Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 Review

Upper

Grace: "This is one of the best super-shoe racing uppers that I have ever had the pleasure of testing. It is lightweight and breathable, and the stretchy tongue gives this shoe an accommodating fit that I am confident will be able to adapt to any foot shape. Once laced up, the Endorphin Pro disappears on foot, and I always felt super secure on the run. I really cannot compliment this upper enough."

Jon: "The Endorphin Pro 4's upper feels wonderful. Sometimes, with super shoe uppers, there is a bit of a familiarization period. It is not very common that I feel like I can just slip on a racing shoe and feel like I could run the 26.2 miles right then and there. Well, let me tell you something: the Endorphin Pro 4's upper is magical, and it felt amazing on my feet from the jump.

I have not run in the previous version, but I did try on a pair in the warehouse, and the difference between the two uppers was drastic. The upper of the Endorphin Pro 3 was stripped down and very minimal. For my liking, the 3's upper was almost too minimal, especially the tongue, which has circular cutouts that caused the laces to sit directly on top of my sock....not ideal.

In contrast, the upper of the Endorphin Pro 4 has a little more material, making the fit more comfortable and accommodating overall. That is not all, as the best part of the integrated knit tongue, reminiscent of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25, is how much comfort it truly adds to the on-foot experience. It is not only supremely comfortable, stretchy, and soft, but the little flap at the top of the tongue folds over the laces to keep them from slapping at your ankles while running. It is a subtle but noticeable detail that I deeply appreciated from the Endorphin Pro 4."

Midsole

Grace: "This was a shoe that I was excited to test. I am a trail runner who has raced a lot of ultras this past year in carbon-plated trail racing shoes, so I really loved being able to switch things up and getting some fast race-pace miles on the roads. 

While testing this shoe, I tried running a bit of everything in terms of the types of runs I was completing, all so that I could truly feel out the shoe's midsole. I got in some longer runs ranging from 18 to 20 miles. I also did a few all-out 8-10 mile efforts and a speed workout on the track. Regardless of the run, I could always feel all the awesome elements of the Endorphin Pro 4's midsole working together as I progressed through my stride. I felt the bounce and protectiveness from the foam, the rolling effect of the SPEEDROLL technology, and the explosive finish from the carbon fiber plate. Not to mention, this shoe has a wider platform compared to many of the other racing shoe options on the market, which helped deliver a very fast and stable ride and, in the end, more comfortable over the long haul."

Jon: "The biggest update we see in the Endorphin Pro 4, compared to the 3, is the midsole tooling. In the Endorphin Pro 4, we see the integration of Saucony's latest foam technology, PWRRUN HG, in the top layer of the midsole. That layer sits within a thick bottom layer of PWRRUN PB, which is as reliable as it comes in terms of a soft and bouncy ride. Embedded between the layers of foam is the same carbon plate used in the Pro 3. With those powers combined, the ride of the Endorphin Pro 4 was as smooth and efficient as any shoe I have run in. Seriously. The dual-layer foam setup worked well together to deliver a nice mix of power and speed. The responsiveness of the midsole combined with the carbon plate made for an extremely efficient and stable underfoot experience from start to finish.

I did a few speed workouts while testing this shoe, and they all felt amazing. More specifically, I remember rounding the track during a 400m interval rep and appreciating how easy it was to pick up the pace. Also, how smooth my turnover felt. Another highlight of the midsole was its impressive impact absorption. I went on an 18-mile run during testing, which was my longest effort since my last marathon in May '23, and my legs felt fantastic afterward. This feeling also lasted through the next day. In particular, the protection of the foam in the forefoot was noticeable on all runs, absorbing every footstrike with ease."

Outsole

Grace: "I was able to get 75 miles in this shoe throughout the testing period, and the outsole has been holding up incredibly well. This has been the most surprising element of testing this shoe because I do not typically expect road racing shoes to hold up well in terms of durability, especially when compared to other categories of shoes. All that said, the Endorphin Pro's outsole looks as good as it did when it came out of the box. Even after testing the shoe on some gravel and dirt roads, even the exposed foam looks close to new."

Jon: "Like the previous Endorphin Pro models, there is plenty of outsole coverage in the forefoot of the Endorphin Pro 4. The shoe is equipped with the same XT-900 rubber from the last version, but this time, in a lattice design layout, saving some weight without compromising grip. There are also rubber cutouts in the heel. I was extremely impressed by the outsole of this shoe, and after logging 70 miles in this shoe, I have seen few signs of wear and tear. Considering that some brands are releasing $500 super shoes meant for just one race, this durable outsole design bodes well for owners of the Endorphin Pro 4."

Comparable Shoes

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 vs. Nike Vaporfly Next% 3

Grace: "Another carbon-plated road racing shoe I would compare the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 to is the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3. What stands out to me about the Endorphin Pro compared to the Vaporfly is how accommodating this shoe can be for a wide variety of runs and runners. The Endorphin Pro 4 has a wider, more inherently stable base, as well, giving it a much more stable ride. In contrast, the Vaporfly can feel wobbly at times and might not work for everyone. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or a pro, I think the Endorphin Pro 4 is going to give runners a more comfortable experience for any run from the 5k to marathon distance. This is all while still being able to help runners achieve their next race day or training PR.

In terms of uppers, the Endorphin Pro's stretchy tongue is super adaptable, and I am confident they will better accommodate more foot shapes than the Vaporfly. Finally, the Endorphin Pro 4's outsole has proven to be impressively durable. There is more rubber covering the foam compared to the Vaporfly. Even the areas where there is exposed foam are holding up incredibly well."

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 vs. Saucony Endorphin Elite

Jon: "Though both of these shoes may be made by the same company and live within the same Endorphin Line, they are vastly different, especially when looking at their structural designs and underfoot experiences. The Endorphin Elite is exactly what its name leads us to believe. It is elite. From its ultra-responsive PWRRUN HG foam to its dramatic toe bevel, the Endorphin Elite delivers an explosive ride that feels best while running at your fastest paces. If you can find the sweet spot, the ride is as efficiently smooth as it gets. 

As for the Endorphin Pro 4, the midsole has a thin layer of PWRRUN HG, but the overwhelming majority of the midsole cushioning is composed of PWRRUN PB foam. This is not by any means a bad thing, as I loved the midsole setup of the Endorphin Pro 4. The geometry is not as dramatic, making the ride less explosive, but I imagine most runners will find the Pro 4 easier to run in. Furthermore, there is no familiarization period required with the Endorphin Pro 4, and it feels comfortable at a wider variety of paces.

Looking at the uppers, the Endorphin Elite is stripped down and has cutouts everywhere; it is pretty wild. It is also surprisingly comfortable and accommodating, so it was not a problem for me. But again, I think a lot of runners would prefer the fit and construction of the upper of the Endorphin Pro 4 as it strikes the perfect balance of being lightweight, secure, and adaptable to your foot shape.

Overall, these are two fantastic racing options, but given how different they are, it is hard to make an apples-to-apples comparison. At $225, the Endorphin Pro 4 represents a fantastic value that gives runners a great reason to choose it over the competition, where prices typically sit at $250+. On the other hand, for runners who are willing to spend as much as it takes to achieve their PR, the Endorphin Elite is a lighter, more aggressive option, with a full PWRRUN HG in the midsole. But as we always say here, because it is true, it comes down to personal preference, and I just cannot imagine any runner would regret buying the Endorphin Pro 4."