The Endorphin Elite 2 is Saucony’s neutral carbon super shoe that I discovered can handle anything except easy runs.
Men’s Fitness verdict
If ever you wanted a race shoe to help you rediscover the joy of running (fast), the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is it.- Superb energy return
- Carbon plate promotes high turnover
- Light and comfortable
- Prone to lateral roll until you get your speed up
- Hard to handle once your form goes ragged
I’m a big fan of Saucony’s daily trainers and have covered a lot of miles in its Guide and Ride series. But I’ve not tried any of its race-focused shoes, or any carbon super shoes – period. Until now. I was eager to see how the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 would shape my first experience running and racing in carbon shoes. Would it be a revelation and make it into our list of the best best running shoes? I laced them up for the entire training programme for my first half-marathon to find out.
Why you can trust Men’s Fitness
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Our team of reviewers includes experienced product testers, PTs and fitness writers – as well as the core MF team – who know exactly what sets the best products apart from the rest. The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 was tried and tested by MF product tester Laurence McJannet. Find out more about how we test.
The opportunity to test Saucony’s top-of-the-line Endorphin Elite 2 came at an ideal time for me. I had just entered the Great Wall half marathon with Marathon Tours & Travel so had a 12-week training programme ahead of me in which to get race ready. What better shoe to use, then, than one that offers ‘race-day speed’ and ‘ridiculous rebound’, as Saucony says of its £280 super shoe. I put the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 through three months of 8km to 18km tempo, interval and recovery runs in preparation for the big day.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 design
The Endorphin Elite 2 is a sub-200g race shoe designed for neutral runners. I pronate slightly but often find that I benefit from the more stable platform that neutral shoes offer. Its midsole features Saucony’s IncrediRUN foam, renowned for its excellent levels of energy return, while its uppers are made from a gossamer-thin mesh through which I could easily see my feet.
I found a UK size 9 gave me enough room in the toe box and heel so these fit pretty true to size. I thought I might have to go half a size up given the snub-nosed look of the Elite 2 but my first test runs proved otherwise. The 8mm heel-toe offset from 39.5mm to 31.5mm is what I’d expect from a race shoe. When I first l slipped into its sock-like heel and tongue and felt the potential energy from the ridiculously springy midsole, these shoes certainly screamed ‘race-ready’ at me.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 performance
Within minutes of my first run I realised what I was in for. Even before I left the front door I felt a little unsteady on my feet. Almost like tottering around on high heels (just guessing, obviously). Not because of the height, just the amount of give in those midsoles. I wanted my first run to be easy, just while I got used to any roll in shoes that felt unsteady just when standing. Turns out these shoes don’t do ‘easy’.
I noticed three things about the Elite 2 on that first run. The first was the immediate energy return from the IncrediRUN foam and the carbon plate. It encouraged a speedy turnover that I’m just not used to. Without realising it, this easy run turned into a tempo session – just as far as I intended, but easier and much quicker.
The second was the heel-toe drop combining with the carbon plate that encouraged me up onto the balls of my feet. I found my head wanted to be ahead of my feet, so I’d quite naturally assume a racy posture. Try as I might, I just couldn’t settle into my regular easy pace. Or perhaps these shoes just improved my regular easy pace.
Potential problems with the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2
The third – and most noticeable – thing was how that initial unsteadiness could make my feet roll inwards slightly. On the first few runs that unsteadiness was obvious, and a little problematic. However, when I learnt to compensate for it, these shoes helped me just take off. I often found myself running in that way I’ve often read somewhat suspiciously about – best described as a state of flow.
It may sound pretentious but that’s the best way I can describe it. Once I found the sweet spot balance-wise, the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 encouraged a smooth, fast turnover that helped me forget about technique and just concentrate on feel, and speed.
The flip-side is when I began to tire, and my form started to get ragged, it got really ragged really quickly. I’d lose the sweet spot and that IncrediRUN foam would start to feel a little less incredible. The outsole feels sticky and starts to slap the pavement; the midsole starts to squelch with that ridiculous give.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 verdict
For anyone new to carbon super shoes – like me –the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is nothing short of a revelation. It’s a shoe that encourages you into a zone where you just run unfettered – and enjoy every second of it. It may not be the most robust design, but it will help you generate a quick, smooth turnover and allow you to break away from thinking ‘technique’ all the time. If you tend to run until your form falters, you may struggle at the latter end of sessions. But if you want a race shoe to help you enjoy tempo sessions and race preparation, I can highly recommend the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 technical specs
| Materials | IncrediRUN foam; full-length slotted carbon plate; featherweight knit and mesh upper |
| Sizes | 2.5 – 13 |
| Weight | 199g (7.0oz) |
| Colors | White & peel / citron & black / fog & peel |
How we test the best running shoes
Our testers put each shoe through their paces over a mixture of distances and paces to see where they excel, and clocked up significant distances in each one to examine how they wear over time. Each reviewer focused on speed, stability and comfort during test runs, while also assessing the effectiveness of any high-tech features on offer. Their detailed reviews are sure to help you choose the right running shoe for you.
Related content:
