Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 after 100 miles

After 161.5km (100.3mi) in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 I’m back with some further impressions of this outstanding performance trainer.

0:00 Intro
2:42 Upper durability and issues
4:40 Outsole wear
5:12 Saucony fit & finish
6:53 A great all-rounder
8:18 Midsole magic
10:16 Flexible plate feel
11:42 Main shoe competition
13:07 Saucony in 2025
13:40 Outro

Disclosures: No one is paying me to make this video and no one has any editorial control over the contents of this video. Additionally, I have no connection into Saucony's design or marketing process. Everything I cover in this video is my own opinion and experience.

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Intro & outro music from Epidemic Sound:
Awoken - Purple Dive

🤙🏻

[bbbluem]

It’s the shoe i used on my very first half marathon and will have a special place in my heart probably forever.

[nntdngyn]

The ride improved for me after 100km - I've put almost 200km on my pair. Performed well at sub-4min/km paces for 400 repeats and even holding 4min/km paces for 1-2km intervals. It's definitely a shoe that rewards you for increasing your cadence rather than bounding style of running. I think you'd have a more enjoyable experience if you were more open minded to other brands. Nike has its merits but a lot of other brands are closing the gap or have surpassed Nike in certain categories. As consumers we have the luxury of trying so many brands so why limit ourselves. It's interesting out of all the YT channels you're the only one that thinks the Peg Plus is faster than the plated trainer. I also have the Peg Plus and think it's definitely an upgrade on the regular Peg but doesn't really have that speed for workouts - less speed than the ES4. The ZoomX in the Peg Plus is definitely not the same composition in the VF3 or AF3.

[marmot]

“Besides the fit, finish, and upper, I really like this shoe” made me giggle

[OdanUrr]

Good to hear you'll be covering a bit more Saucony, if only to see how they compare against Nike and Adidas. I'm curious to see what you make of trainers like the Ride and Triumph, though the latter has seemingly morphed into more of a slow, max-cushioned, daily trainer with the 22.

[Skjoldborg]

Very interesting to see your take on the ES4, that I see so much hype about, but also hear very few reviewers talk overly positive about. So Its great to hear your honest opinions on what are the downsides of the ES4. From my point of view, I've now logged 50k in my Peg Plus, and I'm absolutely over the moon about how good they are. I was so much in doubt about buying them, because a lot of people say they are too thin and soft. But after hearing your review on the shoe, I went for it. And now it's my absolute favourite shoe! Even thinking of buying another pair, and I've never done that with other shoes. Just recived a pair of AF3's, so lets see they will make me even more excited.
Again, thanks again for great content! 🙏

[MyFatAdaptedLife]

I'm not much of a coffee drinker. If someone asks me if I detect notes of Gummi bears and pomegranate, I would say that I detect notes of coffee. My point is that I'm not refined enough to detect whether the shoe's upper is better or worse than that of another shoe. I'm a midsole person. Despite your initial impression of the Endo S4 upper, I picked up a pair to replace my Endo S3. I don't have enough miles on it to comment about the upper. But my first few miles were fine. I'm relieved that you're warning up to the S4.

[matthewcreelman]

. . .now I'm sniffing my Saucony shoes and comparing them to my Pumas and Hokas.

For me, the Hoka Mach 6 has been the "do it all" competition for the Endorphin 4.

[icejam-xqhj]

I agree with you that the shoe is extremely versatile. Pity about the poor quality of the upper although the midsole makes up for it and leaves the legs feeling good after workouts. Going to be interesting to see how the Adidas EVO SL compares.

[CorGP]

I love the 3, haven’t gotten to the 4 yet.

[iTZzGer]

I've got a bit over 200 miles in mine and to be honest it's a very mehh shoe and I would not recommend it at full price. I use it mostly for Tempo and speed, as I don't really like it on slower paces because the geometry really benefits from faster speeds and my hell rubs a bit(only shoe this has ever happened, not an issue with any of the previous 3). However, I find that the Boston 12 performs just as well and it's way cheaper with better grip. The midsole it better in the Saucony though, and it definitely got better over time. I estimate that it will be great for a good 400 +miles, but so does the Boston 12 which is cheaper. Also hard agree on the smell, I thought I was crazy but you are 100% on point.

[franciscoguerrero]

I haven’t noticed that smell at all…I do believe that this shoe is best for light narrowed foot runners. I find it great for T-Pace and faster runs. Anything bellow T-Pace feels clunky or boring. E-Runs are better ran on normal daily trainers with cushy/bouncy foams. I’m very happy with my pair 👌🏽👍🏼

[smagic]

BTW, Endorphin Speed 5 will get the race upper, similar to EP4.

[alansutherland]

Oddly, my upper opinions are almost completely different from yours. The speed 4 is one of the best fits I’ve ever found, but probably because my feet are super narrow. I think generally, a lot(but not all) of saucony shoes tend to be quite narrow

[Scott]

250 miles on mine and about to retire. Been pretty great

[smagic]

TRE24 is next month (the year was never shorter), and we'll get to learn whether there will be ES5/EP5 as '25 release models, but also, if the rumors on Endorphin Trainer (yes, that's how it's gonna be called) are true. Asics and Mizuno are also the one to watch.

[dorins]

I owned the speed 2. Probably - for me - the best shoe that I have ever own. I used it for racing and speed training for around 1-2 years. Very fast, very nimble. I did mostly 10k and a couple of semi. That plate worked really well for me because I did not have the technique (and I still do not :)) ) to properly use a plated shoe. Worked very well at 4:30-5:20 min / km. Anything slower and it became painfull to run in. As of the 4, I tried it on in a shoe store in Portugal. Unfortunately those "geniuses" from Saucony do not have a local store in Romania where I can try it. For me, the Nike Plus shoe will not replace (ever) the Speed as I can use that nylon plate.
As usual, I want Saucony (and Puma) in Romania. I have plenty of Nike and Hoka and Asics :).

[dkmchui]

I had mixed experiences with Saucony. I have pro 3, Triumph 20 and tempus that I really enjoy but speed 3 gave me a bruised big toe.

[Francisco_Moreno]

The same thing has happened to me with the hoka skyward X inside it has a red side support and this color has dyed the entire white side outside of the shoe leaving a horrible mark and the price is higher than the speed 4, from hoka I did not expect to find that detail I know it is aesthetic and does not affect the use of the shoe but for what you pay you deserve a better quality in the materials

[tav]

excellent shoe the loyal saucony folks.

[timtrenholm]

Curious if the fact you wash your shoes so much might be contributing to the dye bleed? I haven't experienced this...but my shoes only get washed in the rain! LMAO
I loved my Endo Speed V1, V3 gave me heel lift issues but I still liked the shoe...but I had to limited when/where/how I used it. I was gifted a pair of Endo Pro V3 to the person I gifted my Boston 12's to, and I don't have the heel lift issues in the pro...and my theory is it's due to the lack of a rigid heel counter so lace lockdown better allows the heel cup to conform to my foot.
I've since moved into the ASICS space (NB3/SB2), since their heel design works perfectly for me, and as good as Nike racer heels. And while I won't say I will never try a Saucony again, I don't feel the need since the shoe market in general is so balanced across the different companies now. It's a wonderful time to be a runner!