MEN'S ENDORPHIN SPEED 5

Overview & Purpose

The Endorphin Speed 5 is a “plated tempo / fast training / all-rounder” shoe: it’s not a full carbon-plate super-shoe, but it includes a flexible nylon plate to inject some snap and stability. SAUCONY positions it to handle everything from workouts to long efforts, while retaining comfort for everyday miles. 

It’s the successor to the Speed 4, with tweaks rather than wholesale redesign. 

Specs & Key Features

Below are some of the technical attributes and what they mean in practice (drawn from reviews and lab tests):

Strengths / What Works Well

Here’s what reviewers and testers commonly praise:

1. Versatility
   Many highlight that the Speed 5 can handle everything from easy runs to tempo efforts and even races. 

2. Responsive / energy return
   Compared to many non-super-shoes, the Speed 5 delivers snappy responsiveness, thanks to the PWRRUN PB foam + plate combo. 

3. Breathability & Upper comfort
   The more open mesh, better ventilation, and more forgiving toebox are recurring positives.

4. Smooth transitions
   The rocker + plate geometry helps with fluid gait transitions, especially at faster paces. 

5. Good value (relative to full carbon racers)
   For a plated training / tempo shoe, it offers much of the “snappiness” of race shoes without the tradeoffs. 

Comparison vs Previous Version (Speed 4)

• The Speed 5 has a more breathable, thinner upper compared to the 4. 

• The plate geometry changed: Speed 5 has one wing on the medial side vs dual wings on Speed 4, which gives Speed 5 a bit more flexibility but slightly less torsional rigidity. 

• Outsole durability is improved in the 5 by adding more rubber in heel areas.

• The ride in Speed 5 is slightly more forgiving, less aggressive, making it better for slower paces and mixed usage compared to the more “racey” feel of Speed 4.

So if you already own a Speed 4 and it serves your runs well, the jump to 5 may feel more evolutionary than revolutionary.

Verdict & Best Use Cases

Overall, the Endorphin Speed 5 is a strong choice if you want a single shoe that can cover a range of training — from easier runs up to workouts and races. It leans toward being a “do-it-all” option, with responsiveness, enough cushion, and good ride dynamics.

It’s especially good for:

• Runners who don’t want multiple specialty shoes.

• Tempo / threshold / interval sessions where you want a bit of bounce.

• Mixed use: some easy miles + faster work.

• Those who like a lighter, more responsive feel but still want enough comfort for moderate distances.

It may be less ideal if:

• You’re looking for maximum cushioning for very long runs (e.g. marathon at conservative effort).

• You prefer a stiff carbon-plated “blaster” ride.

• You need a very snug, narrow fit, or have very narrow feet (though width options and fit are decent for many).

• Durability under very high mileage / heavy use is a concern and you need something with more rubber coverage.