Vaporfly 4 vs Endorphin Pro 4

The fourth Vaporfly is a shorter-race shoe now, whatever its marathon reputation says. Nike took it lower and firmer, and at 190g it's a very light carbon racing shoe to wear. Reviewers mostly agree the slimmer midsole suits 5k to half marathon better than 26.2. The Run Testers rated it best around the half and thought it short of cushioning for a full marathon unless you like a lower shoe. Believe in the Run graded its performance an A and its design a C, which is a fair summary: quick, but the heel fit lets it down. If you race shorter distances and found the v3 too soft, this is the better Vaporfly for you. If the marathon is your main event, the Alphafly 3 gives you more underfoot for the back half. The RRP is £260, and the price table below shows what UK retailers are asking now.

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.