The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 and the Endorphin Pro 4 sit at the top of the pile of Saucony’s best carbon racing shoes. If you’re sold on a Saucony racer for faster days and race day, which should you go for?
Testers Kieran, Mike and Nick have all spent time with the Endorphin Pro 4 and Elite 2 to give you a better sense of how the two match up, tell you whether one shoe is clearly better than the other, or whether these are simply carbon shoes made for very different runners.
This is our take on how the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 compares to the Endorphin Pro 4.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Price and key differences
01:22 – How do they fit?
05:32 – The Run Test
15:47 – Verdict
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Hey this is M the ran testers this is The S endorphin Elite 2 and this is the S endorphin Pro for now if you are Looking for s's top carbon shoe races These two sit top of that list now if You are sold on a sock and eraser you're Not sure which one of these you should Go for fortunately we have tested both Now what we're going to do in this video Is myself Nick and Kieran are going to Take you through our running experiences And let you know whether you should go With a so indor Elite 2 or the S Endorphin Pro 4 so here's your low down on the S Endorphin Elite 2 and the Endorphin Pro 4 let's start with price and the Elite 2 Is the more expensive of the two shoes With the Pro 4 coming in 50 cheaper in The UK both feature 8 mm drops with the Same stack Heights and the Elite 2 Weighing in slightly lighter than the Pro 4 the uppers are predominantly knit With the Elite 2 adding mesh at the 4 Foot of the shoe but you're also getting Similar tongues and lacing while padding At the heel is more minimal on the Elite 2 the Mido makeups use different Cushioning Technologies and complate Designs with both using sakon speedroll Geometry to create that more rocked ride The outside designs differ too with Rubber focused at the forefoot and both To make sure you've got enough grip to
Play with for your faster training days And race Days so I have different sizes of the Two shoes here and that's largely down To a mistake I made when going for a Slightly smaller size in the Endorphin Elite too so with the Endorphin Pro 4 I Have my normal UK size 9 which is a US Size 10 fits me very well I have no Concerns about the fit at all with some Sock shoes like the speed and the Endorphin trainer I can go half a size Down in the UK to get you know a fit That I like a bit more sometimes a Little bit more dialed in actually Potentially could have done that with The pro for but you definitely can't do That with the sock and the Endorphin Elite 2o I think it is quite a small Fitting shoe so going half size down Means I've not got enough room in my toe Box I think even if you were sticking to Your normal size in the shoe it might be Quite cramp around the toes cuz it has a Fairly narrow design and tapers quite Sharply at the front there so that would Be something to look out for I think so I would stick to your normal size with Both shoes with the profile no real Concerns about the fit the Elite V2 I Think is quite a narrow shoe and can be A bit tight even if you are going for The right size unlike myself when it Comes to fit I ran in a us9 and a half
Uk8 and a half in both shoes which is my Regular socky size in the Elite 2 You Get Enough length in the toe box you get Good clearance across the top of the big Toes as well the toe box also has some Structure to it I think that keeps the Uppers away from your toes so no black Toone elil which is a really positive Even over longer distances that's Something you definitely want in a race Sho the integrated tongues I think wrap And a hold for good Comfort an excellent Lock down across the top of the foot However I did find they came up somewhat Narrow somewhat tight narrow and kind of Squashed around the little toe on that Outside edge was only a worry on my Longer runs but it does feel a little Bit cramped and I'd recommend looking Closely at the size if you've got wide Feet or you're a fan of more room for Your your toes toplay the Endorphin Pro For doesn't fit as close as the elite 2's booty style fit but the overall fit I think as well is really good one note I found the lacing a bit odd I had to Use the top eyelet to get reliable lock Down and prevent heel slipping I also Struggled sometimes to get the Integrated tongues to sit right Particularly at the bottom end of the Laces where I felt like I wanted to tug Them up and pull them a little bit back Further up my foot tugging on the
Tongues didn't always get the position Correct actually I get a bit of that in Both shoes but when it comes to Roominess I found the pro for hugging But not cramped with nice Flex in the Toe box a decent balance of comfort and Security so overall I'd recommend going True to size in both shoes but keep an Eye on the Elite 2 if you want a bit More space so in terms of fit I've got Both of these shoes in a UK size eight8 That's my typical running shoe size and Generally going through to size in so Shoes has worked well for me I haven't Really had to think about going you know Sizing up or sizing down in these shoes What I would say is both are very kind Of light kind of uppers kind of Supporting in the right areas without Offering too much extra material so you Know very much a racing style fit what I Would say is that the pro for maybe is Just a touch more accommodating you know Just opens up a little bit more in that Kind of toe box a little bit more in That midfoot area as well um so that I Think if you wanted that kind of Ria Feel I think the do Pro 4 is going to Give you that I think with the Elite 2 The only thing I would kind of pick out Is that I you know I've been very happy With the space up front in the toe box But there's a little bit of difference In the makeup of the uppers there's a
Bit more kind of harder kind of mesh Here which I found has dug into my Little toes you don't get that on the Prof for and I haven't had any of those Kind of issues on the profile so it Might be very personal to me but that's Definitely something I think worth Highlighting in these two shoes lacing And tongues very similar you've got Those kind of flip over kind of kind of Call football boot kind of tongues here It kind of flip down and the kind of Lockdown has been generally very good For me the hill colors are different You'll getting more traditional kind of Hill color look on the Endorphin Pro 4 So if that's something you prefer that's You're going to get there theor Elite 2 It's kind of more minimal more kind of Focused on the back here and you know Less here but you know I found it's been You know relatively fine kind of locked In kind of been comfortable and kind of Very kind of stable there and supportive At the back there so yeah I think the Key things for me definitely going Through size for me has worked this Shoot the dolphin Pro 4 is a touch more Accommodating than the Elite 2 and I've Also had none of those issues on the pro For I've had on Elite 2 around these Kind of areas of this kind of mesh that Kind of kind of sits around the Toes so sakon endorphin Elite 1 and the
Endorphin Pro 3 were pretty different Shoes but they still had quite a few Similar characteristics that marked them Out almost as socony carbon shoes and They were both slightly firmer than Average and fairly stable for carbon Plate Super Shoes with the latest Generations that's still true of the Endorphin Pro 4 but the Endorphin Elite 2 is something very different it's a Very different shoe to both its Predecessor and the Endorphin Pro for Much softer foam in the midsole here now A bouncier Feeling shoe like more Exciting and wild shoe but certainly not A stable one and something that is a bit Different to the socon and Dophin Racing Shoes we've seen in the past so Dophin Pro 4 is a shoe we tested first and like I say it is quite similar to lots of the Previous s and Dophin Pro Shoes we've Tried you've got a nice bouncy Responsive foam here it's not the Softest in the world but it is cushioned Enough to be comfortable on long runs I Found got that very present and Noticeable speed roll rocker which is Almost the key characteristic of the Shoe really rolls you through your foot Strike very naturally and it feels very Good at fast Paces also it's slow Paces The Endorphin Pro 4 is a shoe that you Can use for quite a wide range of Training runs I'd say it almost fulfills
The role of a super trainer as well as Being a racing shoe and it is a really Fast shoe did some of my hardest Training sessions for the London Marathon last year in this shoe and it Always really impressed me also rised a 10K in it don't think it quite has the Propulsive edge of the very best carbon Shoes but it does offer some slightly Different benefits in being a bit more Stable and natural and comfortable at Slower Paces than lots of Super Shoes Out there it's quite an approachable Super Shoe all around and one that will Work quite well for newer Runners who Are looking maybe their first carbon Shoe in Dophin Elite 2 it's very Different like like I say it's really Soft it's wobbly underfur it's not the Most Able Shoe for sure you've got some Lateral stability issues it doesn't even Grip that well but it does have an Incredibly fast ride and a really fun One as well like I was running on the Track in the shoe or or doing fast runs On on a nice controlled course where I'm Not doing too many sharp turns that kind Of thing it feels fantastic it's really Unlike almost any other carbon SH now Because it is so soft at the heel or Anywhere where you land on it and then Still rolls you through quite nicely you Still have got the speedroll rocker on The shoe but it's certainly not the
