Article by Sally Reiley, Adam Glueck, Courtney Kelly, Jen Schmidt and Sam Winebaum
Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 ($290)
Introduction
Sam: The Endorphin Elite is Saucony’s flagship marathon racer with a wildly fun and now more effective ride and upper.
Version 1 was a firm and aggressive shoe. Version 2 saw the introduction of a far more radical design and midsole as Saucony introduced IncrediRun, a very soft, very high energy returning TPEE foam. It was my favorite racer of 2025 by far with a dramatically fun fast ride but with caveats.. The geometry with its deep central midfoot carveout combined with the soft foam and a not particularly aggressive plate had me struggling with its stability on hills and late in races.
The Endorphin Elite 3 modifies the rear and midfoot geometry with a more filled in rear of the shoe, actually softens (to pressing) the foam and increases the stiffness and angle of the plate with a new ridged and forked design.
The upper moves from a very open but quite stiff and rough material to a more conventional closed yet still light mesh. The changes lead to a 13g heavier shoe at 217g / 7.65 oz US8.5 but so far they have proven well worth it for me, increasing the shoe’s practicality while not losing any of its dramatically fun ride.
Adam: I haven’t run in Saucony’s top racing shoe since the Endorphin Pro 2, which used a responsive and moderately light beaded PEBA. It was a good shoe, especially in 2021, but the super shoe race has innovated rapidly since then. The Endorphin Elite 3 feels like a completely different shoe, with a radically soft and responsive TPEE foam, the closest upper to a sock that I’ve ever tested, and a ride unlike anything else I’ve ever run in.
Pros:
Unique: dramatic: energetic, soft, fun, friendly and fast ride - Sam, Sally, Adam, Courtney, Jen
Comfortable upper with plenty of solid hold - Sam, Sally, Adam, Courtney, Jen
Bouncy and squishy but with more forward momentum than V2 - Sally/Sam
Much improved upper that holds even a narrow foot securely - Sally
Stable at slower paces but more and more energetic (and fun) as you pick up the tempo - Sally/Sam/Adam, Courtney (definitely comes alive at faster paces for me), Jen
High performance race day shoe for mid-packers as well as elites - Sally/Sam/Adam
Attractively bold and bright: Retro and modern looking at the same time - Sally/Adam, Courtney
Extremely cushioned without feeling inefficient, those looking for a responsive yet protective shoe will love - Adam
Suits my longer stride- Courtney
Cons:
On the heavy side for a top tier supershoe -Sam, Sally, Adam
Priced at the upper end of supershoes - Sam, Sally, Adam, Jen
Picks up in drive and aggressiveness but loses some of the bouncy fun: Sam
So soft it might be less effective at sub-half-marathon efforts: Adam, Jen
Slower paces cause me to bounce very high, becoming less efficient (high vertical oscillation)-Courtney
Highly unstable around corners and on uneven pavement - Jen
Needs a lot of force or weight into the shoe to get energy return - Jen
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 7.85 oz / 222g US9 women’s 189 g / 6.7 oz US M7
Sample Weights:
men’s 217g / 7.65 oz US8.5 / EU42 (v2: 204g / 7.2 oz US8.5), 235g / 8.29 ozM US 11 EU 45
women’s: 189 g / 6.7 oz US M7 (v2: 182 g /6.5 oz US W8)
Stack Height: 39.5 mm heel / 31.5 mm forefoot, 8mm drop (unchanged)
Platform Width:
V3: 90 mm heel / 65 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
V2: 90 mm heel / 45 contact (65) mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
Available now at Saucony HERE
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: The upper is a thin and airy mesh with considerable built in structure from the mesh itself. It differs in being softer and more uniform than the Elite 2's upper.
Elite 2 had a very open somewhat rough feeling mesh with many vertical fibers for support and a and along with a very stout (for a race shoe) toe bumper which led to some bunion pressures early on for me.
