SAUCONY ENDORPHIN PRO 3 | RUNNING SHOE REVIEW

There’s a lot of hype around the new Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 at the moment. Some people are saying it’s the best new running shoe release so far this year. Featuring a pretty substantial overhaul from last year’s model, Saucony have gone all out this year to cram in the best technology and features they could produce for their new hero shoe. Did it work? Let’s find out in our Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 running shoe review.

---

Disclaimer – I purchased this these shoes with my own money and have not been paid by anyone to make this review. This is my honest, independent opinion.

---

Saucony have been kicking some goals this year. Updates they have released to their range have been well received, and are proving very popular.

The Endorphin series of running shoes is Saucony’s premium range, and runners are having great success with them, not only in races such as marathons, but in everyday training as well.

At the top of the Saucony stable sits the Endorphin Pro 3, and I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about with this new running shoe, whether they really are as good as some people are saying. Since we don’t sell running shoes on this site, and have not been paid to make this review, I can be entirely frank. By the end, you will know whether this shoe is a buy or a miss.

I ran the Melbourne Marathon in the Endorphin Pro 3, a marathon is the ultimate test of a running shoe. Want to know what I thought of them? Read on.

You can also check out a video I made of this great event, as I ran the course, including its finish in the mighty MCG.

Who Is Saucony?

Not very familiar with Saucony? Never tried them before?

Advertising in the running shoe space is mostly dominated by a couple of household names such as Nike, or Asics, which are recognised by everyone. That can make it hard for runners to gain awareness of other brands and their, often better, products.

Saucony (sock-a-knee) has been around since 1898, and have developed an impressive portfolio of products, revered by professional athletes and everyday runners as well.

This company has formidable expertise in manufacturing premium products, and has a running shoe for every type of running workout. So, even if you have no experience with Saucony, you can safely put them on your shopping list.

Endorphin Pro 3 – What Is it?

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is a premium carbon-plated racing shoe, but with a serious stack of responsive foam cushioning, providing the shoe with both comfort and performance.

My first introduction to the Endorphin range was with last year’s Endorphin Speed 2. I was looking for a performance shoe that was both light and fast. The Speed 2 was both those things, in spades, but what really blew me away was the glorious cushioning. Saucony managed to produce a racer AND a superbly cushioned shoe in one package. When we think of speed shoes, we often think of a minimalist design, being fairly flat, with a low stack height, and not much cushioning. Saucony re-wrote the book here, and this shoe is still one of my all-time favourite trainers. Take a look at my review of the Endorphin Speed 2.

Saucony have continued the theme of adding outstanding cushioning into a top-end racing shoe in the Endorphin Pro 3.

Let’s take a look at some specs –

Who Is The Endorphin Pro 3 For?

Incorporating all the best technologies Saucony have developed, which we’ll elaborate on later, the Endorphin Pro 3 is aimed at anyone looking for a top-end racer, long-distance performer, or a comfortable performance trainer.

Runners who have different shoe’s in their rotation, may want to save the Pro 3 for race days, which makes sense given the top-end pricing. However, if you only intend to buy one pair of running shoes, the Pro 3 is still a viable option as they make an effective everyday trainer.

Saucony says it’s ‘speed over everything when you lace up the Endorphin Pro 3’. That sums up who they are aiming this shoe at.

Unboxing And First Impressions.

I ordered the shoes directly from Saucony in Australia, they were delivered quickly and came in a basic cardboard box with tissue paper protecting the shoes.

All packaging is completely recyclable. No handy pace chart on the bottom of the box, as in previous releases, and no different coloured spare laces.

Pulling the shoes out of the box is a bit startling, they are so incredibly light, they almost feel quite unsubstantial.

Throwing these men’s size 8 on the scales reveals a weight of only 194g, first time I’ve had a shoe come in under 200g. Compare this with other shoes I have tested, such as Endorphin Speed 2 208g, On Cloudmonster 262g, and Hoka Bondi 7 290. These Pros are seriously light.

