Saucony Showdown: Endorphin Speed 3 vs Endorphin Pro 3
The Speed 3 and Pro 3 both fill important roles in a solid rotation. Let's get into what sets them apart from each other—and the competition.
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2022 saw Saucony hit their stride with the third drop of the Endorphin series. And with the release of the Endorphin Elite in 2023, the brand shows no signs of slowing down. Here, we compare the core of the Endorphin lineup, the heavy hitting Speed and Pro, to let you know which one will be best for you. Let’s get into it.
Overview: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 vs Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Saucony dropped the OG Endorphin series in 2020 and put the brand back on the performance running map. The original Endorphin lineup included the Shift, a supportive everyday running shoe; the Speed, an uptempo daily trainer; and the Pro, a full-blown carbon fiber–plated racer. Since, the brand has tweaked the formulas of each shoe and added the Endorphin Elite at the top of the range as the king race day option.
The initial versions of the shoes positioned the Endorphin Speed and Pro close to each other with similiar ride and capabilities. Both were firm, snappy shoes, the key difference being that the Speed had a nylon plate and the Pro had a carbon fiber plate. The Speed was considered a budget race day option and a versatile shoe for training, while the Pro was firm for many runners’ tastes and never competed with the Vaporfly in earnest for race day market share.
Saucony changed the narrative with v3. Their product designers created more differentiation between the Speed and Pro by giving the Endorphin Speed 3 more of an everyday running feel with an airy, comfortable upper and softer ride.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
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Meanwhile, the Pro became a legit top-tier carbon fiber racer, competing for the hearts and feet of competitive hobby joggers with the likes of the Adidas Adizero Pro 3, ASICS Metaspeed Edge and Sky and Nike Vaporfly Next%.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
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Similarities Between Endorphin Speed and Pro 3
The defining feature of a Saucony Endorphin shoe is the pronounced rocker underfoot, which Saucony calls the SPEEDROLL geometry (their capitalization, not ours). A rocker on a running shoe is a curvature of the bottom platform that encourages easier transitions between heel- and -midfoot strike and toe-off. Both the Speed and Pro 3 have generous rockers that give the shoes sensations that are fast but smooth when compared to peers.
Both the Endorphin Speed 3 and Pro 3 use Saucony’s PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam, a common option for race day midsoles across brands. The PWRRUN PB compound has a responsive and slightly soft feel underfoot and to the touch. The Speed and Pro also share the same outsole rubber material, Saucony’s XT-900 rubber compound also found on shoes like the Endorphin Shift 3, Triumph and Ride 16.
Midsole Technology: Carbon Plate vs Nylon Plate
The key difference between the Speed 3 and Pro 3 is the type of plate used in their midsole. While the Speed and Pro both use the brilliantly bouncy, buoyant beaded PEBA PWRRUN PB (say that ten times fast), the Speed 3 has a nylon plate and the Pro 3 has a carbon fiber plate. The nylon plate in the Speed 3 adds stability and structure to the platform, while the carbon fiber plate in the Pro 3 provides energy return and pop.
The Speed 3 also has a slightly lower stack height with 36mm of foam in the heel, 28mm in the forefoot and an 8mm drop. The Pro 3 has the same 8mm drop but the maximum allowable stack height of 39.5mm of foam in the heel and 31.5 in the forefoot. The Pro 3 feels taller than the Speed 3 on the roads, but the carbon plate adds rigidity that prevents the max stack from feeling wobbly.
Ride: How Soft Do You Like It?
One of the most loved qualities of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 and 2 from years of yore was the firm and snappy ride. The third version ditches that firm feel in favor of a softer, more comfortable ride that’s approachable for a wider variety of runners. The Speed 3 feels bouncy and cushioned at daily aerobic paces and transforms into a responsive and lively platform when you throw some pace at it. It can handle everything well from recovery runs to races, though it can feel a bit too lively for true recovery downtempo days.