The tongue is a very stretchy and perforated knit with no gusset that extends to an inner collar around part of the ankle and includes the rear padding . Lace up is secure if relaxed and even with no tongue padding I have had no lace bite as the laces are soft and quite broad..
Instead of the v2 extension of the knit into an elaborate rear molded heel unit with padding, the v3 extends the upper mesh in a skeletal straps fashion around the heel (with the inner rear mesh areas soft) and is stitched to the knit.
A vertical thin overlay adds to the rear support.
The achilles area has a top pad with the outer fabric extending down.
I very much noticed during an A/B test with v2 a more secure and stable rear hold, not only from the upper but from now higher midsole side walls which support both the medial and lateral sides very well. And the now more filled in rear midsole underfoot contributes to the improved rear stability.
The fit is true to size for my narrow to medium foot and generous.
The toe bumper is now less extensive and softer and no longer reaches extensively over the top the toes. I had no bunion pressures in first runs as I did in v2.
I would characterize the fit as very comfortable for a marathon shoe and as with the underfoot platform more easy going than most marathon shoes
Sally: I absolutely loved the fun, bouncy ride of the Endorphin Elite 2 but struggled a bit with the fit. I have a slightly narrow woman’s foot, and to get a secure hold in the midfoot I had to cinch the laces quite tight; that caused painful folding of the stiff tongue material under the laces. But what a fun shoe! It was uniquely soft and bouncy yet energetic, very different in character from tother supershoes. I have been looking forward to the newest update from Saucony, hoping that they could refine the upper and keep the magic of that bouncy midsole. And?
I fell in love right away with the looks of the EE3 - those colors! When I first tried it on, I felt relief: the soft, squishy, bouncy sensation is still there.
And the fit has improved! The upper is now softer and stretchier and more breathable, and the overall fit in the midfoot somehow more snug (but still not anywhere near some of the other race day performance fits). When I cinch down the laces for my narrow foot, there is no more lace bite: the refined tongue is now made of a soft and stretchy material that is not noticeable when/if it overlaps under the laces. And speaking of laces, there is now an elasticized loop that I presume is a lace garage to tuck your extra laces into.
I typically wear a women’s size 8, and Saucony is incredibly consistent with their true to size sizing. I do recall the W8 in V2 felt short at the toes, thanks to a very stout toe bumper.
My sample size of V3 was at first a men’s size 6.5, which fit way too short; I swapped with another tester and am now wearing the men’s size 7, which gives my toes plenty of room in front. Do men’s sizes run wider? Regardless, it fits my foot well with plenty of wiggle room widthwise in the toe box. I think V3 is more versatile in sizing than V2, which fit wide feet well but was limiting for narrow feet.
I do know some runners had achilles issues with the ribbed flexible heel of V2; V3 likewise has a flexible heel but has eliminated the ribbing and added some subtle padding inside. I find the heel hold comfortable and secure, with no need for runners knots or any tweaking for me.
Adam: The Endorphin Elite 3 is a crazy feeling shoe to hold, squeeze the midsole, and put on. I remember seeing videos of people walking around in the Elite 2, or just compressing the foam with their finger and seeing how much it compressed. The upper is extremely comfortable with soft mesh, good heel padding, and excellent ventilation. It genuinely feels like a sock, and once it stretches over your foot, it provides a soft, comfortable, and conforming feel.
The midsole is the squishiest and softest I’ve ever experienced, I’ve never felt anything like it. It feels like walking around on marshmallows, but the plate and flared base keep it stable enough that you can walk around and take corners in it. Sizing is true to size for my M US 11 (EU 45), but definitely on the smaller side of that.
Courtney: The original Saucony Elites were my go-to longer distance race shoe. The geometry rolled you forward and its firmer, stable platform suited my mechanics. The inticing IncrediRUN foam was introduced in V2, but rear stability was sacrificed and that was warning enough for me to wait for V3. Saucony returns with an update that incorporates the super soft and responsive IncrediRUN into a more stable riding race shoe.
