Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 Multi Tester Review: 5 Comparisons

Article by Peter Stuart and Sally Reiley 

Saucony Endorphin Pace 5 ($170)

Introduction:

Peter: The Saucony Endorphin Pace 5 is, as you might need guessed, the fifth iteration of the Endorphin Pace. The unique Endorphin Pace got here out in 2020. It was about 0. 6 oz lighter and 10 bucks cheaper. 

The drop stays constant at 8mm and the stack peak has elevated very barely from 35.5/27.5 to 36/28

The Pace 5 remains to be rocking PowerRun PB as the froth and nonetheless sports activities a winged nylon plate. The higher is a model new engineered mesh and there may be extra rubber on the heel of the shoe together with another modifications on the outsole together with a longitudinal groove that’s meant to reinforce flexibility. 

General the Endorphin Pace hasn’t modified that a lot over time, however with this model the higher turns into extra breathable and the experience appears to remain fairly in keeping with earlier variations. 

Execs:

Very fast turnover–Peter/Sally

Breathable, snug higher–Peter/Sally

Streamlined design–Peter

Environment friendly–Peter

Trip harkens again to my most popular V2 and V3 of this shoe – Sally

Clear, sharp trying, enticing bundle – Sally

Cons:

On the agency aspect–Peter

Doesn’t bounce or return as a lot power as I’d like–Peter

Stats

Spec Weight: males’s 8.4 oz / 238g US9

  Pattern Weights: 

     males’s’ 9.33 oz / 265g  US11

     ladies’s 7.27 oz / 206 g US W8  (very same weight as my Endo Pace 4, 206 g) 

Stack Top: males’s 36mm heel /  28mm forefoot  (mm  drop)  36/28

Platform Width: 85 mm heel / 55 mm midfoot / 107 mm forefoot (US W8)

First Impressions, Match and Higher

Peter: The Saucony Endorphin Pace 5 is an effective trying shoe with a bit of little bit of a design throwback to outdated school neon sneakers. The higher is gentle and feels nice on step-in. Fairly clear from the outset that Saucony hasn’t made any enormous modifications to the Pace line. 

The tongue is gusseted and has simply the correct amount of padding. The heel collar is decently padded and holds the foot effectively. 

The very again of the shoe is greater however I haven’t skilled any chafing or irritation on the again of the heel/achilles. Lacing is straightforward and the higher is easy and breathable. Match is true-to-size. 

Sally: Of the quite a few trainers I’m lucky to have the ability to select from, the Saucony Endorphin Pace has lengthy been one in all my all-time favorites. Since my first pair within the mutant neon colorway in 2020 and thru every of the updates within the ensuing years, the Pace has been reliably gentle, versatile, fast, energetic, and comfy, nice for reasonable lengthy runs or exercises or uptempo coaching and even racing.

That first model was thought of by many to be the OG supertrainer, a efficiency shoe with a nylon plate supposed to be the coaching companion for the carbon plated Endorphin Professional, and it discovered its area of interest instantly.  Model 2 (keep in mind the black checkered race flag higher?) was my favourite of all with what was for me probably the most rewarding (fast!) really feel and experience, and 2023’s V4 was my least favourite with a firmer experience and sloppier higher maintain. 

After all I used to be anxious to see what path Saucony would go along with this subsequent replace, hoping that they might merely refine it and never overhaul it. The Pace is a fan favourite of so many runners, so if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. The excellent news is that Saucony appears to have heard us! The Pace 5 as soon as once more combines light-weight PWRRUN PB foam and SPEEDROLL geometry and a nylon plate. 

However now we’ve got a brand new engineered hexagon mesh higher for higher match and breathability, extra outsole protection for improved grip and sturdiness, and a modified 3D heel counter that could be a bit greater and positively safer. 

The drop stays 36mm/28mm. 

Saucony tends to run delightfully true to measurement for me, and the 5 isn’t any exception. 

The match is now a bit decrease in quantity with a safer race day really feel, a plus for me (with a barely slim girl’s foot) over the earlier mannequin the place I had points with the material of the tongue folding and bunching beneath the laces. 

Prime: Endorphin Pace 4 Backside: Endorphin Pace 5

There’s extra room up entrance now resulting from a bit much less toe field construction, so no have to measurement up for size. 

The tongue is improved with much less width to the material (no bunching like V4) and now an added lace loop within the middle. 

Prime: Endorphin Pace 4 Backside: Endorphin Pace 5

The heel collar is padded adequately however not overly so, and extends a bit greater up the achilles now, although this didn’t trigger any points with consolation. 

