All categories/Outdoors/Running shoes/Saucony/Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

Based on 60 comments across 4 communities
TL;DR
Owners are split on the Endorphin Speed 5: many call it the most stable, versatile do-everything Speed yet, with an improved roomier upper and a smooth rocker that's happy across tempo, speed work, and many longer runs. Others feel it rides firmer and more muted than the 4 and earlier versions, having lost some of the bounce and punch. Durability is a recurring worry, with several runners reporting early outsole wear and the foam going flat sooner than expected, and a few find the $175 price hard to justify.

62% of 60 verified owners recommend the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

See the problems 15 owners report →

What 60 owners say
982 comments reviewed · scored on the 60 clearest verdicts
62%
Recommend
37 owners
13%
Neutral
8 owners
25%
Don't recommend
15 owners
Last 6 months:64% recommend(25 recent verdicts)→ holding steady vs older reviews
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
61%
56
Independent blogsino affiliate links
75%
4
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiowner comments
49%
89
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
33%
3
No clear verdictiSetup, tips & quirks
10

Affiliate blogs here say 33% recommend, while the owner-based score is 62%. 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
  • More stable and planted than past versions and rivals like the Evo SL · 14 · 23%
  • Versatile do-everything trainer that handles tempo, speed work, and longer runs · 12 · 20%
  • Improved fit with roomier toe box and more secure upper than the 4 · 11 · 18%
  • Smooth rocker that lifts cadence and still feels fast · 8 · 13%
  • Comfortable across a wide range of paces and distances · 7 · 12%
What owners flag
  • Firmer, more muted ride that lost some of the bounce and punch of earlier Speeds · 13 · 22%
  • Outsole and midsole wear early, going flat by roughly 230-350 km · 7 · 12%
  • Happiest at shorter, faster efforts; feet ache past the half marathon · 6 · 10%
  • Thinner upper and outsole raise durability concerns · 5 · 8%
  • At $175 the value feels steep given creeping weight and few changes · 5 · 8%
Who it's for
A great fit if
  • Runners wanting a stable, versatile do-everything trainer
  • Tempo and speed-workout runners
  • Runners who found the Speed 4 too narrow
  • Runners who prefer a firmer, planted ride
Look elsewhere if
  • Runners wanting soft, plush cushioning
  • Those logging long, slow easy miles
  • Buyers prioritizing outsole and foam durability

Synthesized from what Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 owners say — not a spec sheet.

How buyers rate it elsewhere

Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.

Top quotes, sourced

982 reviewed · 152 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I wanted so badly to love the ES4 but the toe box taper made it unbearable just crushing my pinky toe.

YouTube— neutral

I use ES for speed workout but also for races (I don't think I have the performance to use carbon plates). I really enjoyed ES3. ES4 was a disappointment, requiring more effort to get good responsiveness

YouTube▲ recommend

find it good for pretty much everything

YouTube▲ recommend

More pep, more bounce, more comfort, very pleasant overall

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I discovered that the medial side wing of the plate intruded into my arch in an unbearable fashion

YouTube— neutral

I loved the 2s, didn't mind the 3s, despise the 4s

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

the last pair that I had had a hint of stability and man, they suck for my knees

YouTube— neutral

Loved the speed 3, didn't like the speed 4, can't wait to give this another try!

YouTube▲ recommend

That colorway alone is worth the upgrade

YouTube— neutral

V2 was probably the most fun version but also had a crazy amount of instability. From there on I feel like each version after kept losing more and more of the endorphin identity.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

way too overpriced for a daily trainer..

YouTube▲ recommend

I am a V1 purist - was absolutely the best version but I'm always excited every time this shoe comes out.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I prefer that design to the speed 4 & 5

YouTube— neutral

Nice to see they improved the fit, but shame they didn't add 2 mm of foam

YouTube▲ recommend

The Speed 4 is a really fantastic shoe ! Its not an easy task to improve it! Well done Saucony

YouTube— neutral

I have a love/hate relationship with that shoe

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

it was too narrow in the first place

YouTube▲ recommend

I love the First version, definitely my favourite running shoe, I'm still running in them

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

TACO price increase. Thumbs down.

YouTube▲ recommend

I very much enjoyed Speed 4 (I have close to 1000k in them)

YouTube— neutral

I feel that ES3 is softer, more cushioned, and more bouncy than ES5. I am keeping my ES5 but also stocked up on another pair of ES3

YouTube— neutral

I love my Speed 4, but you are spot on about the durability. I'm a shuffling heel striker and the heel is absolutely shredded.

YouTube▲ recommend

I had three speed 3's which i love

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

la 3 me defraudado bastante

Showing 124 of 152

Common problems & things to know

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

Looks like an incremental update

Redditⓘ good to know

they felt much lower stack, more "grounded" and I could feel the plate working both medially and laterally. I wanted something for long runs and I thought those might not be the best choice for me

Redditⓘ good to know

It is narrower in the forefoot and toe box than the standard-width ES3 (which fit me comfortably), but wider than ES4 (which I couldn’t wear at all, way too narrow). ES5 is a little tight around my 5th metatarsal.

Doctors of Runningⓘ good to know

The thinner upper, slightly softer ride and slightly early wear make me suspect the Endorphin Speed 5 will have average durability.

Redditⓘ good to know

It's still firm but doesn't feel like it's bottoming out so I assume that would mean it would be less firm.

Redditⓘ good to know

Those still seem to have quite a bit of life left to my eyes. Little warn in the heel but fine

Redditⓘ good to know

They are still stretch laces. Compared to the ES4 they seem wider and a bit less stretchy.

Redditⓘ good to know

I have the zoomfly and es5. If you forefoot strike, i would deffo say zoomfly.

Redditⓘ good to know

Just standard wear without loss of performance.

Redditⓘ good to know

Speed is better for more tempo efforts.