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Endorphin Pro 4
Today's tracked prices
- 01365RiderDEAL3d ago£95.45£230.00−59%
- 02DerbyRunnerLIVE£130.00£230.00−43%
- 03Nokwol2d ago£138.00£230.00−40%
- 04HouseOfFraser4d ago£165.00£230.00−28%
- 05Sportsdirect6d ago£165.00£230.00−28%
- 06Deporvillage.co.uk4d ago£167.28£230.00−27%
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Price history
Our verdict
The Endorphin Pro 4 is Saucony's carbon marathon racer, a road racing shoe built to help you chase a personal best over the half and full. It sits just below the top-tier Endorphin Elite in the range: less aggressive, a touch more forgiving, and easier to run at real-world marathon pace. At 212g it is light for a carbon racing shoe, and the full-length plate gives you that firm, rolling snap through toe-off that defines this category. The 8mm drop keeps you rolling forward rather than sitting back on your heels. In our view it is one of the more approachable super shoes: quick when you push, but not so unstable that it punishes you late in a race. For runners who want a genuine carbon marathon shoe without the harshest edge of an out-and-out elite racer, the Pro 4 is an easy shoe to recommend. Just know you are paying a premium race-day price at £230 RRP.
Key features
- Full-length carbon plateSnaps you through toe-off and adds real pop when you lift the pace
- Lightweight 212g buildKeeps your legs feeling quick and fresh deep into a marathon
- 8mm drop rolling geometryTips you forward onto your toes and encourages a fast, efficient turnover
- Race-tuned foam platformProtects your legs over 26.2 miles without the mushy softness that saps speed
- Thin breathable racing upperLocks the foot down and vents heat so nothing distracts you on race day
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Marathon and half marathon racers chasing a personal best who want carbon return at pace
- Neutral runners who want a super shoe that stays composed late in a race
- Runners who find full-blown elite racers too harsh or unstable
- Efficient midfoot and forefoot strikers with a fairly narrow foot
Who should not buy it
- You need stability or motion control for overpronation
- You have a wide forefoot or want a roomy toe box
- You want one cushioned shoe for easy daily miles
- You are on a tight budget and cannot justify a race-only shoe
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Endorphin Pro 4 fits true to size for most runners, so order your usual Saucony race size. It is a performance-focused, race-day fit: snug through the midfoot with a locked-down heel that holds well when you corner and surge. The toe box is on the narrower, more tapered side, as you would expect from a shoe built for speed, so if you have a wide forefoot or like extra wiggle room you may find it close. Runners between sizes, or anyone planning to race a hot marathon where feet swell late on, can size up a half. The thin, breathable racing upper wraps the foot with very little excess material, which is what you want when every gram and every millimetre of slop counts. If you prefer a roomier daily-trainer feel, the Endorphin Speed 5 is the more relaxed stablemate.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The ride is fast, firm and rolling. The carbon plate and the geometry work together to tip you forward and encourage a quick, snappy turnover, so the shoe genuinely comes alive when you hit race pace. Hold half or marathon effort and it rewards you with real return. Drop to an easy jog and it feels stiff and a little insistent, which is the trade every carbon racer makes. There is enough underfoot to protect your legs over 26.2 miles without feeling soft or vague. It is more composed and forgiving than the sharper Endorphin Elite 2, which makes it the friendlier pick for most runners on race day.
Cushioning
Cushioning is tuned for racing, not lounging. There is a generous slab of foam underfoot to soak up the pounding of a long road race, but it is set up to feel propulsive and firm rather than plush. You get protection for the distance without the mushy, energy-sapping softness that would blunt a race shoe. Over a marathon your legs stay fresher than they would in a firmer, plateless racer, and the shoe holds its character deep into the closing miles. If you are after cloud-like, everyday softness for easy runs, this is not that shoe. It is a race-day tool that cushions with a purpose.
Stability
As an uptempo carbon racer this is a neutral shoe, so it is not built to correct overpronation. That said, the Pro 4 is one of the steadier super shoes we have run in. The plate and the platform give it a composed, predictable feel that does not throw you around the way some tippy elite racers do late in a race, which is a real plus when your form starts to fade at mile 20. It still demands a reasonably efficient, neutral footstrike to get the best from it. Runners who need genuine stability or motion control should look at a dedicated support trainer instead.
Upper & comfort
The upper is a thin, light, breathable racing mesh with minimal overlays, built to disappear on the foot and keep weight down. Ventilation is good, which helps on warm race days, and the lockdown is secure once you dial in the lacing. This is a stripped-back, performance upper rather than a padded, cosseting one, so do not expect plush tongue padding or a generous, roomy interior. Most runners will find it comfortable enough for a full marathon with the right sock, but the snug, low-volume fit is worth trying on if your feet run wide or swell over distance.
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Race |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Heel Stack | 39.5mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 31.5mm |
| Weight | 212g |
| Carbon Plated | Yes |
| Stability | No |