Even after a ten mile run I had no sizzling spots or areas of concern, and the whole lot feels nice on my foot. Heel maintain and general foot maintain, even when cornering is great. The laces are refreshingly good in size and maintain securely. 

Midsole & Platform

Peter: The midsole foam is  PWRRN PB that has been in all variations of the Endorphin Pace. There’s a winged nylon plate and “SPeedroll” know-how. The platform is inherently secure and rolls effectively off of the toe. For me, the PWRRUN PB has at all times been only a hair on the agency aspect. I usually desire a barely extra cushioned feeling shoe. That stated the midsole materials, and its relative firmness work rather well at faster paces. The plate provides a torsional rigidity which provides to the general stability of the shoe. 

The upside of the firmness right here is that the Endorphin Pace 5 turns over in a short time and is extremely environment friendly. I don’t really feel like I’ve to push the shoe to go faster in any respect.. It desires to maneuver. Even the straightforward runs I took within the Endo Pace 5 turned out to be quicker than they felt. 

Sally: PWRRUN PB foam continues to energy the midsole of the Pace 5, although it has been sculpted a bit extra for weight discount and efficiency. The midfoot is narrower within the Pace 5 and the heel doesn’t flare out as a lot because it did on the backside of V4. 

Prime: Endorphin Pace 4 Backside: Endorphin Pace 5

The total size nylon plate has been tweaked in order that the wings lengthen extra on the medial aspect and never on the lateral aspect, giving extra stability and help beneath the medial aspect. Saucony continues to make use of the SPEEDROLL geometry that rolls your foot ahead from touchdown to toe-off. The general impact of the PWRRUN is firmer than lots of the present trainers with their very gentle and bouncy midsoles, however this firmness contributes to the short and snappy turnover of the shoe. 

Outsole

Peter: The Pace 5 provides a longitudinal groove to the forefoot along with the groove that was already current in earlier variations. There’s barely extra rubber on the again of the shoe as effectively. General traction is great and I’m not seeing any considerable put on after about 40 miles. 

Sally: Saucony added extra rubber to the outsole in strategic locations, bettering the traction and the sturdiness of the Pace 5. 

Prime: Endorphin Pace 4 Backside: Endorphin Pace 5

The addition of the complete size longitudinal groove will increase the pliability of the shoe by enabling the shoe to raised adapt to the bottom beneath your ft. I discovered this helps make the experience really feel smoother. One other bonus of this outsole? It’s delightfully quiet underfoot.

Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions

Sally: The numerous followers of the Endorphin Pace line might be thrilled to find that model 5 stays true to its DNA as a quick, snappy, easy, versatile do-it-all-trainer. 

This OG of tremendous trainers excels at reasonable paced lengthy runs, fast up-tempo exercises, intervals, race day, and the whole lot in between. I benefit from the easy and managed but fast turnover of this shoe. The revised higher suits me higher than the earlier V4 and holds my foot very comfortably and securely with no sizzling spots in any respect.

As with all of the Endorphin Speeds with their responsive PWRRUN PB foam and nylon plate, it  can be utilized as a gateway to carbon plated racers as an efficient however reasonably priced race day shoe. As I rebuild my working routine after a short restoration publish the Boston Marathon, I’m pleasantly stunned to see the paces on my watch exceed the perceived effort on my runs. The Pace 5’s wish to turnover rapidly and choose up the tempo! Although firmer and never as bouncy and gentle as many different sneakers lately, there may be extra floor really feel and the firmness helps result in a easy energetic toe off. All the time a high shoe of the 12 months for me, the Pace 5 is presumably my favourite Endorphin Pace of the 5! 

Sally’s rating: 9.8 / 10.0 

Trip (50%): 9.7       Match (30%):  10.0     Worth (15%):  9.8       Type (5%): 10.0

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Peter: The Endorphin Pace sequence has at all times had a fast turnover,and an environment friendly, snappy and comparatively agency experience. The Pace 5, which is my favourite Pace but, delivers the whole lot you’d count on from a Saucony Endorphin Pace and tops it off with probably the most breathable, finest becoming and least restrictive higher but. Most uppers do their job, however there’s one thing in regards to the easy, sleek utility of the Pace 5 higher that simply works. Laces, tongue and extremely breathable mesh all work collectively to create a midfoot maintain, pure feeling match and no sizzling spots in any respect. I simply got here again from a highly regarded run by which I switched sneakers out each mile and the Endo Pace 5 was probably the most breathable and comfy of the bunch. Additionally probably the most environment friendly of the bunch. 

