REVIEW: Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 – The Softest and Most Aggressive Racing Shoe Yet?

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I’m back from the Saucony London 10K event, where I had the chance to put Saucony’s new flagship racing super shoe to the test: the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.

I have to admit that this was my first experience with a Saucony racing shoe, so I can’t make any direct comparisons with previous versions. However, I’ve tested quite a few shoes featuring advanced foams and carbon plate technologies, so I’m confident we’ll uncover some interesting insights this time as well.

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Saucony Endorphin Elite 3: Key Spec

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First Impressions: Incredibly Soft from the Very First Step

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Let’s start, as always, with my first impressions.
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This running shoe is soft. Incredibly soft.
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The upper feels almost ridiculously smooth. It’s like running your hand over a tailor-made suit rather than holding what, from a sporting perspective, is a tool designed to make you suffer. Perhaps a little less, perhaps a little better, but suffering is still part of the deal. Otherwise, you might want to choose another sport. 

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After the initial surprise with the upper material, I moved on to the part that really matters: the midsole, the geometry and the plate.

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Before heading to London, I had already looked into what to expect, but I have to say that Saucony’s new incrediRUN foam was much softer than I could have imagined.

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Among the shoes I’ve tested, it has a similar feel to the ASICS METASPEED™ Sky, and perhaps even closer to the ASICS METASPEED™ Ray (although I haven’t actually run in that model, only seen it).

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The main difference is that the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 carries slightly more weight.

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However, this impressive level of softness comes with a downside. The initial feeling when you first put the shoe on isn’t particularly reassuring. It feels somewhat unstable, especially around the heel, where the stack height of 39.8 mm places it just below the current World Athletics limit for legal road racing shoes.

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Upper & Fit: Lightweight, Breathable and Surprisingly Secure

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After my first shakeout run, however, I realised that my initial impressions weren’t entirely accurate.
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The heel instability disappears as soon as you start running, while the almost excessive softness transforms into a powerful and responsive ride once you begin pushing the pace.

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At first, the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 gives the impression that it could also adapt to easier efforts. Personally, I think this may be a false impression. A racing shoe like this is designed to perform at high intensity, and that is where it truly comes alive.

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Now let’s move on to the real test: race day.

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As always, let’s begin with the upper.

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This incredibly soft upper proved to be lightweight and exceptionally breathable while providing a secure wrap around the foot without ever feeling restrictive. The laces are the perfect length, and I particularly appreciated the integrated lace keeper on the tongue.

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At times I could feel my socks moving inside the shoe. It’s difficult to say whether this was down to my sock choice on the day, but it’s worth mentioning that the shoe could perhaps benefit from an insole with a little more grip. This would reduce movement when cornering sharply or changing direction quickly.

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Again, I can’t say with certainty whether this was caused by the shoe or by the socks. But that’s exactly why the bearded tester doesn’t hide anything.

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I also noticed that the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 runs slightly short.

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You might not notice this when first trying it on because the upper is so incredibly soft, but once you start running your big toe clearly pushes against the front of the shoe, creating a sensation that is far from ideal. Considering the investment required for a premium racing shoe like this, I would recommend trying half a size up.

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Running Feel & Performance: Built to Go Fast

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As I mentioned earlier, the shoe gives the impression that it can be tamed even at easier paces, but once you push it at speeds that better match its intended purpose and our own limits it reveals its true character:

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This is an aggressive, dynamic racing shoe with outstanding energy return.

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It isn’t a shoe that gives you anything for free, but it certainly gives plenty back.

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The foam reminds me of what you find in the Mizuno Neo Zen or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel, although here it represents a much more advanced and highly refined evolution of that concept.

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We’re dealing with a foam compound that delivers an exceptionally high level of responsiveness and energy return. I later discovered that Saucony has paired this with a second, less reactive foam layer to distribute that energy return in a more balanced and controlled way.

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The separated forefoot plate allows for a much more natural metatarsal flex compared to a traditional full-length plate, while the pronounced rocker geometry creates a late-stage, highly aggressive transition.

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I’m not sure I would personally choose this shoe for the full marathon distance. However, over a fast 10K, once it gets up to speed—and that happens very quickly, without wasting energy—it does an excellent job of helping maintain both cadence and running posture.

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Grip & Stability: A Fair Trade-Off for Maximum Performance

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Thanks to the separated forefoot plate, grip and stability are surprisingly good considering the shoe's exceptionally soft foam and overall stack height. 

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We’re not quite in the territory of absolute excellence, but it represents a good compromise for a racing shoe that sits so close to the current limits of running shoe technology.

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Because this is an uncompromising race-day shoe, I’m not expecting exceptional durability. My estimate would be somewhere around 250-300 km, which is fairly typical for a shoe built with maximum race-day performance as the priority.

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That said, when you're investing around £300 in a shoe, it's only natural to wish to get a few hundred kilometres more out of it.

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Verdict: Who Is the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 Best For?

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With its highly aggressive geometry and exceptionally soft foam, the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 is primarily aimed at well-trained runners with efficient running mechanics who want to race fast, where maintaining a pace below 3:40 min/km is realistic.

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In my opinion, it performs best over distances up to the half marathon, where its explosive ride and aggressive transition can really shine. Personally, I’m not convinced I would choose it for a full marathon, but that will ultimately depend on the runner.

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Beyond its remarkable ability to generate propulsion, the feature I appreciated most was its incredible softness. Despite the aggressive performance it delivers on race day, the sensation when you first step into the shoe is unlike anything else I’ve experienced.

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If I had to describe the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 in just one sentence, it would be this:

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A shoe born to go full gas.

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Fabio’s overall Score for the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

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Would you like to hear more from Fabio Giudici? Follow him on Instagram and stay up to date with his latest running adventures.ㅤ

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