Thing that defines the ride feel whereas With most of the endorphins you know That smooth rocker was the thing that Really I noticed the most on the run but With the Endorphin Elite 2 it's very Much that soft foam and the really Springy ride you get from it it's also Lighter than the Pro 4 in general just a Much more explosive fast shoe for sure So it's definitely the one that is the Faster racing option of these two shoes At any distance it's also a little bit More comfortable I think because it is So soft with the Endorphin Pro 4 over on Longer hard runs I get a little bit of 4 Foot discomfort because the way I snap Through as a heel Striker not getting That with the Endor L too cuz it is so Much softer on the foot did do a short Run wearing both shoes at the same time And yeah it's night and day on the Different feet I would say it's just so Much softer bouncy of the shoe like it Makes the Endorphin Pro 4 feel very Normal when it is you know pretty Impressive carbon shoe in its own right Butorin Elite just feels so much more You know super as a super shoe it's fair To say but there certainly are drawbacks To the shoe that you get from this Really bouncy and soft midsole the main One being stability so in terms of Running time of these two shoes I've Done well over 50k in both I've not
Raced in the Elite 2 I have raced in the Endorphin Pro for a 10K distance I've Also used this for my longer kind of Marathon pace kind of training runs when I was training for London but I have Used the Elite 2 at my kind of 5K 10K Half M marathon pace use it for track Sessions as well so I've got a good Sense of how these two shoes R kind of Run kind of shorter but also kind of Cruising at longer kind of half marathon Marathon pace as well now if I was Holding the elite here and the Endorphin Pro 4 there' be a very clear difference Between how these two shoes feel to run Fast in now what you're getting is two Soft feeling kind of mid Souls that's What I would say you know definitely Compared to other kind of Super Shoes But if you compare them in terms of that Softness the Endorphin elu takes things Up another notch it's so much softer Underfoot compared to endorphin Pro for I think the balance is just about right On the Endorphin Pro 4 in the sense that When I run longer in that shoe and I've Cruised in that shoe it's felt Comfortable without feeling too unstable And I think for me it's probably one of The more stable kind of carbon shoes That you can buy and what I found when Run kind of further in the Dophin Pro 4 And you've got that kind of speedroll Rocket in both of these shoes that work
Really nicely is probably one of the Best kind of rocker designs you'll get On a carbon racing shoe I just felt I Could Cruise a lot nicer a lot more Comfortable in the Endorphin profile Still get that faster feeling but still Feel like my feet are rolling you know Heel To Toe very quickly but also in a Very kind of comfortable fashion not Really realizing I'm running a little Bit quicker than I actually am I think With the Endorphin Elite 2 I think Particularly over shorter distances Compared to the Pro 4 it is definitely While softer bouncier the rebound is a Lot higher it's just a little bit more Aggressive and a bit more in keeping With the elite in that sense now when I've run longer in it when I've kind of Run kind of more awkward kind of you Know twisty turny kind of routs that Softer feeling definitely has created More unstable feeling more unstable than The Endorphin Pro 4 I think it just Feels like you know I feel more Comfortable and more safe and the Knowledge I'm running faster in Dophin Pro 4 and I'm doing in a very controlled Manner I think with the Elite 2 yes it Feels Lively and fast and you know very Kind of aggressive but I always feel Like you know there's some unstable Elements to my running time into two Shoes I think from a durability point of
View I mean down to the fact that you You know both have got you know exposed Areas in their outsold probably cover Same you know areas in terms of where That rubber is there's about a similar Level of rubber in there but I think the Traction and the design on the Endorphin Profile Works a little bit nicer for me I'd be more concerned about the outso Durability on both of these shes but More so in the elite too and I'm you Know I'm not seeing terrible signs of we Of either just yet but I am you know I Would be a bit wary that both of these Shoes are going to be ones that you're Going to just really save those really Important runs in your training and you Know when you are racing I do think These are two far shes I do think that The Endorphin Elite 2 is it's bouncier Kind of livelier definitely feels more Suited to Shorter distances as well as Being able to cruise at longer distances As well the Endorphin Pro 4 I think has More its Locker for kind of cruising at Longer kind of half marathon Marathon Paces for me and still giving that Faster F over those distances it could Work for some training as well but I Think it really comes into its own when You are running longer and you are kind Of training at your kind of race pace so Both very good races both very different Races based on my experience on the run
