Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 Review | The Carbon Plated Racer for Everyone

We know it’s giving off some ‘just do it’ vibes, but this is the newly updated Saucony Endorphin Pro 5. Based on what we’ve tested from Saucony so far in 2026, the brand is clearly having a moment, and we’re here for it. If you’re like us and love the Endorphin Pro 4, the good news is that the updates in the latest model are almost a perfect score. I mentioned in our preview that I was a little skeptical, but after two months of testing the Pro 5, I’m happy to say the design team really nailed it.

Every change in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 is aimed at making faster paces feel even smoother and easier to hit.

My training right now is focused on shorter distances, so I had plenty of chances to put these to the test. I was able to hit strides in the sixes, which is a big deal for me, and each one felt controlled, smooth, and kinda effortless.

Let’s dive into the details of what’s new and why this is still a shoe you’ll want to reach for, whether it’s a fast 5k or the marathon distance.

You’ll find this shoe on a handful of our best lists, including the best carbon plate running shoes and best running shoes of 2026.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 Overview

The design and colorways of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 honestly give me major Flash energy, fast, bold and ready to fly.

This is the kind of shoe you reach for on speed workout days and race mornings, when you want every step to feel smooth and quick.

Can it help you run a personal best? Think of it like the sprinkles on a cupcake; you still have to show up and do the work, but it definitely makes the whole experience more fun.

A change you may only notice if you put on one of each (the Pro 5 vs the Pro 4) is how it feels underfoot. That’s because Saucony changed the foam and plate to give a faster feel and turnover.

It’s still incredibly lightweight (6.3 oz for women’s), and on some runs, I honestly barely even noticed the shoes. One of the biggest things I noticed was the enhanced SpeedRoll.

The Endorphin Pro 5 feels noticeably springier and more supportive of my natural stride (that dancer’s stride, aka a big-toe-off stride). I didn’t feel like I had to fight for that faster pace; the shoe just wanted to roll forward.

Underfoot, the Pro 5 is like a layered performance stack. You’ve got a PWRRUN PB base, topped with supercritical PWRRUN HG, paired with the new aggressive slotted carbon fiber plate, and finished off with a more durable PWRTRAC rubber outsole.

Whew, that’s a lot of jargon there, huh?

What that all basically means is that all those layers work together to make the Pro 5 feel fast and responsive without feeling squishy or overly cushioned.

Compared to the new Saucony Azura, the Pro 5 sits a bit firmer underfoot, trading softness for a more direct, race-ready ride. The Pro 5’s outsole underwent a minor makeover. To improve grip and reduce surface abrasion, Saucony added a PWRTRAC rubber outsole.

We finally had some snowy weather here in Colorado, so I was able to put these through the test in some slippery conditions. The PWRTRAC outsole really helped me from slipping and sliding, especially when I tried to pick up the pace a little bit.

So far, two months in the outsole is still holding up with very little wear and tear. I feel like I’ll be able to wear these for more miles than I did with the Pro 4 before the rubber or foam starts to wear way.

This change in the outsole means that if you’re a heavier runner, durability isn’t even a worry.

Coach Amanda: You’ll see I had a little fit issue that kept me from being quite as effusively happy as Stacey, but she’s right it’s still a fun ride. It still feels like the shoe that goes fast and isn’t just for the 3 hour marathon runner, but instead really works for the middle of the pack runner.

You could absolutely use it for a marathon due to the stability, where I wouldn’t say that with shoes like the Vaporfly and some other carbon plates.

Saucony Endorphin Pro Fit

Remember when I said the Pro 5 updates were almost a perfect score? This is where it drops a few points.

The upper now uses an updated sock-like liner, which I usually love. But on a few runs where my socks didn’t come up high enough, there were consequences, aka a few blisters.

This is also where things might get tricky if you have a wider or bigger foot. The mesh doesn’t have a ton of stretch, so you really need to loosen the laces to slide your foot in easily.

After a few runs, I also noticed that if I rushed putting them on, the tongue would bunch up. It’s an easy fix, but if you don’t catch it before you start your run, you’ll be thinking about it every single mile. 

Fit-wise, they’re true to size. My women’s 11 felt just like the previous models, and even on colder days with slightly thicker socks, I didn’t have any issues.

One thing to note is that the Endorphin Pro 5 still isn’t available in a wide size, so if you typically need extra room, this probably isn’t the shoe for you.

Coach Amanda: Fit is where I did run into some issues. I found the heel really uncomfortable initially. I’d say it got better, but I found myself reaching for the 4 instead because I knew it just felt so dang good. I think it’s because the heel collar comes up just a tad higher and they took out just a smidge of padding for weight.

Maybe it’s all in my head, but wanted to give you that insight!

Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 vs Endorphin Pro 4

Let’s make it easier to see the differences between the Endorphin Pro 5 and the Endorphin Pro 4. We think you’ll love the ride of the newest model, but if you want to snag a few more pairs of the Endorphin Pro 4 on sale we absolutely say go for it.
We love the 4 and though we love the 5, we still think the 4 is a dang good shoe.

There you have it, our Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 review. As you can tell, it will still be on our best carbon plate running shoes list!

Have you given it a try? What did you think? Let us know below.

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