Although I had heard V3 fit on the snug side I opted for my normal size. I received a mens 7.5 (comparable to W9) and the fit was perfect. I did not feel any tightness in the toe box.
Jen: Like Adam, this was my first experience with Saucony’s racers since early versions of the Endorphin Pro, and the Endorphin Elite 3 showcases dramatic improvements in energy and softness. The shoe is so squishy and soft even to the touch that I was very curious how it would be underfoot.
Saucony shoes have fit slightly short for me in the past, and this was consistent with that sizing.
Unlike other testers, I needed to size up half a size to be able to run in the EE3 comfortably, especially given the very narrow toebox. Width felt true-to-size, meaning that the larger size was generous through the midfoot, but I was able to get decent lockdown without uncomfortable compression over the tongue.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The midsole features Saucony’s soft and very energetic TPEE IncrediRun foam (the softest and bounciest of any supershoe midsole I have tested) as in the V2 and with a very different feel than the notably firm v1. Pressing the v3 foam is slightly softer than v2’s.
The platform remains at 39.5 mm heel / 31.5 mm forefoot stack height and with the same broad 90mm heel width and moderately narrow (for super shoes) 110mm forefoot width.
The big changes are at the ground at the midfoot and towards the heel in terms of the midsole geometry and in the design of the carbon plate.
The midfoot no longer has the deep lateral cut extending towards the medial side. The heel groove is now almost completely filled in.
The midsole side walls rise higher to more deeply seat the foot contributing to the clearly felt improved stability in v3.
The midsole sidewalls essentially acts as part of the upper’s support system and as now higher than before are yet more effective and reduce the need for overlays or a gusset tongue. The shoe feels more stable at the rear and also a touch less explosively bouncy, and for sure more stable.
The carbon plate is still a forked design but now ridged to increase stiffness, forward SpeedRoll and stabilize the heel. Saucony explains the plate changes in the video here
The changes to the platform are clearly felt! The Elite 3 is more stable, more aggressive in roll to toe off and a bit less wild in feel, Whereas before, the Elite was a super fun and fast supershoe and a bit (too) wild unstable when tired personality, the Elite 3 platform is more “serious” and stable and a is serious contender for marathoners seeking a soft and very energetic ride that stays in better under control for the full distance.
That said, I do think the new more rigid plate is a bit overdone. While there is no midfoot plate hump at slower paces and the new plate along with no lateral midfoot cutout, I do think it could have a bit more give there to better initiate what is now a more dynamic yet roll to toe off from the forked design.
The additional stability from more foam width under foot and no midfoot cutout likely add some weight. I think the 13g weight gain is well worth it here.
Sally: The magic is still in this midsole; thank goodness Saucony did not tame it too much! They have kept the super bouncy super fun ride that I love and refined it to make the total run experience better, at least for me. Yes, they did away with the massive cutout in the midsole, which might have resulted in a weight gain but which adds much to the overall stability of the ride. We still have a high stack of the glorious incredibly soft IncrediRUN foam, but add in a tweaked geometry and refined carbon plate design and the result is a smoother forward rolling propulsion and less upward spring.
V2 was wild and crazy soft underfoot and sometimes a challenge to control, while V3 retains the bouncy fun yet is more stable and smoother and rolls through transitions better. I feel as if the forefoot rocker and toe-off are firmer and more decisive. This is a midsole and a shoe that responds positively to pace: the faster you go, the firmer it feels and the more responsive it is. The energy return is fantastic at tempo! And yet I feel comfortable running at slow paces as well, which is rare in a race day shoe.
Adam: With the widely flared outsole, forked plate, the Endorphin Elite 3 manages to be more approachable and stable than its incredibly soft foam would suggest.
As a heavier and more powerful runner, I was immediately concerned that it would squish and dissipate any energy I put into it, which while comfortable would not be a fast experience. However, my first mile after putting these on was under 6 minutes, as they immediately bounce back propulsively and feel truly unlike anything else.
