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Buyer's Guide

Saucony Endorphin Elite Review & Sizing Guide

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Buy the Endorphin Elite 2 if you want the softest, bounciest carbon supershoe on the market and you race the half-marathon or marathon at sub-7:00/mile — the IncrediRUN foam only unlocks at 4:00/km (6:25/mile) pace or faster I'd say a pace of 4:00/km is required to gain the benefit of the midsole; skip it if you need a stable race shoe for wet roads or sharp turns, since the forked plate and extreme softness compromise lateral stability at slower paces.

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Key facts

Construction
IncrediRUN PEBA-blend foam, forked carbon plate, rocker geometry, midfoot cutout (Elite 2); Elite 3 removes the cutout and adds a second foam layer for stability.
Sizing
Narrow last; consider a half size up for marathon distance — a US 11 marathon racer went 11.5 for toe-taper room and a midfoot reviewer also sized up half for long runs.
Pace requirement
IncrediRUN foam only engages meaningfully at ~4:00/km (6:25/mile) or faster; at easy pace there's no benefit over a regular trainer.
Distance
Tuned for the half-marathon and marathon; some report use down to 5K but the geometry is built for sustained pace.
Stability
Stable when running fast in a straight line; unstable at slow paces, on wet ground, or in sharp turns due to the forked plate and soft foam.
Durability
150-200km of race-quality life per pair; this is a race shoe, not a daily trainer.

Full breakdown

The Saucony Endorphin Elite is Saucony's top-tier marathon supershoe, sitting above the Endorphin Pro as the carbon-plated PEBA option with the boldest geometry in the lineup. The Elite 2 (current generation) uses Saucony's IncrediRUN foam — a softer, bouncier PEBA blend than Pro foam — over a forked carbon plate; Elite 3 is announced for June 2026 with two foam layers and the midfoot cutout removed for added stability Two layers of foam to provide more stability over the 2, as well as removal of the cutout. Available in June 2026. A marathon racer ran a 3:08:14 PR in Elite 2 after his Metaspeed Sky Paris felt too firm and Adios Pro 4 felt too harsh in the forefoot I figured lets try that crazy shoe everyone says is too unstable and will kill you if you run in it. I put them on for a speed session to test out and my mind was absolutely blown.

FAQ

What size should I buy in Saucony Endorphin Elite for marathon racing?

Go a half size up from your TTS marathon size if you race longer than a half-marathon, and stay TTS only if you race the 5K-10K range. A 6'1" 163-lb marathoner who normally runs US 11 specifically went up to 11.5 for the Elite 2 to add extra space because of the toe taper, and he ran a 3:08:14 marathon in them without blisters or hot spots Shoe size: 11 US in most shoes but landed on a size 11.5 US for these to add extra space because of the toe taper. A separate Elite 2 reviewer also went up a half size and notes the shoe runs on the narrow side, so if you sized up in other carbon-plated shoes you should do the same here I sized up 1/2 and while I probably could've gone TTS (I think it works with the EE2), for longer distances it's certainly more comfortable for my feet. It's maybe a bit on the narrow side. A third reviewer flags the Elite 2 toe box as 'too vertically shallow, creating an overly snug fit that adds to the harshness in the forefoot' — another reason for the half-size-up buyer signal the toe box is too vertically shallow, creating an overly snug fit that adds to the harshness in the forefoot.

Is the Endorphin Elite worth the $290 price over the Endorphin Pro?

