The Endorphin series from Saucony is, without doubt, one of the most popular collections of running shoes in recent years. And it deserves to be: it offers models for all scenarios, notably with its Speed (training) and Pro (competition).
So what does the Saucony Endorphin Elite have to do with all that?
Quite simply, the Saucony Endorphin Elite has all the characteristics of the Pro but with an even more aggressive configuration. For example, it has comfortable and fairly firm cushioning with a 39.5 mm heel stack height and 31.5 mm toe stack height with an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop.
Both shoes are very light, weighing around 200 g/7.1 oz each.
Things change with the carbon plate. The Pro has a traditional plate, while the Elite has an innovative fork-shaped design at the front. Combined with the brand new IncrediRUN foam, the Saucony Endorphin Elite offers a much more responsive ride with a much more pronounced forward propulsion.
However, this greater bounce comes at the expense of stability, with the heel in particular potentially less stable on the Elite compared to the Pro. The Pro also offers good overall stability for a shoe with a carbon plate.
Endorphin Pro or Elite: Which One Is For You?
The first big difference is the budget. There is a difference of $50 in the basic price. With recent promotions, this can reach a difference of $120, which starts to take its toll on your wallet!
For the rest, we think that the main criterion for choosing should be your level of experience. Indeed, the Saucony Endorphin Pro is a rather versatile and accessible shoe that can suit experienced runners.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite, on the other hand, is more demanding: you have to run fast to really enjoy it. In addition, you need experience to better manage its thunderous cushioning and potential instability. We therefore only recommend it to seasoned runners.
