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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Saucony Endorphin Endorphin Review}}
The Endorphin is an ultralight shoe that provides a surprising level of cushioning for its weight. Obviously there's not as much cushioning as many heavier shoes, but you might be surprised by how well it does for itself. Of course, a shoe this light may not provide enough cushioning for everyone, but I'd recommend trying it out if you're a reasonably efficient runner looking for an edge. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. If you're after an ultralight, fast shoe, this is a prime candidate.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Endorphin Endorphin is remarkably well cushioned given its weight of only 4.1oz. There is obviously a lot less cushioning than you'd find in other shoes that would be normally be considered a light weight like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], but even that shoe weighs half as much again. The Endorphin has enough cushioning for me to consider it an optimal rather than a minimalist shoe. The lack of cushioning in a minimalist shoe reduces Running Economy, but the Endorphin Endorphin allows me to run with just the same biomechanics as I would in a far more cushioned shoe.* {{H:drop}}. The Endorphin Endorphin zero drop (in fact, I measure it with 1mm of negative drop), which is nice to see. * {{H:structure}}. The Endorphin Endorphin uses a single density of foam with no real "arch support" to cause problems. The gaps in the midsole have never been a stone trap for me, and I don't think they should be an issue. These gaps will allow water to drain out more quickly, which is nice for running through puddles (or even stream crossings). * {{H:flexibility}}. The Endorphin Endorphin is flexible due to the thin midsole combined with gaps in the outsole.* {{H:outsole}}. The Endorphin Endorphin has lots of small, hard plastic lugs over the forefoot and extreme edge of the heel. These are not the type of lugs you'd find on the trail shoe, but are intended to provide extra grip on asphalt, something they do nicely. For fast running on wet asphalt, these lugs are great. * {{H:shape}}. Like most running shoes, the shape of the Endorphin Endorphin does not match the human foot, and narrows in the toe box, and I had to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box open]] to prevent toe problems. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is thin, inflexible and seamless with absolutely no padding, but I found it surprisingly comfortable. There upper is nicely breathable, with some holes midway up the material over the midfoot. I was surprised how tough the upper is given the lightness of the shoe.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Endorphin Endorphin tongue is sown to the upper on the inside edge, which helps keep it in place. I found the tongue is so thin I had problems avoiding it rucking up when I put the shoe on, but it never caused an issue during the run, only beforehand. * {{H:lacing}}. The Endorphin Endorphin has traditional flat laces that are a little thinner than most, probably to save weight. I found that they stayed tied nicely, and there is a small amount of elasticity in the laces, which probably contributes to the comfort of the shoe.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. Not surprisingly, there is no real heel counter in this shoe. There is a tiny tab that sticks up from the back of the heel, but nothing else.
=How Far Can I Run in the EndorphinEndorphin? =Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Maximalist]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. I've run the marathon distance in less cushioned shoes than the EndorphinEndorphin, but I'd probably want more cushioning for a road 50 mile race. .
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Saucony Endorphin Endorphin and New Balance RC5000==
The question you should be asking is if the Endorphin is better than the amazing [[New Balance RC5000]], the fastest shoe I've tested. The simple answer is the RC5000 is lighter and therefore faster. However, there is a slightly more nuanced answer that you should consider. The reason the RC5000 does so well is that it provides roughly the minimum amount of cushioning needed to boost running economy. So while the Endorphin is better cushioned, this doesn't help to improve running economy. However, it's not inconceivable that some people may need slightly more cushioning than the research suggests in order to get the boost in running economy. If that were the case for you, then the extra cushioning could make the Endorphin the faster shoe. The other advantage in the Endorphin has over the RC 5000 is that it is zero drop, which is rather nice.
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{{FastBlr|new-balance/rc5000-v1-852|852|New Balance RC5000}}
==Saucony Endorphin Endorphin and Mizuno Wave Universe ==While the [[Mizuno Wave Universe]] seems similar to the EndorphinEndorphin, they are actually rather different. The difference in cushioning between the two shoes makes a huge impact on [[Running Economy]], so the Universe is a slower shoe. I've also found that the Endorphin lasts much longer than the Universe.
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{{FastBlr|mizuno/wave-universe-5-1089|1089|Mizuno Wave Universe 5}}
==Saucony Endorphin Endorphin and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] is another favorite shoe, and if I need more cushioning than the Endorphin, the Hyper Speed is my first choice. Don't expect a plush, cushy ride even from the Hyper Speed; it still is stripped down, go faster running shoe. In fact, I'd argue that the difference in comfort in the upper of the two shoes is far less than you'd expect, though the cushioning difference is significant.
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{{FastBlr|asics/gel-hyperspeed-6-192|192|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6}}
==Saucony Endorphin Endorphin and Asics GT 2000==I realize that this is an extreme comparison, as the Endorphin is only about a third the weight of the GT 2000. I like to compare shoes against the [[Asics GT 2000]] as it represents the traditional running shoe, so what do you get for all that extra weight? Mostly you get over engineering, with excessive features that go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]]. This is more likely to cause problems than solve them, as well as adding a lot of extra weight. Of course, you also get more cushioning with the GT 2000, with better padding in the upper, especially in the tongue and ankle opening. Running in the GT 2000 after the Endorphin Endorphin feels like you've put on a wooden clog and ankle weights. This weight difference impacts your [[Running Economy]], and the calculations suggest that an average runner in the Endorphin Endorphin is around 10 seconds/mile faster than in the GT 2000. (In practice, I feel like it's a bigger difference than that.)
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