Vaporfly 3 vs Endorphin Elite 3

The Vaporfly 3 is Nike's carbon racing shoe for runners who want to go fast without the towering stack of an Alphafly. It is a pure road racer, built for 5k up to the marathon, and it does that one job very well. At 194g it is light, the 8mm drop keeps you rolling forward, and the carbon plate gives you real pop when you commit to race pace. This is not a shoe for plodding. It rewards a quick, efficient stride and comes alive the harder you push. If you have run in earlier Vaporflys you will know the feeling: fast, slightly twitchy, and unmistakably a tool for race day. The newer Vaporfly 4 refines the formula, but the 3 remains a serious marathon shoe, and when it drops below RRP it is one of the better-value carbon racers you can buy. We rate it for runners who already have a daily trainer and want a dedicated PB weapon.

The Endorphin Elite 3 is Saucony's no-compromise carbon racing shoe, built for one job: chasing a personal best over the half and full marathon. This is a specialist marathon shoe, not a do-it-all trainer. You get a tall 40mm heel, a full-length carbon plate and Saucony's springy IncrediRUN foam, all wrapped up at a race weight of 210g. At £306 it sits right at the top of the market, alongside the Nike Alphafly 3 and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. What you are paying for is peak return at speed. The slotted plate and high stack give a rolling, aggressive ride that wants to move. It is less versatile than Saucony's own Endorphin Pro 5, and it asks for a fair bit of leg strength to get the best from it. We rate it as one of the sharpest tools you can lace up on race day, so long as race day is what you want it for.