First Look at the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
Incredibly light, incredibly soft and incredibly fast, the new Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is here, and it might just have stolen a march on the competition.
Debuting a brand-new Super-foam, so soft it looks barely believable, the latest Endorphin is aiming for the top of the podium in the crowded marathon racer market.
KEY INFO
Price: £279.99
Foot type: Neutral
Weight: 199g (Men’s)176g (Women’s)
Stack Height: 39.5mm – 31.5mm
Heel Drop: 8mm
Surface: Road
Best for: Blistering race pace
HISTORY
Although Saucony already had a race day shoe in their stable, they launched the Endorphin Elite in January 2023 to take on the might of the big brands. With even more advanced technologies than their Endorphin Pro, the Elite is at the forefront of what is possible.
CLOSER LOOK
For 9 years peba based foams have generally been seen as the best possible technology, offering incredible lightness, responsiveness and resilience, Saucony feature two such foams in their lineup, PWRRUN PB, and the super critical formed version PWRRUN HG.
But now Saucony have ditched peba in their pinnacle race day foam, instead creating a super critical TPEE foam called incrediRUN. Phenomenally soft, startlingly responsive, they claim it not only has an energy return rate of 93%, but that it maintains an incredible 90% energy return even after 300 miles. Saucony have become the first brand to use, then discard peba, in their pinnacle race shoe.
Lighter and more responsive than their peba based foams, the advantages in a race day shoe are obvious and the new foam helps to contribute to a max stack shoe with a weight below 200g in a size 8.5.
A full-length slotted carbon plate divides the foam, giving you the stiffness you need to find real speed, as well as an efficient gait and forefoot pop.
In the upper, a seamless 3D heel is paired with an ultra lite mesh and a knit tongue for breathable comfort without the weight.
Another update in the outsole sees the PWRTRAC rubber introduced to improve wet surface traction, and increased coverage in the heel for improved durability.
Through the midsole/outsole cut out sections keep the weight to a minimum, while a specific geometry through the Footstrike Path technology improves your gait for maximum efficiency.
CONCLUSION
When Nike introduced the peba based ZoomX foam back in 2016, everyone else was left scrambling to keep up, now 9 years later Saucony have introduced a new super foam to upset the established order. The Endorphin Elite 2 may well end up being seen as a landmark moment in running technology,
But it’s not all about the foam, with a carbon plate, and Footstrike Path technology helping improve your efficiency and updates to both the outsole and upper, the Endorphin Elite 2 is the complete package and stands ready to top podiums the world over.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 for?
Specialising in races, they are particularly suited to long distance races like the marathon.
Are Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 legal?
Yes, they fall within the World Athletics rules for elite race rules, which includes a maximum of one stiffening plate within the shoe, and a maximum stack height in the foam of 40mm. However, with a stack height of 39.5mm they push the boundaries to give you every advantage possible.
What are the Saucony Endorphins good for?
The Endorphin range covers Saucony’s speed shoes, from fast training, to race day, the Endorphin range is all about going fast.
