Owners are split on the Speed 4, and the complaints cluster hard around fit. The most common gripe is a narrow, pointy toebox that cramps and rubs the pinky toe, with several runners reporting toe numbness or circulation issues a few kilometers in. A lot of people also feel the midsole is firmer and deader than expected, with some saying it rides like a heavier daily trainer than a snappy speed shoe and takes real work to lock down.
75% of 134 verified owners recommend the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
2,142 comments reviewed · scored on the 134 clearest verdicts
75%
Recommend
100 owners
6%
Neutral
9 owners
19%
Don't recommend
25 owners
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
75%
131
Other forums
50%
2
Independent blogsiIndependent blogs with no affiliate links or paid relationship — we checked every one.no affiliate links
100%
1
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer), but here they sit too far from the owner consensus on Reddit and forums — channel comment sections can skew heavily positive or negative by trend — so they're shown for perspective and kept out of the score.owner comments
53%
169
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
100%
3
No clear verdictiGood-to-know notes — setup, tips, and things to watch for. We use them for the pros, cons, and who it's for, but they don't reflect a definitive opinion on the product, so they're never counted in the score. See the 'Good to know' section below the quotes.Setup, tips & quirks
—
12
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 75%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Versatile do-it-all daily and tempo shoe · 5 · 4%
Great for uptempo, tempo and race-pace runs · 5 · 4%
Nice bounce, pop and protective cushioning · 4 · 3%
Excellent fit and lockdown for some runners · 4 · 3%
Feels good even at slower, easier paces · 3 · 2%
What owners flag
Narrow, pointy toebox cramps and rubs the pinky toe · 8 · 6%
Firm, dead-feeling midsole with little bounce · 4 · 3%
Toe numbness or circulation issues mid-run · 4 · 3%
Stiff and harsh at slower paces · 3 · 2%
Tricky lockdown that takes work to dial in · 3 · 2%
Who it's for
A great fit if
Runners wanting a plated tempo and uptempo shoe
Those doing race-pace workouts and faster efforts
Runners with narrow to medium-width feet
Runners wanting one versatile do-everything trainer
Look elsewhere if
Wide-footed runners (narrow, pointed toe box)
Runners wanting soft, bouncy cushioning
Those prone to pinky-toe numbness or pressure
Synthesized from what Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 owners say — not a spec sheet.
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
Redditⓘ good to know
“Went to try on the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, Rincon 4s and Rebel V4. Only one had the nostalgic feel of an earlier line and came home.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 - very light, speedy, high drop, nylon plate, but maybe not quite stable enough”
Redditⓘ good to know
“They're good for races and training but are less stable than any of the others I've mentioned.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“The EVO definitely pushes me on a tiny bit too much for a daily. More than the Saucony Speed4”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“My ES4 has similar wear at 300mi as well and I definitely midfoot to forefoot striker depending on speed. It's just exposed foam that's painted and gets scraped up really easy.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“I get a bit of numbness in my ES4s as well, but nothing that is overly noticeable nor hurts time. It’s mainly around my pinky toe area and sometimes fades if I adjust cadence.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“I find my pace with the ES4 very similar to the triumph 22 (around 6:30 per mile) while with the ES3 i ran much faster compared to the triumphs.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“I'd say my speed 3 and the 4 feel about the same on the toes, despite the 4 definitely having a more tapered shape.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“My foot will become numb between km 3-5 in all shoes, and then it will fade in the next couple of kms.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“Two weeks ago, I ordered a pair of Speed 4’s, Size 11. They are too big, my feet swimming in them.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“they are nowhere near as narrow as that picture appeared at my 9.5 fit TTS.”
r/RunningShoeGeeksⓘ good to know
“I have the ES4 and they numb my toes after a few km too.”