When your foot impacts the ground at higher speeds, you can feel the foam deeply compress, sometimes jiggle a little bit if you’re accelerating or turning, and then smoothly rebound and bounce you forward. It’s like running on clouds or a trampoline, and the softness and compression is so much, you don’t even notice the harshness of the plate. Is it as fast as a firm and responsive rocker and more solid foam? I’m not sure, but it’s extremely fun and definitely fast for me. I’m not sure I’d pick it for a fast mile, but over longer distances, the cushion will be extremely welcome and the propulsion is still excellent.
Courtney: As Sam, Sally, and Adam have stated the sidewalls have increased in order to provide stability around the soft and bouncy IncrediRUN. Although the rear of the shoe is more stable, I still found my faster paces when I land further up more comfortable. As I slowed in pace between intervals or during warm ups and cool downs I noticed the foam bouncing me and becoming more inefficient with a higher vertical oscillation. This is certainly part of learning the shoe. It’s important to note that I felt a fair amount of hip soreness from running in them due to their highly bouncy and less stable nature. They are a tool that is best kept in a rotation of shoes for me. Though the Elite 3 has increased in weight (now equal in weight to V1), it's well worth that sacrifice to provide the support in such an aggressive foam and geometry. Testing some speed work at the track was one of my most enjoyable workouts ever. On flat surfaces these shoes truly come alive and I think they would actually do amazing at the 5k distance given it's a fairly straight flat course.
Saucony states that the Speed Roll Technology and plate with ridges stabilizes the heel and pushes you forward aggressively. I immediately noticed a push to the medial forefoot enabling me to use power from my first metatarsal for an energetic toe off. In my mile pace intervals (5:20-5:40) landings felt cushioned yet still energetic. I also was happy with my 5k and 10k pace intervals.
Jen: Early runs at an easy pace in the EE3 confirmed my first impression of the softest, bounciest shoe I’ve tested in a very long time. I agree with Courtney that the IncrediRun midsole feels almost too bouncy at slower paces with more of a midfoot plant, whereas the Speed Roll rocker is felt primarily with a more powerful forefoot pushoff. It feels fantastic at paces below 6:00/mi, especially if you’re going in a straight line on a perfectly smooth surface.
Outsole
Sam: The outsole sees significant changes with a more skeletal design which leads to less front coverage.
I found the Elite 2 outsole slippery in wet conditions. Initial wet road run points to better grip for the Elite 3.
I note an indentation of the outsole and midsole crossing the sole at the metatarsals. I think its purpose it to deliver some at the ground flex to initiate the final toe off.
Durability remains to be determined but so far so no wear is evident.
Sally: I had the pleasure of testing this shoe in an absolute downpour (almost sleet) and the grip was decently solid on the very wet pavement, much better than V2's. The rubber might be quiet, but the squishy squeak of the foam can be heard loud and clear.
I have a thing about loud shoes (enough already with the Alphafly 3!) but this squishy sound has become uniquely endearing. I have 20 + miles in the shoe now and there are no signs of wear.
Adam: I’m noticing that the limited outsole rubber coverage has held up well in my testing miles, but there’s a lot of exposed foam here. My shoes have the same squishy sound as Sally’s but I do not mind it as it’s a reminder that the cushioning is working!
Courtney: The outsole has greatly improved from V1 with improved coverage at the heel. I have about 25 miles on my pair now and I see some scuffing of the exposed foam in the middle of the heel but rubber areas seem highly durable.
Jen: As the others have noted, there’s a lot of exposed foam, but it holds up surprisingly well! I’d be curious how a slightly more substantial outsole could contribute to stability and traction around corners.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sally: I just may have found my new race day shoe! The Endorphin Elite 3 keeps that incredibly bouncy and incredibly fun ride that I loved so much in the EE 2 and packages it in a much improved and better fitting upper, adds a new slotted carbon fiber plate and tweaks the midsole geometry and VOILA! Here is a shoe that runners are going to love!