The Pro 3 rides like a bonafide top-tier super shoe. The PWRRUN PB that skews soft and cushioned in the Speed 3 transforms into a snappy platform that recalls the feeling of beloved Endorphin Speed iterations of years past. The beauty of the Pro 3 is that it’s also one of the most versatile super shoes, up there with the New Balance SC Elite v3. The Pro has a forgiving and natural ride at daily training paces, unlike other super shoes like the Nike Vaporfly and uptempo shoes like the Adidas Takumi Sen that can feel awkward and unstable below race paces.
Both the Speed and Pro are stable relative to their peers. The Speed is a touch more stable than the Pro 3 due to the winged nylon plate and lower stack of heel foam. Both feel nimble and deft on foot with solid traction on wet surfaces and for turning. The Speed 3 has more ground contact feel in the forefoot which can help with navigability on uneven terrain—though we recommend neither of these for any type of trail.
Overall, the Speed 3 has a much softer feel that’s better for everyday running and beginner runners looking for an approachable race day option. Competitive runners targeting a sub-3 marathon or sub-1:25 half will likely appreciate a firmer and more propulsive shoe on race day than the Endorphin Speed 3.
Outsole & Durability
Both Speed 3 and Pro 3 use Saucony’s XT-900 rubber outsole. The Pro has more surface area covered, which is ironic since brands typically try to shave weight by reducing rubber on their race day shoes. Instead, Saucony accomplishes this by applying the rubber on the Pro in a thinner layer. In our experience, the thinner rubber on the Pro 3 has worn through about 30% faster than the Speed (the wear at 150 miles on the Pro is similar to 225 miles on the Speed).
Neither Speed nor Pro are particularly durable shoes when compared to daily trainers that last 400+ miles. In our experience, the outsole rubber of the Speed will wear through to the foam in high contact areas between 200 and 300 miles. At this point, the midsole foam begins to lose its performance efficacy and cushioning benefits as well, though it’s still runnable. I retired my first pair of Endorphin Speed 3s between 250 and 300 miles, and my second pair is nearing 300 and still has some life left. Your mileage may vary.
The Pro 3 will retain its performance benefits until 200 to 250 miles. In our experience, the outsole wears to the foam through between 100 and 200 miles. Because carbon fiber plates do not degrade like other materials in a shoe, the platform will remain rigid and responsive long after the PWRRUN PB loses all of its impact absorption and propulsive qualities.
Upper & Fit
The upper on the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a soft engineered mesh material that’s airy and slightly stretchy. It’s accommodating to a wide range of foot sizes while also working well with the laces and gusseted tongue to provide a solid lockdown. The laces are soft and stretchy as well, so they don’t bite when cinched down.
The Endorphin Pro 3’s upper is more structured than the Speed 3, using a thin material that’s a bit plasticky to the touch. Instead of airy holes, there’s a thin translucent membrane throughout the upper, which in some colorways is flecked with iridescent trim. The Pro fits true to size and can likely accommodate some wide-footed runners due to its wider-than-normal base for a raceday shoe.
Who They’re Best For
The Speed 3 is a great option for that runner who already has an everyday running shoe in their collection and wants to spice it up with a more exciting training companion. For beginners or those who prefer a softer feel, the Speed can be used as a race day option as well. Runners targeting a sub-3 marathon or sub-1:25 half will likely prefer a firmer shoe for spadework and racing.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is a good choice for any runner looking for a new carbon-plated racing shoe. It’s competitive with other top models on the market like the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3, ASICS Metaspeed Edge and Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3. The Endorphin Pro 3 is also an excellent pick for runners looking for their first carbon fiber shoe, as it has a friendly and familiar ride for people used to running in non-plated shoes.
Final Thoughts
The Speed 3 and Pro 3 both fill important roles in a solid rotation: the Speed is the fast option you can pull for any day of the week, while the Pro is saved for the most important occasions like race-day and workouts with big sections of goal pace. There’s enough difference between the two that it’s worth it to have both in your collection, which wasn’t true in previous years. However, if you can only have one, go for the one that serves the biggest need in your running shoe collection right now: training (Speed) or racing (Pro).
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