The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and Adidas Adizero Evo SL are both excellent running shoes that we count among our favourites, but which is the better speedy daily trainer for you? Tom and Nick talk through the pros and cons of each shoe in this video, and say which they’d get.
Check out our full reviews of both shoes:
Adidas Adizero Evo SL review:
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 review:
00:00 – Intro
00:15 – Design & Key Stats
02:19 – How’s The Fit?
04:26 – The Run Test
11:25 – Verdict
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Hello and welcome to run testers my Name's Nick in this video going to be Comparing the Adidas ad azero evos and The S endorphin speed [Music] 4 so this is a video that was requested By a few commenters when we did the Comparison of the evos with the Nike Zoom fly 6 so certainly won want to do Two of my favorite running shoes out There to really exceptionally versatile Shoes that lean a bit more towards speed And take a slightly different approach With their designs with the Endorphin Speed 4 being a plated shoe and the adzo Evos being just having a little shank in There and generally going for a Comfortable bouncy phone in a very Lightweight design rather than using a Full plate the evos is the cheaper shoe It's £130 in the UK $150 in the US Whereas the Endorphin speed is £180 or $170 the Evo s is also the lighter shoe It's 224 G or 7.9 o in the uk9 whereas The Endorphin speed 4 is 255 G or 9 oz In the uk9 evos L has a 6m drop with a Stack height of 39 mm at the heel 33 at The 4T whereas the Endorphin speed 4 is An 8 mm drop stack height 36 mm at the Heel 32 at the 4ot with the evl you've Got a pretty minimal mesh upper with a Little bit of padding around the back of The shoe and a pretty significant Internal heel counter to add some
Structure there you have a Light Strike Pro midsole foam we believe this is the Light strike Pro foam used on the adios Pro 3 racing shoe rather than the Slightly softer stuff used on the Pro 4 But still a pretty soft and springy foam All around for sure there's no full Plate but there is a little nylon shank Around the midfoot to add some stiffness To that mids sole and then on the out Soole you have Continental rubber used On the 4 foot and then two strips of Adidas's clear rubber at the back with The Endorphin speed 4 you've also got a Nice mesh upper with a bit of padding Around the back and on the tongue of the Shoe it's slightly more padded and Slightly better tongue I would say than The one on the Adidas Evo SL also got Internal heel counter there I think it's A little bit softer and more flexible Than the one on the Adidas you got a Power run PB midso which is a peber Mido Foam two layers of that with a nylon Plate in between that's winged at the Sid to add a bit more stability so nylon Rather than a full carbon plate to be a Little bit less stiff and more Comfortable for General use then you Have S speedroll rocker on the shoe as Well you've also got a rocker on the Adidas I should say it's the very sharp 4 foot rocker that's inspired by the Design of the pro EVO One racing shoe
And then with the socon you've got a Latis rubber outsole good 4ot coverage Two pretty big sections at the heel as [Music] Well the fit for me in the Evo SL I'm a Size8 in the UK this is a size 8.5 and The reason for that is that I went to The shop where I bought this from and bu And I tried on a few different shoes uh With Adidas shoes you generally size up Half a size in the UK anyway cuz they do Tend to be a little bit on the short Side uh definitely the case for this uh When I tried on the eights they were Just just a little bit too short for me Um and I did need an 8.5 in this shoe It's quite a roomy shoe as well um There's plenty of space around the sides Of the foot for me it doesn't feel like It's a restrictive shoe in the midfoot Um but despite that it's also very easy To get a nice lock down fit in it so Very comfortable shoe uh definitely size Up to uh size up half a size like you Normally would in an Adidas shoe the uh So endorphin speed 4 uh I've very Comfortable shoe I definitely get this In my UK size eight um there's plenty of Space in the forefoot for me it's got This lovely stretchy upper um which Means that it is quite flexible um but You don't really need it there's there's Plenty of space in the upper it's Probably a little less room in the uh
Speed 3 for me um but not a massive Difference it's still um it's a very Comfortable shoe and and definitely State in my size8 in it onto the fit of The two shoes and this is going to be a Slightly complicated one for me because I have got my normal uk9 in both of These shoes but I have also tested a UK 8.5 in the sakon and I think that fits Me more akin to the fit of the Adidas And the uk8.5 in sakon is a US 9.5 and With Adidas the uk9 is a US 9.5 so the US sizing is what's been the easiest one For me to get the right size on on these Shoes I'd probably look at using that Even if you're in the UK because Adidas And suy don't convert to the US sizes in Exactly the same way but the upshot is That I'm someone who's often between two Sizes and I was happy in the smaller Size of these two shoes but I could also Have been happier in the bigger size of These two shoes so if you're someone Who's Big for your size I would get Maybe a half size up if you're some Small for your size I would go for that Smaller size so that's the way I'd look At it they're both quite dared in fit I Think it's fair to say I'll be delighted If anything of what I just said was Clear at all but that's kind of the Upshot of this section is if you're big For your size I'd look at maybe going Half size up if you're small for your
