Best Saucony Running Shoes

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 continues to be the best shoe in Saucony’s line despite a full aesthetic overhaul. There’s something about the way the TPU plate, Saucony’s Speedroll rocker, and the PWRRUN PB work together. It’s magic on speed days and really earns the Speed name. Despite a more narrow toebox, the Endorphin Speed 4 is one of the most versatile shoes on the market. And, if you don’t like carbon-plated shoes, the Speed 4 is a great option for race day. Read the full review. 

Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $170

Saucony Endorphin Trainer

The Saucony Endorphin Trainer is rather undeniably a second attempt at the Kinvara Pro, albeit a rebranded one. The Kinvara Pro was met with mixed reviews, to say the least (even within our own team at WearTesters). But despite the Endorphin Trainer’s similar build concept, the changes it brings make it far better than its sort-of predecessor. T

he Saucony Endorphin Trainer’s lacing setup allows for more customization and reduces pressure on the top of the foot. But it does require a bit more effort to dial in initially and makes the shoe slightly harder to unlace and take off. That said, the lockdown is great. We’re bummed to say, however, that the shoe is still uncharacteristically narrow at the toes. We hope a wide version is coming, but definitely be aware if lack of forefoot width presents problems for your feet.

Now onto the larger improvements… Saucony’s new incrediRUN foam (which will also be featured in the highly anticipated Endorphin Elite 2) is very soft, very bouncy, and makes every footstep fun whether running recovery efforts or marathon paces over long distances. The ¾ length carbon plate is also improved in that it’s not as unyielding as the one found in the Kinvara Pro. Throw in the same PWRRUN+ sockliner, Saucony’s SPEEDROLL geometry, and the PWRRUN bottom layer of foam that also acts as much of the outsole, and the mix of new and old, yin and yang elements combine for a massively improved ride. Added rubber at the medial toe and lateral heel does its job if your form has you consistently pushing off your big toe. But for many of us, the exposed foam is still going to bear the brunt of our abuse, meaning outsole durability could be a weak point of the Endorphin Trainer. But, if the fit works for you, the super fun incrediRUN foam might just be a worthwhile trade-off for outsole durability.

Whereas we felt the Kinvara Pro didn’t warrant forking over $180, the Endorphin Trainer delivers the combo of high-tech, bouncy foam, a smooth ride, and the ability to go long and fast needed to justify the price point. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $180

Saucony Guide 18

Saucony has an early contender for “stability shoe of the year” on its hands with the Guide 18. It’s simply a well-executed model that brings together much of what makes for a fun, reliable, and supportive daily shoe. And it does so at a super reasonable price and with multiple widths available. You may want something plated for speedier days or races, and you may look to the also stability-minded Saucony Hurricane 24 for the cushiest of recovery day rides. But the Guide 18 keeps you moving for all those miles in between with a great rocker geometry that truly complements Saucony’s PWRRUN midsole foam and CenterPath Technology (which the brand describes as a combination of higher sidewalls, a broader platform, and an asymmetrical profile). The overall design softly guides your foot ever-forward through the gait cycle, and the rest of the Guide 18’s build promises both comfort and durability for loads of miles. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price $140

Saucony Hurricane 24

The Saucony Hurricane 24 is a max-cushion stability trainer with a roomy fit (potentially to a fault, depending) that looks to deliver long-lasting comfort for runners and walkers seeking a more substantial feeling underfoot. It excels at easy cruising miles in a package that resembles the Hoka Bondi or Gaviota, unapologetically prioritizing plush comfort and impact protection over versatility or breathability. It utilizes dual PWRRUN PB and PWRRUN midsole foams, updated geometry, and what Saucony calls its CenterPath Technology to create an extremely stable platform.

While many will benefit enormously from the abundance of trusty stability and comfy max cushion, the ride may feel overly controlling to those who prefer less noticeable guidance. Regardless of ride preference, traction and durability are impressive, and Saucony seems to have achieved what it set out to do in bringing back a stability-fan favorite. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price $160

Saucony Triumph RFG

The most sustainable Saucony shoe doubles as the best daily trainer. The regular Saucony Triumph 21 is solid overall but the knit upper is a little too sloppy. The Triumph RFG solves it with an engineered mesh upper that fits well and feels great.

But the plant-dyed upper isn’t the main reason why this is Saucony’s most sustainable shoe ever, that distinction belongs to the 80% natural rubber outsole and the PWRRUN+ BIO midsole. The midsole uses a 55% corn-based formula created with Susterra, a company that makes bio-based building blocks for performance apparel and footwear.

