Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Guides & Reviews
Perhaps Saucony’s most beloved road shoe the last couple of years, try out a nylon plate, rockered design and lightweight midsoles to see what the hype is all about.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Versatile, do-it-all shoe
- Fast and responsive feel
- Cushioned
- Durable
- Lightweight and breathable
- Two pairs of laces
Cons
- Checkered flag styling isn’t loved by all
- Traction on web surfaces is diminished
- Narrower fit
- Heel strikers may feel unstable
Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Features
Comfort and Fit
Runners rave about the the comfort and fit of this shoe. It’s light, peppy, and very responsive. An embedded nylon plate (similar to the notorious carbon plates) adds a little spring to each step and the midsole has a rockered design which is comfortable but doesn’t swallow energy.
Traction
Dry traction is fine on the Endorphin Speed 2 but wet surfaces will cause some slippage in grip.
Durability
Runners report durability in the 300-400 mile range for the Endorphin Speed 2.
Support
This is a neutral shoe with an 8mm drop so it will let the foot work. There is also some wobble which can happen with the rocker design. With some practice, most runners can get used to the rocker design and enjoy rolling through the miles.
Breathability
This shoe breathes satisfactorily, it’s not fantastic but not bad either.
Style
Shoe trends can be maddening to those with more conservative style preferences and the checkered flag theme on the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 might be a dealbreaker for some. It shouldn’t be though, this is a great shoe and running is a fun platform for trying bold style departures!
Flexibility and Responsiveness
Saucony does offer a Pro version of this shoe featuring a carbon plate. The Endorphin Speed 2’s nylon plate is more flexible and affordable. On the whole, the shoe is of about average flexibility but feels peppier than many other road shoes which favor extreme cushion.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Construction
Outsole
Durability and traction on the outsole may be weakest features, but not exceptionally so. The rubber is thinner than the average shoe and can slip on wet surfaces more easily than some shoes.
Midsole
Running companies all have their branded midsole materials and Saucony is no different with PWRRUN PB which does a good job of being lightweight and responsive despite the weird acronym. It really is a novel looking material and has a styrofoam appearance — runners love it!
Upper
No complaints from runners on the uppers. They breath well, lock down well and are light.
Lacing System
The laces work fine, crossing the foot one extra time as compared to the Endorphin Pro, and the shoe even comes with an extra pair of laces in case the first wears out or the dog eats them.
Conclusion
In our scoring research, the Saucony Kinvara 12 and the Endorphin Speed 2 are two great options for road runners. The Endorphin seems to have won the hearts of experts for its amazing combination of midsole, nylon plate, and rocker design which the Kinvara has a lower heel-to-to drop and the best tongue ever constructed. It’s a tough call, but both are neutral shoes worth trying out and capable of any distance.