The Endorphin Elite 3 is the top of Saucony's race line — the brand bills it as its most efficient racing shoe ever. Dual layers of IncrediRUN foam stand at a full 40 mm under a new slotted carbon-fiber plate, and this generation reworks the midsole geometry for more midfoot stability at race pace, which was the 2's known weak spot. Sizing is unisex.
It suits you if you are chasing a PR from 10K to the marathon and want the maximum-return option — the shoe you save for the two or three days a year the clock is the whole point.
It is not a shoe to train in at $290, and the softest race foams are the shortest-lived. If you also want a plated shoe for workouts, that is the Pro 5's job; buying the Elite for Tuesday repeats spends its budget on the wrong days.