Saucony Endorphin Elite - AVERAGE RUNNER Reviews!

[@FordyRuns]

Watch more of our award winning inspiring motivational content 👉 youtube.com/@FordyRuns

[@kellyhussey1832]

I bought the Endorphin Speed 3s on your rec for my first marathon last year and loooooove them so so much. Will try the pros!

[@thomasdamato9430]

We often talk about how many miles we can get out of an elite shoe but by design they are not for the purpose of training, racing only. So when you consider how many races at any distance up to the marathon you can get out of it it’s well worth it. As you point out and totally agree saucony makes training shoes at many prices for various runners, they cover a broad spectrum of people with any type of running issue. Some feel the need for the latest and greatest and there are those who are curious how it feels and how it can help. Well for whatever reason for me the bottom line is it’s fun as hell, love new stuff ( running shoes) but generally wait for price drop as many have mentioned they bought alphafly, vaporfly, etc at reduced prices, well in time this one will get there too, love you bro keep it going, same as you just average.

[@FordyRuns]

Thanks mate !! Really good point s

[@hiratiomasterson4009]

I am starting to think that the Endorphin Elite, Alphafly and Prime X Strung etc are really status symbols for the majority of runners. Whilst they are truly able to take some people's performance into a new level, they are optimised for the most capable of runners, and especially those with flawless footstrikes. But for slightly slower runners with pronation issues, these shoes may only help a little - maybe not at all - but with the risk of a pronation incident, due to their huge and soft stacks. But if money is not an issue, nothing screams "I'm serious!" like one of these supershoes...

[@davidh5429]

Yeah and it's a good thing. Alphafly "at least V1" is a full on race shoe. I spent over half a year to relearn running, changed my stride, foot placement and balance. Afterwards got back on Alphafly. Felt like a dream landing spot on those zoom bags and the height imbalance never was an issue again.

[@FordyRuns]

Interesting thanks!

[@cesardeceserodecesero3646]

Thats It status

[@jp05598]

I couldn’t disagree more. If you e ever run in AF, you know it’s genuinely helping you. Read some of the science behind them improving running economy. Did you just make up what you said? Lol

[@davidh5429]

@@jp05598 Alphafly enables me to add an extra running day each week I otherwise couldn't. It's a real leg saver.

[@jameschaves5723]

Chris this was outstanding!! Not all of us can afford a Ferrari or Patek but it’s nice to know their available. Personally I have a new pair of VF in the box that I got at Christmas for $125. In 6 months I’ll get these. Saucony is killing it since the Speed release. I’m using the Triumph 20 on your recommendation. It’s a great trainer. Absolutely love your honesty.

[@FordyRuns]

Thanks James much appreciated

[@pbnotj1]

As an average runner I don’t pick up super shoes unless on sale . For average runner we are out there for fun and fitness. I had never tried a true super shoe until this year when able to pick up adios pro 3 on deep discount. Very positive impressions they do help me go faster the foam is amazing ! It is a great shoe and the way the technology trickles down is nice. As we see the best foams show up later in more affordable models it is great to see, and with competition in market models are going on sale eventually now :-)

[@FordyRuns]

Yep only grab them when cheap defo the way to go

[@richardbrown1573]

Great review Fordy - well balanced as always!

[@FordyRuns]

Thank you kindly!

[@LR6092]

Told myself if I crack 1:25 in my next HM that I'll be buying the elites for the HM a month later. It's my way of feeling good about spending $350 CAN because then it's like a "reward" 😅

[@therunningdad01]

Set a PR in both the half and the full in the pro 3 most forgiving on the legs, while still giving you a lot of pop.

[@FordyRuns]

Great shoe

[@ianfraser747]

Great review and made my mind up regards next marathon racing shoe which will almost certainly be the Pro-3, tried the next% and too narrow across the mid-sole. be great to hear how you got on after a few more race paced miles.....smashed it again with this one, my wife even like the videos and she hates running!

[@FordyRuns]

Thanks Ian!!

