Canva/Saucony

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 | £300 | Tester: Laura Fountain

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 - softer, smoother and built to go the distance.

Image: Canva/Saucony

The Endorphin Elite 3 looks and feels quite different from the Elite 2. While it retains the energetic IncrediRUN foam that we saw in the Elite 2, this latest version features a redesigned midsole with more foam underfoot, fewer cutaways and an updated carbon plate. The result is a shoe that still feels built for speed, but one that promises greater comfort and stability over marathon distances.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 technical details

Price: £300
Sizes: 3.5-13.5
Weight: 184g
Drop: 8mm
Stack: 39.5/31.5mm
Foam: IncrediRUN
Special tech: Slotted carbon fiber plate

Image: Saucony

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 pros and cons

Pros

• Soft IncrediRUN foam delivers exceptional energy return
• Feels more stable than the Elite 2
• Upper provides excellent lockdown

Cons

• £300 is a big price tag
• May feel ‘too’ soft for some

Who and what is the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 for?

The Endorphin Elite 3 is designed for runners chasing personal bests from 10K through to the marathon. If you want Saucony’s fastest race-day shoe, this is it. It will suit experienced runners looking to maximise efficiency and energy return, while the softer ride also makes it more accessible for runners who found previous supershoes too harsh over longer distances.

How does it fit?

I found the Endorphin Elite 3 fitted true to size with a snug, race-ready feel. The lightweight engineered mesh upper is exceptionally breathable and holds the foot securely through the midfoot without creating pressure points. There’s enough room in the toe box to accommodate foot swelling over longer races, while the heel lockdown felt secure throughout testing.

Is it comfortable?

This is where the biggest improvements over the Elite 2 are noticeable from the moment you pull them on. The Elite 2 was actually the shoe I set my current half marathon PB in, so I already knew it could run fast. However, I never chose it beyond that distance because I found it became uncomfortable as the miles ticked by.

The Elite 3 feels very different. The new IncrediRUN foam is noticeably softer and squishier underfoot, with more cushioning thanks to fewer cutaways in the midsole. That extra foam gives the shoe a more protective feel without losing its energy return. While I haven’t yet raced a marathon in it, the early signs are promising; it feels much better equipped for longer distances than the Elite 2 (for me at least).

Image: Laura Fountain

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 run test

This shoe feels fast from the first stride. The combination of the IncrediRUN foam, full-length slotted carbon plate and Speedroll geometry creates a smooth, propulsive ride that encourages you onto your toes while maintaining an effortless rhythm.

Compared to the Elite 2, the ride feels less aggressive but more comfortable. The softer foam compresses more noticeably before springing back, making the shoe feel more forgiving without sacrificing pace. I also found the extra foam underfoot and reduced cutaways gave it a more planted, stable feel, particularly through sweeping corners and when fatigue started to creep in.

While I haven’t managed to race in this shoe yet, I’ve run in it at a range of paces on training runs. It delivers the explosive sensation you’d expect from a premium supershoe, but it now feels like a shoe you can happily slow down and cruise along in. Something the Elite 2 never encouraged me to do.

Where can I buy it?

The Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 is available from Saucony and other retailers.