part which is not protected by rubber is missing a large chunk because I heel strike. This also happened with the original Endorphin Elite but it wasn’t this bad. This is a shoe that you have to reserve for racing only.

Outsole traction is fine on dry surfaces but very slippery on wet ones. When I raced in it, I went through water stations and I could feel that the outsole wasn’t gripping the wet road well.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Conclusions

Picture of Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

The Endorphin Elite 2 is a disappointing update because it feels nothing like version 1, which was top-tier. It’s a lot softer and it has a more relaxed ride. It’s also very unstable and not as supportive.

They’ve changed too much- all they needed to do was to add extra rubber on the outsole and to improve the heel lockdown (which they did). If you’re a fan of version 1, you should stock up now while it’s still available.

It’s perhaps one of the most fragile running shoes I’ve ever tested. If you’re a heel striker or you’re hard on outsoles, you’ll face durability issues due to the midsole being so soft. Even the one-race Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1 has a more durable outsole.

The Endorphin Elite 2 is not a top-tier super shoe for me and I won’t be racing in it again. I would even choose the Endorphin Pro 4 over the Elite 2 for its extra stability and its better outsole durability.

I’m not sure why Saucony chose to go in a completely different direction for the Endorphin Elite 2. It feels like a prototype or an experimental release.

It suits a narrower range of runners than its predecessor due to its instability and I don’t think elite runners like their midsoles to be this soft and squishy.

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Saucony at Saucony UK  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.
Lowest price:

$275

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 price comparison

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Reviewed by Brandon

This review was written by Brandon Law on 18th November.
Brandon is a South African who lives and trains in Malaysia. He is a marathon runner who eats, sleeps and dreams running shoes. While most people wear shoes to run, he runs to wear shoes.

User feedback (3)

  • avatar-comment-1043803
    Russ Hurd
    2 months ago

    Keep in mind this review is based on heel striking and the ride and durability will feel different in mid and forefoot strikers.

  • avatar-comment-1041066
    Chris T.
    4 months ago

    The Endorphin Elite 2 is mostly great, but I’m curious about how it holds up over time. The review doesn’t really talk about its durability after months of use. Anyone have experience with how it fares after, say, 300-400 miles?

    • avatar-comment-1042624
      Anonymous
      3 months ago
      10 score

      Probably not well

Lowest price:
$275

Where to buy

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