[@twoshedsglen]

Great review Fordy, Love the Tempus and the Speed 2.I have just ordered the Pro 3 so can't wait to get them on for a 10 miler or a half marathon. 174 euros down from 250 euros here in France. Can't wait! Then I need to save them for the GNR. Cheers

[@FordyRuns]

yeah save them for GNR

[@taurusx1000]

Will take your advice and wait for the pro 3 to go on sale

[@manuel_877]

Like to Fordy. Thanks for this information about the Endorphin elite. 275$??? At Europe near 300€. I like Kinvara 14. A nice monday for everyone. 🌞🏃🌞

[@paulbrennan4210]

The Endorphin Speed Range has and is great but an underrated shoe is the Triumph. Really good everyday shoe… short, long runs. Really versatile and comfortable. What do you think? I have all the Speed shoes plus pro. There excellent as I said but for an average runner, look at the Triumph

[@FordyRuns]

Love the Truimph but prefer the new nimbus

[@paulbrennan4210]

@@FordyRuns Nimbus use to be my go to shoe, then the ghost, then the speed 2 and subsequent shoes. I did the Watford Half on Sunday in Speed 2s instead of 3s or the Pro 3. Subsequently got a pb!! You said recently to test one’s training and push in a race - that’s exactly what I did. Your doing Cambridge on the 5th?

[@kevinscott4938]

Just by the Axon, totally underrated. A high stack Kinvara with awesome rocker 😉

[@ef6200]

Very good and honest first impressions review!

[@FordyRuns]

Thank you!

[@Trailrunner1978]

I love your honesty! Can you do comparison video/review between Vaporfly Next 2, Saucony Pro 3 and Adidas Pro 3? I think they are about same price now and comparable. Would be very interesting!

[@FordyRuns]

Good shout I’d pick the Adios pro 3

[@pennyrusbridge5725]

Great video Fordy. Got the speed 3 loving it. Would having the pro 3 compliment it?I really would love the elite. Love the colour

[@Tech-Kino2685]

I definitely will be buying mines I've loved them I don't mind spending the money on them they're great shoes and I wouldn't put that against them when it comes to price because like you said they wasn't the first to do this so people do this before with other brands

[@AndriyGrynevych]

Thanks Fordy for a fantastic review of otherworldly "super shoe" fom another dimension. And that’s cool. Conclusion: The popularity of the Asics Gel Nimbus 25 and others as a comfortable everyday sneaker seems to be growing by the hour.

[@FordyRuns]

Great review coming out of that this week

[@AndriyGrynevych]

@@FordyRuns Tapadh leat

[@Tmus228]

Great review again! I've got the guied 15, speed 3 and pro 3 as I need a bit of stability. Should I or would I need the tempus aswell? Will look at the Ellite when they get reduced..

[@FordyRuns]

Tempus is a cracker

[@davidblockley9923]

Is it safe to come back now ? Never seen such a shoe hyped by reviewers globally, but a good review nonetheless. But not for me. I was in London yesterday and was able to go in and touch and feel the top shoes in adidas and Nike, I think they miss a trick mainly selling online. I only see the top shoes with your reviews or on other people's feet (briefly when they overtake me !).

[@djbeama]

Hey Fordy, have ya ever tried the FILA running shoe lineup. They got a model named argon with a carbon plate, around 120 swissfranks. I seen a lot of brazilian triathlezes running in filas and was wondering how good those shoes are.

[@davidh5429]

Fila shocket run looks sorta interesting

[@FordyRuns]

I’ve not mate I’ll take a look

[@matthiassventoest6800]

Thanks for saying what needed to be said. I am all for, things being worth what ppl are willing to pay for them, but these definitely aren’t not worth it to me, or a majority of runners.., or you wouldn’t see ppl running half marathons and marathons in brooks..and other shoes. I agree with the sentiment that these super shoes, are sometimes a status symbol for runners. to take you from average, to slightly above average. keep up the good work

[@FordyRuns]

Thank you

[@davidzlotnick1899]

Hi Thanks again for the great content I’m coming up to my first marathon in 3 weeks Had a hamstring injury during training which has been recovering nicely with physio I would say I did most of my training in my speed 3’s For the marathon I’m debating between Endorphin pro 3 ( somewhat tippy and aggressive ) and picked up a VF2% on discount - outplaying it safe and running a marathon in the speed 3’s Any thoughts given hamstring injury ? Thanks !

[@nickwingate869]

I am Saucony through and through, love their shoes. But just couldn’t get the Pro 3 to fit, devastated as I really wanted to wear them for my first marathon. Everything else fits great, triumph, speed 2,3 etc. Not sure I can gamble £280 on these if they don’t fit either.

[@FordyRuns]

Adios pro 3?

[@nickwingate869]

Possibly, but maybe too firm. Refuse to wear Nike but that’s a different discussion.😂

[@TolunayOrkun]

Well, you have NB SC Elite v3 left to try.

[@rajendrarusmana8792]

People who actually need a super shoe at release would have already been given them by their sponsor. Last year super shoes on a discount though, that's the sweet spot.

