Saucony’s Endorphin line is without a doubt one of the most popular running shoe collections of recent years. And deservedly so: it offers a model for every scenario, most notably the Speed (training) and the Pro (racing).
So where does the Saucony Endorphin Elite fit into all this?
It’s simple: the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 takes all the traits of the Pro 5 but with an even more aggressive setup. You get comfortable, plush cushioning with 39.5 mm under the heel and 31.5 mm under the toes for an 8 mm drop.
Both shoes are very light, at just over 200 g / 7.1 oz.
Things split at the carbon plate. The Pro’s is conventional, while the Elite sports an innovative fork-shaped design at the front. Combined with the IncrediRUN foam, the stride is much livelier, with noticeably stronger forward propulsion on the Saucony Endorphin Elite.
That extra bounce comes at a cost in stability, though, most notably a potentially less stable heel on the Elite compared to the Pro. The Pro, for its part, offers good overall stability for a carbon-plate shoe.
Endorphin Pro or Elite: which should you choose?
The first big difference is budget. The Elite is noticeably pricier, about $50 more at full retail.
Beyond that, we think the main criterion for choosing should be your experience level. The Saucony Endorphin Pro is a fairly versatile, accessible shoe that suits seasoned runners.
The Saucony Endorphin Elite, for its part, is more demanding: you have to run fast to really get the most out of it. It also takes experience to manage its explosive cushioning and potential instability (height plus a plush foam). So we only recommend it to experienced, fast runners.
