Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Review

Upper

Kaitlyn: "The upper is fitted and breathable, as racing shoes are designed to be. It was a bit too tight for me since I have slightly wider feet and a high instep. The fitted upper made it a bit uncomfortable for me."

Loucas: "I have mixed feelings on the upper. It pushes see-through breathability to a stunning level that’ll be phenomenal for warm temperatures. Overall, this shoe fits 'backwards' to my preferences. It's tightest in the toe box (mainly at the toe tips), roomy in the midfoot, and borderline loose on the heel. The one-piece material for the ankle collar and heel cup is very soft, flexible, and comfortable, which is nice. It didn’t rise to the level of 'problematic' heel slip, but I would’ve appreciated feeling more secure in that area. The main thing preventing me from loving spending multiple hours in the shoe is the tight toe box. Having said that, the shoe is so fun and the toe box fit is 'okay' enough that it’s not remotely a deal-breaker."

Connor: "I found the midfoot lockdown to be secure while the forefoot had just enough room to not feel cramped over longer distances. I have never been a big fan of the higher fitting heel cup, and on initial step in, I wasn’t convinced I would like this heel setup. But once I started running, I didn’t notice any irritation and the heel cup was comfortable. The material is really soft and smooth so it creates a seamless feel. I did still find myself wearing higher socks to ensure I didn’t have any issues with rubbing. While the heel material is definitely softer than the last version, the forefoot and midfoot materials are very similar to v1. The very open engineered knit offers amazing ventilation. Even with use in some light rain, I found the upper retained virtually no water. The more traditional knit tongue is also a nice addition and creates a really comfortable wrap that helps adapt to a variety of foot shapes."

Midsole

Kaitlyn: "This shoe is extremely snappy and cushioned. The foam is soft and makes landings pleasant, and the carbon plate helps provide the snappiness needed for a race day shoe."

Loucas: "The foam is… unbelievable, or I guess I should say 'incredible.' Please note that I’ve long declared (and still hold to) my overall preference for somewhat firmer foams. You may have seen videos of just how soft, flexible, and compressible the incrediRUN foam is to the finger squeeze test. Don’t be deceived – this foam pushes back (returns energy to you) brilliantly. It made me think a little of being on top of a jiggly bowl of jelly, but I found it to feel easily controllable and 'eager to serve,' not unstable. That said, this shoe might not be best for heavy heel strikers with stability needs."

Connor: "The midsole provides an ultra-soft bounciness that springs you forward effortlessly. At initial contact, the foam compresses and offers a pleasant squish. As you toe off, you feel the response of the foam, one of the bounciest experiences I’ve ever felt. This is another level of softness that takes some getting used to, but once you get in the rhythm of your race pace, there is no going back. For how much it squishes in, the shoe does not feel mushy or unstable. The foam pops back quickly and almost feels like a mechanical advantage as you’re running. The plate offers the stiffness that the ultra low durometer (soft) foam needs to feel stable and aggressive. The slotted design of the carbon plate helps to make the shoe feel a little more natural and smooth. The final piece of the puzzle is the geometries and Saucony nailed this. It’s smooth. It's propulsive. It’s everything you want when you’re looking to run fast on race day."

Outsole

Kaitlyn: "The outsole has a fairly standard layout for a racing shoe. Running on roads, the shoe provided the grip I needed. Even on fire roads, I was pleasantly surprised by the grip."

Loucas: "Like all cutting-edge super shoes, the rubber outsole is thin. The overall area coverage, though, is quite generous, and there are traction-enhancing grooves and details that make for a confidence-inspiring journey. Several of my testing runs were on damp pavement with puddles, and I didn’t experience a single slip. After about 80 testing miles including hard workouts and hot paces, I see practically zero evidence of wear."

Connor: "The outsole of the Endorphin Elite 2 offers the traction you need while keeping weight at an absolute minimum. The rubber is super thin and has cutouts throughout the forefoot to further shed every tiny piece that is not needed. Durability seems to be in line with super shoe standards. With 100 miles in the shoe, I can say you will easily be able to get at least a few marathons and tune-up sessions in this shoe before seeing any significant wear."

Comparable Shoes

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 vs. New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3

Kaitlyn: "The only other carbon-plated shoe I have run in is the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3, which has a similar amount of cushioning and is also propulsive. The Elite 2 is designed for racing while the SC Trainer v3 is generally better suited for workouts. The Elite 2 is easily the lightest shoe I’ve ever worn with that level of foam. As noted above, the Elite 2 is too snug-fitting for my feet, and the SC Trainer v3 is more comfortable for me. "

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 vs. adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

Loucas: "I very much enjoyed the adidas adizero Adios Pro 3 for its notably firmer underfoot experience. So, it was a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed the Endorphin Elite 2’s softer foam so much. Despite the tighter toe box fit, the Elite 2’s upper is more comfortable overall than the Adios Pro 3. I enjoyed that the original Endorphin Elite had an enjoyably accommodating toe box, as well as a firmer ride like the Adios Pro 3. But the underfoot performance (not to mention cushiony comfort) of this Elite 2 is incomparable in my experience so far."

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 vs. adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1

Connor: "The Endorphin Elite 2 is part of a new class of super shoes that is taking midsole compounds to another level. I do not think any other super shoe currently on the market will give you a similar underfoot feel. That said, I do think the runner contemplating buying this shoe will want to take a look at a few other best-in-class options. The first would be my other current racing shoe, the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. The Evo 1 is the lightest max-stack super shoe on the market. While it's almost 3 oz lighter than the Elite 2, the Evo 1 offers a similar efficient feel at race pace. The Evo 1 has the weight advantage, but I would give the bouncy, explosive foam advantage to the Endorphin Elite 2."