SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Endorphin Speed and Shift

Today the Saucony Endorphin line gets completed with the launch of the Speed and the Shift. The newly released shoes are the complements to Saucony’s first carbon-plated marathon racing shoe, the Pro, which launched earlier this year. The Speed is basically similar to the Pro at a slightly lower price point, and the Shift is your ideal easy-day trainer. Together, the trio is everything you need to prepare for a stellar road race. 

The Speed

Category: Neutral cushion
Drop: 8 mm
Weight: 221 g (7.8 oz.) for men’s size 9
Surfaces tested: Road
Available: July 1, 2020
MSRP: $200.00

RELATED: SHOE REVIEW: Saucony Endorphin Pro

This shoe has almost everything the Pro has, minus the carbon plate. Instead, it has a full-length, S-shaped nylon plate to lend stiffness, meaning runners get slightly less rigidity at toe-off, and at a lower price. The Speed also uses the same foam as the Pro – ultralight PWRRUN cushioning that’s 40 per cent lighter than Saucony’s PWRRUN+ (which is used in the Triumph). 

This shoe also moves similarly to the Pro, since it uses the same SpeedRoll Geometry, which delivers the rock forward and the pop at toe-off. The Speed can be used for a few things: a tempo run, or speedwork on the track, or you can save it to use as a race-day shoe. While the Speed is a touch heavier than the Pro, outside of weight, it’s nearly identical in its specs and ride.

I loved this shoe for tempos on the road. It gave me the boost I was looking for in a workout shoe (especially on a day when I was feeling a little tired) without sacrificing on cushioning or durability. If you’re looking to save a few dollars on your racing shoe, it’s a wonderful option for the start line. Otherwise, save your Endorphin Pro for race day and use the Speed as your training shoe in the weeks leading up. 

The Shift

Category: Neutral cushion
Drop: 4 mm
Weight: 286 g (10.1 oz.) for men’s size nine
Surfaces tested: Road, trail
Available: July 1, 2020
MSRP: $180.00

The Shift is a dream shoe for an easy day. When you’re training for a marathon, your long and easy days are just as important as your hard days. Time on your feet is essential for race-day success. This is where the Shift comes in – it’s your recovery day or long (but still pretty chill) day shoe. It has a thick midsole, complete with PWRRUN cushioning to keep you protected, a lower offset (4 mm) to enhance stability and a thin layer of PWRRUN+ to keep you feeling fast. The Shift is the perfect complement to your Speed or Pro, or any other racing flat you’ve got on your roster.

I loved the Shift on easy days when I usually run on a mix of road, dirt and gravel. The shoe handled all surfaces extremely well and filled the place of the everyday training shoe perfectly. The upper is thicker and more cushioned than either of the other shoes in the Endorphin line, which was great for comfort and helped reduce chafing. For a trainer, the Shift runs on the light side. At only 286 grams for a men’s size nine, it’s comparable to the Nike Pegasus 37. 

The only runner I wouldn’t recommend this shoe for is someone with a history of Achilles tendon issues. While the relatively low drop shouldn’t pose an issue for the majority of runners, if you’ve got an Achilles problem that you just can’t kick, look for a shoe with a slightly higher drop (8 mm or above). 

Both the Speed and the Shift launch July 1 and will be available at some Canadian run speciality stores and at Saucony.ca.