ActiveRunningSaucony launches Endorphin Elite ‘super shoes’, and I’m worried about the Pro 4With the arrival of Saucony’s new apex predator, I wonder what fate would be bestowed upon the brand’s other racing shoesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveRunningSaucony launches Endorphin Elite ‘super shoes’, and I’m worried about the Pro 4With the arrival of Saucony’s new apex predator, I wonder what fate would be bestowed upon the brand’s other racing shoesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
With the arrival of Saucony’s new apex predator, I wonder what fate would be bestowed upon the brand’s other racing shoes
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Saucony)
(Image credit: Saucony)
Although the launch was under strict embargo until today, everyone knows about the newSaucony Endorphin Elite(we even managed to get hold of a pair for a review), the latest high stack ‘super shoe’ from US-based brand, as they have been posting about it on social media for at least a week. But we aren’t here to talk about the marketing campaign; no, we’re here to discuss what might happen to the sort-of predecessor of the Endorphin Elite, the fan-favourite Endorphin Pro 3.
And before I get accused of being a total buzzkill, I’d like to point out that I’m equally as pumped as everybody else about the Elite. The shoes look sexy, and I can’t wait to try them, despite the horrendous price tag (once launched, they will retail for $275/280). In fact, of all the super shoes, of which there are many, the Endorphin Elite has the highest recommended retail price in the UK. TheNike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2was initially sold for $275/£270/AU$370, theAsics Metaspeed Edge+for $250/£225 and theAdidas Adizero Adios Pro 3for $250/£220/AU$360.
Anyhow, hefty price tag aside, there is a lot to get excited about the Saucony Endorphin Elite. For instance, it features a new foam called PWRRUN HG, which is said to be Saucony’s most energy-efficient foam to date. There is also a new heel-to-toe fork-shaped carbon plate, an upper that combines knitted and mesh materials for “next-to-skin, weightless performance”, the PWRRUN PB sockliner that we all know and love and the XT-900 carbon rubber outsole. The barely legal shoes have an 8 mm (40 mm heel/32 mm forefoot) heel-to-toe offset and weigh a mere 7.2 oz. (205g, men’s; 6.5 oz/185g for women). And they are even vegan!
(Image credit: Saucony)
(Image credit: Saucony)
What about theSaucony Endorphin Pro 3? It also has an 8 mm offset (39.5 mm/31.5 mm), a carbon fibre plate, XT-900 outsole, comfortable mesh upper, PWRRUNPB super-responsive foam, and weighs 7.2oz (204g, men’s; 6.2oz/176g women’s) – sounds familiar? The Endorphin Pro 3 is a racing shoe through and through, which makes me wonder: what will happen to it once the Endorphin Elite takes the position ofbest running shoein the Saucony hierarchy?
I know exactly what will happen, as I’ve seen this before when the Nike Alphafly was released. Once Nike launched its latest and greatest super shoes, the previous top dog Vaporfly went from ‘ermahgerd, the best shoes to run a marathon’ to ‘great shoes for fast training and half marathons’. And while many still regard theNike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%as one of the most disrupting – and divisive – running shoes ever made, it’s safe to say pros moved on to using the Alphafly (including current marathonworld record holder Eliud Kipchoge).
The Saucony Endorphin Elite will be available atSaucony US,Saucony UK, and select retailers globally beginning 21 February 2023. The Endorphin Elite will be available in men’s sizes 7-13 and 14 and women’s sizes 5-12. The suggested retail price of the Endorphin Elite is $275/£280.00 (AU price and availability TBC).
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