The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is a high-performance running shoe engineered for race day that also works well for faster workouts. Equipped with a dual-layer midsole and a full-length carbon fiber plate, it promises a lively, smooth ride that feels efficient and quick on the road. The spacious and breathable upper adds comfort for longer runs, while the well-covered outsole feels durable.
Our Verdict
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is a great choice for marathons, offering a balanced combination of low weight, great energy return, and decent cushioning. It also has good lateral stability, which is rare for a super shoe, making it a good option for longer distances when form starts to break down. However, the foam's firmness can make it feel a bit harsh on the feet after a while.
Good racing option for heel strikers.
Balanced bounciness.
Not the most protective for longer distances.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is great for shorter-distance racing. Its impressive forefoot firmness and lighter weight provide a responsive and efficient running experience. The great energy return is also a significant contributor, making it a preferred choice for these distances where speed is king.
Firm forefoot foam.
Good racing option for heel strikers.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 offers impressive energy return, with the forefoot and heel contributing equally to this bounciness. The dual-layer PEBA-based foam enhances the overall running experience by providing a responsive feel during foot strikes. It can handle both faster training sessions and races.
Balanced bounciness.
Dual-layer PEBA foam.
The cushioning is well distributed between the heel and forefoot of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, providing a satisfactory level of protection underfoot overall. This ensures a comfortable ride without compromising too much on responsiveness and weight.
Not the most protective for longer distances.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 provides good lateral stability, particularly due to its wide base and very firm forefoot foam. This is beneficial for maintaining balance and efficiency, especially during longer runs. However, the high stack height makes you feel quite high off the ground, which can affect stability. That said, it has good stability for a super shoe, without significantly compromising other aspects.
Firm forefoot foam.
Wide and quite firm base.
High stack.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Nov 20, 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.
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Updated Oct 20, 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.
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Updated Aug 11, 2025:
We updated the Compared To Other Running Shoes box with the inclusion of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label. The color shown here is Navy/Citron. This model is also available in other colorways, including White/Silver, Black/Electric Aqua, and White/Black.
Wide versions aren't available for this model.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is a well-balanced super shoe that blends speed, cushioning, and stability more seamlessly than many of its competitors. While it's great as a racing shoe, it leans toward the firmer side and isn't the most cushioned option, making it particularly well-suited for shorter distances like 5Ks and 10Ks. That said, it's still a capable marathon option, though not as specialized for long distances as some other super shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3 and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4.
This feature combination positions it among shoes in the unofficial 'hyper trainer' category—primarily built for racing but versatile enough to handle track intervals and even uptempo workouts without feeling overly aggressive. If you're searching for another super shoe with good stability but with a softer feel, take a look at the Diadora Gara Carbon 2.
Within Saucony's lineup, the Endorphin Pro 4 sits above the Saucony Triumph 22, a max-cushioned daily trainer, and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, a super trainer with a PEBA midsole and nylon plate designed for a mix of training and faster efforts. However, it sits below the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, Saucony's top-tier, most aggressive racing shoe, which is built purely for absolute performance.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes to find the perfect pair.
The Nike Vaporfly 4 and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are both carbon-plated super shoes built for race day, but they offer different strengths. The Vaporfly 4 is significantly lighter and geared toward runners prioritizing absolute performance and efficiency, especially over half-marathon distances. The Endorphin Pro 4, while heavier, provides more stability, and it has a firmer forefoot that delivers a snappier toe-off.
The Nike Alphafly 3 and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are both high-performance racing shoes, but they cater to different types of runners and preferences. The Saucony is stiffer in the forefoot, providing a more structured toe-off. It also offers slightly better lateral stability than the Nike, benefiting runners who need extra support during turns. Additionally, its geometry is particularly well-suited for heel strikers. On the other hand, the Nike shoe is lighter while still delivering better cushioning, maximizing efficiency over long distances. While the Saucony is an excellent option for both racing and versatile enough for workouts, the Nike remains hard to beat for those prioritizing raw speed and performance.
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 may share a family, but they serve different purposes within the Endorphin lineup. The Pro 4 is a race-day super shoe built for peak performance with a carbon plate, a higher stack height, and a more propulsive, energetic ride. It's noticeably lighter, more aggressive, and features a snug, performance-oriented fit that's optimized for race conditions. The Speed 5, by contrast, is a plated super trainer. It's slightly lower to the ground and uses a nylon plate instead of carbon, offering more flexibility. The fit is also roomier, making it more comfortable and accommodating for runners who don't want an ultra-tight upper. If you're chasing a personal best and want maximum efficiency on race day, the Endorphin Pro 4 is the clear choice. But for runners who prefer something more approachable that can double for uptempo workouts and racing, the Speed 5 remains a solid alternative with a gentler feel and broader fit.
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 buy and test 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
This shoe is lightweight, making it quite efficient and suitable for various racing distances. However, some other super shoes, such as the Nike Vaporfly 4, are way lighter.
This shoe delivers impressive energy return in the heel, providing a responsive feel that enhances the overall running experience. Its design makes it one of the few super shoes that naturally accommodates heel striking.
The forefoot energy return is also great. The foam decompresses rapidly after each foot strike, providing a springy and efficient running experience.
The heel cushioning provides a decent level of protection underfoot, but it's not the most cushioned option available. As the miles add up, you may start to feel the impact from the ground more.
The forefoot cushioning is satisfactory, ensuring a balanced level of comfort for the runner. However, some other super shoes, such as the On Cloudboom Strike, offer significantly more cushioning in the forefoot.
The heel feels firm enough to provide adequate stability and support during runs. However, when higher forces are applied, such as when picking up the pace, the heel starts to feel softer compared to other shoes like the Nike Vaporfly 3.