Putting them on for the first time is almost like putting on a comfy pair of socks. The upper is thin and airy, and the cushioning underfoot immediately feels plush. The roll-forward geometry initially feels weird to walk in, like it’s tipping you forward, the urge is instantly to break into a run.

So far, so good, but what are they like to run in?

First Run In The Endorphin Pro 3.

My go-to running shoes these last few months has been the Endorphin Speed 2’s, these shoes turned out to be a near perfect combination of performance and comfort. So, the Pro 3’s had a pretty hard act to follow, let alone beat.

For the first run, I chose a 7k recovery run. Just a light workout at an easy pace, but plenty of time for any fit or design problems to manifest, and to get a general idea of how these shoes perform.

These trainers are primarily for road and track use, the outsole design is not going to suit loose surfaces such as trails. So, for this run, I stuck to city streets, these hard surfaces will be a good test of the cushioning, and the performance.

Here’s what I discovered on this first run –

• Roll forward geometry. As mentioned before, the roll forward design of the Pro 3’s was very evident when putting on the shoes for the first time. Walking in them may feel a little odd, but running in them urges you to run … fast. Propelling you forward in a fluid and lively manner, these shoes felt sprightly, and did not adversely affect my natural gait.
• Carbon plate. I was expecting the carbon plate to firm up the shoes a little. Pleasingly, that wasn’t the case, there was no feeling of stiffness underfoot. The plate seemed to effectively do its job of providing energy return, there was an elastic rebound feel transitioning from heel strike to toe off.
• Cushioning. Saucony have loaded up these shoes with plenty of their PWRRUN PB foam. For a performance shoe, the Pro 3’s are beautifully cushioned. In this short run, these trainers were very comfortable. My impression is that these shoes will be excellent for long-distance workouts. The cushioning did not feel too soft, they felt stable and sure-footed, I did not detect any squishiness.
• Fit. There were no problems with fit, I did not need to make any adjustments during the run. I had difficulties with the thin tongue of the On Cloudmonsters causing pain across my instep, no such issue arose with the thin tongue of the Pro 3’s. There was no chaffing or blister causing rubbing.
• Grip. The outsole rubber seemed to grip the surface well, cornering and stopping was reassuring. There was no issue with traction.
• Overall result. A very successful first hit out in these Pro 3’s. Fit was great, the upper wrapped around my feet like a glove and securely located my feet, there was no movement inside the shoe. I felt that the cushioning was protecting my joints from ground strike shock, whilst also proving quite comfortable. The carbon plate combined with the Speedroll technology provided a lively and energetic ride.

In this first run, I was getting a sense of why the Endorphin Pro 3’s were receiving such universal praise. But this was just a short easy test, now it’s time to see how they do in a longer workout.

Second Run In The Endorphin Pro 3.

I primarily purchased these shoes as my choice of trainer for running the Melbourne Marathon, which was coming up in a few weeks time. As always, I test out a new shoe for a couple of runs before each year’s marathon, to make sure there are no problems, and that they will be suitable for such a long distance.

With that in mind, it was time to try out the Pro 3’s on a longer run. This time, I chose a 21k marathon training run as a long-distance test of these shoes.

If the Pro 3’s performed impressively in this workout, I will run the marathon in them.

This run was a combination of city streets, concrete footpaths, and firm tracks along the Murray river.

Setting off, the first four kilometres were on the hard surfaces of the city, and once again, I immediately appreciated the protective cushioning of these shoes. With a long way to go, you want the first couple of warm-up kilometres to coddle your body while you settle into a comfortable rhythm.

Designed as a performance shoe, the Pro 3’s felt lively. As noted on the first run, the Speedroll and carbon plate technology worked well together to provide this intended high level of performance, and it was evident throughout the entire run.

Similarly, the cushioning remained effective the whole distance. I did not detect any flattening out or hardening of the midsole foam as the run progressed.

