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Buyer's Guide

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 Review & Sizing Guide

Published Updated

Buy Endorphin Pro 4 on clearance if you have a high-volume foot or under-pronate — the soft forefoot and roomy upper are a great match; skip it at full retail if you want firm racing lockdown — the Pro 5 cleaned up geometry and upper and is the safer pick at the same price the 5 is a small improvement overall on the 4 with a cleaned up geometry, better upper and an improved plate.

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Key facts

Category
Carbon-plated marathon racer; PWRRUN HG (IncrediRUN) PEBA-blend midsole with full-length S-curve plate.
Fit
True to size in length but distinctly roomy and high-volume; loose lockdown out of the box.
Best for
Under-pronators, high-volume feet, midfoot strikers who want a soft race shoe — not for 200+lb heavy heel strikers.
Plate feel
Stiff at the forefoot but not aggressive; one owner called it deceptively gentle for a carbon plate.
vs Pro 5
Pro 5 (2026) refined the geometry, plate, and upper lockdown — the safer modern pick at retail.
Watch-out
Outsole rubber coverage is sparse; durability under 300mi reported by heavy runners on wet pavement.

Full breakdown

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is the brand's mainline carbon-plated marathon racer for 2025 — full PWRRUN HG (IncrediRUN) midsole, full-length S-curve carbon plate, and a stretchy, almost-unstructured upper that prioritizes high-volume comfort over race-day lockdown. The Pro 4 split opinion in r/RunningShoeGeeks: under-pronators with rigid arches and high-volume feet describe it as the best-fit super shoe they have ever worn, while 200+lb runners and narrow-foot racers complain it feels soft and loose. One under-pronator midfoot striker called it easily the best-for-me shoe I have run in over the last 20 years easily the best-for-me shoe I have run in over the last 20 years. Buy it on clearance as the Pro 5 rolls out; skip it at full retail if you want firmer race-day lockdown.

FAQ

How does the Endorphin Pro 4 fit, and should I size down?

Stay true to size on length and accept that the upper runs roomy and the lockdown is loose out of the box — the issue is not sizing, it is the deliberately stretchy unstructured upper. One first-run reviewer at his normal 10.5 said the length was TTS but the shoe will clearly fit a high volume foot and the upper felt soft and unstructured, with no points of discomfort anywhere Length was TTS for my regular 10.5, but the shoe will clearly fit a high volume foot. Tighten laces a notch above your normal preset for the first few runs, and consider thicker cotton socks if synthetic socks slip when your feet sweat. If your normal racer is a Vaporfly or an Adios Pro, do not size down — go true to length and accept the volume.

Endorphin Pro 4 vs Endorphin Pro 5 — which one should I buy?

Buy Pro 5 at retail and Pro 4 on clearance — the Pro 5 is a meaningful upgrade in geometry, plate response, and upper lockdown for the same price. A direct first-run review of the Pro 5 from someone who ran the Pro 4 says the 5 is a small improvement overall on the 4 with a cleaned up geometry, better upper and an improved plate the 5 is a small improvement overall on the 4 with a cleaned up geometry, better upper and an improved plate. The Pro 4 went on 50% clearance in Canada and the US through early 2026, and at that price it is the better value choice for under-pronators who want a softer ride — the Pro 4's roomy upper actually suits some feet better than the Pro 5's snugger lockdown.

How does the Pro 4 compare to Alphafly 3 and Adios Pro 4 on race day?

The Pro 4 is stabler than both rivals but less of a moonbounce ride than the Alphafly 3, and less rocker-driven than the Adios Pro 4. A direct head-to-head from a 1:20 half marathoner running all three calls the Alphafly 3 the most responsive feeling of the three and notes the Pro 4's forefoot can feel harsh despite softness due to the IncrediRUN compression behavior I find it fatiguing and somewhat harsh in the forefoot, probably due to the extreme compression and decompression of the IncrediRUN foam. Buy Pro 4 if you want a stable plated shoe for an under-pronating stride, Alphafly for max bounce on the road, Adios Pro 4 for a rocker-driven race feel.

Will the Pro 4 last a full marathon training block plus race day?

Yes for runners under 180lb on dry pavement; durability is the weak point for heavier runners and wet conditions. Buy it as a race-and-tempo rotation shoe, not a daily trainer — the sparse outsole rubber coverage is the visible compromise. One 178lb under-pronator reported getting plenty of compression out of the midsole and was hopeful for at least 400km, but flagged that someone 200 lbs plus may find this shoe too soft, and it may not have the durability they would like For someone 200 lbs plus, they may find this shoe too soft, and it may not have the durability they would like. Skip it as a daily mileage shoe; rotate it with a cheaper trainer to make the race shoe last across a full training block.

Is the Pro 4 worth buying on a 50% sale, and where do those deals show up?

Yes — at 50% off it is one of the best carbon-plated race shoe values, and the Pro 4 hit that price point widely in early 2026 as Saucony rolled out the Pro 5. A widely-shared r/RunningShoeGeeks deal thread tracked Saucony Canada selling Pro 4 at $180 CAD (~$130 USD) with most sizes and a bunch of colorways still available just grabbed myself a pair of endorphin pro 4's for $200 after taxes, most sizes still available and a bunch of colorways. Check Saucony's national sites and big-box running retailers as the Pro 5 ships; the Pro 4 is the under-the-radar carbon plate value of the season.