[@FordyRuns]

Yep

[@paulmulks]

I'd like to try out the shoe to see how the new HG foam feels however that will have to wait until it comes on sale. I already own the Pro 3 and Alphafly v1 so I'm in no rush for another "super shoe" at the moment. I'm actually eagerly waiting for the new Adidas Prime X Strung v2 to come out 😎

[@FordyRuns]

Me too!

[@LR6092]

It's never going on sale.

[@nicolaibachkatoff6500]

@@FordyRuns do you have any idea about the release date of the Prime X strung v2?

[@munkki2700]

You are better than average, real idol!

[@FordyRuns]

Thank you

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

I can take the high price, what I can not abide is the the fact they do seem to understand that its a buck 20 to the pound and as the shoes all have to come from Asia there is no justification to charging more for the shoe in the UK. Due to this I believe it is a bloody piss take. Puma deviate elite 2 is coming out at the end of the month , little more squish then the first but still a firmer ride (ehem elite) for less then £200 , just saying as a objective consumer of shoes , my current Saucony rotation which I am half way through shall be my last, they have joined the exclusive club of Soar and Tracksmith 'Jog on' (spot on with the pro 3, A magic shoe , it is a bit bouncy for me but that is because I am strange , I run in barefoot shoes sometimes)

[@jamiedalrymple3689]

Would have no benefit for me being a 4.15 marathon plodder. Will have a look at the pro 3 though Chris 👍thank you ❤️✌️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@FordyRuns]

Nothing plodding about 4:15 that’s strong lad 👊

[@skobodabaws8946]

very strong runner ! ur absolutely amazing !

[@BlackJesusChrist666]

I wonder if the price on these shoe has to do with the cost of their manufacturing, workers wages, materials, ethics, etc. I mean I dont mind paying Saucony more for their shoe if it just costs them more to make than let’s say Nike. Good stuff sir!

[@FordyRuns]

Not sure tbh

[@shantanudhar81]

I'm more excited about the Kinvara pro

[@FordyRuns]

Me too

[@fatrunner]

Think they missed a trick by not pricing it lower, if it's the pretty much the same price as alphafly then surely people will just stick with that. How does it compare to the Alphafly? If you could only pick one for a marathon, which would it be?

[@FordyRuns]

I’m gonna see in a few weeks then pick

[@WinningInters]

Can you get Speedgoat to test these with his Stryd footpod on. Be interesting to see what data changes from the shoe 😄

[@FordyRuns]

I’ve got my one on but I have no idea what any of it means

[@WinningInters]

@@FordyRuns change your distance and pace to the pod instead of GPS is worth doing. Incredibly accurate for that including through buildings or trials ❤️

[@mazz4149]

What would be your recommendation for a plated shoe for runners that run a marathon around 4hours? I did buy the new balance fuelcell supercomp trainer for race day, but I did not feel stable in them so I went with my trusted Triumph19. I love running in my Kinvara shoes since they are so light, but I am worried that all the plated light shoes for marathon will feel unstable and will have to concentrate for every step I take.

[@FordyRuns]

Adios pro 3

[@TolunayOrkun]

I ran 3:49 and 4:09 marathon in Alphafly 1. I have Endorphin Pro 3 and Adios Pro 3 as well but I think I am getting slightly better energy return from the airpods on Alphafly 1. One problem with Alphafly is that midfoot is too narrow and your foot fill probably hang out a bit which itself is not a problem but the glued insole has a sharp edge in some pairs that could rub your midfoot. It is remedied by putting a thin insole on top of stock insole. If you don't want to take a risk with Alphafly I recommend Endorphin Pro 3. The lockdown and heel counter is more traditional than Adios Pro 3. However, Adios Pro 3 is a good shoe if you have a wide forefoot. There is too much material to get a good lockdown for normal feet people. I had to tighten the laces way too much to get a lockdown.

[@mazz4149]

@@TolunayOrkun Thanks for the comment. 4h +-10min is the pace I am aiming for. I do prefer shoes with a normal/wide fit. An I have a issue with the fit on some brands (Nike, Hola and some Asics) that makes my toe knuckles rub even in wide fit shoes. As mentioned I had the New Balance Supercomp Trainer, but it was to soft and felt to unstable. However I could feel how much the plate helped specially going up hill (the marathon I will be running is hilly with several steep hills). I think I will out the Adios Pro 3, Endorphin Pro 3 and Speed 3 to see what gives the best fit. I just got the Tempus for training, and if it would have had a higher arc support and carbon plate, it would have been perfect for me😊. Any other recommendations are more than welcome.