Another attribute I appreciated was the stability of the shoe upon heel strike with the ground, and through the whole transition to toe-off. At times the tracks were quite uneven and rough, however, foot placement remained confident, I did not feel any slippage or movement in the midsole or outsole. My heels were located securely inside the shoe, there was no movement detected which can often result in blisters, the heel counter and collar worked well in this regard.

The Endorphin Pro 3’s were a real surprise on hills. I felt like I was rolling UP the hills and inclines. The uphill performance was truly impressive.

The fit remained comfortable and secure throughout the run. The toe box and forefoot areas were capacious enough for my normal-sized foot. There was no cramping, nor was there any movement of my foot inside the shoe.

These are also very airy shoes, there was plenty of ventilation, my feet did not get hot.

A successful second run, no issues became evident, and I finished the run without any feeling of exhaustion or fatigue.

I did not experience any unusual aches or pains the next day, which can sometimes happen with new shoes.

The Pro 3’s are now my choice of running shoes for the Melbourne Marathon.

Design Elements Of The Endorphin Pro 3.

A lot of technology and design work goes into running shoes these days. Countless hours are spent perfecting the materials, particularly the midsole foam, and all the other elements of the shoe. So, let’s see, in a little more detail, how all these components come together.

The Upper.

The upper is constructed of a course mesh material with a quite open weave. This results in a very airy structure, and ventilation is first class. Thicker running socks may be required in icy weather, but will be ideal for hot days.

Saucony’s mesh choice has virtually no elasticity and is very lightweight. Once laced up, your feet will be held inside the shoe securely, you should not need to lock down too tightly to avoid foot movement.

There is no liner under the mesh.

Logo’s, accents, and other design details look great, and seem firmly attached, if other models are anything to go by, these should also prove very durable.

This shoe is not waterproof.

Lacing And Tongue.

As mentioned previously, the tongue of these shoes is very thin. You might think that this could result in the lacing system causing irritation to the instep of the foot while running. However, I did not experience any such problem in the Pro 3’s, I think primarily because the accents attached to the tongue, gives it a little more structure, which insulates the feet from the lacing system, particularly around the knot area.

The tongue has three large holes in the design which, like the upper, endows the shoe with excellent ventilation. Location of the tongue is provided by gussets sewn into the strobel layer of the shoe.

Laces are a lightweight, ribbed material which helps prevent any loosening or undoing of the laces while you run.

Toe Box.

I was unable to find any wide versions of the Pro 3 on the Saucony website. However, most people should find this shoe a comfortable fit, they are not a particularly narrow shoe. Similarly, the toe box was capacious enough for my normal-sized feet, and I did not experience any cramping. Even towards the end of a long run, when the feet can splay a little, there was still plenty of room inside the shoe.

The rubber toe tip and the mudguards are a stiff enough design to prevent the upper from collapsing down on the toes and causing uncomfortable pressure. Toe box length was also roomy enough, I did not feel any compression in the toe tip area.

Heel And Collar.

Saucony have created a very lightweight trainer in the Endorphin Pro 3. However, they haven’t been excessively skimpy on the padding in the collar area of the shoe, trying to save weight.

Padding in the collar, and the collar lining is not overly plush, but it is still quite comfortable. The heel counter is not particularly stiff, but holds the heel securely in place inside the shoe, I could not detect any slippage whilst running. There was no need for me to utilise the rear-most lacing eyelet or employ a lock-lace to lock down the heel.

Insole.

Created from the same PWRRUN PB foam as the midsole, the insole provides a comfortable cushioned bed for the feet.

In a different approach to the Endorphin Speed 2’s I have been running in previously, the insole is glued into the shoe, which will make it difficult to replace in the future. However, given the propensity of Saucony’s PB foam to resist collapse and compression over time, these insoles may never need to be replaced. Time will tell.

The surface of the insole has a slightly mesh-like texture, which grips your running socks far better than any other shoes I have tested. Some sock-liners have been smooth and slippery, allowing the feet to easily move around inside the shoe. Saucony really have thought of everything.

Midsole.

