Saucony Endorphin Trainer Preview | Let’s Ride!

While most folks were busy ooggling the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 at the preview (it really is pretty fabulous), I was busy picking my jaw up with the told us about an entirely new shoe! March 2025 we will see the release of the Saucony Endorphin Trainer.Can I be totally honest? I was so busy taking notes and asking questions, that I didn’t even get a photo. Luckily, I was with Journalist Ashley Mateo and she better multi-tasked.

We anticipate having the shoe in very soon to begin testing, but it’s not out until March! So we thought a little preview might be exciting while we all wait to see just how this changes things among the line up.

Saucony wants to take the Endorphin line from being thought of as just racing super shoes, to daily training shoes.

Here’s what we know so far thanks to our time at The Running Event (TRE) in Austin.

Specifications

Here’s what we know about the nitty gritty of the shoe. As soon as we receive them for testing, you’ll get a complete review with any updates to weight or colorways!

• Heel Drop: 8 mm
• Stack: 41 mm
• Weight: 9.9 oz for men’s, 8.9 oz women’s
• Not available in wide (the Endorphin line rarely is)
• $180
• Available May 1, 2025
• See currently available Endorphin Shoes >>

Where Does This Fit in the Endorphin Line Up?

We are so glad you asked because the Endorphin line up has been a smash hit for years and sometimes you need to not mess with a good thing right?

Here’s a top level summary:

First there are updates coming to each of the shoes this year, so these are the current models, not the 2025 future releases.

• Saucony Endorphin Elite — Top level carbon plated racing shoe for the say sub 3:15 marathoner
• Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 — Supertrainer with a nylon plate, a little more durable, not as bouncy as the other Elite or the Pro
• Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 – A great bouncy, more cushioned carbon plated shoe that we think is a great middle of the pack racing shoe and for front of the pace great tempo training
• Saucony Endorphin Trainer – Now we’re looking a 3/4 length carbon plate for the mid-back of pack training and possibly racing

Now what’s really interesting is they’re changing the top layer of foam across the line to what they now call IncrediRun which is EVA based. Traditionally we see EVA in more of your daily trainers like a Brooks Ghost or a Hoka Clifton, not in super shoes.

However, EVA is changing folks. It remains slightly more durable and therefore is going to help super shoes last a bit longer and as they keep tweaking the configuration they are finding that softness and bounce we all want.

While the Elite will have more of the IncrediRun, the Trainer is a layer of IncrediRun and a layer of what you see in things like Kinvara the PWRUN. That means it won’t have the same amount of bounce, but at 41mm…it’s gonna be cushioned.

What’s with the shorter carbon plate?

By using a 3/4 length plate the average runner is going to find some key benefits.

One of the reasons that super shoes don’t always work for slower is just different biomechanics.

It’s not that they don’t have the potential to help all paces, but the 3:00 runner has a different stride than a 5:00 runner. Not bad, just different. And one of those differences is often in ankle mobility, which needs to be higher with a really stiff full plated shoe.

The 3/4 length is going to help runners still feel all the softness of the foam under the heel, while being able to get a good push and power out of their toes.

One question we have is will this feel different than the Kinvara Pro???

That shoe is a 3/4 plate with about the same stack and same height. We’ve got it here, so when testing begins you can be sure we’ll compare the two. It’s also reminiscent of the Endorphin Shift 3 we reviewed that is no longer in the line up.

Who is This For?

Right now we’d say if you like the Kinvara Pro, this sounds like it’s going to be right up your alley. And if you’re already sold on the feel of the Endorphin line (we are) then this could become a more durable daily trainer to give you that same feeling.

• Wide Feet: Generally we do not find Endorphins to be great for wide feet
• Heavier Runners: The change in foam should ensure that these don’t breakdown as fast
• Long Runs: Absolutely designed to go the distance
• Front of the Pack: Only as an easy run shoe, this is not a tempo or speed shoe.

All right, that’s your sneak peak of the Saucony Endorphin Trainer coming in 2025. A small drop in height and yet still it’s a big change for a shoe that’s beloved.

What do you think?

Are you excited? How do you feel about the Endorphin line??

Looking for other running shoes??

Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram Daily Fun: RunToTheFinish

Facebook Community Chatter: RunToTheFinish

Sign Up to Receive a Weekly Newsletter with Top Running Tips and Laughs