Our verdict

The Endorphin Speed 3 from Saucony is one hell of a shoe! We affirm that it's energetic, stable, and light; it ticks all the important boxes of a tempo running shoe. Even more, it can be your do-it-all trainer. From easy days down to the faster, more competitive race days, we are able to count on this Saucony trainer.

sneakers bambino saucony jazz original Pros

  • Peppy all the way
  • Comfy for easy days
  • zapatillas de running Saucony amortiguación minimalista minimalistas maratón
  • Cushioned for long miles
  • Quick and smooth transitions
  • Lightweight
  • Airy as hell
  • Roomy toe box
  • Fit is amazing
  • Grippy on dry and wet roads

sneakers bambino saucony jazz original Cons

  • Saucony Xodus Ultra Кроссовки Для Трейлраннинга
  • Not for narrow feet
  • No reflective details

Audience verdict

89
Great!

Sneakers SAUCONY Jazz Original S2044-654 Navy Forest

sneakers bambino saucony jazz original: 

  • Ver todos los productos de Saucony,
  • running shoe that's also cushy and stable for daily runs and long miles.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is a one-stop shop that can take you from a daily workout to a race!

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion profile photo

Who should NOT buy

Everything about the Saucony Speed 3 gets a thumbs up from us, save for the heel counter. It's less padded, which is slightly abrasive to the heel. You can stock up on the bandaid or consider Saucony jazz court men white blue.

However, if you're head over heels in love with the Saucony Endorphin series but want a comfier heel wrap, it's best to stick with the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. It's also a great alternative for those with slim feet.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion lab view

Breathability

From double-layer mesh to single-layer mesh, this speedster is airy AF. If you plan to use it in the summer, we have nothing else to say, but lace it up! 

This Saucony shoe gets a solid 4 out of 5 for breathability based on our lab tests and on-road experience.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 234 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

As a speed-oriented shoe, it is expected that the Endorphin Speed 3 cuts corners on the outsole's durability.

Not only do we see less rubber at the bottom, but we also found it to be softer than average with he help of a durometer.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion outsole hardness

If you don't mind sacrificing 0.6 oz of weight in return for a sturdier outsole, we can highly recommend the ASICS Novablast 3 speed trainer.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 77.0 HC
Average 80.5 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 285 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
52.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

The rubber is not only softer, it is also thinner in this Saucony shoe. Our caliper shows only 2 mm of rubber which is a millimeter thinner than average.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion outsole thickness

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 2.0 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.6 mm

Weight

Saucony will be debuting a brand new Grid 8000 this week with.

But the Endorphin Speed 3 beats that by weighing only 212 grams/ 7.5 ounces! This is exceptionally light given how much cushioning this Saucony shoe has!

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion scale

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 7.94 oz (225g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 305 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
5.26 oz (149g)
Weight
12.56 oz (356g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

With the amount of cushioning that it packs, the Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion is a mile eater. And a very good one too! 

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion heel stack height

Even though our caliper shows an average amount of stack height (34.1 mm in the heel), it definitely feels like plenty on the run.

Important note: the brand advertised slightly different numbers. The shoe is supposed to have 36 mm for the heel stack height.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 34.1 mm
Average 33.7 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
7.6 mm
Heel stack
45.7 mm

sneakers bambino saucony jazz original | Forefoot stack

As for the forefoot stack, our caliper returned 26.7 mm which is over 2 mm thicker than average!

However, it is a little less than the officially stated 28 mm.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion forefoot stack height

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 26.7 mm
Average 25.0 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
7.6 mm
Forefoot stack
36.9 mm

Drop

At 7.4 mm, we found the shoe's heel-to-toe drop to be close to the official specs (8 mm). This is a middle-of-the-pack drop that works great for both beginner and seasoned runners.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion drop

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 7.4 mm
Average 8.7 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
-0.8 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Insole thickness

Measuring the shoe's insole, we found it to be slightly thinner than average at 3.6 mm. But this is still quite padded for a speed trainer - no need to be concerned with underfoot comfort.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion insole

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 3.6 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 300 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

sneakers bambino saucony jazz original | Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The Endorphin Speed 3 also gets comfier than its predecessor. There is a gentle give in the shoe's midsole and it works better for easy days too!

Turning to our durometer, we found that the shoe's foam is in fact in the top 10% of the softest in our lab!

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion midsole softness

With a reading of 13.8 HA, the Endorohin Speed 3 is on par with shoes like ASICS Novablast 3 (13.5 HA) and the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 2 (13.9 HA).

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 13.8 HA
Average 21.4 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 232 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
41.5 HA

Difference in midsole softness in cold

It was incredible to find out that the Endorphin Speed 3 remains soft even after 20 minutes in the freezer!