It seems every running shoe manufacturer is trying to produce the world’s most cushioned trainer. The reality is, most never get it quite right, they are either too soft and squishy, or too firm and flat. And quite often, what suits one runner, won’t suit another, mainly due to body weight differences, or what type of training the shoe will be used for.

I have tested quite a few max-cushion shoes over time, such as the On Cloudmonster, and Hoka Bondi 7, both of which had great cushioning, but were seriously stacked and chunky. On the other hand, Saucony have engineered plenty of their lightweight PWRRUN PB foam into the Pro 3, providing the desired cushioning, but without the shoe feeling so big and chunky.

These shoes feel plush, but are by no means squishy. The cushioning is not as pillow soft as you might expect, and as a performance shoe, this is a good thing. Midsoles that are too soft can result in the loss of energetic rebound, or sloppy lateral movement of the midsole upon heel strike compression.

The stack height of the Pro 3 is slightly greater than the previous model, which some people may find makes the shoe a little less stable. However, combined with sufficient fore-foot width, plus the stabilising effect of the carbon plate, there is still a sense of confidence inspiring balance and control. I would suggest giving the Endorphin Speed 3 a try if you are looking for a performance shoe with less stack height than the Pro 3.

Saucony’s Speedroll technology is no gimmick. Urging you forward as you roll through the transition from heel to toe, you can clearly feel the effect. This feature, combined with the energy return of the S-Curve Carbon Fibre plate, propels you forward, and amplifies the high-performance nature of this shoe.

Outsole.

Saucony have covered a large chunk of the outsole with a thin layer of their XT-900 rubber, as you can see in the picture. The white areas are exposed PWRRUN PB foam, the large cutouts of which reveal the carbon plate.

The tread pattern of the outsole in the Pro 3’s is a little more aggressive than the Speed 2’s I have been comparing these shoes to in this article. This results in slightly better grip, especially on loose surfaces. Virtually the entire forefoot area is covered in this protective rubber, as well high abrasion areas of the heel.

Grip is good as the rubber is compliant and not too firm. Stopping and cornering inspires confidence, I have not experienced any excess slippage. I deliberately tried to induce sliding on wet surfaces, despite this, the shoes maintained good traction.

Durability of Saucony’s XT-900 is generally excellent. However, the layer of rubber on these shoes is very thin, and I am already noticing the rubber on the outer edge of the heel wearing down to the midsole foam. There is also some feathering of the exposed foam in the midfoot area, but there are no signs of abnormally excessive wear.

Quality And Value For Money.

These are premium running shoes. Saucony have thrown all the latest technology and best quality materials they have designed into these trainers. In Australia, the Pro 3 is priced at $339.99, and that’s expensive, there’s no other way to look at it.

I’ve purchased many Saucony running shoes over the years and have never had any issue with quality. They have always been well-made, been durable, and performed as intended. The Pro 3’s continue in this tradition, quality is excellent.

With quality not being an issue, and taken out of the equation, it comes down to whether these shoes are worth such high-end pricing. The $300 price point is being breached by many manufacturers these days with their premium shoes. Buying a product, which for many runners will only have a usable life of a few months before needing to be replaced, will be costly when added up over a full year.

One way to mitigate this cost a little, is to save the Pro 3’s for dedicated races such as marathons etc, and to use other cheaper options for everyday running and training. Using this shoe as your racing shoe, makes the expense worthwhile for the performance advantage you gain.

Pros And Cons Of The Endorphin Pro 3.

Running A Marathon In The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.

Every year I pick up a new pair of running shoes a few weeks before the Melbourne Marathon. The idea is not only to have fresh shoes for the race, but to allow enough time to test them, and make sure they will be suitable for such a long distance.

This year, my choice was the Endorphin Pro 3’s. But why?

