Does the Saucony Endorphin Azura Deserve a Place in the Line Up?

The newest member of the Saucony Endorphin family is officially here. After a few weeks of running in the Saucony Endorphin Azura, we’ve put together our honest thoughts on whether this measures to the other shoes in the lineup.

It’s been a while since I’ve used the word obsessed to describe a running shoe, but there’s really no better way to put it when it comes to the Saucony Endorphin Azura. And no, this wasn’t love at first run…. or even the first few.

If you read our preview, you already know we weren’t exactly swooning when this new shoe joined the Endorphin family. No goosebumps. No instant “wow”.

On paper the Azura looks like it should be a slam dunk for a lot of runners. No plate, added rubber for durability, and the ability to handle everything from easy miles to picking up the pace, it sounds like a no brainer, right?

But for both Amanda and me, those first few runs felt firm and, honestly, not that fast.

So why am I now calling myself obsessed with the Endorphin Azura? You’ll have to keep reading. I’m not spoiling that part just yet.

Saucony Endorphin Azura Overview

You know the saying: “Good things come to those who wait”? That’s pretty much how it feels running in the Saucony Azura.

During my first couple of weeks in the Azura, I was honestly a little skeptical that this super foam could really live up to the whole “fast and light” promise. But the more miles I put in, both on the treadmill and outside, the more that foam started to show what it could do.

I’m a huge fan of the Endorphin lineup and usually reach for the Pro or Speed a few times a week, but lately I’ve found myself grabbing the Azura instead. Once they’re broken in, they almost make you run faster without trying. It’s that smooth, effortless kind of fast where your feet just roll into the next stride.

So yeah, dare we say Saucony might have nailed it with this high-performance, non-plated shoe? You betcha.Any time a shoe uses PEBA foam, durability is always the big question. Do you save it for special runs so the foam doesn’t break down too quickly?

Saucony clearly heard that concern, because this is now the second shoe we’ve tested where they’ve added an XT-900 rubber outsole. It’s strategically placed in the high-wear areas, like the heel and toe-off, to help protect the foam and extend the life of the shoe.

Normally, I start to see little compression marks in PEBA pretty quickly, but so far, the Azurs are holding up really well. Our preview mentioned that we weren’t sure if this would be on our best non-plated race-day shoe list, but after putting a lot of runs in the Saucony Endorphin Azura, I think it’s going to be a contender.

It’s a shoe that meets the needs of many runners, especially in terms of cushion and durability. It just goes to show you that you need to sometimes give a shoe a chance and not just after a run or two.

Saucony Endorphin Azura Fit

These fit true to size, and comfort-wise, Saucony nailed it right out of the box.  No adjustments needed, and it fit just like Cinderella’s glass slipper.

Saucony does tend to run narrow, especially in the Endorphin lineup, but the Azura feels a little more forgiving than usual. That said, if you typically need extra room in the midfoot, this might still not be a perfect match.

Right now, the Azura isn’t offered in a wide, but we’re hopeful that will change!

I always love seeing a gusseted tongue on a pair of running shoes; it helps lock your foot into place as soon as you lace up. I also really like that on the Azuras there’s a little extra padding in the side gussets, which isn’t super common but definitely adds to that secure, snug feel.

My only small complaint is that if I wear socks that are too low, I notice a tiny bit of irritation on the front of my ankle. Other than that, these feel really comfortable in all the right spots, which isn’t something you can always say about a shoe, especially right out of the box. 

A change that we also saw with the Saucony Ride 19 is that there are now 3 eyelets at the top instead of 2. This will give you more wiggle room to experiment with different lacing options or adjustments.

Saucony Endorphin Azura Feel

When you first wear the Saucony Endorphin Azura, they might feel a bit firm and not super snappy. Stick with them for a few runs, once you break them in a little, that’s when the magic starts to happen.

Like all Endorphin shoes, the Azura features SPEEDROLL technology, designed to help your foot move through each stride smoothly and more efficiently.

I honestly have to say this is the first Endorphin shoe I’ve truly felt while running. I’ve worn this line for a few years, but with the Azura, the transition from landing to toe-off just feels more natural and effortless, and that probably explains why I’m loving running in it so much. 

The Azura is also the only Endorphin shoe to use PWRRUN PB foam without a plate, which means you’ll get a slightly softer, more cushioned feel underfoot compared to the others.

This PEBA foam is lighter and offers great energy return, but without a plate, it’s not going to feel as fast as the Endorphin Speed. It may also lessen the durability compared to the EVA, which is where the outsole comes in.

Saucony added XT-900 rubber to help protect that foam, and so far it’s doing its job. I’ve got close to 100 miles on my Azuras, and I’m not seeing much wear yet, but we’ll report back once they hit 300+.

Where Does This Fit in the Endorphin Line Up?

We are so glad you asked because the Endorphin line up has been a smash hit for years, and sometimes you need to not mess with a good thing, right?

First there are updates coming to each of the shoes this year, so these are the current models, not the 2026 future releases.

• Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 — Top level carbon plated racing shoe for the say sub 3:15 marathoner
• Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 — Supertrainer with a nylon plate, a little more durable, not as bouncy as the other Elite or the Pro
• Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 – A great bouncy, more cushioned carbon plated shoe that we think is a great middle of the pack racing shoe and for front of the pace great tempo training
• Saucony Endorphin Trainer – Now we’re looking a 3/4 length carbon plate for the mid-back of pack training and possibly racing
• Saucony Endoprhin Azura – Non-plated daily trainer

As someone who tests a lot of shoes, it really says something when a daily trainer jumps to the number one spot in my rotation. We hope our Saucony Endorphin Azura review helped give you a better idea of what to expect from this new high-performance, non-plated shoe.

What to read next?

• Best Non-Plated Race Day Shoes | Proof You Don’t Need Carbon to Run
• 7 Best Lightweight Running Shoes | Amp Up Your Speed
• What I Wish I’d Known Before Running My First Half Marathon