Endorphin Elite 2 vs Endorphin Pro 4

Saucony swapped the firm foam of the first Elite for something far softer, and the Endorphin Elite 2 ended up as one of the bounciest carbon racing shoes around. Lab testing at RunRepeat rated its midsole the softest they had measured, and reviewers mostly describe a ride that squashes at easy pace and pushes back once you speed up. That makes it a marathon shoe before anything else, and it's also why it wobbles. The Run Testers found it unsettled on fast corners and slippy in the wet, and pointed to the Metaspeed Sky Paris as the steadier pick. The toe box is narrow as well. With steady mechanics and slim feet, you get a very lively half or full marathon shoe. If your form tends to fade late in a race, the Endorphin Pro 4 is calmer and cheaper, and Saucony has since followed it with the Endorphin Elite 3.

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.