Saucony Men's Endorphin Speed 5 Sneaker

Update: 10/31/2025 - I put 430 miles on my first set of Speed 5 and bought a second pair and have put on 143 miles on them. My opinion on these shoes has not changed. Great shoes and way better than the god awful Speed 4. Original Review: Long winded review so the TLDR version is: if you loved the Speed 4s and thought they were the best, then you're going to hate this version. Over 140 miles in these and my rankings are from best to worst: Speed 1 & 2 > Speed 5 > Speed 3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>Speed 4 (I hated that shoe). Me: 54 year old runner. 35-45 miles per week. I'm old so I do a lot of zone 2 work with only one speed session per week which is either a longer tempo run or threshold repeats. I rarely do VO2 max stuff. For reference my zone 2 pace is roughly 9:00-9:30 min/mile. I fight against having to buy different shoes for each kind of workout so I try to find a work horse shoe (although I do have an OG Endorphin Pro I with only 200 miles and an Asics Magic Speed for those occasional VO2 max sessions). Size: I've run in the original, the 2s, 3s, and 4s. In fact I still have a 2 with 700+ miles and a 3 with 400+ miles so I can still compare the older versions with newer models. So when I discuss comparisons it's not with one of those "I remember back when I wore them years ago..." kind of comparisons. The 4's had a super narrow toe box for me to the point where my small toe would literally jut out over the side of the shoe. Length-wise it was fine but man these tapered into a narrow toe box and I had to go to an alternating lacing pattern to widen these a little. I put 400 miles on my usual size but since I can't find any other brand/model that's similar, I grudgingly got the 4s again but a half size up (and that brought issues as they fit fine width-wise getting the bigger size but then the rocker didn't work when I ran). The 5s fit great! I actually think they're roomier than the 3s and that's saying a lot since the 3s were known to be roomy. I got them in my normal size but I've had to use a runner's loop to keep them snug. I really don't mind as thank god the toe box is normal!!!! If you thought the 4s fit just fine for your narrow foot, you're totally screwed with these 5s. I suggest you try them on at a local running store before buying. What are they like to run in? - I still prefer the original and the 2s (I couldn't tell the difference between the OG and 2s). I like the cushion and the propulsion and they were just fun to run in. They also fit like a moccasin. For me they were very good at easy recovery paces but excellent at tempo or higher. - The 3s weren't as propulsive but were more stable as the footprint of the shoe was widened. So no longer did they feel wobbly going over uneven pavement. However they became just a tad more plodding as a result. They were excellent at recovery paces but only very good at tempo or higher. Basically the exact opposite of the OG and 2s. - The 4s were terrible at slower paces as I felt they were heavily biased towards heel cushioning with almost nothing in the fore/mid foot. When I ran slowly it felt like I was running in those shoes made 10 years ago before the super foams came out. And for me, I tend to land fore/mid foot at easy paces. So I began to over stride when I'd go slowly which gave me achilles issues. I really disliked this shoe but again, I couldn't find anything else that were more tolerable to run in. Terrible at slower paces and very good at tempo or higher. But boy, I really had to heel plant for these to be tolerable. Now to the 5s. I actually really like this shoe. It's not quite like the OG/2 but comes really really close. It feels like they've listened to people's complaints about the 4s and changed the rocker and softened the fore/mid foot so that these shoes for me are a great all arounder. When I run slowly, they provide enough cushion so I actually look forward to doing my bread and butter 7-8 mile base runs. And they provide enough propulsion so that I'm not fighting the shoe when doing intervals or longer tempo sessions. They're not quite as fun as the OG/2s as they feel heavier than those shoes. But since I can't get the OG/2 anymore NEW in my size, these will do. For reference, when the 4s went on sale at really cheap prices, I didn't bother snatching up 3 pairs of them at a discount like I did all other versions. But with the 5s, I for sure will hoard them when they go on sale. Very good almost excellent at slower paces. Very good almost excellent at tempo or higher. For reference the photo is of the 2,3,4, and 5 from left to right so you can see the toe box.

This pair currently has 100-110 miles on it. Used primarily for interval sessions. This shoe has some miles from treadmill speed and incline intervals as well as some track time for speed intervals. Stable and comfortable at faster paces (6-8:30min/mi). I don't find this shoe enjoyable at slower paces (9-12min/mi); the ride feels flat and the support isn't conducive to running slow. Fits as expected however took a few runs to soften up the area around the top eyelets. They did rub causing some irritation and blisters for the first few runs. Traction is okay on dry pavement or treadmill, noticed it did not feel confident on a wet track (not that it was going to slip out or cause a fall but not as fast or confident taking the curves at speed when wet). Upper is breathable, doesn't provide a ton of unnecessary support for longer efforts (think marathon pace blocks in a long run). Would recommend for people looking for a specific shoe to do intervals or speed work with other shoes for long runs at pace.

great running shoes, excellent grip and just firm enough

I’ve used these for fast paces and races - up to half marathon distance. I think they are AWESOME and perhaps my favorite pair in my rotation. The things I like: the toe box is spacious and the single layer engineered mesh is the most breathable upper I’ve had. The foam is energetic with good energy return. The overall weight is light and they have that “step-in comfort” that disappears onnre foot. The heel collar is comfy with no rubbing or sock pulling. The shoes have a great rocker shape which seems propulsive at race paces. Most importantly, they’ve passed the day-after soreness test where my legs and hips have felt good. I’m now a fan of this model and will likely make it a normal pair to upgrade as new versions come out. For recreational runners like me who don’t need a carbon plated shoe, the nylon plate is plenty and I don’t feel wanting for a full race shoe. If there is one downside, it’s that on a treadmill, the great foam is springy enough to be a little bouncy since the treadmill deck also flexes. But for outside on tempo/speed/race efforts — this is the fave. I use a firmer shoe on the treadmill.

For asphalt pounding in hot and cold weather, Saucony’s Endorphin Speed and Triumph lines have been my go-to, performing flawlessly at -17°C with wind and light snow. The Endorphin Speed 5 is incredibly light and responsive, thanks to PWRRUN PB foam and a nylon plate that propels you forward on tempos or races—it’s versatile for daily miles without stiffening in the cold. The Triumph 23 offers max cushion for longer easy runs, with a softer, premium feel that absorbs pavement shock beautifully. Both hold grip on slushy roads better than expected, and durability is strong for high-mileage users. I’d rate them 4.7/5 overall—excellent value for road runners seeking speed and comfort in winter.

I been an Asics Fan for 20+ years but these runners are bringing me back to Saucony Great stability and toe box room Light and fast a non carbon runner Have ran multiple 10 & 5k runs feel light and fast Think at 6ft 190lbs these will be a good 5k & 10k race runner. and Daily trainer True to size ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Also have ran with socks and without no issues

These are super comfy running shoes!

The shoes appear to have been worn prior to delivery, and the box was significantly damaged upon arrival. This is disappointing, as the expectation when purchasing new items is that they arrive unused and in proper packaging. Receiving a product in this condition is not acceptable.

Amazing product and amazing price

Queste scarpe non sono così veloci come dicono, tutto marketing...

Wow One of the best for running Little bit slippery but manageable

Un parfait mélange entre la speed 2 et son super ressenti sur la pointe, et la speed 4 et son amorti. Je suis fan pour les séances intervals et seuil, elles tiennent vraiment bien les longues foulées. Un vrai mieux par rapport à la speed 3 bien trop molle et peu durable

Sehr gute und coole Schuhe. Echt ein toller und stabiler Schuh.