What replaced the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3?
Updated July 31, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Endorphin Speed 4 replaced the Speed 3 in February 2024 at the same $170. It kept the platform but tuned the foam noticeably firmer, snugged up the upper, and re-shaped the winged plate, aiming the shoe back at fast days.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Endorphin Speed 3 vs 4.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterA course reversal. The 4 kept the 3's platform but firmed the foam by about 10% in lab testing, snugged the fit, and re-shaped the plate, aiming the shoe back at fast days. Reviewers respected it, Believe in the Run called it The Tip of the Spear, but fewer people loved it, and the firmness complaints started almost immediately.
Stick with the Endorphin Speed 3 if
- You like the 3's softer, more forgiving ride; the 4 is measurably firmer
- The 3's roomy toebox is why the shoe fits you
- Clearance 3s undercut the 4 by $40 or more
Move to the Endorphin Speed 4 if
- The 3 felt too soft and unstructured for real workouts
- You want a locked-in upper for fast turnover
- You run on wet roads; the new outsole grips better
Where the Saucony Endorphin Speed is now
The line has moved three versions past the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3, and the current model is now the Endorphin Speed 6 (2026). Measured against your shoe:
- The Endorphin Speed 6 is 0.3 oz lighter
- 3 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
What loyalists said about the update
The most mixed reception since the 3, from the opposite direction. Running Warehouse customer reviews called it much stiffer with less cushion and a narrower toe box, and Tom's Guide's reviewer said out loud what many were thinking: a discounted Speed 3 was still the better buy. Broadly remembered as the firm detour.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Endorphin Speed 3 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 31, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Endorphin Speed 4, these come closest to what the Endorphin Speed 3 did.
- 7 oz
- 4 mm drop
- 29 mm heel
- $130 list
The Kinvara is the shoe the Endorphin Speed pushed out of many rotations: Saucony's other light, fast trainer, with no plate, far less stack, and a 4 mm drop. Pick it for ground feel over bounce, and to spend about $45 less at list.
Against your Saucony Endorphin Speed 3: 1.1 oz lighter, 7 mm less heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $40 less at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Ride is the easy-day partner rather than a substitute: similar weight, no plate, calmer foam, same 8 mm drop. Runners who find the Speed too much shoe for recovery miles usually land here.
Against your Saucony Endorphin Speed 3: 0.8 oz heavier, 2 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $25 less at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Pegasus is the traditional trainer this shoe out-bounces: cheaper, no plate, firmer foam, 10 mm drop. Cross-shop it if the Speed's $175 list stings and hard workouts are occasional.
Against your Saucony Endorphin Speed 3: 2 oz heavier, 1 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $25 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 still available?
- Yes. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is still widely stocked on Amazon in both men's and women's sizes, often below its original list price now that a newer version exists.
- Is the Endorphin Speed 4 a downgrade from the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Endorphin Speed 4 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- Is the Saucony Endorphin Speed still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Saucony Endorphin Speed 6, released in 2026, 3 versions on from the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3?
- The Saucony Kinvara 16. The Kinvara is the shoe the Endorphin Speed pushed out of many rotations: Saucony's other light, fast trainer, with no plate, far less stack, and a 4 mm drop. Pick it for ground feel over bounce, and to spend about $45 less at list.