The Endorphin Professional is a shoe that I seize for at the least a couple of times per week. However once I opened the field for the brand new Endorphin Professional 5, I’ll admit, I panicked for a second. Did Saucony go and completely change a shoe that many people runners already love?
The up to date model of the Saucony Endorphin Professional 5 is certainly giving off some Nike vibes. And we completely get that rush of feelings when a brand new shoe mannequin drops.
Will it really feel the identical? Will you find it irresistible much more? Or will you be shaking your fist on the sky and instantly including the older mannequin to your cart earlier than it disappears?
The excellent news right here is that the updates to the Professional 5 are constructive ones. (and massive exhale). Sure, the shoe feels a bit totally different, however in a manner that appears intentional, it’s constructed to make these sooner paces really feel even smoother and simpler to hit.
Endorphin Professional 5 Specs
We’ve already began testing this shoe, however are holding our FULL assessment till it’s prepared for buy.
- Entire Drop: 8 mm
- Stack: 39.5 mm
- Weight: 7.3 oz males’s, 6.3 oz ladies’s
- Not out there in extensive
- $225
- Out there February 2026
You may nonetheless take a look at the Endorphin Professional 4 and snag a couple of of the enjoyable colorways earlier than the following mannequin comes out in early winter.
What’s New and Completely different within the Endorphin Professional 5
The primary phrase that involves thoughts when trying on the Endorphin Professional 5 is pace.
All of the adjustments to this shoe have been designed with one purpose in thoughts: that will help you run quick and perhaps even snag that subsequent private greatest.
It’s nonetheless extremely light-weight, however now it packs an upgraded carbon plate for a extra highly effective journey.
One of many largest issues I seen on my first run was the improved SpeedRoll. To actually examine, I even put the Professional 4 on one foot and the Professional 5 on the opposite.
The Professional 4 has the SpeedRoll, however it feels flatter and extra constant from heel to toe. The Professional 5, alternatively, feels noticeably springier and extra supportive of my pure stride (that dancer’s stride, aka a big-toe-off stride).
I didn’t really feel like I needed to battle for that sooner tempo; the shoe simply wished to roll ahead. 
The replace which will take a bit getting used to is the higher. If I’m being trustworthy, I’ve blended emotions up to now.
I do like that the sock-like liner is now connected underneath the bolstered lacing holes, which retains it from bunching up the way in which it typically did within the Professional 4.
And whereas the shoe is barely noticeable lighter, the higher mesh itself feels thicker. One bonus is you’ll be able to’t see your socks via the mesh anymore. Does that imply they received’t be nice in colder temperatures?
However the half I’m nonetheless not sure about is the tongue. It sits greater now and rests immediately towards your pores and skin. With the Professional 4, you may fold the tongue again so it laid on the laces and by no means brought on irritation. That’s not likely an possibility right here.
The jury remains to be out on this one, and we’ll have extra to say about it as soon as we put collectively a full assessment after some extra miles. 
The Professional 5’s outsole additionally underwent a minor makeover. To enhance grip and scale back floor abrasion, Saucony added a PWRTRAC rubber outsole. I’m curious to see the way it holds up throughout my winter exercises, particularly on these slick, probably snowy surfaces.
The opposite huge replace is the slotted carbon plate design. I attempted twisting and bending the shoe simply to check, and it didn’t budge. Not even a bit.
These upgraded plates really feel noticeably stiffer and extra bouncy than those within the Professional 4.
Who’s This For?
I feel that these updates will hold the Endorphin Professional on our greatest carbon plate trainers record.
- Vast Toes: It runs a bit slim, and the up to date higher isn’t as stretchy.
- Heavier Runners: It’s nonetheless an important possibility, particularly with the up to date, much more sturdy outsole.
- Lengthy Runs: Excellent for when you will have pace rolled into these longer miles.
- Entrance of the Pack: Completely seize this for races from the 5k to the marathon.
Must you Purchase the Endorphin Professional 4 or Watch for Professional 5?
We’ve all the time stated the Endorphin Professional 4 was the on a regular basis runner’s carbon-plated shoe. As I stated earlier, it’s one I attain for a number of occasions per week with out pondering twice.
After a couple of runs within the Professional 5, I do suppose it nonetheless has potential to suit that class, however the brand new carbon plate undoubtedly adjustments the way in which it feels underfoot.
Don’t decide me, however I personal a couple of pairs of the Professional 4, and I’ll most likely scoop up another when it goes on sale simply to have it in rotation. It’s actually an important shoe that by no means made my plantar fasciitis flare up.
Plus, for a carbon-plated shoe, it’s tremendous sturdy on the highway, for treadmill miles, and even on crushed gravel. 
I want a couple of extra runs to present you my trustworthy reply on which is best. However don’t fear, I’ll break all of it down in a full assessment early subsequent yr as soon as I put the Professional 5 to the true check.
All proper, that’s our preview of the Saucony Endorphin Professional 5. You’ll have to attend till early 2025 to get the total rundown.