Size you're going to be [Music] Okay onto run test and as I mentioned at The start of this video I'm a big fan of Both of these shoes I think they're two Absolute crackers Two Shoes I'd be very Happy to have in my rotation they'd be Two shoes that would be very much be Strong contenders for my rotation if I Was building it from scratch again they Are speed Focus Shoes but really have The versatility of a daily trainer as Well so they can really do everything From your nice slow recovery runs to Long runs but then you can go down the Track and run very fast in them and even Race in them they do have a different Feel to them the speed 4 is the fir shoe And that's down to both the foam in the Midso the power R PB and the nylon plate In there the foam is firmer than the Stuff used on Adidas and obviously the Fact have a plate in there just gives it A bit more stiffness and firmness Under Foot get a very noticeable rocker effect From the speedroll geometry and that Plate in there and it does mean has a Really easy natural ride to it the speed For that just means I can tick over it At almost any Pace feels very good for Me running at speed it really does feel Like it has the pace of a true racing Shoe with a carbon plate in it at times And I've used it for Flatout sessions
Where I normally would be picking up a Carbon shoe even in training and it's Always performed really well it has got A really nice softness at the heel of The shoe in particular for easy runs I Think the only time I think its firmness And stiffness becomes a bit Uncomfortable for me is on longer hard Runs whereas as a heel Striker I kind of Snap through onto that plate and I just Get a little bit of for fo discomfort After a while with the speed for I don't Get that really with the evos SL because It's a higher stack shoe under the 4 Foot for one but also there's no plating There and the foam is softer it's Notably softer really especially at the Heel but even as you roll through your Whole foot strike you got a bouncier Softer feeling from the Evo cell it's Not as stiff but the transition is still Really really good and you've got that Sharp four foot rocker which just gives You that little bit of extra pop at the End of your strike there too move on and Keep running fast again I've done a Really wide range of runs with this Sometimes in those long easy runs I Worry a little bit about stability with The Adidas evl because is soft and it's Got a very narrow pinch Point around the Midfoot there and even compared to the Endorphin speed 4 which is not known for Being especially stable I think the eosl
Is a little bit more wobbly but hasn't Really been a problem and I've really Enjoyed it for fast runs like it Surprised me of how fast it is like in General having use PL to Sho so much Over the past few years for training and Racing even a shoe of just a small nylon Shank I have my doubts about going down Doing Hard training sessions in Especially ones where I have to sustain Fast Paces on long tempos or long race Pace marathon Race pce stints but it's Handled all of those really well I think It is a genuinely very fast shoe and one That you could use for racing and it's Got such a nice Nimble lightweight feel To it which is quite different to lots Of shoes out there these days which Going for wider bases to add natural Stability which I don't really mind but Sometimes it is very nice to pick up a Really thin shoe like this and get that Real agile feel so I did do a short run In B at the same time and the softness Of the Adidas just really Shawn through There like I do think the speed 4 is Pretty soft at the heel as a heel strik And I do enjoy it there but you get even Softer ride with the ad it's got a Bouncy ride the whole ride is a little Bit more fun to it I think to have that Sinking and bounce because you do get Softness but it's not you know Squishiness or you know softness that
Saps you at all it really does Rebound Very nicely and for us you without a Full length plate I do think the Transition is really good and fast and That rocker does mean it is fast got a Stiffer feeling with the Endorphin speed For you maybe if I was lining up like a Half marathon race or something like That it's probably the shoot that maybe Have a bit of an edge with that natural Rocked ride and extra boost you get from The plate over the time in particular But the as doesn't feel like it's really Lacking much on the speed front I would Say it's one of the very few non-plated Shoes along with the ax super blast I do Think works really well for those long Sessions I do in things like marathon Training where I might be holding four Or 5K blocks for at decent Paces for Long spells and it's then really fun and Light for shorter intervals okay so These two shoes are compar comparable in The way that they are training shoes That are designed um to be able to do a Lot more basically um but the difference Is the there's a plate in the uh speed 4 Which I'm sure Nick has mentioned um Ultimately the the difference in these Shoes really comes down to the ride uh I've done quite a few runs in both of These shoes now I've not used the speed 4 for a while actually um but the um Evos really comes down to that midsole
You've got this big big chunky Light Strike Pro midsole in there um and the The ride that you get from it is quite Different than what you get from the Speed 4 what I find from the evos is That because of that foam it's it's Bouncy it's got energy in it the ride That you get from it when you're picking Up the pace is very much about energy Return this nice little bit of balance As you're running uh and it just feels Like a very enjoyable shoe to really Pick up the pace in um and you can do a Lot in it you can do intervals in it you Could do Tempo sessions in it I think a Lot of people happily racing this do a Marathon in it because it's just got a Lot of cushioning in it very comfortable To to run in um but it really comes down To that midsole it's that's where the Magic is happening um and you're getting A nice energy full ride from the eosl Now the speed 4 does have um a very it's Performance shoot it's a really good Good performance shoe very really Versatile performance shoe but I think The magic of the the the speed 4 really Comes down to the combination of that Plate with this slightly firmer Midol Phone so you get a little bit more of a Nippy pickup with this shoe I don't feel Like I'm getting loads of Bounce from The speed 4 but it does feel like that Plate is really sort of pring me forward
