Over the past few years, we’ve seen a couple of notable trends quietly gaining momentum, and we’ve touched on both here before. One is the rise of gravel shoes—models that blur the line between road and trail, offering a more balanced, versatile ride. The other is something we’re especially here for: the return of the reasonably priced lightweight non-plated daily trainer.
“Affordable” is a relative term in today’s running shoe landscape, but landing near the $150 mark has become something of a sweet spot. Shoes in this range don’t have to sacrifice comfort, ride quality, or looks—and when one gets all three right, it feels like striking gold. The standout in this category over the past couple of years is probably the adidas Adizero Evo SL, but I also really liked the Salomon Aero Blaze 3.
After spending some time with the new Saucony Endorphin Azura, we’re starting to think Saucony may have a new contender ready to join that conversation.
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Construction
The Azura is a plateless shoe, which may not sound as exciting amid the current carbon-plated arms race. That said, I’m firmly in the camp that carbon shoes probably don’t need to be the only option in the rotation for most runners. From personal experience, having a well-constructed, foam-only midsole isn’t just refreshing—it’s necessary, and we suspect many runners feel the same way.
Even without a plate, the Azura delivers solid energy return and responsiveness. The ride strikes a nice balance: soft without feeling mushy, capable of handling the occasional tempo push, and comfortable enough for everyday mileage. All told, it shapes up as a genuinely well-rounded daily trainer that doesn’t try to be more than it needs to be.
Specs
- Weight: 7.9oz (Men’s 9)
- Stack: 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot
- Drop: 8mm
Looks
The Azura keeps things pretty simple from a visual standpoint. This standpoint version we tested feels more retro—reminiscent of early daily trainers that favored muted, no-nonsense palettes.
Our pair was primarily in gray with subtle hits of yellow. There’s nothing loud here, but it still manages to stand out thanks to the hatching detail along the lateral side.
This may be a stretch, but the side paneling on the upper even gave us a faint bridge-like vibe—maybe a nod to something like Portland’s Tilikum Crossing pedestrian bridge. Regardless of interpretation, the Azura lands firmly in the understated camp: clean, simple, and easy to pair with just about anything.
It launches with 7 color options.
Upper
The upper uses an engineered mesh that feels breathable and appropriately lightweight—exactly what you’d expect, and need, from a shoe in this category. It’s not the ultra-plush, heavily padded upper you’ll find on some heavier (and pricier) daily trainers, but at no point did it feel like anything was missing.
Lockdown is solid right out of the box. A moderately cushioned heel collar and a gusseted tongue work together to provide a secure fit. Again, neither leans into “max cushion” territory, but both feel thoughtfully executed and entirely sufficient for the job – as is want for a daily trainer. I experienced no slippage, and the fit felt secure and dialed in right out of the box.
The tongue, in particular, deserves a nod: it features light yet effective padding not only at the main lace-up area but also extending down the tongue, which does a good job of keeping lace bite in check.
Midsole
The midsole is built with Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam, a PEBA-based compound we’ve seen used across several models in the lineup before. While the foam itself may be similar across footwear options, its tuning and intent can vary significantly depending on the shoe—whether the goal is speed, mileage, or support. Saucony does a good job explaining those nuances within its foam technologies, and PWRRUN PB shows up everywhere from the speedy Endorphin Speed 5 to the more cushioned Triumph 23 and the stable, supportive Tempus 2.
That range alone should hint that this isn’t a one-note foam. In the Azura, the tuning lands firmly in daily-trainer territory. If you’re someone who lives for marshmallow-soft, max-stack cushioning, this probably won’t scratch that itch—and that’s likely by design.
The Azura isn’t trying to be a cushion monster – a good daily trainer needs to be adaptable. On days when the legs feel fresh, the midsole should be able to handle a few tempo pushes. On more tired days, it should provide enough protection and efficiency to keep things moving without digging a deeper hole. That balance is exactly what Saucony seems to be targeting here, and for the most part, it delivers. If you’re after a truly pillowy ride, there are plenty of excellent max-cushion cruisers on the market that fit that bill better.
That’s not to say the Azura isn’t cushioned—it definitely is—but the ride feels a bit firmer and more responsive than you might expect from a foam-only shoe. In fact, it almost has a slightly “plate-y” sensation, sitting in a middle ground between softness and propulsion. Rather than sinking into the midsole, you get more bounce and forward momentum.
That feel likely comes not just from the PWRRUN PB foam itself, but also from Saucony’s SPEEDROLL geometry, which helps create a smoother, rolling transition through toe-off. Together, the combination gives the Azura a ride that’s more energetic than plush—well-suited to its role as a versatile, do-it-all daily trainer.
Outsole
The outsole is definitely minimal, which makes sense given the Azura’s lightweight goals. When you pair a lighter midsole with a low overall weight target, trimming outsole mass is an obvious lever to pull. As a result, there’s a fair amount of exposed midsole, which does raise some initial questions about long-term durability. That said, the rubber that is here has been applied thoughtfully in key wear zones.
In the photos, the lighter blue outsole sections are made from a durable CPU (cast polyurethane) material. This compound has proven capable on pavement—arguably even more durable than traditional rubber in some cases—while also keeping weight down. The yellow additions at the toe and heel use a more conventional rubber, albeit sparingly, likely targeting the highest-wear areas while also adding a bit of extra grip where it matters most.
Heading into winter runs, I expected wet-road traction to be a potential weak point. While this isn’t a shoe you’d want to take hard, 90-degree turns at full speed, grip has been better than anticipated. The CPU coverage, in particular, seems to play a meaningful role in maintaining traction on damp pavement.
Both outsole materials are undeniably thin, but after putting a solid number of miles into the Azura, wear has remained reasonable so far. There’s still a small question mark as to whether this minimalist approach will comfortably support true long-term trainer mileage (think 300+ miles), but at this point, there’s no evidence suggesting it won’t. For now, cautious optimism feels appropriate.
Conclusion
The Azura—one of Saucony’s early launches for 2026—caught us by surprise in the best possible way. With its 40mm stack, it delivers much of what runners tend to look for in a daily trainer: comfort, versatility, and a secure ride that adapts well to how you’re feeling on any given day.
It’s the kind of shoe you can lace up and almost forget about—meant entirely as a compliment.
While it’s neither overly soft nor especially fast, the Azura hits a nice middle ground. For runners looking for a lightweight, do-it-all road shoe that can handle a wide range of everyday miles, it’s an easy one to recommend and definitely deserves to be in the conversation among the elite in this category.