The Endorphin Pace 5 works rather well at tempo and race tempo and is ok and dandy at slower paces too. It excels while you go quicker although. I desire a barely softer touchdown lately for my every day coach, however the Endorphin Pace 5 is a good exercise, fartlek or race shoe. I discovered that I used to be quicker within the Endo Pace 5 than in different related sneakers–with the identical perceived effort. They don’t have that chortle out loud enjoyable vibe that a few of my different race or tempo sneakers have, however they’re a wonderful tempo shoe and effectively value testing!

Peter’s Rating 9.7 / 10

Trip (50%): 9.6  Match (30%): 10.0  Worth (15%):  9.6    Type (5%): 10.0

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5 Comparisons

Endorphin Pace 4 (RTR Overview)

Peter: The Pace 4 and Pace 5 are very, very related. I put one on every foot for a mile as we speak and couldn’t keep in mind (with out trying down) which shoe was on which foot). It was a heat day, so the 5 gained out by having the extra breathable higher. The higher on the 5 is extra snug general and the rides are very related. Saucony did a superb job of conserving the entire glorious issues in regards to the Pace 4 and making a couple of tweaks with out dropping sight of the strengths of the road. 

Sally: I agree with Peter right here. As identified within the assessment, runners can breathe a sigh of aid that the Pace 5 just isn’t that a lot completely different than the Pace 4, solely higher. The higher is now extra breathable and suits a bit extra securely with a extra structured heel and snugger midfoot. The experience stays pleasantly easy and energetic and fast. I’m assured that the Pace 5 stay the versatile fan favourite for a lot of.

New Steadiness Gasoline Cell Insurgent v4 (RTR Overview)

Peter: The Insurgent has a barely softer touchdown with a bit of extra bounce. I believe I’d most likely race within the Pace 5 however run lengthy within the Insurgent. The Pace 5 has a bit of extra room within the higher than the Insurgent. This can be a desire factor. The Insurgent is, for positive, one in all my favourite trainers ever made. The  Pace 5 will get shut, however for a day in, time out coach I’d nonetheless go Insurgent. 

Sally: These two sneakers are presumably my two favourite every day trainers. The Insurgent 4 is a bit softer and bouncier, so I consider the Pace 5 because the firmer and barely quicker selection. The Insurgent has no plate, the Pace 5 has a nylon plate, however each encourage a fast turnover. Each are winners. The Insurgent is extra reasonably priced at solely $140, the Pace is $170, however once more, each are versatile do-it-all sneakers that I might select any day.

Mizuno Neo Vista (RTR Overview)

Peter: The Neo Vista has the tremendous bouncy, chortle out loud enjoyable experience that the Pace 5 is lacking. That stated, it’s not as environment friendly and I discover the higher to be a bit saggy. For tempo work and race day I’d go along with the Pace 5. For a enjoyable every day coach the Neo Vista is fairly badass. 

Nike Zoom Fly 6 (RTR Overview)

Peter: The Zoom Fly can also be agency, however feels a bit of extra constructed up and stiff than the Pace 5. General I’d select the Pace 5–particularly for exercises. 

Sally: The Zoom Fly 6 is a enjoyable and quick coach that works particularly effectively for runners coaching to race within the Alphafly or Vaporfly. The Zoom Fly is considerably firmer and stiffer than the Pace 5 and loves the quicker uptempo runs, however I believe I might choose the Pace 5 for its consolation and flexibility and quickness. 

Endorphin Pace (1)

Peter: I took these out again to again with the Endorphin Pace 5. It’s enjoyable to see how far this shoe has come with out enormous main overhauls. The OG Pace is a bit harsher on the forefoot, the higher just isn’t as snug and it feels tighter across the forefoot than the present model. Whereas it’s a reasonably small change from the Pace 4 to the Pace 5–placing the unique speeds on confirmed me simply how far the Pace sequence has come!

Index to all RTR critiques: HERE

The Endorphin Pace 5 is anticipated to launch June 2025

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Tester Profiles

Peter lives in California and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner in addition to a 1:21 half marathoner in recent times.

Sally is a lifelong runner and mom of 5 who agreed in opposition to her higher judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the previous eleven Boston Marathons, three NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights (Berlin in 2025). With a Boston PR of three:25:55 in 2022 (ninth place in AG) and three consecutive 2nd place in Age Group awards in NYC, she has competed in a number of Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships and positioned sixth on this planet in W 60-64 when she ran an all-time PR of three:24:02 at age 63 on the 2022 London Marathon.  She additionally competes in USATF races of all distances with the Better Lowell Highway Runners staff. So as to add which means to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Workforce Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally stands tall at 5’2’’ and 105 kilos, and lives in Marblehead, MA the place she trains outdoor 12 months spherical. She blames her love of snowboarding out West for any and all Boston Marathon coaching challenges.