The midsole feels almost exactly like Saucony’s regular PWRRUN+ midsole in terms of plush comfort and bounce. It’s hard to tell a difference. And that’s good news because more Saucony RFG versions of popular Saucony models are on the way.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price $160

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

The Endorphin Elite 2 is Saucony’s premier carbon-plated race day offering, and it sports the brand’s newest high-end foam – incrediRUN – to live up to that place in the lineup. Also found as the top layer of foam in the Endorphin Trainer, incrediRUN is unbelievably soft and bouncy. But that softness could come at the price of fatigued ankles for those who have to work a bit harder to stabilize while running atop all that squishy goodness. The molded heel cup is potentially polarizing, but the breathable upper keeps you securely locked onto the footbed thanks to the excellent fit and solid support (especially for a race model), making it a good option for twisty, turny courses and the track.

While no one will accuse the Endorphin Elite 2 of being wide-fitting, the upper’s stretch and good room around the toes make it about as wide-foot friendly as most modern race day shoes out there. The PWRTRAC outsole is extra tacky and handles a variety of road conditions (short of snow and ice) really well. $275 can’t be described as a steal, but the Endorphin Elite 2 isn’t overpriced for the well-put-together package and rocket-y feel it brings to race day and any other pace-oriented efforts out on the roads. See full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $275

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is more accommodating than previous models and mirrors the fit of the Endorphin Speed 4. The bounce from the PWRRUN PB and carbon plate combo is smooth and propulsive. The built-in knit tongue is comfortable and the entire upper is more pliable and feels better on foot. If you used the Pro 3 as your preferred marathon shoe, the experience only got better. You’ll enjoy the changes and feel as fast as ever. Read the full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $225

Saucony Xodus Ultra 3

The Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 is all about lockdown. A comfortable, but not particularly wide upper also fiercely locks the foot into the footbed without any discomfort, pinching, or hotspots. The ultimate security to quickly ascend or descend trails is the best part of this shoe.

The dual-layer PWRRUN PB and PWRRUN cushioning feels just soft enough. It’s firmer at first but softens up after 5-15 miles. The outsole and its 4mm lugs grip well, even when scrambling over granite boulders at all kinds of odd angles.

Think of the Xodus Ultra 3 as a trail shoe that is versatile enough for hiking or trail running while giving you everything you need to survive on the trails for long distances.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 6mm, Price $160

Saucony Endorphin Edge

The Saucony Endorphin Edge brings a bouncy PWRRUN PB midsole and a flexible 3-quarter Carbitex carbon fiber plate to the trails. How does it perform? Really, really good. The Endorphin Edge midsole provides a bouncy ride with solid impact protection. All the sharp rocks and roots are blunted while the upper and lacing system keep you locked into the shoe. You won’t slide around inside the shoe (even though it is wide-footer friendly) or be at risk of turning an ankle on precarious downhill runs.

It’s a comfortable, protective shoe that can handle all-day hikes and long-distance trail racing. We did have issues with durability as one of our testers ripped a couple of lugs off the outsole and saw significant chipping on the sides of the fragile Pebax midsole. Those aren’t dealbreakers but know the Edge will get some battle scars rather quickly. If you’re in the market for a speedy, comfortable, and bouncy trail shoe, the Endorphin Edge is one of your best options.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 6mm, Price $200

Saucony Ride 18

While the Saucony Ride 18 isn’t the flashiest or bounciest of daily trainers out there, it should be considered alongside models like the Brooks Ghost or Hoka Clifton for its dependability, comfort, durability, and reasonable price. The Ride 18 is a well-crafted shoe overall with a basic, but nicely constructed engineered mesh upper that features just-right amounts of padding. It has a secure, true-to-size fit, and the standard width has enough room for toe splay for those with slightly wide feet. The PWRRUN+ midsole and XT-900 rubber make for a mid-cushioned workhorse that’s meant to blend into your daily training efforts and last in your shoe rotation for 300-500 miles. The Ride 18 may not have a ton of pizazz, but it competitively offers comfort, consistency, and durability at the $140 price point. Read the full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $140

Saucony Endorphin Elite

The Saucony Endorphin Elite is the first shoe to feature Saucony’s next PWRRUN HG foam. It’s a little firmer than the PWRRUN PB in the Endorphin Pro 3 but it’s also bouncier. The carbon plate is segmented at the toe for a little more flexibility but it and the midsole curves up sharply for added toe spring. You sit inside the midsole a bit to keep you on the footbed while the midsole also flares outward resulting in one of the more stable modern marathon shoes on the market.

The outsole has no rubber at the rear so if you’re a heel striker, you may not get great durability…but midfoot and forefoot strikers should be ok. The Endorphin Elite is also one of the most breathable shoes on the market making it a great fit for warmer races. The biggest drawback is the $275 price point…but just like the Alphafly, if you’re a shoe nerd and heavy into marathons, this shoe will deliver value to match. See full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $275