Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 Review (Part 2)
By Contributors Megan Flynn and Andrea Myers
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is a lightweight, carbon-fiber plated shoe
designed for speed. An update from the original Endorphin Pros, there
are some subtle changes to improve efficiency and comfort. Weighing
6.3oz (women’s), they are slightly lighter than the originals. An additional lace loop was added for comfort and improved lock
of the midfoot.
This is Part 2 of our Endorphin Pro 2 reviews. See our OG contributors Pro 2 review here.
Specifications for the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 (per Running Warehouse)
Weight: 7.5 oz / 213 g (men's size 9) 6.8 oz / 192 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 39 mm / 31 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Classification: Carbon Fiber Plated Distance Racing Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Megan: The Endorphin Pro 2 is a shoe designed for faster workouts and races.
With a carbon-fiber plate and Speedroll technology, the shoe propels you
forward with a smooth and efficient transition throughout each stride.
The PWRRUN PB cushioning is lightweight and responsive, improving
efficiency even further. The FORMFIT mesh upper forms to the foot,
adding to the stability and comfort of the shoe while also maintaining
breathability. The Pro 2’s have a snugger heel fit than the original
Pros and an additional lace lock in the midfoot, improving comfort and
stability.
Andrea: The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is an exciting update to one of my favorite
plated shoes. The original Pro helped me get PRs in the 5k and 10k last
year and reminded me of a rocket boosted Kinvara. The 2 has improved the
fit around the heel and an updated mesh upper that provides a nice
balance between stability and accommodation.
The Endorphin Pro 2
is a neutral, carbon plated racing shoe that has more roll than bounce
(as compared to other carbon plated shoes). It has an S-curve carbon
plate paired with PWRRUN PB cushioning, which makes for a firm and
responsive racing shoe. It is best for longer intervals and races of 10k
and above. Runners who find Vaporflys or New Balance RC Elite too soft
may prefer the Endorphin Pro 2.
FIT
Megan: During the review process of this shoe, I was able to wear the original
Pros and the Pro 2’s on back-to-back workouts which allowed for any
comfort/stability differences to be more apparent. Like the first version,
the Endorphin Pro 2s fit true to size in terms of length and width. The
midfoot felt secure due to the lacing system and FORMFIT mesh upper.
While there were very few upgrades from Version 1 to 2. One upgrade is
the more snug heel cup. The improved heel cup combined with the
additional lace loop in the upper increased the stability of the shoe,
specifically around turns. The stability of the Pro’s around turns is
superior to other carbon-plated shoes and sets this shoe apart, in my
opinion. If a race course has any sharp turns, I would choose these over
other racing shoes including the Nike Next%.
I was able to
wear/test these shoes for various marathon-paced workouts including an
18 mile progression run. During this run, I noticed a hot-spot beginning
to form under my 5th metatarsal head toward the end of the progression
(~mile 14-15). When comparing these to other carbon-plate shoes (i.e.
Next %), I attributed the cause of this hot-spot to the more firm
midsole in the Pro 2s.
Andrea: I am a 9.5 in every shoe except the Endorphin line - I size up to a 10
to get additional length. My first pairs of the original Pro and Speed
were 9.5s, which resulted in black big toenails despite wearing my
thinnest Balega socks. The forefoot width is slightly wider than
average, which works well for me. The midfoot is average width and I
found that it hugs my foot nicely without any pressure points thanks to
the mesh upper. I did not have fit issues with the heel on the original
Pro, but the heel on the Pro 2 is slightly more structured without being
intrusive. In comparing the original to the Pro 2, the external heel counter
on the Pro 2 wraps further medially and laterally. There is a small amount
of internal padding at the posterior heel, which is similar to the
original. The heel counter was not noticeable while running. I prefer
minimal padding and control from a heel counter, and the Pro 2 delivers
on this note. The tongue is gusseted and I did not have any tongue
slippage issues. One notable difference in the mesh upper is the change
in placement in the Saucony logo on the outer aspect of the shoe. The
original Pro has a smaller logo that mostly lies over the midfoot, but
the logo on the 2 extends well past the MTPs (ball of the foot). The
larger logo provides very mild stability to the lateral midfoot and
forefoot. When I first tried the shoes on, I wasn’t sure if I would like
the feel of the logo in that location, but it wasn’t an issue once I
started running. The mesh upper is accommodating but does not stretch,
which results in stable, comfortable lockdown.
PERFORMANCE
Megan: The combination of being lightweight, responsive, and stable is a recipe
for success in the Endorphin Pro 2's. Thanks to the carbon-fiber plate
and speedroll technology, these shoes are extremely responsive and make
for a very smooth ride. The heel cup and midsole are snug, allowing for
confidence when going around sharper turns. Another upgrade I noticed
when comparing Version 1 and Version 2 is that the Pro 2's have improved
traction, especially in wet conditions. I am a big fan of Saucony’s
shoes, but an area they generally lack in is traction. When training in
the original Endorphin Pros, I used to avoid wearing them when there was
any chance of rain. With the 2’s, however, they proved to be much more
reliable in all conditions.
