Endorphin Trainer 1

Yes, it fits true to size for most runners, so order your usual Saucony road size. The midfoot is a medium, secure fit and the heel is well held. The toe box is moderate rather than roomy, so if you have wide feet or sit between sizes we would go half a size up for daily comfort over long runs. It is a daily trainer fit, not a snug race-day fit.

It is a strong long-run and easy-mileage shoe. The deep cushioning protects your legs over distance and the carbon plate keeps the ride rolling, so it suits marathon training blocks and long slow runs well. For race day itself, though, the 285g weight makes it heavier than a dedicated marathon racer, so most runners would train in this and race in something lighter and quicker.

It can work for a beginner who wants plenty of cushioning and does not mind the price, since the protective ride is forgiving and easy on the legs. That said, £200 is a lot for a first pair, and the tall plated platform is more shoe than a new runner strictly needs. Many beginners would be better served by a simpler, cheaper neutral daily trainer and can move up to a super trainer later.

They sit in different roles. The Endorphin Speed 5 is lighter and more tempo-focused, so it feels quicker and more eager on faster runs. The Endorphin Trainer 1 is heavier, taller and more cushioned, built for protection on daily and long miles rather than speed. If you want one shoe for fast work, pick the Speed. If you want a cushioned daily workhorse, pick the Trainer.

Durability is one of its stronger points. It is built as a high-mileage daily trainer, so the outsole and midsole are designed to take repeated use, which spreads the £200 over many miles. Whether it is worth the money depends on you. If it replaces two shoes in your rotation as a genuine do-everything trainer, the value stacks up. If you only run occasionally, cheaper daily shoes make more sense.