Saucony kept all the good parts about the previous version (most importantly the uniquely bouncy IncrediRUN foam) and fixed all of the shortcomings (such as the stiff upper and fit issues) to give us this incredibly fun and beautiful shoe.
The IncrediRUN foam comes alive underfoot unlike any other midsole. It seems to work well at a variety of paces, meaning this shoe is not limited to the elites only but rather should respond well to middle-of-the-pack runners and their slower paces. I am a midfoot striker and it feels great; how would it be for a heel striker? The heel is exceptionally soft underfoot. I am also a rather petite lightweight runner; how will this foam respond to a heavier runner?
The EE 3 will be a popular shoe for me in my rotation, especially for uptempo runs and races. But it feels so good on my feet that I would be tempted to wear it all the time - and it brings me such joy to run in this fun lively yet controlled shoe!
Sally’s score: 9.76 / 10
Ride (50%): 10.0 Fit (30%): 9.7 Value (15%): 9.0 Style (5%): 10.0
😊😊😊😊😊 without a doubt, maximum smile score!
Sam: Saucony bold, soft and fun Endorphin Elite gets more serious with more stability and ride consistency. V1 was a super firm and aggressive elite shoe, v2 went very soft, bouncy and fun. Here, while not toning down the high energy return IncrediRun foam, the rear platform is more planted, the plate more rigid and the ride more controllable and consistent at the price of some additional but not unreasonable weight.
As a heel striker, especially when tired, the rear changes are just what I thought was needed to perfect Elite 2, my favorite 2025 racer, but only if the race course was flatter. While less rear bouncy, the V3 is clearly more stable.
I am a bit less sure about the more rigid and aggressive plate which could have a bit more give for my tastes. The v2’s carbon was not as rigid and the midfoot gap (now filled in) gave some early roll forward. I prefer a racer with some “flex” to roll forward easily off my quick heel strike landings, to unlike Sally, my less than dynamic knee lift and drive.
Here the compromise of a more rigid and stable platform works well but loses some of the wild bouncy high energy feel from the foam of v2 and makes the Elite on the heavier end of super shoe weights.
Some of the wild bouncy fun is tamed down in favor of a more directed and stable ride, and one I am now will take for longer and hillier races than v2 where I struggled when tired. During my testing, the Elite seemed to perform best for me at around 7:40 per mile to 8:50 per mile my 10K to marathon paces with slower paces still fine but not as easy as before.
I was surprised during a test run on tired legs with seasonal allergies in the mix that I ran my second fastest times ever (many dozens of attempts over the years) on two approximately one mile Strava segments.
The foam seemed to “tighten up” and return more quickly and with less noticeable soft bounce the faster I went, seemingly returning energy more quickly than when slower where the ride is softer in feel. Even at faster paces, the Elite is the softest and bounciest of super shoes.
As Sally says, the new upper is far more refined and comfortable than the very airy yet quite rough on the foot upfront v2’s. Generous enough in fit, and secure, it stands out as a top marathon shoe type upper, with a bit more room and comfort than most.
While it gains a bit in weight, and at $290 is at the upper end of supershoe pricing and weight, it is still a solid value for its unique ride, versatility and comfort.
Well done Saucony! Taming its wildly fun and energetic IncrediRun foam just enough with new geometry and plate design transforms the Elite into a more “serious” riding and I expect also higher performing racer. Yet it is an option that is uniquely fun to run, and quite different from most others in the supershoe category fora s big smiles factor, forgiving fast and fun ride that is uniquely accessible to everyone from elites to the pack.
Sam’s Score: 9.43 / 10
Ride (50%): 9.5 Fit (30%): 9.5 Value (15%): 9.1 Style (5%): 9.2
😊😊😊😊 1/2
Adam: I’ve never run in a shoe as squishy and dynamic as the Endorphin Elite 3 before, and it has a truly unique and fun ride. I was worried that the incredibly soft foam combined with the high stack height would leave it feeling mushy or unstable, but the wider and filled-in midsole combined with the forked plate and conformal upper means it’s a very approachable shoe.