[@DannyWallisRuns]

Enjoy the Pro Love ❤

[@FordyRuns]

Great shoe

[@TolunayOrkun]

I think this might be one "Elite" shoe that is too elite for 3:49-4:09 marathoner like me. I have Endorphin Pro 3. I think I can spend more effort on increasing my volume, doing more strength training etc. before I get additional benefits from "Endorphin Elite".

[@FordyRuns]

Defo pro 3

[@LeonAl-hl1yl]

Thanks Fordy, the price cannot justify this. Its $275 in the US however its £280 in the UK which is equivalent to $350. In the US, customers are saying that $275 is way too high and not worth it, so please do not defend the company

[@FordyRuns]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@antonioromulodelcarmen283]

The problem happens when these Endorphin Elites go on discount... then the Adidas PrimeX Strung go on discount as well.

[@FordyRuns]

Yep!

[@annekafrench7120]

I just got a pair of Pro 3’s for £125

[@FordyRuns]

wallop

[@annekafrench7120]

@@FordyRuns Exactly what I thought 👍

[@QuasiAmerican]

Yeh no way I'd pay £280. I just got a pair of Alphafly v1 for £125 and Vaporfly V2 for £103 from my local Nike outlet. No need to pay so much for super shoes 🤣

[@FordyRuns]

That’s the right price for those!

[@kophotography895]

The Pro 3 does not last more than 300 miles, I have burnt through mine, at 150 miles the shoe lost it magic, it lost 2 mm in height, so became my easy run shoe, due to the toe rubber wearing out

[@FordyRuns]

Interesting feedback thank you

[@rakeshmottey3384]

Your not a elite! 😊 Mate your a legendary runner ! Great review !

[@FordyRuns]

Thanks dude

[@thebullfighter6733]

The shoe is horribly ugly from an aesthetic perspective. While that doesn’t matter at all it should be noted that Saucony doesn’t podium in major races at all. Yes you can say adidas and Nike can afford the better athletes, but in a shoe at this price saucony should be able to at least get some of their shoes on strong enough runners. The shoe may be nice to run in, but the price and lack of pedigree just doesn’t have me believing it’s worth paying the $$$ over the discounted proven champions that are the vaporfly 2 and adios pro 3s. Especially from a value for money perspective.

[@FordyRuns]

Interesting thanks!

[@thebullfighter6733]

@@TimGrose I agree that the athlete is way more important than the shoe. As you pointed out 1 bronze podium in 4 years. My point was mostly that even if the shoe is great, other than for purposes of R&D cost. Why would this shoe be worth more than the gold standard that is the Vaporfly with 16 major podiums this year or the adios pro 3 with 13 podiums? Both shoes are cheaper than the endorphin elite (vaporfly 2 is lighter), and have the winners pedigree. You know that the best runners still want a performing shoe even if they’re paid to wear it. The price of this shoe is like Hyundai putting out a car that’s more expensive than say a Ferrari or Porsche. Nothing wrong with Hyundai but the pedigree has to be there for me to justify spending more on something that’s uglier and also has nowhere near the record of success and performance as the other two.

[@jameschaves5723]

Excellent point. If and when Saucony is willing to break the bank with top athletes you will see podium finishes. Remember what Meb won Boston 2014 in?

[@thebullfighter6733]

@@jameschaves5723 yeah I mean I think it goes without saying that Kipchoge would probably be the G.O.A.T regardless of the shoe on foot. For me however, I find that the Endorphin Elite is probably the ugliest super shoe I've ever seen. The Purchase of this shoe IMO really comes down to performance for price. It seems that most reviewers dont find this shoe better or at least not much better than the masterpiece that was the the Endorphin pro 3 and Ive seen reviewers bleeding through this shoe at the longer distances due to the upper RE Kofuzi.The fact that the Vaporfly and alphaflys set world records every year, and you really will never see a podium without an Adios pro 3, vaporfly or alphafly in both womens and mens races to me demonstrates nikes (and adidas) purchasing power but also race day quality. This shoe is priced as the most expensive and performant shoe on the market, but without really anything to back it up. I still very much would love to try it out when it drops, but I still question why its so expensive.

[@thebullfighter6733]

@@TimGrose agreed, I also think that Saucony generally offers a better performance to comfort product. Running a marathon for 2Hr03 to 2Hr20 is far less time on feet and usually at a lighter body load (runners body weight) than someone running in the 3 to 5 Hr time on feet duration (runner may be a heavier person). There definitely comes a point where comfort at that distance coupled with performance is more important than Raw performance. I think its a major indicator as to why the more comfortable and adaptable vaporfly is more accepted than the slightly more tech heavy alphafly with respect to nikes offerings.