Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 vs Endorphin Speed 3 – Is it an Upgrade?

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

When it comes to stack, there’s no change here. The Speed 3 and Speed 4 pack the same 36mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot for an 8mm drop.

When it comes to weight, the Speed 4 weighs in a wafer heavier than its predecessor at 8.6oz or 245g in a US 9.5 test shoe size. The Endorphin Speed 3 tipped the scales at 8.4oz or 237g.

Price-wise, there’s no change here with both shoes set at $170 – that’s at the top end of what you can expect to pay for a daily trainer. Though you can find cheaper deals online for the Speed 3. At the time of writing it was listed at $135 on the Saucony site.

Design

The Speed 4 midsole remains largely the same. You’ve still got the medium stack of PWRRUN PB Pebax foam working in tandem with a nylon plate and Saucony’s trademark Speedroll rockered shaping. The nylon plate has been tweaked, with an altered shape that Saucony says should add stability, rigidity and forefoot flexibility.

The midsole heel kickback extends slightly further and there’s a little more foam on the medial side of the heel. If you land further back you might notice that giving added support and protection. Plus there are some aesthetic changes with some geometric cuts and a small cutout in the underside for a larger central channel.

Up top, the Speed 4 now has a zonal mesh upper with a light, airy perforated design that’s thicker than the mesh uppers on the Speed 3. Both shoes offer plenty of flex into the toe box.

There’s slightly more padding in the heel collars on the Speed 4 but you’re getting medium padding on both shoes. The tongues of the Speed 4 are more padded at the top but they’re now knitted and much more flimsy (pliable if we’re being kind) than the Speed 3 which had more structure and wrapped all the way down the foot.

Flip them over and the outsole grip has been overhauled, too. The Speed 3 had quite sparse rubber covering the main impact zones. That had a tendency to let the midsole scuff up in high-wear areas. The Speed 4 now has a much more generous – and thicker – covering of rubber with large sections covering the whole forefoot and in the troublesome heel areas.

Fit

When it comes to fit, I ran in my regular Saucony size – a US 9.5 – and I’d recommend going true to size in these shoes. The fit is nicely dialled in without feeling restrictive. It’s easy to get good lace locked for midfoot and heel security.

The Speed 4 is very marginally more snug than the Speed 3 at the back of the toe box, across the top of the midfoot – in the area just behind the big toe knuckle. The thicker uppers also feel less flexible. It’s not a problem but the Speed 3 feels marginally more roomy. Beyond that, the fit here is pretty much identical.

Performance

In testing I’ve covered more than 1,200 miles in 2-3 pairs of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. This was the shoe I used to run 67 marathons in 67 days across Europe. So cards on the table, I have a special relationship with this shoe. For the Speed 4, so far I’ve run more than 60 miles. But I want to run more. That’s always a good sign.

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In both shoes, I’ve covered everything from slow and easy miles with 90 minutes or more time on feet, right up to all out 5km pace interval marathon training sessions. Also taking in the roads and light off-roads – always a good test for durability and stability.

I also did a side by side mile with one shoe on each foot to really tease out the differences. The most notable difference when you run in both is that extra foam in the heel. It puts a little more cushioning into the rear of the shoe for a subtle change to the ride and a mild sensation of there being more shoe on the foot. It may also afford more protection for heel strikers.

Speaking of protection, the Speed 4 feels very, very marginally softer and less direct than the Speed 3. Runners who wanted a bit more cushioning deeper into long miles than the Speed 3 offered might find there’s some minor improvements here, too. As a fan of direct shoes, I don’t find that extra cush detracts from the ride of the Speed 4.

I was a huge fan of the Endorphin Speed 3. What I loved about them so much was that they felt balanced enough to run at almost any pace. They had a disappearing, snappy, lightweight cushioned ease to them. A happy balance of speed, protection and comfort.

The Endorphin Speed 4 delivers the same with the same instant comfort the moment you lace them up and the same lively energetic ride that copes well at almost any pace. Like the Speed 3, the Speed 4 offers a snappy, lightweight cushioned ease with a midsole set up that responds when you put more into it but also supports you if you have to rock back and take things slower.

When it comes to comfort on the foot, I’d say they’re even. If we’re splitting hairs there’s perhaps a little more room in the Speed 3 but if you wanted things more dialled in, the Speed 4 offers that marginally racier fit. But the difference is minimal.

Apart from a bit of cutting up in the heels, I had no durability issues with the Speed 3. Two shoes lasted 1,200 miles across Europe. But the changes to the outsoles look to have beefed up that staying power. I also think they offer better grip than the Speed 3 when things get wet.

One change I’m less% convinced by are the new knitted tongues which feel much more flimsy and unstructured. I’m concerned they might not hold their shape and become harder to get comfy. The Speed 3 was a bit more no nonsense. Same goes for the lacing set up. The Speed 4 has swapped in some stitch-style lace tabs that also feel less robust.

My Verdict

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is another great shoe. It’s got everything the Speed 3 offered. But is it a better shoe? Maybe very marginally. Depending on what your priorities are. There’s a subtle extra softness to it, the fit is ever so slightly more compact and racy. The outsole durability and grip is a step on.

In my tests, I found the ride energy and the pace range of the Speed 4 a good match for the Speed 3. These are both among the most versatile do-it-all daily trainers you can buy right now. They’ll both cope with easy right up to race pace for a really wide range of runners (the sub 2:45 marathon gang might want something lighter and punchier).

Should you buy the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 or the Speed 3? I’d say you can buy either and not be disappointed. But this comes down to price rather than performance. Right now, if you can find a good deal on the Speed 3, you’re getting much the same ride which makes it better value overall.