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This Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 review is part of our 2022 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards, where the shoe won Best for Speed Training. You can see the rest of our award winners here.
Even if you’re new to running, it won’t take long for someone to pop the question: Any races coming up? Races—from charitable 5Ks to big-city marathons—can provide a clear goal, a sense of community, and, often, some healthy motivation. Of course, you can be a runner your whole life and never run a race (and that’s fine!), but if getting a little competitive now and then or trying to set a new PR sounds like something you’re interested in, it’s not a bad idea to invest in a pair of sneakers that are designed for race days and speed training. The right pair of sneakers can help you improve your time, add bounce to your step, and mentally put you in the right place.
Enter the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 ($225, saucony.com). The much-revered sneaker is back with a few upgrades for 2022 that make an already-great speed training and racing shoe even better. You’ll want to wear these for your race days, yes, but count them in for track work, tempo runs, and interval training too. For that reason, we’ve crowned these the best speed training sneaker of the year. Read why below.
We had two testers, both experienced long-distance runners, take the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3s for a spin. One tester has run 23 marathons over the span of her career—including one in a previous version of this shoe—and continues to run between five and six times a week, logging a total of 30 to 40 miles on average. She took these sneakers on two five-mile road runs. Our other tester, who is currently pregnant, does walk-runs about five times per week. She tested these sneakers several times on both pavement and gravel for 30 to 60 minutes at a time.
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3s fit slightly more snugly than you might expect for a running sneaker. (For running sneakers, we usually recommend a half-inch of space between your toe and the tip of the shoe.) That said, these sneakers are made for times when you really want to pick up the pace, so a more streamlined fit can work to your benefit. Depending on your preferences, you may want to purchase these true to size or go a half size up. One of our testers liked her true-to-size pair, while our second tester preferred the roomier half size up. It’s likely worth trying both sizes and seeing which feels most comfortable (more on Saucony’s return policy below).
The heels fit securely, even though the heel counter (the part of the sneaker that hugs the back of the foot) has a light and minimal feel (rather than being more rigid or thick). The mesh upper also keeps your feet feeling flexible.
One tester said her wider, flatter feet fit perfectly in these. The arch felt supportive in just the right spot and seemed to map to the foot even better than previous iterations of the style, with slightly more width through the midsole.
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Also new to this version is the updated S-curve carbon plate. A carbon plate, built into the sole of a running sneaker, curves under the ball of the foot to maximize energy return when you’re pushing off. In other words, your legs can move faster without needing to use quite as much energy. You shouldn’t feel the S-shape plate when you’re wearing the shoe, but if you do notice the shape of the sole nicely working with the ball of your foot during quick sprints, this might be why.
Many sneaker brands will pair a carbon plate with a thick foam sole for even more energy return. That’s exactly what Saucony’s up to here—and according to our testers, it has really paid off. This shoe feels like running on springs. It’s bouncy, extremely lightweight, and responsive, almost as if it’s anticipating your every move in the best possible way. Even at slower paces, you’ll feel a little boost. The more you pick up speed, the more they’ll power you forward.
This isn’t a coincidence: The Pro 3s are 4 millimeters higher in stack height than the Pro 2s, giving runners even more to bounce off of. Also impressive: Despite the addition in height, the shoe weight is still lighter than the previous version (going from 6.3 to 6.2 ounces).
That being said, these aren’t the most stable shoes for walking or slower runs. To give you that spring, the soles mimic a rocking motion and the toe is upturned. These are clearly built for road running—not trails or any other type of uneven or soft terrain. Flat, paved courses are where these will excel. The mesh upper isn’t waterproof or insulating but, on the upside, it dries quickly, so rainy runs aren’t a problem. “The mesh upper is very thin—the thinnest I've ever seen on a running sneaker,” one tester said. “That means it's super breathable, which is great during long summer runs, but I think my feet would be pretty cold if I were running in these in cooler months.”
According to our testers, these sneakers will make you feel like you’re running on a platform of clouds. Which, let’s be honest, is a really fun, liberating feeling. Neither of our testers reported any hot spots, blisters, or rubbing, though we still recommend giving yourself ample time to break them (or any pair of sneakers) in before wearing them for a high-stakes race. “I was coming into testing these off an ankle injury, but didn’t feel any aches or pains there or anywhere else,” one tester said.
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They’re extremely lightweight, and, thanks to that carbon plate, they help you save some energy (and maybe even cut down your speed). One tester said that the experience of taking them off and putting on a minimal, neutral pair of athleisure sneakers felt bizarre at first because of how high and soft the Endorphin Pro 3 cushion is. She also noted that she didn’t like walking in them, and wouldn’t recommend these if you’re planning on going for a jog and then walking a mile or more after, for example. “They are truly racing shoes and not meant for just casual walking,” she said. “They really are just a whole lot of cushion and definitely have a rocking motion, so I felt like I was being forced to stride into a run.” But, again, if you’re wearing them for speed, then that’s no issue: These certainly aren’t your standard low-tech sneakers, so we wouldn’t expect them to feel that way, either.
Saucony requests that you return their sneakers in the original box within 30 days of the product being shipped. They also note that returned shoes must be unworn—so you won’t really get to take these for a test run (unless you’re jogging in place in your living room) before deciding whether or not to keep them for good. If that level of commitment is too intimidating for you (which we get—it’s not a small price to pay for a pair of new shoes!) you can also shop these at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Zappos, Feet Fleet, and Road Runner, all of which carry this style and have more lenient return policies that allow you to try the shoes before deciding whether to keep them.
If you’re looking to refresh your race game, get a little more competitive with yourself, or experiment with speed training for the first time in your running career, we can’t recommend the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 enough. The upgrades from the shoe’s last iteration to this one (more cushion, lighter weight, wider midsole) do make shelling out the extra bucks worth it, especially if you’re already a fan of wearing Saucony for racing or have thoroughly enjoyed earlier versions of this style. It can be really thrilling to set a new PR, and these shoes just might be the ones to help you do it.
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