• Latest model. I wanted the very latest in running shoe design and tech.
• Performance. This model was a full redesign of the previous iteration, with maximum performance in mind.
• Long-distance. Whichever shoe I chose, it had to have long-distance running in its DNA.
• Cushioning. In many previous marathons, I had selected the Triumph series of trainers, because of their superior cushioning. I needed a shoe that would mitigate the shock of ground strike over such a long distance.
• Light weight. You want your running shoe to wrap around your foot and disappear, avoiding the feeling of having a heavy weight attached to your feet.

The Pro 3’s were selected, and as part of this review, were thoroughly tested to make sure they would be suitable for the marathon. So, how did they perform in the marathon? Here’s what I found out-

• Comfortable for the whole distance. There were no fit issues, no rubbing, chafing or any other pain points, even the thin tongue caused no problems.
• The cushioning was excellent the entire race through. There was no flattening out or hardening of the foam.
• Performance was impressive. The combination of the Speedroll tech and the carbon plate makes this shoe a lively performer. You can feel the forward propulsion with each step
• No fatigue. I did not feel any sense of fatigue towards the end of the race. My legs were tired from such a long distance, but not completely shot as you might expect, I was able to walk back to the hotel where I was staying normally and without pain.
• No injury. With a slightly stiff RHS hamstring and an ankle that can easily twist, neither of these issues caused me any difficulty during the race. I also did not suffer any black toenails, which is common in runners competing in long-distance races.

The shoes performed extremely well in the marathon. My time was 8 minutes better than last year at 3:59:33.

Final Verdict.

I’ve had a lot of Saucony running shoes over the years, the Endorphin Pro 3 is undoubtedly the best yet.

They have managed to cross a performance shoe with a highly cushioned trainer, the result of which is extremely impressive performance and comfort on the track. A performance shoe doesn’t have to be minimalist with little midsole foam anymore. You CAN have comfort and performance all in the one package.

The pop and energy return provided by the S-curve carbon plate, combined with Saucony’s Speedroll technology, noticeably propels you forward, it feels lively.

Accomplished as a race shoe, the Pro 3’s are also an impressive daily trainer, if you don’t mind the premium pricing. These shoes will perform well in most running applications, except for maybe trail running.

I can’t wait to see what Saucony will do with the Endorphin Pro 4, as it stands, it’s hard to see how they can make much of an improvement.

Over to you now, have you purchased the Pro 3’s? What was your experience? Please let us know in the comments, or if you have any questions.

Happy Running

Steve

Five Stars from us, we rate this one a BUY!

Frequently Asked Questions.

Updates On Previous Running Shoe Reviews.

On Cloudmonster.

Having done a few hundred kilometres in the Cloudmonster’s now, I am finding these shoes best suited to distances less than 21k. Given the weight, for very long distances, I am gravitating to more lightweight trainers.

Quality has been solid, there is no excessive wear and nothing has broken or come apart. These shoes still cause pain across my instep, and the only way I can relieve this is to not use the upper lace eyelets.

The cushioning, while great, is still not as good as say the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3’s in this review.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 2.

These have been my go-to shoes until the arrival of the Endorphin Pro 3’s. Light, comfortable and with excellent performance, I have loved running in these shoes.

Durability has been excellent, there has been very little wear, the outsole has coped well with the now hundreds of kilometres I have run in these shoes.

Performance is still impressive, these racers have maintained the lively pop they are renowned for. I have noticed slight instability in the heel on ground strike in some situations, but overall, these shoes are still a solid package.

Saucony Kinvara 12.

With all the great product releases from Saucony and others, the Kinvara’s don’t get much of a hit out lately.

The Kinvara’s remain a good training shoe, but mainly for short distance and track work. For me, there is not enough protective cushioning to wear them on long-distance workouts, I guess I’ve been spoilt by the impressive plushness of newer models from Saucony and others.

However, the Kinvara’s have proven very versatile. As a daily trainer, they work well for most workouts, and if you prefer less cushioning, even for longer runs, the Kinvara’s are a going to be a suitable option.

Once again, no quality control issues have manifested, and no excessive wear of the outsole has become apparent, despite very outsole rubber over the midsole foam.

Read More:

Share this