Something I noticed during fartlek
and tempo workouts was that they are way more comfortable to run in at
higher speeds than compared to recovery periods between intervals. At
slower speeds, the shoe’s “springiness” is not able to be maximized and
does not propel you forward as much. In addition, the firmness of the
carbon plate and midsole is more apparent at slower speeds which can
lead to irritation. An example workout in which this was evident were
mile repeats with recovery jogs between intervals. On the harder effort
intervals, the shoe felt very comfortable, springy, responsive; during the recoveries, I noticed some discomfort/cramping in my
mid/forefoot. I attributed this to a change in mechanics on the recovery
runs which caused the plate to have a negative effect on my mechanics.
That being said, I would continue to use these shoes for tempo/speed
workouts since the shoe IS designed for racing and not meant to be used
for regular training runs/speeds
Andrea: The Endorphin Pro 2 is responsive without having the trampoline-like
bounce of other plated shoes. I found its performance to be very similar
to the original. The best word to describe the ride of the Pro 2 is
smooth. The PWRRUN PB cushioning is most apparent at initial contact
(mid-foot for me). The plate and the toe spring make the transition from
initial contact to push off incredibly consistent and somewhat stable.
The shoe feels like it guides me through stance phase without forcing my
foot and ankle to move in any particular way. I used the original
Endorphin Pro for some mile and threshold pace intervals on a dirt road
while on vacation in June, and had no issues with ankle instability or
loss of traction (although the Pro is definitely not an off-road shoe).
While this is an 8mm drop shoe, it feels like a slightly lower drop
shoe, likely due to the Speed Roll technology and firmer forefoot. The
durability of the outsole is above average for a super shoe. I have 35
miles on the Pro 2 and there is almost no wear on the outsole. To
compare, I have 250 miles on the original Pro. There is visible wear on
the lateral midfoot and under the big toe, but the shoe still feels
lively and I expect to get more mileage out of this pair. The outsole of
the Pro 2 is very similar to the original, so the Pro 2 could also likely be a
300+ mile super shoe, which gives the Endorphin Pro a durability
advantage over other super shoes.
STABILITY
Megan: The Endorphin Pro 2's had a big improvement in terms of stability when
compared to the original version. The biggest differences are thanks to
a change in the heel cup as well as the additional lace loop which
improved the midsole lock. As mentioned earlier, the stability in the
heel and midfoot sets this shoe apart from other carbon plate racing
shoes especially when going around turns. If a course has multiple sharp
turns, I would trust the Endorphin Pro 2's over other racing shoes. The
FORMFIT mesh upper adds comfort while also contributing to the stability
and security of the shoe. While there is a carbon-fiber plate in the
midsole, Saucony did a great job of avoiding “too rigid”, likely due to
the PWRRUN PB foam cushioning which adds comfort and enough flexibility.
Andrea: The Endorphin Pro 2 is a neutral, plated racing shoe that does have mild
stability features that feel more like a roll than a guide. The shoe
has medial and lateral heel and forefoot flare with a narrower midfoot.
The midfoot has unintrusive sidewalls that do not guide motion, but
mildly help to stabilize the midfoot. The Endorphin Pro 2 is more stable
than the Vaporfly Next% and the New Balance RC Elite due to the sole
flare, firmer midsole, and S-plate. Compared to the Pro 1, the 2 is slightly more stable due to the more structured heel counter and the Saucony overlay on the lateral upper.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Andrea: Rocker soles and/or shoes with plates may unload the joints of the foot
and ankle. By doing so, they may address many running related problems,
including plantar fasciitis, 1st MTP (big toe) arthritis or stiffness,
Achilles tendinopathies, posterior tibialis tendinopathies, talocrural
joint (ankle) stiffness, and neuromas. DOR Chief Founder Matt Klein
explored the effect of rockered soles on Achilles tendinopathy. I would
like to explore their effect on 1st MTP arthritis or stiffness (hallux
rigidis). People with these conditions have reduced 1st MTP extension,
which is essential for push-off during running or walking. Plantar
pressure analysis looks at the location and intensity of pressure of the
bottom of the foot on the sole of the shoe. This is useful in analyzing
running gait because it may identify areas of increased pressure and
loading on the foot that would not otherwise be quantified with
traditional video gait analysis.
A study done on 18 healthy
female runners measured in-shoe plantar pressures for both standard and
rockered running shoes (Sobhani et al., 2013). 12 runners demonstrated a
heel strike pattern and 6 runners demonstrated a midfoot/forefoot
strike pattern in the standard running shoe; 13 runners demonstrated a
heel strike pattern in the rockered shoe and 5 demonstrated a midfoot
strike. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in
forefoot plantar pressure across all strike patterns when running in the
rockered shoe. Interestingly, plantar pressure in the heel region
showed a statistically significant increase in the rockered shoe. The
authors stated that this may be due to increased sole stiffness from the
rocker or because they observed that 2 runners shifted their strike
pattern posteriorly when using the rockered shoe.
