The Endorphin Professional is a shoe that I seize for a minimum of a couple of times every week. However after 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 unquestionably 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 adore it 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 optimistic ones. (and massive exhale). Sure, the shoe feels a bit of completely different, however in a means 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 overview till it’s prepared for buy.
- Heel Drop: 8 mm
- Stack: 39.5 mm
- Weight: 7.3 oz males’s, 6.3 oz ladies’s
- Not obtainable in large
- $225
- Out there February 2026
You’ll be able to nonetheless try the Endorphin Professional 4 and snag just a few 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 wanting on the Endorphin Professional 5 is pace.
All of the modifications to this shoe had been designed with one objective in thoughts: that will help you run quick and perhaps even snag that subsequent private finest.
It’s nonetheless extremely light-weight, however now it packs an upgraded carbon plate for a extra highly effective trip.
One of many greatest issues I seen on my first run was the improved SpeedRoll. To actually evaluate, I even put the Professional 4 on one foot and the Professional 5 on the opposite.
The Professional 4 has the SpeedRoll, but it surely feels flatter and extra constant from heel to toe. The Professional 5, then again, 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 struggle for that sooner tempo; the shoe simply wished to roll ahead. 
The replace that will take a bit of getting used to is the higher. If I’m being sincere, I’ve blended emotions up to now.
I do like that the sock-like liner is now connected underneath the strengthened lacing holes, which retains it from bunching up the best way it generally did within the Professional 4.
And whereas the shoe is barely noticeable lighter, the higher mesh itself feels thicker. One bonus is you possibly can’t see your socks by way of 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 increased now and rests immediately in opposition to your pores and skin. With the Professional 4, you would fold the tongue again so it laid on the laces and by no means prompted 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 overview after some extra miles. 
The Professional 5’s outsole additionally underwent a minor makeover. To enhance grip and cut 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 match, and it didn’t budge. Not even a bit of.
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 maintain the Endorphin Professional on our finest carbon plate trainers checklist.
- Extensive Ft: It runs a bit of slender, and the up to date higher isn’t as stretchy.
- Heavier Runners: It’s nonetheless an amazing possibility, particularly with the up to date, much more sturdy outsole.
- Lengthy Runs: Good 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 Anticipate 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 instances every week with out pondering twice.
After just a few runs within the Professional 5, I do assume it nonetheless has potential to suit that class, however the brand new carbon plate positively modifications the best way it feels underfoot.
Don’t decide me, however I personal just a few pairs of the Professional 4, and I’ll most likely scoop up yet one more when it goes on sale simply to have it in rotation. It’s really an amazing shoe that by no means made my plantar fasciitis flare up.
Plus, for a carbon-plated shoe, it’s tremendous sturdy on the street, for treadmill miles, and even on crushed gravel. 
I would like just a few extra runs to offer you my sincere reply on which is best. However don’t fear, I’ll break all of it down in a full overview early subsequent 12 months as soon as I put the Professional 5 to the true take a look at.
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.
What to learn subsequent?
