The Nike Vaporfly and the Saucony Endorphin Pro are two benchmarks among carbon-plate shoes, but they have stopped playing in the same category. With its fourth version, Nike took a radical turn that reshuffles the deck against the Saucony.
The Vaporfly 4 has become a pure speed shoe: light and lower to the ground, built around a Flyplate carbon plate and ZoomX foam. Facing it, the Endorphin Pro 5 plays the versatility card: more cushioned, built around a carbon plate sandwiched between two foams (PWRRUN PB and HG), and above all nearly 50 g / 1.8 oz heavier. You feel that weight gap immediately.
This is about more than numbers: the two models no longer target the same races.
The Vaporfly 4 has given up the marathon, now reserved for the Alphafly, to focus on shorter, faster races, from the 5K to the half marathon. The Endorphin Pro 5 is a racing shoe for every distance up to the marathon. It is also a versatile model, more forgiving for fast training sessions.
Underfoot, both offer balanced rather than plush cushioning. The Vaporfly 4 stands out with a closer-to-the-ground feel and immediate responsiveness, but its less pronounced rocker gives a flatter stride: you need good form and real speed to take advantage of it. On the Endorphin Pro 5, the energy return is more immediate, thanks in particular to a more pronounced bounce and the SPEEDROLL rocker’s smooth transitions.
The Vaporfly’s woven mesh upper impresses with its low weight and breathability, but the Pro 5’s setup, stretchy, comfortable and well ventilated, holds its own.
On durability, while both outsoles are convincing, the Vaporfly 4’s ZoomX foam is noticeably more fragile than the Endorphin Pro 5’s two PWRRUN foams.
Endorphin Pro vs Vaporfly: Which Should You Choose?
The choice comes down to your distance and your profile. For pure speed on short races, and if you have the efficient stride to exploit it, the Nike Vaporfly 4 is built for exactly that.
If you want a carbon racing shoe that is fast, forgiving and versatile all the way up to the marathon, the Endorphin Pro 5 is the safer choice.