Test I've done North and four 40 mi in Both of these shoes right across the Pace range plenty of long time on feet With 90minut marathon training runs Shorter faster stuff slower to find out How they handle lot of the lower Paces Now these shoes to me are kind of chalk And cheese it's sort of almost the Difference between a wild and a tamed Horse both of these will carry you fast But one of them you may well have to Rope yourself onto to keep it under Control overall the proor is about as Comfy as carbon rati shes get while Remaining relatively light on the foot It's not a million miles away from the On foot field I don't think of the Endorphin speed for Comfort I found the Mido a bit soft and ponderous compared To some of the punchiest rate shoes that Perhaps have a little bit more stiffness And a bit more pop does provide plenty Of cushion protection with a bit of Bounce and some life to the midsole but For me it doesn't have the same Immediate punch and energy that you Might get from an alphafly or a metas Speed or even an Adios Pro 4 those kind Of shoes just feel a little bit more Lively having said that Ned the Endorphin Pro 3 and if that smooth Mildly springy but also cushion ride is What you like in a race shoe that is What you get here and I think it can
Appeal to quite a lot of Runners it Feels balanced and controlled and Reliable as carbon raoes go I think the Shoe will look after you better than Most running shoes deep into longer Races at least from the perspective of Cushion comfort and Road protection it Handles slower Paces well as well Without feeling unstable that's good News if things get ragged at Mile 20 or 22 of your Marathon now on the other Hand the socket endorphin Elite 2 is the Opposite of all of those things I've Just said this is now probably the Softest carbon racer going that incred Run foam is incredibly soft the midsole Is all about high compression and high Rebound and that creates a sort of Slingshot ride that's big on energy but It's highly unique and it also comes at The cost of stability and certainty if You need lots of stability this shoe Probably isn't going to be the race shoe For you there's lots of wobble in it There's lots of um care needs to be Taken with each of your steps now from The moment you lace them up you're Immediately wondering if you're going to Be able to control them or at least I Was when you're moving you have to focus On your Landings this is a shoe that Requires careful considered foot Placement that is the order of the day It's less the case when you're running
Up mid to 4 foot engaging the front Section of that incred run foam things Are more reliable when you're moving Like that you get a highly resilient and Bouncy ride with lots and lots of energy But there's more control than when you Land further back towards the heel now If the Endorphin Pro 4 is a shoe you can Get you're wearing the Elite 2 requires Attention to foot placement as I said You need to focus on what's going on Under Foot and when you do and when you Run well it's brilliantly fun it's Energetic it's Lively it's got a ride That I really quite like for that Element I'd 100% pick it for a bigger Urban marathon with straight line Running like Chicago Berlin or New York It's much punchier than the Pro 4 but Only if you can control and direct that Wild Mido I also back it much less to Look after you if your form goes AR on Tired legs for the last six months M Struggle busing I'd definitely be Happier in The the verdict and I would pick the Endor Elite 2 out of these two shoes Like if you're looking at these as Carbon plate Super Shoes very expensive Shoes you know the Pro 4 is Significantly cheaper but they are still Expensive shoes they're designed to help You run fast on race day and in your Hardest sessions and the Endorphin Elite
2 for me is simply a faster shoe and I'll take all the drawbacks of it to get That speed because it's a really fun Ride it's Untamed bounce with this very Soft and springy midsole and yeah I do Think I could run at my absolute best in The shoe on race day on the right course If there's lots of Corners I would be a Bit worried about it but you get over That because it comes to racing you just Want a shoe that's going to do the Fastest job for you and that's this shoe Now that's me and I don't think everyone Will feel the exactly the same way about Their racing shoe some people will want A shoe that's going to feel a bit more Natural and stable and give them a bit More support and that is the Pro 4 it's Also a cheaper shoe and it's a shoe that I was picking up if I was looking at a Carbon Sho to do loads of training runs In as well as race day I think this is a Durable reliable shoe for training it Feels quite natural and supportive like I've said and you can do a lot of Training runs in it actually and a mix Of Paces which IND dorin leite 2 is a Flatout rtio and one to use for you know The occasional very far session ideally Without too many corners so if you're a Runner who needs their Rao to do a lot More miles and in general be a bit more Comfortable and supportive if you're a Newer Runner if you're someone who has