It is
important to consider the limitations of a given study. The authors
modified a standard running shoe to give it a rocker sole for this
study. Other rockered shoes with different features such as different
foam density or thickness, the presence of a plate, sole flare, etc. may
have produced different results. The subjects were all females of which
a majority were heel strikers. They ran on a treadmill at an average
speed of 7.6 mph for 20 minutes (10 minutes in each shoe type). The
speed was self-selected by the runners as their “comfortable” speed. The
results may also have been different if they were instructed to run at a
speed closer to their lactate threshold. Overall, this study supports
the idea that rockered shoes reduce pressure on the forefoot during
running. Anecdotally, I have had many patients who found that rockered
shoes greatly reduced their big toe pain with running. Advances in shoe
technology allow health care professionals and running shoe specialists
to use shoes as tools for runners with different biomechanics and/or
injuries.
Sources
Sobhani, S., van den Heuvel, E.,
Bredeweg, S., Kluitenberg, B., Postema, K., Hijmans, J. M., &
Dekker, R. (2014). Effect of rocker shoes on plantar pressure pattern in
healthy female runners. Gait & posture, 39(3), 920–925.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Megan: The Saucony Endorphin Pro line has been one of my favorite carbon-plated
racing shoes since their release in 2020. The subtle changes made to
the Pro 2s made them even better in terms of comfort, stability, and
responsiveness. The only change I would suggest is to somehow decrease
the noticeable stiffness resulting from the carbon-fiber plate. This
could mean changing the placement of the plate slightly to allow for a
little more flexibility.
Andrea: This is one of my two favorite super shoes, with the Vaporfly Next%
being my preferred marathon shoe and the Endorphin Pro preferred for
10k-half marathon. However, I find the Endorphin Pro to be too stiff for
the marathon and not responsive enough for distances below 10k. Saucony
might consider making two versions of the Endorphin: a slightly more
cushioned version designed for the marathon, and a firmer, lower drop
(4-6mm) version for 10k and below. I would also recommend making the
sizing more consistent with non-Endorphin line shoes, as many runners
seem to need to size up a half size.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Megan: This shoe is designed for speed and racing, specifically half-marathon
and marathon distances. It can be worn for shorter distances down to
even a road 5k and 10k due to it's responsiveness and lightweight
qualities. As a neutral racing shoe, it provides some level of stability
and is a viable racing shoe option for runners who usually train in
stability shoes. I would not recommend using this shoe for normal,
everyday training runs mainly due to the rigidity resulting from the
carbon plate. Running at slower paces takes away from the responsiveness
of the plate and may lead to more discomfort.
Andrea: The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is a neutral, carbon plated racer that is
firm and responsive rather than trampoline-like and soft. Runners
looking for a smooth and slightly stable ride will greatly appreciate
this shoe. Runners looking for greater value out of a super shoe will
appreciate the greater durability of the outsole as compared to others
in the category. This shoe, like other plated/rockered shoes, works well
for runners with foot or ankle pathology.
After running in both the Pro 1 and the Pro 2, I prefer the Pro 2 primarily due to the improved fit in the heel counter. I really enjoyed the 1 for distances up to 10k, but ultimately decided against it for the marathon I did this past spring. I would definitely consider the Pro 2 for a future marathon. For me, the Pro 2 is a valuable upgrade on the original Pro.
GRADING
Megan
Fit: A (they fit true to size in terms of length and width)
Performance: B (hot-spots noted during longer tempo intervals and progression runs)
Stability: A- (improved stability around turns due to the heel cup and improved lacing system in the midfoot)
Personal: B+ (While they are comfortable and stable, they caused some irritation on
longer workouts/runs which make me concerned to wear them in a full
marathon. They are definitely on the more-stable end when it comes to
carbon-plated shoes which improves their score here.)
Overall: B+ (The comfort and stability of the Pro 2s set them apart from other
carbon-plated racing shoes; however, they lose points in my book for
noticeable stiffness resulting from the carbon-plate)
Andrea
Fit: A- (fits me perfectly, except that I need to size up ½ size)
Performance: A- (smooth and responsive, but a little too harsh for the marathon for me)
Stability: B+ (mild stability features but is not actually a stability shoe)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (unloads foot and ankle, may be go to shoe for those with foot or ankle pathology)
Personal: A (one of my top 2 favorite super shoes)
Overall: A (one of the best overall super shoes available, will work for many types of runners due to 8mm drop and Speed Roll technology)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Find the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 at Running Warehouse here. Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
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FURTHER READING
Click here to find our original contributor review to compare!
Check out all of our carbon plated racing shoe reviews here.
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TESTER PROFILES:
Megan Flynn, PT, DPT, MS
Doctor of Physical therapy
Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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