I ran 35 miles in the Saucony Endorphin Trainer — here’s my verdict

The Saucony Endorphin Trainer is ostensibly a new addition to Saucony’s line-up, but is really just an updated version of the Saucony Kinvara Pro. It’s a plated training shoe with a high midsole stack that contains a top layer of Saucony’s springy Incredirun foam.

That all sounds promising, and given the high price, you’d expect a pretty exceptional ride as well, with the Endorphin Trainer in theory being built to rival some of the best running shoes like the Nike Zoom Fly 6 or Brooks Hyperion Max 2.

Unfortunately in practice, the Endorphin Trainer has a heavy, dull ride that isn’t suited for fast runs or all that enjoyable on easy runs. It’s a stable daily trainer with enough cushioning to protect the legs, but in my Saucony Endorphin Trainer review, I’ll explain why I think the shoe misses the mark, and suggest some alternatives I prefer.

Saucony Endorphin Trainer review: Price and availability

The Saucony Endorphin Trainer launched in March 2025 and costs $180 in the U.S., the same price as the Saucony Kinvara Pro.

If Saucony also sticks to the Kinvara Pro pricing in the U.K., these shoes will be £200. That high price puts the Endorphin Trainer in line with top super-trainers like the Hoka Mach X2 and Saucony’s own Endorphin Speed 4.

Saucony Endorphin Trainer review: Design and fit

The Endorphin Trainer will be available at launch in the white/peel color I tested. It has a comfortable fit in my normal running shoe size, with a secure hold at the heel and midfoot and enough room in the toe-box.

Standing 42mm tall at the heel and 34mm at the forefoot the Endorphin Trainer is a max-stack shoe and is actually the highest-stack shoe in the Endorphin range. The drop of 8mm and the stack height is the same as on the Kinvara Pro.

The Saucony Endorphin Trainer weighs 10.4oz in my US size 9.5, which is actually a small gain in weight on the Kinvara Pro. It’s heavier than most plated super-trainers, which does detract from its performance on faster runs.

Upper

The mesh upper on the Endorphin Trainer is breathable in the toebox and has some comfortable padding around the collar and on the tongue of the shoe. It’s not an upper that’s built to be lightweight, but it isn’t too plushly padded or overly structured around the heel.

I had no concerns with the comfort or fit of the upper throughout my testing of the Endorphin Trainer, though the white color of the shoe I tested quickly got dirty when running in the British winter.

Midsole

The Endorphin Trainer has a dual-density midsole with a top layer made from Saucony’s soft and bouncy Incredirun foam, which is also used in the Endorphin Elite 2 racing shoe, and a larger bottom layer made from PWRRUN foam.

While the inclusion of Incredirun makes the shoe an upgrade on the Kinvara Pro — which had a less energetic PWRRUN PB top layer — it’s the thicker layer of dense PWRRUN foam that you really feel on the run. It mutes the bounce.

In between the two layers of foam is a three-quarter length carbon plate to add more stiffness and some propulsion to the ride, though I found I didn't feel the benefit of the plate on the run.

Outsole

Aside from two small patches of rubber in the main wear areas at the toe and heel of the shoe, the Endorphin Trainer does not have a true outsole. Instead, the durable PWRRUN foam on the bottom layer of the midsole is left exposed and moulded to create grip.

Given that this is already a heavy shoe and built to handle a lot of mileage, more rubber coverage on the outsole would be an improvement both in terms of grip and durability.

Saucony Endorphin Trainer review: Running performance

I was not a fan of the Kinvara Pro, and when I saw that the Endorphin Trainer had a similar design all round, I knew that the layer of Incredirun foam would have to be pretty amazing to change the performance of the shoe dramatically.

It is a good foam, and one I’ve enjoyed on the Endorphin Elite 2. But on the Endorphin Trainer, it’s drowned out by the thick layer of dense PWRRUN foam, which deadens the ride of the shoe. As a result, the Endorphin Trainer doesn’t feel bouncy or soft, and I’m unsure exactly what it’s meant to be.

It’s cushioned and comfortable for daily runs, but the dual-density midsole and carbon plate don’t add much to the mix, and it’s not a shoe I enjoyed running fast in. It’s heavy and doesn’t have a very smooth transition from heel to toe, and it’s also loud — you’ll turn some heads running in this shoe.

I don’t think the Saucony Endorphin Trainer is more comfortable or versatile than cheaper daily trainers without plates like the Asics Novablast 5. The Asics is also lighter, softer and more fun to run in at any pace. Saucony’s own Ride 18 is cheaper as well, and has PWRRUN+ in the midsole, a livelier foam than the PWRRUN in the Endorphin Trainer.

If you want a plated training shoe to do speedwork in, then I’d pick out almost any other option ahead of the Endorphin Trainer. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is an exceptionally versatile shoe for one, and if you want a max-stack option, then the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is as stable and comfortable as the Endorphin Trainer while being lighter and having a much smoother ride.

Should you buy the Saucony Endorphin Trainer?

Given its high price and limited performance, I wouldn’t recommend picking up the Endorphin Trainer. It doesn’t feel like a super-trainer despite having the price of one. And while it can handle daily miles well enough, you can find much cheaper and more enjoyable shoes for that role, such as the Asics Novablast 5 or Hoka Clifton 10.

Top plated trainers like the Nike Zoom Fly 6 and Hoka Mach X2 offer a lot more speed and versatility at a similar price, and if you value stability in your super-trainer, the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 offers it in a lighter design that’s more enjoyable to run in.

Saucony has a range of excellent running shoes to pick from that are all well-designed to suit a specific purpose or runner, which is why the Endorphin Trainer stands out in a bad way. I’m not sure who it’s for, what it’s meant to do best, and why it costs so much.