Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 running shoe

The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 running shoe won’t be available until spring 2025, but Saucony made it available for 1 day. The Endorphin Elite, Saucony’s top competition running shoe, the second edition of which differs in many ways from its predecessor. Softer midsole, less aggressive, less tight, but just as fast.

Unfortunately, many facts about the shoe are still unknown, and it won’t be until the 2025 release that Saucony will reveal those details about the shoe, but what you can know now is published, so you can save up for it until the release, because it will be quite expensive (the pre-order was $275), although not more expensive than the current Endorphin Elite.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 upper

The upper of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Running Shoe is made of a very loosely woven mesh material on the front and sides of the shoe, which has very good breathability. Minimal reinforcement is visible only at the toes. The upper is wider than usual for racing shoes, so it fits comfortably on wider feet. The shoe does not have a separate tongue, it is sewn into the upper. The tongue is also a thin mesh material, so if you have a thinner foot and need to tighten the laces more (as I mentioned, the upper is wider), there may be some creases at the bottom of the tongue, but they don’t bother you when running. The heel collar is a stiffer than the mesh material on the front, but it’s a soft, flexible material heel collar with thin cushioning, as we’re used to in performance-optimised running shoes. The upper locks the foot in well and securely, even on fast-paced, fast runs.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 midsole

The material of the midsole of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 running shoe is a secret for now, Saucony has only said that it is made of a newly developed foam. It seems to be made of two different layers, a thinner harder foam on top (maybe PWRRUN HG) and a thicker foam on the bottom, which we only know is extremely soft, softer than Nike’s ZoomX foam. Between the two foams is a slotted carbon fiber plate that gives the shoe dynamics and stability. The carbon plate on the front of the foot is not continuous, but divided into four sections like a fork. This solution helps prevent the midsole from becoming too stiff or too tight. It’s worth watching Alex Filitti’s short presentation of the shoe to see how soft the foam is:

Even though the foam is soft, it’s not as unstable as it looks. The forefoot of the midsole is wide, wider than the midsole of an average race running shoe (which is probably why the upper can be wider). The midsole is mostly wide in the forefoot so it can provide better stability, especially for those who land on the forefoot. The midsole provides a very soft and perhaps less stable but dynamic experience at a slower pace (around 5 min/km), but at a faster pace, when you land and take off with more force, the carbon plate effect “kicks in” and becomes very dynamic. The faster pace is not only easier to achieve, but also easier to maintain. It’s a bit like the Alphafly 3, which we also described as versatile in speed and lightweight, making it easier to maintain a faster pace over longer distances. Stability is similar, with more stability for those landing on the front of the foot.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Outsole

The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 Running Shoe Outsole is an segmented, thin outsole. The material is similar to the outsole material of the previous version, which is a soft rubber compound. Despite its softness, the outsole of the previous version had good abrasion resistance. The outsole of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 is segmented, the pattern is not deep, but it helps with traction. On a wet surface you can feel some slip, but on a dry surface it has very good grip and doesn’t pull back fast running.

Summary

The Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 running shoe will be available in spring 2025, but we’ve already been able to buy a few of them, so we’ve learned a lot about them, but there are still unknown parts. It’s the same fast race shoe as previous version, but with a much softer midsole and a slightly more comfortable upper. It’s more versatile, can be used at lower paces, less aggressive, less tight. The midsole is extremely soft, perhaps the softest midsole of any running shoe currently available, but the geometry of the midsole means it’s not as unstable as it looks when you land on your forefoot.