Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Introduction

The Endorphin Speed has been one of Saucony’s most successful shoe releases of the last 3 years. It’s lightweight, it’s comfortable, and it’s well cushioned, but the main reason it sells so well is because it looks like its more expensive, carbon-plated counterpart, the Endorphin Pro. This latest version of the Speed looks even more like the Pro version.

The Endorphin Speed is designed to be the training companion of the Endorphin Pro but if you’ve run in both shoes, you would have noticed that they have very different rides.

They both use PWRRUN PB (PEBA foam) in their midsoles but the Speed is very flexible while the Pro is not.

That’s the reason why Saucony created the Kinvara Pro: a stiffer trainer which delivers a similar ride to the Saucony racers. I prefer using the Kinvara Pro over the Endorphin Speed for uptempo runs because it feels more propulsive and it provides more speed assistance.

In my opinion, the Endorphin Speed 3 felt more like an everyday trainer than a dedicated workout or racing shoe due to how flexible it was. It didn’t feel as fast as other training companions such as the Deviate Nitro 2, Asics Magic Speed 3 or the Hoka Mach X.

Many runners use the Endorphin Speed as their daily trainer– it’s more exciting than the Ride series and the Triumph series, and it’s much lighter than the average daily trainer. The Speed doesn’t have as much cushioning or as good durability though because it wasn’t designed to be a workhorse.

The Endorphin Speed 4 weighs exactly 8 oz (227 g), a mere 0.1 oz (3 g) more than the Speed 3. I predict its price will remain $170 when it launches in the first quarter of 2024. I paid $183 (including taxes and shipping) for my pair.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 First Impressions

My first run was a hill sprints session. My first impression was that the Speed 4 felt faster than the Speed 3. There was more ground feel, the ride felt firmer and I could feel the forefoot rocker more than in the Speed 3.

I enjoyed that first run. The ride felt faster than a daily trainer but not as fast as a stiff, carbon-plated racer. This version felt more like a speed trainer than a relaxed daily trainer which I thought the previous version felt like.

It reminded me of the ASICS Magic Speed 3 because the Magic Speed 3 also felt leaner and more agile than its predecessor. Both the Endorphin Speed 4 and Magic Speed 3 have midfoot cavities underneath, on their outsoles and you can hear a clapping sound from the cavity when your foot strikes the ground.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Upper

The Endorphin Speed 4’s upper is an improvement over the 3. It feels thinner and more breathable. My favourite feature is the ventilation on the top of the toe box, the small holes that let more air in.

The thin, gusseted tongue also has small holes in it and it doesn’t slide around- it’s wider and it’s longer than v3. The collar and inner lining have a rough texture which feels scratchy and not very premium but heel lockdown is good.

It fits true to size and it has a narrow toe box but you don’t need to go up a half size like in the Endorphin Pro 4. It does come in a wide version if you find it too narrow. The only thing I don’t like about the upper is that when it’s wet, the colour runs and stains the white tongue/laces.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Sole Unit

The Speed was designed to be a shoe for fast running (hence the name), and in order to make the Endorphin Speed 4 feel faster, Saucony has done 2 things: they’ve made the midsole firmer and made the forefoot rocker more aggressive. These 2 changes make transitions faster, so it’s easier to increase your pace.

I did mainly speed workouts in the Speed 4, ranging from marathon pace to 200 m interval pace and I enjoy this version much more than version 3 for uptempo paces. It feels like it has more punch. I prefer using the Speed 4 for fast-paced runs rather than easy/recovery runs. This was the opposite for the Speed 3.

When I wear the Endorphin Speed 4 on 1 foot and the Endorphin Speed 3 on the other foot, the 4 feels noticeably less bulky. Version 4 feels more streamlined and doesn’t feel as squishy underfoot- it feels leaner.

The midsole of the Speed 4 is about 10% firmer than the Speed 3. This results in better stability. The base also feels slightly wider than the Speed 3 so footstrikes feel more planted.

I feel that the PWRRUN PB in the Speed 4 isn’t as good as other midsole foams. It doesn’t compress enough and doesn’t return enough energy. Hoka’s ProflyX and NB’s FuelCell are much more effective because they feel more engaging and more energetic. The Endo Speed has a flat ride in comparison.

One of the main differences between the Endorphin Speed and the other premium Saucony running shoes is that the Speed has an EVA insole. The Endorphin Pro, Triumph, Ride and Kinvara Pro all have PWRRUN+ (TPE) insoles which provide a plusher step in feel so the Endo Speed wouldn’t be my first choice for long runs.

There’s a flexible, winged nylon plate in the midsole of the Speed 4 which provides structure but it doesn’t provide much propulsion. Saucony needs to stiffen up the plate so that the forefoot feels more snappy. This will give it a more similar ride to the Endorphin Pro.

Just like the Endorphin Pro 4, the outsole of the Speed 4 has also been improved. The forefoot rubber has a raised pattern which grips the ground more effectively so traction is better.

I used the Endo Pro 4 when it was raining and I didn’t have any issues when it came to traction. On the lateral heel, the rubber stops a couple mm short of the edge, so there is some scuffing of the midsole edge if you’re a heel striker but it doesn’t affect the ride.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Conclusions

There are plenty of competitors which can do what the Endorphin Speed can do but with a more engaging, more enjoyable ride. The Kinvara Pro, the Supercomp Trainer v2 and the Mach X are all trainers I would pick above the Endo Speed 4 because they feel more energetic and more modern.

Although the Speed 4 feels faster than its predecessor, it still doesn’t feel as fast as other speed trainers, mainly due to how flexible its plate is. The flexible plate also makes it feel completely different to the Pro 4, the racing version.

I would however pick the Endorphin Speed 4 over the 3 because it feels more like a speed trainer now. Version 3 feels like a daily trainer. I think the majority of runners will prefer the 3 to the 4 because it has a softer, more cushioned ride which is preferable for daily training.

At $170, the Speed 4 is overpriced. The Deviate Nitro 2 is cheaper, as is the Magic Speed 3 and the Razor 4.

In the Saucony range, I would rather use an older version of the Endorphin Pro or pay $10 more for the Kinvara Pro for speed runs as their plates are stiffer. A stiffer plate results in more speed assistance.