JEREMY: Back in early 2020, the Saucony Endorphin Pro was an absolute gamechanger on the carbon-plated scene. Previously, Nike had a complete monopoly with Vaporflys and Next% and if you wanted to be competitive, that’s what you were running in. But then the Endorphin Pro came out and went toe-to-toe with the swoosh while sitting at a much lower price point.
The Endorphin Pro 2 is by and large the same high-performing shoe as the previous iteration with some updates made to the upper, heel, and lacing design.
ADRIENNE: 2020 saw an emergence of a vast array of super shoes. It was supposed to be an Olympic year, so it made perfect sense the likes of many manufacturers started bringing out the big guns. Saucony concocted the Endorphin Pro, and suddenly Nike had some competition. Additionally, Adrienne found a super shoe that she liked quite a bit.
Fast forward to 2021, the Endorphin Pro 2 is largely the same as last year’s banger, with the biggest change coming in the new colorway. Nothing says “move your ass” like a pair of checkered flag shoes.
JEREMY: Performance-wise, the Endorphin Pro 2 has that firm, snappy ride that feels incredible at faster paces. It’s not soft and bouncy like other super shoes, but this shoe flys at fast paces. The triple combo of the PWRRUN PB midsole, S- curve carbon plate, and the Speed Roll geometry of the outsole gives the sensation of rolling through strides with an almost effortless glide. I wore these shoes for a few workouts in the past month, and they all went extremely well, despite being the first quality efforts since my marathon a month ago.
The new snug heel fit and anti-slip laces are a welcome update. Although I struggled to find complaints about the original Pro, I felt my foot sliding around towards the sides in the mesh upper. That’s been addressed in the Endorphin Pro 2 with secure lockdown and no sliding whatsoever.
The weight remains the same at 7.5 ounces for a US men’s 7.5. The outsole is also the same, which handled surprisingly well on wet, leaf-covered paths.
ADRIENNE: You know all the talk about different athletes responding to different types of shoes? Apparently, this is a model I respond to. I typically average cadences as high as the 190s on workout days or races, so I need something that just rolls with my stride and stays out of the way. SpeedRoll is the real deal, you just step in and go. The Endorphin Pro 2 is smooth as hell and even saves me some effort from my ankles and calves.
Durability is a calling card for the Endorphin Pro 2. I expect to get a good 250 miles or more out of this speed demon. And again, to restate the obvious, the small changes to a shoe I already loved are really appreciated. Now don’t mess this up, Saucony!
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JEREMY: I honestly have no complaints. It felt a little awkward running at slower paces but, come on, it’s a racing shoe.
ADRIENNE: Not much to report here, but the heel could still use some more rigidity. I got annoyed having to switch to the heel lock on my initial run to make them feel dialed in.
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Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 ConclusionJEREMY: If you liked the OG Pro, you’re gonna love the Endorphin Pro 2. Saucony took the winning formula from 2020, updated the fit and upper to make the shoe more comfortable, and reduce foot sliding. This shoe is a winner, and one of my favorites for big workouts and racing. Oh, and it’s one of the cheaper carbon racers out there at $200.
ADRIENNE: Got a need for speed? Like your racers a little on the firmer side? The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is for you. I like the diversity of options for carbon-plated racers and at a $200 price point, this update is worth a look when it drops on 6/1. Go Speed Racer Go!
You can pick up the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) by using the shop link below.
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