The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is the second iteration of Saucony's most aggressive carbon-plated racing shoe, positioned at the very top of their super shoe lineup. Designed specifically for long-distance road racing, it features a full-length carbon plate embedded in a thick layer of TPEE-based IncrediRun foam for maximum bounciness and softness. With a steep forefoot rocker and aggressive geometry, the Endorphin Elite 2 is purpose-built for efficiency over the marathon distance.
Our Verdict
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 performs amazingly for marathon racing. Its soft yet energetic TPEE-based foam offers excellent shock absorption and rebound, helping reduce muscle fatigue during longer efforts. Combined with a high stack height, lightweight build, and a propulsive carbon plate, it excels at maintaining cruising speed over the full distance. However, the lack of lateral stability may pose issues when form starts to break down late in the race, especially for heel strikers or those with less stable mechanics.
Midsole offers a very plush experience.
Lightweight.
Carbon plate
Not very stable.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is an excellent choice for shorter races, with its relatively lightweight construction and excellent energy return. The snappy forefoot also helps to maintain high turnover as the pace picks up.
Lightweight.
Carbon plate
Foam is super soft and wobbly.
The energy return of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is nothing short of excellent. The TPEE-based IncrediRun midsole compresses deeply and rebounds quickly, helping runners feel a continuous sense of forward motion, especially at marathon and threshold paces.
TPEE-foam decompresses well to give a propulsive feel.
This shoe delivers amazing cushioning, especially at the heel. The forefoot also offers ample protection, giving runners a plush ride that helps reduce impact forces. The midsole compresses generously, making it a solid option for runners who value comfort on race day.
Midsole offers a very plush experience.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is not the most stable shoe, especially at slower paces. Despite having a carbon plate, the soft and deeply compressive foam undermines stability. Its narrow arch, combined with a very high stack height, contributes to a wobbly ride that's typical of most super shoes. This may be a dealbreaker for those needing more stability.
Relatively wide base.
Not very stable.
Foam is super soft and wobbly.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Oct 28, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds a Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test to our performance section. Read more in our changelog.
-
Updated Oct 22, 2025:
We've adjusted this review's writing to align with the new test bench, including updates to all usage scores and test boxes for Cushioning, Firmness, and Energy Return. We've updated the side-by-side comparisons with other shoes accordingly.
- Updated Oct 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.2, which updates our methodology for the impact force range used in our compression tests to improve their accuracy. This also affects all usage and performance usage boxes using those compression tests as score components.
-
Updated Sep 03, 2025:
In the Popular Running Shoe Comparisons section, we've added a comparison to the recently reviewed Brooks Hyperion Elite 5.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label of our unit. The shoe pictured here is in the White | Peel colorway. This model is available in several other colors, including Fog | Cinder and Citron | Black. Wide versions are not available for this shoe. The design section refers specifically to the model we tested, but we expect other size and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is one of the softest and most deeply cushioned super shoes on the market. Despite the plush feel, its midsole remains impressively energetic and holds itself together well at marathon pace, making it a compelling option for long-distance racing where protection and comfort become crucial but efficiency is still paramount. However, that same softness can work against it in shorter events; it lacks the snappiness and precision found in options like the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 or Nike Vaporfly 4, which are more dialed-in for 5K to half-marathon efforts. The Elite 2's focus on softness and underfoot protection brings it closer in spirit to the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3, though without that shoe's aggressive and unique rocker geometry.
Within Saucony's premium Endorphin lineup, the Endorphin Elite 2 sits at the very top as their lightest, marathon-optimized racing shoe. Just below it is the more accessible Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, which is another carbon-plated super shoe but with a firmer, more versatile ride that performs well in shorter races and structured workouts. Further down in the lineup, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 serves as a plated super trainer ideal for intervals and faster training sessions, rounding out the lineup with a strong balance of performance and daily usability.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes to find the perfect pair.
The Nike Alphafly 3 and the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 are both marathon-optimized super shoes with similar weights, but they deliver very different ride experiences. The Alphafly 3 has a firmer forefoot thanks to its Zoom Air pods, creating a more mechanical, highly efficient feel that many runners find propulsive. The Elite 2, by contrast, is softer and more cushioned underfoot, offering excellent protection and bounciness over long distances, but its ultra-plush feel may come across as overly mushy for some. While neither shoe is particularly stable, the Alphafly 3 holds the edge in that regard, making it feel a bit more controlled at high speeds.
The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 and the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 are both high-end super shoes that strike an impressive balance between cushioning and energy return, and they weigh about the same. The adidas offers a slightly more cushioned underfoot feel that's great for protecting legs over long distances. The Saucony, while still well-cushioned, offers a firmer, more stable ride. Both are optimized for marathon efforts, but if you had to race a 5K in one of them, the firmer platform of the Saucony would better support quick turnover and a snappy toe-off.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 and the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 are both soft, lightweight super shoes designed for long-distance racing, but they prioritize different aspects of the ride. The Elite 2 delivers a bouncier, more energetic feel thanks to its responsive midsole, giving runners a lively toe-off and efficient return of force. While it starts off plush, the Saucony firms up under higher impact forces, making it more versatile across a range of paces and distances. The Cielo X1 2.0 leans even more into softness and compliance, with a rolling rocker and an aggressive feel that favors midfoot and forefoot strikers. It’s a bit less energetic but delivers an even more forgiving experience throughout.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are both carbon-plated super shoes, but they serve slightly different purposes. The Elite 2 is lighter, softer, and more deeply cushioned, offering a highly energetic ride that excels in the marathon, where protection and efficiency are key. However, its ultra-soft midsole can feel overly mushy for shorter events, lacking the snappiness some runners appreciate. The Endorphin Pro 4, while slightly heavier and firmer, is more stable and versatile—it performs well across a wider range of distances, including shorter races and even track workouts. For runners chasing maximum performance and comfort over long distances, the Elite 2 is the superior tool. But for most, the Pro 4 offers a more practical and well-rounded experience.
We've recently started buying and testing running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is lightweight, comparable with other top-tier marathon super shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3 and adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. While it doesn't push boundaries, it maintains an efficient race-day feel.
Like many performance-focused racing shoes, the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 offers a snug fit and a minimal upper. It's quite narrow overall, so we suggest considering this when picking your size.
The energy return from the heel is amazing, with the TPEE-based foam decompressing quickly enough to keep the ride feeling dynamic. While the shoe's geometry encourages midfoot and forefoot landings, the heel midsole offers aid in heel-to-toe transition, thanks to this rebound.
The forefoot energy return is equally excellent, giving the shoe a smooth, rolling ride when cruising at steady paces. It doesn't feel overly explosive or aggressive, offering a noticeable rebound across a wide range of efforts, particularly during tempo and marathon efforts.
The heel cushioning is impressive. The IncrediRun foam compresses easily and absorbs impact well, even at higher forces, helping reduce fatigue for heel strikers and runners who need a bit more rearfoot protection when their form starts to break down. This makes the shoe more forgiving for long-distance efforts.
The forefoot delivers great cushioning, offering a very protective and plush experience underfoot. It compresses deeply at all force levels, especially benefiting forefoot strikers and those aiming for smoother transitions at marathon paces.
The heel is very soft when you step in, but it does firm up considerably as force is applied. This overall softness helps with comfort but comes at the cost of stability, especially under fatigue. Runners who rely on rearfoot structure may find the ride less controlled during long efforts or on tired legs.
The forefoot foam is also very soft, but shows a similar tendency to firm up proportionally more than other shoes as force is applied. This gives it enough stability to facilitate snappy toe-offs at higher speeds.