Most of all, it’s just really fun to run in, and the feeling of the foam sinking, compressing, and then trampolining you forward with every step is joyous. I’m impressed that Saucony’s engineers were able to come up with a geometry and plate combination that allows this incredibly soft foam to stay stable and be able to take corners.
For shorter race distances, I think I may still prefer a more direct firm foam like an Asics Metaspeed Sky, but for half marathon and above, I’ll likely pick the Endorphin Elite 3 as my race shoe for how much comfort it can provide without sacrificing propulsion. Sam and Sally have explained this well. It’s unique, fun, approachable, and cushioned while still being extremely fast.
Adam’s Score: 9.55/10
Ride: 9.9/10, Fit 30% 10/10, Value 15% (8/10), Style (5%, 8/10)
😊😊😊😊😊
Courtney: The Saucony Endorphin Elite 3s balance the high energy return from a top tier race shoe but with an approachable package that will suit more than just the elite packs out there. Thei extremely energetic, yet soft foam creates a unique ride that I can’t help but love. Despite their still somewhat unstable foam, the energy return is worth it. It may not be the shoe I bring to the marathon, but I will certainly race 5k-1/2 marathon distances in them with aims to PR.
Courtney’s Score: 9.40/10
Ride (50%): 9.8
Fit (30%): 9
Value (15%): 9
Style (5%): 9
Jen: Super squishy, super bouncy, and undeniably fast, the EE3 could easily be my shoe for a flat, straight marathon! It’s especially interesting to me that all our testers noted that the shoe felt better at faster paces, even though “faster” meant different things within the pool. That suggests it could be an approachable supershoe for all runners, where energy return is determined less by absolute pace and more by relative power and (more) forefoot strike.
Perhaps because I didn’t run in previous versions, I’m not quite as won over by the EE3 as the other testers on the stability front. I found it significantly less pleasant to run on the hilly, uneven pavement around my neighborhood than on a track or bike path, so it wouldn’t be my first choice marathon shoe even for the relatively mild hills of CIM. That said, lots to love here and I anticipate that future versions could improve stability even further while retaining the springy ride.
Jen’s score: 8.88/10
Ride (50%): 9 (minor points off for lack of stability)
Fit (30%): 9 (fits short for me)
Value (15%): 8
Style (5%): 9.5
😊😊😊😊
7 Comparisons
Saucony Endorphin Elite 1(RTR Review):
Courtney: For those who opted to skip V2 like me, you’ll find the updates to be positive. The outsole on V1 was not great especially over wet or sandy roads. I remember telling myself I would not run in them if there was inclement weather on my first marathon (luckily it was sunny). The revamped segmented rubber outsole on V3 is much better on wet surfaces, providing ample coverage side to side. The weight of V1 and V3 are about the same in my women’s size 9 at 7.0 and 7.1 oz respectively. Although this weight is heavier than some race shoes on the market today, it still turns over easily with plenty of energy return.
The updates have changed from a firmer rockered ride, to a propulsive yet cushioned ride. For me, V3 has the ability to push top end speed where I felt V1 struggled at anything shorter than 10k. The improvements to the upper make V3 a much more comfortable shoe and perhaps more approachable for newer runners overall.
Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 (RTR Review)
Sam: Covered in detail in the review. While the Elite 3 gains 13g, the increased stability and consistency delivered by the additional rear and midfoot foam is well worth it. We get a more comfortable and better fitting shoe from the new upper. I do prefer the more mellow plate arrangement of v2. Compared to the very firm and aggressive geometry v1, the Elite 2 should be a far more practical and friendly racer for most.