At room temperature, our durometer showed 13.8 HA and after the freezer, it only firmed up by 5%(!) becoming 14.5 HA.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion freezer

Even after being exposed to the cold, the shoe remained 65% softer than other shoes at room temperature.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 5.1%
Average 25.5%
Compared to 231 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
0%
Difference in midsole softness in cold
100%

Ride

This time around, the Endorphin Speed 3 comes back with more bounce and a snappier toe-off which makes picking up the pace so easy!

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion run trails

The shoe lives up to our high expectations left by the previous Speed 2.

And this is not just because it's a shoe that has speed written all over it. It's also because the nylon plate it has (responsible for the snappy toe-off) doesn't feel harsh. Compared to other plated running shoes, the Endorphin Speed 3 is more natural-feeling.

At the equal time, the shoe hasn't lost its bounce either. So you can still push the pace and go as fast as you want.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion mid run

What's more, in this iteration, the shoe's Speedroll rocker geometry is very noticeable. Each step feels as if the foot is carried forward. Love it!

Stability

Lateral stability test

This Saucony shoe doesn't feel very stable and it's not supposed to. As a speed trainer, its primary task is to keep you on your toes as you smash that interval training or chase that new personal best.

Saucony x Play Cloths Shadow 5000 Strange Fruit Purple.

Torsional rigidity

Another detractor from the shoe's stability is its high level of torsional flex.

Performing a manual test, we rated the Endorphin Speed 3 with only 2 out of 5 for torsional rigidity. That puts the shoe on the more flexible side of the spectrum.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 283 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Eșarfe și fulare Saucony.

This is the ONLY complaint we have for the Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion. The shoe's heel is a tad bit uncomfortable and scratchy because it has minimal padding.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion heel area

This is definitely due to the choice of materials because the heel counter itself is very soft, it scored 2/5 on our flexibility tests (5 being the stiffest). 

Their recommendation? Wearing thicker socks is a must. As well as carrying a couple of bandaids.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 2
Average 2.8
Compared to 267 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

We also found that the Endorphin Speed 3 runs slightly narrow in its platform.

The widest part of the forefoot turns out to be 111.5 mm, 1.5 mm narrower than average. But the good news is that it's not so critical and the brand did its homework to improve the 3rd iteration.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion midsole width forefoot

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 111.5 mm
Average 113.7 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
100.5 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
126.5 mm

zapatillas de running Saucony constitución ligera maratón blancas

The Speed 3 is proof that Saucony really listens to runners' feedback. In the past, the Endorphin Speed's weak point was its lack of heel stability.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion width midsole heel

But this model changes all this. Based on our caliper measurements, the shoe's base has been widened by 5 mm in the heel.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 89.5 mm
Average 90.5 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
74.9 mm
zapatillas de running Saucony constitución ligera maratón blancas
106.6 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

As our manual flexibility test shows, the Endorphin Speed 3 is on the flexible side. But let's see what the controlled lab measurement shows us.

In this test, we bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle and use a gauge to measure how much force it takes to do that.

Turns out, this Saucony shoe only needs 23.5N! This is 30% less than it takes a road shoe on average. This also proves that the nylon plate embedded into the shoe's sole is more forgiving than a carbon plate.

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 23.5N
Average 29.2N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 287 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
2.2N
Stiffness
94.4N

Grip / Traction

The outsole has plenty of traction and plenty of durability too! We felt safe at all times, even on wet asphalt passages. And during fast corners, the grip doesn't compromise. 

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion outsole

Size and fit

zapatillas de running Saucony neutro gore-tex

Even though the Speed 3 is only average in the widest part of the forefoot (98.5 mm), it feels roomier because of the stretchy nature of its fabric. The latter makes the shoe feel much more accommodating in the toebox.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion toebox width

We believe that Saucony absolutely nailed the fit of the Endorphin Speed 3! The upper does a really great job mimicking the natural shape of the foot. 

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion profile

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 98.5 mm
Average 98.4 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
89.5 mm
zapatillas de running Saucony neutro gore-tex
109.1 mm

zapatillas de running Saucony pie normal apoyo talón talla 37

The shoe's secure wrap is also complemented by its semi-gusseted tongue and padded laces. They work so well together; getting a solid lockdown won't be a challenge in the Speed 3.

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion laces

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 Both sides (semi)

Comfort

Tongue padding

There is also a moderate amount of tongue padding - 3.9 mm, based on our caliper measurement. It is 2 mm thinner than the average but is just perfect for a speed shoe. 

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion tongue thickness

Test results
Endorphin Speed 3 3.9 mm
Average 5.6 mm
Compared to 302 running shoes
sneaker politics saucony courageous battle nola cannon
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion vs. 2

This version of the Endorphin Speed doesn't go through a lot of changes, which is why runners continue to rave about it. It has minor touch-ups, which make it an even better version: 

  • The wider toebox and thinner, stretchier upper for a more precise fit and a breathable running experience 
  • More stability in the forefoot and heel because of the widened base 
  • A new plate for a snappier toe-off
  • Anteater x Saucony  

Saucony ride 8 womens running shoes sneakers neutral runner shoes extra cushion soft cushion