Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Introduction

When the primary Endorphin Velocity was launched, it was approach forward of its time. Again then, no coaching sneakers had full-length PEBA midsoles and only a few of them had versatile plates of their midsoles.

Priced at solely $160, the Endorphin Velocity was a velocity coach that you may additionally race in as a result of it was so mild and so agile. It was less expensive than the Endorphin Professional, its carbon-plated sibling and it used the identical midsole foam.

Through the years, different velocity trainers have developed, caught up and overtaken. Their foams obtained extra energetic, their stack heights grew to become taller and their plates grew to become extra propulsive.

The Endorphin velocity has stored its versatile nylon plate and its stack heights have remained comparatively much like the primary model. The Adidas Boston, ASICS Magic Velocity, PUMA Deviate Nitro and HOKA Mach X now all really feel sooner than the Endorphin Velocity.

After I reviewed the Endorphin Velocity 4 two years in the past, I mentioned that it felt sooner than its predecessor due to its larger degree of floor really feel and its streamlined design. I additionally mentioned that it didn’t present as a lot velocity help as different velocity trainers as a consequence of its flexible nylon plate.

The Endorphin Velocity 5 nonetheless makes use of PWRRUN PB however Saucony says it’s been tuned and sculpted to really feel sooner. It additionally has new nylon plate design and a brand new single layer higher mesh. Its worth has elevated by $5 and it now prices $175. It has the identical stack heights and drop because the Velocity 4 but it surely weighs 0.2 oz (5 grams) extra.

Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 First Impressions

My first run was a 14 kilometre simple run and the very first thing that I observed was that the Velocity was a lot quieter than the Velocity 4. Gone was the hole, suction-cup sound with every footstrike that was current within the Velocity 4.

I additionally observed that the plate within the Velocity 5 wasn’t as stiff as within the Velocity 4. Transitions felt extra relaxed and it didn’t really feel like an uptempo coach anymore.

It jogged my memory of the Topo Cyclone 3 that I reviewed final month however a extra cushioned, stiffer model. It additionally supplied much more help than the Cyclone.

Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Higher

The brand new higher materials of the Velocity 5 feels rougher and fewer premium than the Velocity 4. It now makes use of an engineered hexagon mesh which is extra breathable than the zonal mesh of its predecessor.

The tongue is gusseted so it doesn’t slide round and the collar/heel tab are frivolously padded so there’s no irritation across the ankle. There’s an inside heel counter and general foot lockdown is nice.

It has a really spacious, roomy inside and it feels extra spacious than its predecessor. I’ve a slender foot and the fabric within the forefoot puckers after I lace it up. The match is true to measurement and it’s extra fitted to runners with large, high-volume toes.

Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Sole Unit

In case you’re an Endorphin Velocity loyalist, you’ll be glad to know that it nonetheless appears like an Endorphin Velocity with regards to the experience. It has a comparatively related experience to the earlier variations as a result of it makes use of the identical PWRRUN PB midsole. Saucony says that they’ve tuned and sculpted it to really feel sooner on this model however that’s not the case.

The most important distinction is the nylon plate. The earlier variations had wings on either side which supplied further stability and construction to the midsole. This model solely has 1 wing on the medial aspect. This ends in much less midfoot torsional rigidity and a extra versatile plate.

The Endorphin Velocity 5 has a much less outstanding forefoot rocker than the Velocity 4 due to the additional plate flexibility. This makes transitions really feel slower, so the Velocity 5 feels extra like a every day coach and fewer like a velocity coach.

Most of my runs within the Velocity 5 have been simple paced. It naturally needs to run at relaxed paces however as a result of it’s so light-weight, it might decide up the tempo for brief bursts. It’s the type of shoe that disappears in your toes. It’s not an thrilling or enjoyable experience but it surely feels comfy and it will get the job carried out.

The Velocity 5 has an SRS (Tremendous Responsive Sockliner) which is supercritical and designed to enhance the cushioning & bounce but it surely’s too skinny to make an enormous distinction to the experience. I choose the a lot thicker, extra substantial, PWRRUN+ sockliner discovered within the Trip 18 and the Endorphin Coach.

The longest run I did within the Velocity 5 was 36 kilometres. It felt okay throughout that 4 hour run however I discovered it arduous to choose up the tempo due to how versatile its forefoot is. It additionally didn’t really feel very environment friendly as its midsole foam isn’t notably bouncy. The Saucony Endorphin Coach is a a lot better future shoe: it has deeper cushioning, a extra supportive experience and a extra outstanding SpeedRoll rocker than the Velocity 5.

On the Velocity 5’s outsole, there’s a brand new, strong strip of rubber on the outer lateral heel space. This makes it extra sturdy for heel strikers. The forefoot rubber is cut up into 2 sections which once more makes the only real much less inflexible.

The forefoot rubber is flatter than the Velocity 4 so traction isn’t pretty much as good. Sturdiness is excellent and I haven’t skilled a lot outsole put on on my pair after 92 kilometres.

Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Conclusions

The Velocity 5 nonetheless feels and rides like an Endorphin Velocity but it surely has misplaced a few of its punch and propulsion. The Velocity 4 felt like a handy guide a rough velocity coach that you may use for uptempo runs however the Velocity 5 feels extra like a every day coach for relaxed runs.

I choose the Velocity 4 over the Velocity 5 as a result of it jogs my memory of the unique Endorphin Velocity, a velocity trainer- earlier than they tuned it to really feel like a every day coach. The brand new, rougher higher materials additionally makes it really feel much less premium.

The Velocity 5 has no main flaws but it surely simply doesn’t really feel thrilling or participating. Saucony must breathe some new life into the shoe by rising the stack peak, bettering the midsole foam or altering the geometry.

It doesn’t really feel like an excellent coach and for $175, its worth is approach too excessive, particularly contemplating it hasn’t modified a lot from V1 that launched 5 years in the past. For less than $5 extra, you will get the Saucony Endorphin Coach which feels much more trendy. It has a stiff carbon plate and it makes use of Saucony’s newest and most bouncy racing foam, Incredirun.