Running shoes · owner-verdict comparison

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: 75% of 134 owners recommend it, vs 62% of 60 for the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

75%of 134 owners recommend

75% recommend · 6% neutral · 19% don't

Owners praise

Versatile do-it-all daily and tempo shoe
Great for uptempo, tempo and race-pace runs
Nice bounce, pop and protective cushioning

Owners complain about

Narrow, pointy toebox cramps and rubs the pinky toe
Firm, dead-feeling midsole with little bounce
Toe numbness or circulation issues mid-run

Full owner report →

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

62%of 60 owners recommend

62% recommend · 13% neutral · 25% don't

Owners praise

More stable and planted than past versions and rivals like the Evo SL
Versatile do-everything trainer that handles tempo, speed work, and longer runs
Improved fit with roomier toe box and more secure upper than the 4

Owners complain about

Firmer, more muted ride that lost some of the bounce and punch of earlier Speeds
Outsole and midsole wear early, going flat by roughly 230-350 km
Happiest at shorter, faster efforts; feet ache past the half marathon

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 if

✓Runners wanting a plated tempo and uptempo shoe
✓Those doing race-pace workouts and faster efforts
✓Runners with narrow to medium-width feet
✓Runners wanting one versatile do-everything trainer

Skip it if

Wide-footed runners (narrow, pointed toe box)
Runners wanting soft, bouncy cushioning

Get the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 if

✓Runners wanting a stable, versatile do-everything trainer
✓Tempo and speed-workout runners
✓Runners who found the Speed 4 too narrow
✓Runners who prefer a firmer, planted ride

Skip it if

Runners wanting soft, plush cushioning
Those logging long, slow easy miles

What Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 owners say

“Endo Speed 4 being great”
— @dhgpan on YouTube

“i love them so much i decided to run the marathon i was preparing with”
— @jeremybmxfr on YouTube

“Speed 4 is by far my least favourite version. I loved version 1-3 but this one just doesn't feel right on my foot.”
— @nickskier1 on YouTube

What Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 owners say

“find it good for pretty much everything”
— @TimGrose on YouTube

“More pep, more bounce, more comfort, very pleasant overall”
— @destrucciondeldiablo on YouTube

“I wanted so badly to love the ES4 but the toe box taper made it unbearable just crushing my pinky toe.”
— @nate_collins on YouTube

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 5: frequently asked questions

Is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 or the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: 75% of 134 owners recommend it, vs 62% of 60 for the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5.

Who should get the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4?

Owners point the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 at runners wanting a plated tempo and uptempo shoe, and those doing race-pace workouts and faster efforts.

Who should get the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5?

Owners point the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 at runners wanting a stable, versatile do-everything trainer, and tempo and speed-workout runners.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is narrow, pointy toebox cramps and rubs the pinky toe. For the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, it's firmer, more muted ride that lost some of the bounce and punch of earlier Speeds.