PRODUCT REVIEW: SAUCONY ENDORPHIN SPEED
Introducing the SAUCONY Endorphin Speed.
These kicks have been due a review for the last three months, but somehow I keep running out of time (pun intended). Also, the first time I tried them I really wasn’t sure about them, so I was a bit stuck when it came to writing something nice for my amazing sponsors. Spoiler: luckily it didn’t stay that way.
Here are my impressions, tests and conclusions after three months running in them!
QUICK FACTS
Size: 38 EUR
Weight: 198g
Drop: 8mm
Neutral
Composite plate (not carbon!) and Saucony’s PWRRUN cushioning foam in the sole
Speedroll technology to propel runner forward
The collection features three models, with the speedy carbon-plated Endorphin Pro above and the plush Endorphin Shift below.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The first time I saw the shoe was a bit of a wow moment. The colours are cool, it just looks fast, and when you pick it up it just about flies over your shoulder it feels so light. Basically, all you want to do it pull it on and go.
So I did. The fit was perfect, like a slipper, super comfy. And then I stood up… And just about tipped straight over onto my nose. It was the weirdest feeling.
I walked slowly around the apartment. It was as if I had some foot deformity that made me tiptoe around on the balls of my feet in a constant fight to stay upright. I caught myself in the mirror and it didn’t look as bad as it felt, phew. But the pronounced rocker design means you’re tipped forward onto the forefoot, which is very unsettling if you’re not expecting it.
And it didn’t get better on the 30-minute easy run that followed. I felt perched on an unstable platform about a mile from the ground, the sole felt squishy and I although I tried my hardest, I couldn’t for the life of me feel that energy kick everyone was talking about.
I jogged back home a little dispirited. Maybe it was just my short legs?
GIVING THEM A CHANCE
Or maybe I just hadn’t read the writing on the box. “Speed” may have been a giveaway… The next time I took the shoes out was on a 15k run that included three 10-minute efforts. As often in my training I didn’t go on pace, just heart rate and feel. So although I had no way of knowing if I was running any faster than usual, what I did feel was that the shoes came into their own as soon as I accelerated. Really lightweight, I barely felt them on my feet, and the cushioning was super soft on impact.
On the other hand, the sole is much less flexible that any shoe I’ve worn before: the composite plate makes them quite rigid which in turn affects the foot roll, so the stride felt a bit unnatural to begin with. I soon got used to it though.
Note: I am pretty much a mid-foot runner (although I’m sure there are some heel-strike photos out there captured at the end of an Ironman…), with quite a pronounced roll from the outside over onto the inner ball of my foot. This shoe shaped not only to rock forward, but also really accentuates that outside-inside roll, putting quite a lot of pressure through the inner knee in my case. I didn’t have any issues because I’m generally pretty strong and muscular, but worth considering depending on your running gait and physique!
BUT ARE THEY FASTER?
For all my avoidance of numbers, I do actually own a Garmin. So I fired it up to test the Endorphin Speeds against my trusty Kinvara 11s* on two different sessions:
Endorphin vs. Kinvara
3 x 7.5km
6 x 400m
If you’re not into the long analysis, jump straight to conclusions below!
*Kinvara 11 specs:
Size: 38 EUR | Weight: 200g | Drop: 4mm | Neutral, very flexible sole, general super all-rounder
The main difference is feel of the shoe: the Kinvara is very grounded and flexible, while the Endorphin Speed sits higher off the floor and is very plush. You feel the bounce rather than the road.
CONCLUSIONS
- Not designed for slow runs. They like going fast and that’s most definitely where they feel and perform best.
- Lovely and lightweight, you barely feel them on your feet.
- Pronounced rocker which feels a bit weird standing around, but gives a nice fluid rolling sensation when running. Be prepared for the stride to feel a bit off at first as they’re quite rigid.
- There is a serious layer of foam between you and the floor, so if you’re into a really grounded sensation and like “feeling” the road through your feet, go for something more like a Kinvara or Fastwitch
- They can feel a bit unsteady, especially going through tight corners.
- There is a clear effect on running dynamics, with increased vertical oscillation and a longer stride; as this will inevitably have repercussions on muscle function it would be interesting to consider their efficiency over Ironman distance when the body is fatigued.
- Although they were marginally quicker at threshold, in a straight line, I personally didn’t get the massive speed boost I was expecting. Bear in mind however that these are the mid-range Endorphin model with a composite rather than carbon plate, and are probably softer and more forgiving (I haven’t tried the carbon plate!). They are clearly designed for a more versatile use, rather than competition-only.
In Saucony’s own words, the Endorphin Speed is designed to give “a performance advantage on every run”, and after my experience I would tend to agree if you’re after that bouncy feel.
On a personal level, I will stick to the Kinvara or Fastwich, simply because I like being “close” to the floor (not that I really need any help on that…) and having a more stable and grounded sensation. And I’m still a firm believer that if you put the work in, you’ll fly whatever shoe you’re wearing…
I hope this helps if you’re considering changing your footwear!
Emma
Photo credits © nevis-road.com
I will immediately seize your rss as I can not to find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Fawne Arthur Intisar
La verdad estos endorfinas speed, sirve para todo , he tenido muchas zapatillas para correr todo estos anos , pero estás tienen algo especial te ayudan ha correr más rápido , su tienes una técnica
Repectos a los comentarios de la test shoes, pero si deseas mejorar tu condición física, ritmos, rapidez, técnica carrera speed es para ti, pero si te conforma con correr ha ritmos cruceros estos no son tus zapatillas, porque requieren una adaptación dependiendo que corredor eres, saucony hizo estos zapatos para competir y mejorar tus entrenamientos, es versátil pero sirve como mixtas, tienes una adaptación pero si lo logras serás mejor corredor te lo garantizo, si eres un jogger , es decir no corredor , estos los van ha sentir muy rápidos y le encontrarás deficiencias, porque no están hechos para trotar suave, son para mejorar en carreras de ritmos vivos, la mejor zapatilla mixta que hayan creado !!!
Im grateful for the blog post. Much thanks again. Great. Elysha Reese Robbin