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Saucony Endorphin Shift vs Speed vs Pro: Differences, Pros & Cons
Saucony Endorphin Shift vs Speed vs Pro is a 3-way competition of the finest running shoes on the market.
You might have heard a lot of praise for them, but which is the best choice? More importantly, how do you know if one of them is the right footwear for you?
Spend a few minutes reading and you will have the answer.
Contents
A Quick Look At Saucony Endorphin
Saucony started its legendary journey in 1898 and always delivered an excellent performance with its products.
Technologies have allowed them to expand and give their shoes more specific purposes such as classic trainer shoes, trail-running shoes, and casual walking shoes.
Powered by a technology named SPEEDROLL, they have developed a geometry-based product line called Endorphin.
The footwear in this collection involved variables such as shape, height, foam, and propulsive plate, and intricately combined all for a perfect design.
Endorphin Shift
- Height: Forefoot 34mm and Heel 38mm, Drop 4mm
- Weight: 294g for Men’s 9 Size, 252g for Women’s 8 Size
Many people would call Shift the underrated shoe of the Endorphin collection. It serves well as a mileage trainer footwear, with a few qualities that the opponent brands don’t have.
Since the classic Saucony design is a favorite among users, they find it compatible to keep a lot of details and only add more cushion for support.
The Endorphin Shift relies on Saucony’s SPEEDROLL technology for the momentum and the spring in each step. It’s an advantage considering Shift is heavier to wear than Speed and Pro.
Endorphin Speed
- Height: Forefoot 27.5mm and Heel 35.5mm, Drop 8mm
- Weight: 223g for Men’s 9 Size, 201g for Women’s 8 Size
From the Shift era, Saucony has come a quite long way with their Speed models.
The most remarkable addition is the nylon plate in the sole. It feels snappy in a very nice fashion, hence enthusiastic trainers have grown more fond of it.
The nylon plate coupled with the PB foam for the sole ensures durability, which makes the shoes durable enough for long runs without causing your feet any discomfort.
The SPEEDROLL and PWRRUN feature propelling and springing to motivate you forwards, which turns the Speed shoes into great energy-returning shoes.
Endorphin Pro
- Height: Forefoot 25mm and Heel 33mm, Drop 8mm.
- Weight: 215g for Men’s 9 Size, 201g for Women’s 8 Size.
Technically, Saucony Endorphin Pro is the best Endorphin shoe when it comes to racing shoes. The biggest changes they have is the heel cup and the lacing system to prevent slipping.
Unlike Speed shoes, Endorphin Pro uses carbon plates. It works with the SPEEDROLL technology to make your steps smooth and easy.
However, it doesn’t help you correct or improve your gait.
If you are a casual runner, you wouldn’t benefit much from Endorphin Pro. However, it will be an entirely different story when you are racing.
As the numbers indicate, the weight for Shift, Speed, and Pro slowly decreases as you browse them in order. The Pro line is the most lightweight and the Shift line is the heaviest if compared with the same size.
The lower drop of the Shift, however, is the feature that might attract more customers, for it doesn’t take too much time to get used to the difference between the front and the heel of your feet.
However, these numbers are not all the differences between Saucony Endorphin Speed vs Pro vs Shift. Let’s dig deeper into the matter!
Saucony Endorphin Shift vs Speed vs Pro Comparison
As they come from the same brand, we can expect a lot of similarities in their appearance. But they have a lot of distinctive in the design and the structure, and it eventually affects the price.
So, what is the difference between Saucony Endorphin Pro and Speed, and Shift?
Upper
The upper Endorphin Shift is worthy of praise for how porous and breathable it is. In contradiction with the seethrough toe box, the padded tongue gives us a sense of secureness. This whole structure embraces the shape of your foot without fail.
The breathability is taken to a new level with Speed. Its upper is engineered and mono-mesh, but equipped with overlays to improve the endurance. The fit comes from the half-gusseted and the laces that stretch enough, not too loose or too restricting.
For Pro, the upper is immensely simplified and thinned, yet the manufacturer made up for it with an innovative lacing system. The elastic strings will lock your feet in position and prepare them for intensive training.
Outsole
Saucony Endorphin Shift has rubber outsoles, but the exposed midsoles made of foam are a weakness. It’s why Endorphin Shift has always been notorious for wearing out before it should.
Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro both have the XT-900 outsole. Speed has a small amount of rubber in the heel and midfoot, which is sufficient for grip. But as the outsole wears out, you will find the stability fading away.
