SC Elite 4 vs Endorphin Pro 4

The New Balance SC Elite 4 is a full-fat carbon marathon racer, and it wears that brief proudly. This is a tall, soft, aggressively cushioned racing shoe built to keep your legs alive deep into the back half of a marathon rather than to feel featherlight off the line. At 237g it is on the heavier side for a carbon racing shoe, so it does not have the darty, snappy feel of a lighter racer like the Nike Vaporfly 4. What you get instead is a big, forgiving platform and a rolling, momentum-holding ride once you are up to pace. With a 4mm drop and a full carbon plate it sits firmly in the marathon-and-half super-shoe class. At £280 RRP it is a premium buy, but for a runner who wants cushioning and protection over knife-edge sharpness, it is one of the more comfortable ways to race a long road event.

Saucony softened the Endorphin Pro for version 4, and most reviewers think it was the right call. The Pro 3 was quick but harsh by the second half of a marathon; this one gives up a little of that snap for a ride that stays comfortable over the full distance. Women's Running UK rated it highly and recommends it for marathon and half marathon runners who care more about finishing strong than about the last few seconds. The trade-off is weight, since two reviews found it heavier than the Pro 3. It's a carbon racing shoe with an 8mm drop and a stable, wide base, which makes it one of the easier super shoes to run a whole marathon in if you land on your heels. The Endorphin Pro 5 has since replaced it at a lower RRP, so the Pro 4 makes most sense when a retailer is clearing it well below £230.