Um and the effect is quite similar in Both of them you are getting a not a Shoe that's comfortable which really you Can feel kicking into gear when you pick Up the pace but really I think it just Comes down to that that midso feel for Me um the evos is is probably much nicer For longer runs um where you just want a Nice little bit of balance just Enjoyably move along comfortably the Long runs I've done in the the evsl have Been very very nice very much enjoyed Doing those short distances have been Fine as well and I also think that it's A pretty good easy day shoe um I've I've Done a few easy runs in the shoe now and I've absolutely had no issues with it I Like the softness of that foam just Works really well for me nice bit of Energy return on an easy run for me Doesn't it doesn't have uh really goes Down well um the sock off 4 it's a Versatile shoe I don't I'm not as big a Fan of it for easy runs I just I like a Softer foam when I'm doing easy runs um So it's feels a little bit not it's not Massively aggressive but it does feel More aggressive than you get from the Evo SL um and I prefer bouncy shoes to Responsive shoes anyway so um I think Ridges comes down comes down to that Mids soole but I think both of them are Fantastic shoes that you can use for the Same sort of things I think it really
Comes down to the sort of midsole that You want for your runs and I like uh Soft phone the outsole on these so the Speed for outsole really really good Nice layer of rubber on the outs soole There very good at gripping um there is Quite a bit of exposed midsole um but The rubber is pretty good on it so I Think it take a while to rub down that Rubber to to start really making a dent In that in that midsole but overall Really good outsole on that outsole on The EVO is a funny one because it has a Similar out soole to the performance Shoes things like the pro Evo where you Have like a very um slight layer of Rubber uh so it has this Continental Rubber at Continental rubber at the Front and it has this clear rubber at The back really surprised at how durable This rubber is and how grippy it is I've Used this running around the the where I Live where it's really wet and um not Very nice to run around at the moment But it's absolutely fine it's got really Good grip on this despite the fact There's no real tread in there it does Feel quite smooth so really good outsole On that and also I haven't ripped off The back of the uh the back of the shoe Which I normally do with most shoes that Have these sort of smaller rubber Sections on the back so really solid Outsole on both of
[Music] Them so my verdict on these two shoes It's a tough one because I think they're Really really good shoes both of them And I think anybody who is doing um High Level Training looking for shoes that Can do daily training but really pick up The pace a little bit would be happy With either of these shoes I think it Really comes down to your preference for The type of midsole you like if you like Soft bouncy shoes you definitely go for The evos i i i my favorite sh out of These two is the eosl by a long way Because it just works for my style of Running I just like that bit of energy When you're going out for a run it just Feels really nice on the legs you could Do long running it it feels great speed 4 I've always thought it's a fantastic Shoe but for me I've never been a Massive fan of it there's always been Shoes that I preferred more and it's Mainly down to that mids cell foam it's A little bit firmer um maybe a little Bit more responsive and you can really Feel that plate sometimes when you're Running it fantastic shoe for me if I'm Doing intervals and stuff like that but For me it's not as versatile I wouldn't Use it for an easier run I wouldn't use It for that many daily runs I'd rather Have a bit more softness in it so for me I'm going to go for the Adidas evos SL
All the way on this versus my V is I'm Going to give this one to the Adidas Evo SL it's just a shoe I enjoy running in More is certainly better value than the Endorphin speed for and the performance Is there as well it's a very verstile And impressive daily trainer maybe There'll be some doubts about durability Down the line but after about 120k the Ride has only improved for me so far It's just got a little bit more fun as The foam has broken in a little bit There are maybe some caveats to this Though I do think the Endorphin speed 4 Would probably be the better shoe if You're looking for a standing racing Shoe especially for half marathon or Marathon distance you're not going to go And buy a full carbon shoe do think it's A little bit more stable than the Adidas As well and some people will prefer the Slightly more direct and stiff feel it Has to the softer ride of the Adidas Which is also slightly higher stack as Well and like I say a little bit wobbly On the inner side if you're going at Slow Paces I think but it's just a shoe That makes me look forward to I mean I Always look forward to running running Is like my favorite thing but it's a Shoe that I really look forward to Running in it's just really fun daily Trainer to use it's fun fast can do lots Of different runs and it's great value
So yeah I going give this one to the Evo ASL speed 4 undoubtedly an incredible Shoe could you look at both shoes in a Rotation yeah you probably could Actually because you'd have just two Fantastic verstile shoes there speed for Maybe be more of your racing shoe maybe Some of those long training sessions at Harder paces and then the Adidas evos Could pick up more of your daily Training but I think there's a lot of Overlap here I think the ideal rotation Probably is to pick up something like One of these shoes with a carbon racer And then maybe a more stable cushion Shoe in a three shoe rotation that you Could use for really slow stuff and long Stuff but yeah both great shoes I like Prer the Adidas eosl and it's cheaper so Yeah i' pick that one out here [Music] Myself that's a comparison of the ad Eosl and Su the Endor speed before let Us know what you think in the comments Below please like And subscribe ring the Little bell and we'll see you next time