Sally: I loved the high energy bouncy midsole of V2 but had fit challenges with the upper: when I cinch the laces enough to get a secure hold on my narrow foot, I get painful buckling of the stiffer tongue fabric on top of my foot. The much improved upper of the V3 solves this issue and results in a fantastic energetic and fun ride, so V3 for the overall win.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo (RTR Review)
Sally: The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo has been my race day shoe of choice for my past four marathons (Berlin, New York, Tokyo, and Boston) with excellent results. Tough to knock a favored race shoe off its perch! I am clearly a stride runner who prefers a shoe that enables me to stride longer to pick up my pace, and the Sky Tokyo’s energetic bounce does just that. The EE3 has a softer bounce and more of a forward roll, but the firmer and more explosive Sky Tokyo works best for my running mechanics for maximizing my speed over long miles. The Sky Tokyo is also much lighter in weight. That said, I do love running in the EE3 and can see using it a lot for uptempo runs, but the lighter and firmer and stride lengthening Sky Tokyo still sits on top for me as a race pick.
Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Deviate is considerably lighter at 5.96 oz / 169g US 8.5 EU 41 on the same stack height. It is both stiffer and firmer with a more reactive as opposed to bouncy ride. For most the Endorphin Elite will be a better marathon shoe with the Puma more focused on shorter distances.
New Balance SC Elite v5 (RTR Review)
Sam: The SC Elite is a more serious riding shoe with somewhat firmer foam and very good stability at the same stack height as the Endorphin but is 17g lighter. Its upper is more precise in fit. It is is a very reliable any distance racer but lacks some of the fun energy of the Saucony.
Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: Another shoe with “soft” foam but in the Salomon the very soft is as an unusual lower layer concentrated at the heel with above somewhat firmer PEBA. I think it would be a better shoe the other way around. The Saucony will be more forgiving and effective overall for slower runners with the Phantasm having a focus consistent mid to forefoot striking and a light bounce off the super soft heel. The Salomon is considerably lighter at 6.27 oz / 177g US9 with its very comfortable if hard to lace aero upper and narrow platform making for much fof the difference in weight. The Salomon upper is much lighter with it aero top fabric potentially having them on the warm side.
Nike Vaporfly Next % 2
Adam: The Vaporfly Next % 2 remains one of the fastest race shoes I own, but compared to the Endorphin Elite 3, it’s a completely different shoe. Despite a firmer foam, the Nike is much less stable with a super narrow heel, and doesn’t have anywhere near the same level of compression and rebound. It feels more rockered and less bouncy. The Vaporfly is still 16g lighter in my M US11, but with nowhere near the cushion or approachability. I think unless I was racing 10km or less, the Endorphin Elite 3 would be the obvious choice for comfort alone.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Latest Reviews-Chronological Order HERE
The Endorphin Elite 3 is available now\
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. Hex is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range. if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Park City, Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. Sam is 5’9” /175cm and 160 lbs/ 73kg if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who against her better judgement ran her first marathon—Boston 2014—at age 54. She has since completed 20 marathons, including twelve consecutive Bostons, four New Yorks, two Chicagos, London, and Berlin, and will earn her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal in Tokyo in March 2026. She has raced in multiple Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships, running her marathon PR of 3:24:02 in London in 2022 (age 63, 6th place), recently placing 3rd at the 2025 AG World Championships at the NYC Marathon with a time of 3:31 at age 66 as well as 3d in her AG at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon. Sally also competes in USATF events for the Greater Lowell Road Runners. She adds meaning to running Boston every year by running with Team Eye and Ear and has so far raised more than $360,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. She stands tall at 5’2” and 105 pounds and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains year-round outdoors. She blames her love of skiing out West for any Boston Marathon training challenges.
Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a college lacrosse player turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and 8. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, winning second place in a time of 1:26. She decided to take running a bit more seriously, joining Wicked Running Club and trying some training plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. In addition, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She looks forward to getting some more strength and speed under her belt this next season, before taking a crack at the marathon again. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.Off the roads, Courtney is a painter and loving mother to her girls.
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's are nearest and dearest to her heart, and she recently took wins at the Fourmidable 50k in 2026, and Silver State 50k and Way Too Cool 50k in 2025. These days, you can find her primarily on the trails around Auburn, CA, chasing competitive and personal goals over a variety of surfaces and distances. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team, with a marathon PR of 2:41.
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