Only if you're a forefoot or midfoot striker racing the half or full marathon at sub-3:30 marathon pace, and you can tolerate extreme softness underfoot. The Elite 2 review from a 6'1" 163-lb forefoot striker at 7:10/mile pace says the bounce is 'insane' and the shoe deserves a positive call-out: 'No really the bounce is so insane it deserves two bullet points' and adds that the most comfortable heel of any shoe and great breathability seal the value The first shoe that felt 'super' to me because of the insane bounce... No really the bounce is so insane it deserves two bullet points. But a head-to-head against Alphafly 3 and Adios Pro 4 calls the Elite 2 'fatiguing and somewhat harsh in the forefoot' due to extreme IncrediRUN compression, with the carbon plate becoming noticeable and unpleasant on the foot — the reviewer ranks Elite 2 last of the three If you're looking for a marshmallow running shoe, this is it. The shoe is incredibly soft. Almost unbelievably soft. Yet despite this softness, I find it fatiguing and somewhat harsh in the forefoot, probably due to the extreme compression and decompression of the IncrediRUN foam. A separate Endorphin Pro 5 reviewer confirms the Elite/EP5 share the forked plate and ranks Elite among the most stable super shoes along with SC Elite v5 and Rocket X 3 This is still one of the most stable super shoes along with the SC Elite v5 and Rocket X3.

How does the Endorphin Elite 2 compare to the Adios Pro 4 and Alphafly 3?

Of the three current top-tier supershoes, Endorphin Elite 2 is the softest and bounciest but most fatiguing in the forefoot; Adios Pro 4 sits in the middle as the rocker-aggressive option that engages the calves; Alphafly 3 is firmer, more responsive-feeling, and the most natural across pace ranges. A 130-lb forefoot-striker 1:20 half marathoner ran all three and ranks Alphafly 3 as his favorite for daily marathon use, calling Elite 2 'too soft' for racing despite his preference for soft shoes, and notes Adios Pro 4 is 'one or two changes away from working really well' with calf-engaging rocker but harsh Energy Rods 2.0 vibrations I really like soft running shoes, and I never thought I'd find one too soft, but I think Saucony went too far here. I don't mind it for threshold sessions on the track, but this is my least favorite of the three. A different marathoner ran 3:08:14 in Elite 2 after the Metaspeed Sky Paris felt 'too firm' and Adios Pro 4 felt 'too harsh on my toes during the toe off at quicker paces' — proving the Elite 2 picks up runners that the other supershoes lose to forefoot harshness I put ~74 miles in the AP4 during my speed sessions to see if I wanted to buy a second pair for race day but I found it too harsh on my toes during the toe off at quicker paces.

Will the Endorphin Elite 2 hold up for the full marathon, or do I need to retire after one race?

Plan to buy the Elite 2 as a race shoe and choose 150-200km of race-quality wear as your retirement signal before the foam dies. The Elite 2 reviewer who logged 50km in his pair calls durability 'good' and projects 150-200km as realistically achievable lifespan Durability after 50km looks good, I'd say 150-200km are definitely possible. That means 4-6 marathons or 8-12 half-marathons before the shoe stops bouncing — typical for PEBA-foam supershoes in this retail tier. The marathon racer who ran the 3:08 PR confirmed his pair came through 26.2 miles with no blisters or skin issues, but supershoe foam compresses non-linearly: the second marathon will not feel as comfortable as the first. Skip the daily-trainer use case; pair the Elite 2 with a separate daily like a Hoka Mach or Saucony Endorphin Speed for non-race miles so the race-shoe retail price stretches across the full training block.

Should I wait for the Endorphin Elite 3 instead of buying the Elite 2 now?

Wait only if you specifically had stability complaints with the Elite 2; otherwise the Elite 2 is the proven shoe and is now discounting. The Elite 3 leak shows two foam layers added 'to provide more stability over the 2' and removal of the midfoot cutout — explicitly responding to the wet-road / sharp-turn / slow-pace stability problems the Elite 2 has at non-marathon paces, with a June 2026 release Two layers of foam to provide more stability over the 2, as well as removal of the cutout. Available in June 2026. The Elite 2 is meanwhile selling at 33% off at retailers like Gazelle Sports ($197.95 vs $290 RRP), making it the budget supershoe play right now [US] Gazelle Sports - Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 $197.95 (33% off). If you race in dry weather on long straight courses, the Elite 2 at sale price is the better cost-per-PR; if you race technical courses with turns or wet pavement, hold for the Elite 3.