I am not a fast runner. I know, speed is relative, but I am not elite, sub-elite, or really anything close to it. I’m a solid 7:45 min/mile casual runner who, surprisingly, hit my fastest times ever this past year at the ripe old age of 41—who knew that flexibility work and a little self-care could actually pay off?
Even with that, I often feel like a lot of the “super shoes” out there aren’t really made for runners like me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy some of the elite-level options—but there’s often just so much tech packed in that it almost feels like overkill for a casual racer or someone just trying to push themselves on long training days.
I’ve reviewed the previous versions of the Saucony Endorphin Pro series, and I’ve come to think of them as a sort of “casual-elite” shoe. They’re well-constructed and clearly built to go fast—but they’re not stripped down to the point where every mile wears them out in a blink.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 – A Ticket to a Natural Runner’s High
Instead, they sit in this sweet spot: a speed shoe for the “everyman”, which depending on what you need could be either a benefit or a drawback.
They have all the tech to move quickly during races, but they can also handle the occasional long run without feeling like a fragile race-day-only toy. As I hope that age 42 continues my upward trend in speed, the release of the Endorphin Pro 5 arrives to lend a hand.
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Construction
Structurally, the Endorphin Pro 5 isn’t a huge departure from the Pro 4. It maintains the same weight, stack height, and midsole construction, which I think is a good thing—change for the sake of change isn’t really my jam. What has been tweaked a bit is the outsole and the design of the carbon plate, but it feels more like a refinement than a complete overhaul.
Specs
- Weight: 7.3oz (Men’s 9)
- Stack: 39.5 mm heel / 31.5mm forefoot
- Drop: 8mm
Looks
I loved the look of the Endorphin Pro 4, and the Pro 5 follows in similar footsteps. The Pro 4 dropped in nine colorways, and our review version in White/Gold was absolutely stunning.
I’m not one to knock the looks of review shoes—plus, style is totally subjective—but I’ll admit our review pair might not click with everyone. Black and neon yellow isn’t the most classic or subtle combo. That said, it’s been a while since I’ve received a mostly black shoe – so much so that it actually made me audibly exclaim, “Oh, that’s actually fun!” And if this particular colorway isn’t your cup of tea, rest assured there are more options on the way.
Upper
The upper on the Endorphin Pro 5 is largely familiar, sticking close to what worked in the previous version. It’s a single-layer engineered mesh that’s breathable but still holds its shape. It’s not paper-thin, yet it avoids feeling overbuilt—landing in a really nice middle ground for a race shoe.
Even with its performance intentions, I found the fit refreshingly accommodating. Many race shoes skew aggressively narrow, leaving your foot feeling trapped—especially once swelling kicks in during longer efforts. That wasn’t the case here. I had enough room up front to comfortably splay and wiggle my toes, which goes a long way toward keeping things pleasant late in a run.
In my V4 review, I noted that the tongue sometimes needed a bit of babysitting—fold it just right or risk awkward bunching and over-coverage. That concern feels mostly addressed this time around, or at least far less noticeable in my experience.
The only real watch-out for me was at the heel. The collar and heel counter are well padded and supportive, but I did notice some minor Achilles rubbing early on. Nothing alarming, and it disappeared once I adjusted my lacing, but it’s worth noting for runners who are sensitive in that area.
Midsole
The midsole setup remains mostly unchanged—and honestly, that’s not a bad thing. The Pro 5 uses the mostly-same full-length carbon plate sandwiched between Saucony’s familiar dual-foam combo:
- PWRRUN HG on top for responsiveness
- PWRRUN PB underneath for bounce and energy return
What has changed is the plate design itself. The new slotted layout seems to slightly soften the overall rigidity of the system, at least relative to the previous version. It still delivers propulsion, but with a touch more forgiveness underfoot.
At 6’2” and roughly 200 pounds, stability is something I pay close attention to in race shoes. Many supershoes feel razor-thin and inherently unstable—like I’m constantly one misstep away from tipping over. That sensation tends to get worse as fatigue sets in late in a run or race. Thankfully, the Endorphin Pro 5 platform feels approachable and confidence-inspiring, even when my form starts to fade.
While I don’t generally love carbon plates in daily trainers, I do think this shoe is more versatile than most race-day-only options. Some plated shoes feel pointless unless you’re pushing a high cadence and aggressive pace, but the Pro 5 holds its own even when you dial things back a bit. It’s capable of handling longer tempos and controlled efforts—adding real value for the price.
Again, depending on what you are looking for – something versatile vs. something for race day – this may lead you to lean one way or the other.
Outsole
The outsole is where the most noticeable changes show up. Race shoes often go minimalist here, but grip still matters—especially when you’re moving fast on imperfect roads.
Compared to the V4’s lattice-style forefoot layout (peep the pix in my review above, the Endorphin Pro 5 features a reworked pattern across both the forefoot and heel. I won’t pretend to be an outsole scientist, but whatever Saucony did here works.
Whether it’s the updated geometry, the PWRTRAC rubber compound, or (most likely) a combination of the two, traction feels reliable and confidence-inspiring at speed.
Conclusion
Rather than overwhelming you with massive changes to a shoe that was already working – the Endorphin Pro 5 quietly supports strong running. It’s a dependable, well-balanced racer that lets everyday runners focus on the effort ahead.
