Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 Review: The Racy Carbon Cruiser?

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 stack height remains the same with a race-legal 39.5mm in the heel and 31.5mm in the forefoot for an 8mm drop. That’s a marginally lower midsole stack than the Saucony Endorphin Elite and the Nike Alphafly Next% 3 but still a super shoe wedge.

In terms of weight, it comes in at 7.9oz in a US men’s 9.5 test shoe size. A wafer heavier than the Endorphin Pro 3, still lighter than the Alphafly Next% 3 and somewhere in the mid-weight range when it comes to carbon race shoes.

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 price was set at $225 at launch. So no change there against the Endorphin Pro 3. It’s also still a good chunk cheaper than the Nike Alphafly 3 ($285), the Adidas Adios Pro 3 ($250) and the Saucony Endorphin Elite ($275).

Design

The biggest update to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is in the midsole. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 packed a big wedge of PWRRUN PB midsole foam whereas the Endorphin Pro 4 now features two foams. There’s an added layer of PWRRUN HG closer to the foot, a carbon plate and then a wedge of PWRRUN PB at the bottom.

There’s also a new sock liner, which Saucony calls “the Super Responsive Sockliner (SRS)” there to boost comfort and that feeling of energy underfoot.

Speaking of energy, the shoes retain Saucony’s familiar Speedroll rockered geometry, designed to help you speed along with smooth transitions.

Up top, the redesigned mesh uppers are largely as light and breathable as the Pro 3. The heel collars have been thinned out slightly but still offer light to medium padding – much more than you’ll find on shoes like the New Balance SC Elite, Adios Pro 3, Vaporfly, and Alphafly. The tongue is now a knit-style integrated tongue that aims to offer better wrap. But more on that later.

The lacing swaps the more structured and robust lacing that we got on the Endorphin Pro 3, for loop tabs that feel potentially less durable.

Flip the Endorphin Pro 4 over and on the bottom, some effort has been made to enhance the grip with a rubber outsole that now features a lattice design. Coverage is about the same. There’s also a larger channel in the midsole with some stone-catching potential.

Fit

I ran in my regular Saucony running shoe size – a US 9.5. If you like your race shoes really snug, despite the new wrapping tongue, the Endorphin Pro 4 doesn't fit as closely as carbon race shoes with a more booty-style fit. But overall the fit was good when it came to roominess.I found them hugging but not cramped with nice flex in the toe box and a decent balance of comfort and security. Overall, I’d recommend going true to size.

One other note - I found the lacing a bit odd. I had to use the top eyelet to get a reliable lockdown and prevent heel slipping. I also struggled sometimes to get the tongues to sit right at the bottom end of the laces. Tugging on the tongues didn’t always get the position correct.

I also feel like the tongues are a little flimsy and might break. Ditto the top laces eyelets that are separate from the rest in a way that feels potentially tearable. 

Performance

In testing I’ve run 40 miles in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 – a mixture of marathon training sessions, from intervals, to progression runs, plenty of marathon paced efforts and faster. I’ve also clocked some easier miles on tired legs to see how the Endorphin Pro 4 holds up when you’re running with a little less pacey intent.

From the off, the step-in comfort is pretty good. I like the fact there’s a bit more heel collar padding than you get on some race shoes that strip the heels right back. It removes the risk of heel rubbing (looking at you New Balance SC Elite V4).

Overall, the Pro 4 is about as comfy as carbon race shoes get while remaining relatively light on the foot. It’s not a million miles away from the on-foot feel of the Endorphin Speed 4.

Once I got moving, it wasn’t a case of love at first miles. I found the midsole a bit soft and ponderous. It provides plenty of cushioned protection with a bit of bounce and some life to the midsole. But for me it doesn’t have the same immediate punch and energy as some carbon race shoes like the Alphafly and Adios Pro 3. Having said that, nor did the Endorphin Pro 3 and if that smooth, mildly springy, cushioned ride is what you like about the Pro 3, you’ll still like what you get here.

I did one test run where I ran a set of six intervals at 5km pace, swapping from the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 into the Pro 3 half way through.

I was surprised to find that the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 gave me a snappier, more responsive ride. By comparison, the Endorphin Pro 4 felt a little soft and less immediate. I had to work harder in the Pro 4 rather than getting that leg-sparing benefit you expect from the best carbon racers.

There is perhaps a benefit to that, though. As carbon race shoes go, the Endorphin Pro 4 will look after you better than most running shoes deep into longer races – at least from the perspective of cushioned comfort and road protection. It handles slower paces well without feeling unstable. That’s good news if things get ragged at mile 22 of your marathon.

When I ran a 90 minute progression run moving from 8 min/miles up to 6 min/miles, the Pro 4 handled the lot well. There may not be the all-out performance at the top end but, you get a safety net at the slower paces.

My Verdict

With this upgrade, a lot has changed but much still feels the same. If you liked the Endorphin Pro 3, you’re probably going to enjoy the Endorphin Pro 4. The aesthetics are also (for this 40-something man at least) infinitely better than the sparkly purple of the Pro 3.

Is the Endorphin Pro 4 better than the Pro 3? I’d say so. But not that much better that I’d buy it over the Pro 3 on a good deal Is it the liveliest carbon race shoe? No. If you’re a fan of the Nike Alphafly or Adios Pro 3, for example, you won’t find this offers the energy, spring and punch that you get from those shoes.

Or in fact, the directness that you get from shoes like the Nike Vaporfly 2, the HOKA Rocket X2 or the new ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris. It’s more akin to the ride of the New Balance SC Elite V4 than those shoes.

Is it a shoe that many runners will find offers great comfort for cruising at marathon pace – or slightly slower? Absolutely. 

The Endorphin Pro 4 is probably one of the most accessible carbon shoes you can buy. It’s got your back when things aren’t going according to plan. For that reason, it might well be one of the best marathon shoes for a large selection of runners.

But I’d also recommend taking a long, hard look at the cheaper Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 as a potential race shoe. I’d argue you get similar performance for a lot less dollars.