Saucony Endorphin Pro 5: a fast and forgiving race shoe

Even now, years into the supershoe era, it usually still takes me a while to get used to the feel of a new pair of carbon-plated running shoes. That familiar propulsive edge puts me slightly off balance – forward motion is fine and fast, but until I’ve spent a bit of time in most supershoes, I feel like I’ve got to find their range in terms of stability.

Well that didn’t happen this time. My first run in Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 5 felt just like the most recent one – comfortable and stable… and also fast. I’m a heel striker, and I pronate slightly – this is a supershoe that forgives these quirks and puts my energy into moving forward fast, instead of pushing back on me.

The Endorphin Pro 5 is a race-day shoe designed for speed and responsiveness. It has an upgraded carbon plate with Saucony’s SPEEDROLL technology, which rocks the runner forward, and the company’s PWRRUN foam for cushioning and spring. At 206g it’s not as aggressively lightweight as some of its rivals, but it still felt like it was well towards the fast end of my trainer collection.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 comfort

Immediately comfortable biomechanically, the Endorphin Pro 5 is also comfortable to wear. The new tongue is a great feature – it’s stretchy and feels integrated with the body of the shoe, making for a snug fit. The box accommodated my slightly wide feet well, with no rubbing or pressure. However, the heel box felt a little rigid – not enough to chafe, but most noticeable after a race or run. 

Aesthetically, I liked them – happily my club kit is also black and fluoro yellow (‘citron’ according to Saucony) – and the mix of the two colours was well balanced: enough black for my introverted side, enough fluoro for my extroverted side. For different character types, running kits and tastes, the Endorphin Pro 5 also comes in birch/black, black/silver, white/black, white/crimson and, for the outgoing runner, pink shock.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 verdict

But the value of these shoes is in the way their comfort and stability, and their speed, work together. I raced twice in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5, over a fast flat 4km in a relay event, and a hilly, hot 10km, and both times I performed at the top end of what I thought was possible. They’re very fast over shorter distances, but their stability would equally make them a great marathon shoe. I’ve finished testing them, but I’m still going to be using these in races.