Any kind of stability issues the pro Four would be the better pick for sure Whereas the Endorphin Le is the fastest Shoe it's straight up Built For Speed And for everything else to the Wi that's What it's designed to do and it does it Really well that's why I like it a bit More than the pro for when I pick it but There are certainly reasons to look at The pro for instead I would say verdict Then and I think the shoe most Runners Should buy out of these two is pretty Straightforward it's probably the Endorphin Pro 4 it's one of the most Accessible carbon shoes that you can buy For me it's a Snappy but safe bet There's punch when you're moving well But it's got you back when things aren't Going according to plan for that reason I think it might well be one of the best Marathon shoes for a large selection of Runners it's one that I think would Accommodate beginner Runners and suit Them nicely as well on the other hand The Elite 2 it's Untamed it's wild it's Like a tequila shots at 3:00 a.m. Caution to the wind kind of shoe it's Really best when you're running well With locked in form on flat even Surfaces that don't have many corners in Those conditions it's excellent and it's A lot of fun but I'm not sure it will Cat to best to most Runners needs Particularly if you need anything by the
Way of sort of stability there was a bit Of a disconnect in the way the ride Feels between the heel and the forefoot So all of that Stacks up to this one Being a bit more reliable so which shoe Would I choose well if money was no Object and I was chasing a marathon PB Confident I was fit enough to hit my Goals with a lower risk of the wheels Coming off and I was running a course With a reliable surface lots of straits I choose the Endorphin Elite 2 but I was Turning up to a race unsure of my Training knowing that this race might be On an knif edge and there might be more Than a good chance of being in a tiled Battle when you get deep into the race I Would choose the Endorphin Pro 4 the Pro 4 is the more versatile shoe as well I Think you can use this shoe more for Faster training more readly so it's got More training run potential as well if I Had to pick a carbon ratio I don't think I'd actually choose either of these two First I'd still go for the aex metas Speed Sky Paris or maybe even the new Brooks Hyper Elite 4 PB both of those I Think have more punch than the Pro 4 and More control than the Elite 2 uh I'd Also strongly suggest checking out the Endorphin speed 4 if you're thinking About the Pro 4 it's like a cheaper Alternative to the Pro 4 I think offers A similar ride I think almost as much
Energy but you're going to get it for Less so my takeway you should go for the S andin Elite 2 or the sakon Endorphin Pro 4 now I'll start by saying these are Two nice shoes to run fasting and to use For your faster days the way I look at It is that if you are looking for a s Eraser that is going to be one that you Can use for training for those faster Sessions but also something I think You're going to want that is comfortable And can really let you cruise at that Kind of longer distance I'd feel more Comfortable doing that in endorphin Pro For if you're looking for a faster shoe That I think works better shorter Distances as well as those longer Distances is bouncier livelier and if You've got a race or a route which is Very straight flat and you can really go Hard at the Endorphin leak 2 is probably Going to work well for you now there is A difference in the price range and if You're looking from a value point of View particularly from a m Marathon Racer point of view I'd probably be Going for the Endorphin Pro for if you Can afford the Elite 2 as I said you Would prefer something that can feel More comfortable across race distances Than I think the Elite 2 is just going To give you a little bit more on that Front just be wary the fact that it is Going to be a little bit less stable
Than this shoe when running longer as Well as shorter distances so me Personally I'd probably just be varying For the Endorphin Prof for just based on My experience but I can appreciate the Elite who a very good shoe just a very Good shoe that's going to work for Certain people and for some people maybe Isn't going to be quite the Kind of Perfect Fit okay so they have it on Multitest to take on how the S endorphin Elite 2 compared to the sakon Endorphin Pro 4 now if you got any questions about These shoes or any other shoes you want To see this compared to or this compared To do let us know as always like And Subscribe hit that little bell to find Out about latest videos and yeah see you For next round test this video [Music]
