Race

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

A full carbon-plated road racer built to be raced repeatedly rather than saved for one marathon a year.

The Endorphin Pro 4 is a race shoe. A full-length carbon plate runs through a dual PWRRUN HG and PWRRUN PB midsole, the drop is 8 mm, and at roughly 212 g it is light enough that the plate does the arguing rather than your legs. Saucony builds it to survive a season of racing rather than a single marathon, which is the reason to pick it over the lighter, sparser Endorphin Elite 2.

It suits you if you race often and want the same shoe under you for the hard sessions in between.

It is not a daily trainer. The ride is firm, insistent and slightly unstable at easy pace, the foam wears out far faster than a trainer's, and the price only makes sense if you actually pin a number on. Rotate it in for the fast days and leave it in the box otherwise.