Saucony Endorphin Pro has a more calculated distribution for the reinforced outsole. It has abrasion zones for traction, so you can comfortably wear it even in rainy weather and wet conditions.
Midsole
Out of the three, the Shift has the thickest midsole, which contributes to the unfavorable weight. Nonetheless, the cushioning is so high-quality and ample that the slight heaviness might be worth it.
Endorphin Shift uses SPEEDROLL technology to propel the runner forward and PWRRUN midsole. The energy return is not exceptional, yet the shape of it still feels very modern.
In the Speed line, you also have the PWRRUN midsole, though the foam is distributed more thoroughly for more spring as well as absorption of impact. With a nylon plate in it, your steps will also receive a nice bounce.
It’s the same situation for the Pro line as it uses the PWRRUN midsole with numerous PEBA granules around a carbon plate for quick propulsion. Therefore, the movement transition is incredible, even though the carbon plate feels very stiff for beginners.
Sizing
All of these Saucony shoes are true to size, but the design makes the minor differences in the fit:
- The forefoot and midfoot of the Shift are very roomy, it might be beneficial for people with wide feet.
- Speed shoes have spacious forefoot, yet the heel fits a bit too tightly.
- The Endorphin Pro provides so much room for the toe box and the midfoot as well.
Performance
Saucony wanted their Shift shoes to be the best everyday shoes for you when you go on a daily practice or a recovery run. The foam cleverly incorporated into this footwear will help you save energy, hence your legs won’t undergo too much exertion.
However, if you are keen on improving your pace or prone to injuries, the Speed products are much more suitable due to the extra protection. It takes some time to get familiarized, yet you will enjoy the way it directs your steps forwards.
Compared to the other two, the Pro line is designed for heavy duties such as racing and working out. It’s also the reason why these shoes feel very firm at first, especially for beginners who have never tried them on before.
Check more: How To Remove Shoe Security Tag At Home?
Price
The Shift product line is the most inexpensive of the three, and the price is nearly half of the others. With the value it provides at that cost, it’s easy to tell it attracts a lot of customers.
The Speed is about $40 cheaper than the Pro, and it’s mostly for the carbon plate. Aside from it, these two lines are not too far off from each other in terms of quality.
Pros & Cons Of Endorphin Shift
Let’s do a head count of the benefits Endorphin Shift can give you:
- It hugs your feet in a 3D comfort and fit.
- Your next steps will always have momentum, so you can move forwards without any struggle.
- The PWRRUN footbed ensures ample cushioning and the bounce you need.
- Its upper is breathable with the mesh and the innovative lacing system.
However, the downsides of Endorphin Shift exist, and we shall not ignore them:
- They are quite heavy compared to what most people would expect from their speed shoes.
- Although the outsoles seem tough, they wear out more quickly than expected.
Pros & Cons Of Endorphin Speed
In short, here is the value Endorphin Speed can offer you:
- SPEEDROLL and PWRRUN technologies to propel your movements and partially save your energy.
- The upper is mono-mesh so it’s extremely breathable and lightweight.
- Highly anti-abrasion and responsive to external impacts, which makes it great for long runs.
Though it comes with a few flaws that shouldn’t be ignored:
- The outsoles don’t have sufficient grip on slippery surfaces.
- New or slow runners need some time to get used to it.
- It isn’t exactly what you call stylish.
Pros & Cons Of Endorphin Pro
As a racing shoe, Endorphin Pro has all the necessary features to stand out:
- The upper is a bit more spacious with a solid lockdown on the heel, granting you the freedom of movement and a secure fit at the same time.
- SPEEDROLL and PWRRUN technologies give your feet a springy feeling and motivate you forth.
- The anti-slip lace combined with the mesh upper is both tight and breathable.
Despite the good things, we should be aware of the problems too:
- The midfoot lockdown is not the best, hence you might feel the shoes a bit loose.
- If you are not a fast runner or a racer, you won’t like the firmness of this footbed.
Saucony Endorphin Speed vs Shift vs Pro: Final Verdict
Among Saucony Endorphin Shift vs Speed vs Pro shoes, it might be difficult to quickly decide on which to get because they all have so much to offer.
It all boils down to your need.
Endorphin Shift is not sleek and professionalized, but it is very affordable and suitable for daily use.
If you want to exercise and do speedy runs, Endorphin Speed is the optimal choice.
Meanwhile, Endorphin Pro lives up to the name and serves the runners who might go a bit harsh on their shoes.