Shoe Review: Saucony Endorphin Shift

A pair of the Saucony Endorphin Shift running shoes

Easy days, long runs, tempos and everything in between—the Saucony Endorphin Shift handles it all.

Built to complement the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Saucony Endorphin Pro, the Shift is here to soak up the bulk of your training miles with a speedy feel. Designers achieved that zippy sensation by using the same forward-leaning Speedroll technology that powers its speed-focused siblings.

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With a generous bed of PWRRUN cushioning and subtle stability features, the Shift is an everyday hauler that will keep you running smoothly throughout your training cycle.

Fleet Feet reviewers tested the Saucony Endorphin Shift to get a feel for how it fits and how it performs. Here’s what they thought.

Tech specs

Saucony Endorphin Shift

Weight

9.5 oz (W), 10.1 oz (M)

Drop

4 mm

Category

Neutral

Midsole

PWRRUN

Use

Everyday training

Surface

Road, track

Saucony Endorphin Shift Fit and Materials

Saucony Endorphin Shift Heel

The Saucony Endorphin Shift is the everyday training model in Saucony’s three-pack of Endorphin shoes, so it’s built to handle the higher mileage that comes with the territory.

The shoe is roomy in the midfoot and forefoot, which accommodated testers with different foot shapes. One Fleet Feet runner with wider feet says the Shift is very comfortable, while another runner with a narrower foot shape says he wore thicker socks to take up some of the volume.

Even with the wide toe box, though, the Shift feels secure in the midfoot and heel. And the classic lacing system helps lock down the fit.

Designers topped the Shift with a premium engineered mesh upper that’s soft to the touch and feels durable without sacrificing breathability. It’s also supported by a simple, wavy overlay in the midfoot.

The tongue is thin and lightweight, too, with broad coverage over the top of your foot. It’s anchored on each side for a semi-bootie construction, so it won’t bunch up on one side during your run, and slight padding on the top makes it more comfortable against the front of your ankle.

“The fit is spot-on for me,” one review says. “The external heel counter locks in my foot, and the midfoot feels really secure. It’s also wide enough in the forefoot to leave my foot in a pretty neutral position, rather than squeezing it.”

The upper and heel collar don’t feel as padded as some other max-cushioned running shoes, which helps maintain the shoe’s streamlined feel.

Another big plus: the removable insole. It’s easy to pop out the stock insole that comes with the Shift in favor of an aftermarket insole if you prefer to run with one. One tester loves that the entire Endorphin series has that option.

“One of my favorite things about the Endorphin collection is the removable sock liner so I can add my over-the-counter insole and custom orthotics,” he says.

Saucony Endorphin Shift Ride and Performance

The outsole on the Saucony Endorphin Shift running shoe

Saucony designed the Endorphin line around its Speedroll technology, and the Shift really takes advantage of the effect.

Saucony used a generous stack of PWRRUN foam underneath the Endorphin Shift. Both the men’s and women’s models have a stack height of 38 mm in the heel and 34 mm in the forefoot, creating a 4 mm heel-to-toe drop.

The PWRRUN foam is plush when you land and springy when you take off, which makes it ideal for the repeated motion of running.

Altogether, the Endorphin Shift has a forward-leaning shape that creates a livelier underfoot feeling.

“The Shift feels really soft when you’re warming up or just cruising, but it doesn’t sacrifice anything at higher speeds,” one tester says. “It made my faster runs feel easier.”

Saucony also worked a few stability features, including a wide base for greater ground contact, into the Shift to keep you steady. The Shift puts your foot in a more natural position thanks to its 4 mm heel-to-toe drop, while the external heel counter and a small wedge of rubber on the medial side also create more structure and stability for your heel.

The outsole has a few strategic zones of rubber that provide traction and durability. So far, our testers agree that it feels like it will stand up to hundreds of miles of training.

“It’s durable even-though there is not a lot of blown rubber,” one tester says. “I get the sense that I can get a lot of miles in these shoes.”

Conclusion

A pair of the Saucony Endorphin Shift

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The Saucony Endorphin Shift is a premium everyday training shoe that packs tons of cushioning without losing any pep.

Saucony loaded the Endorphin Shift with a big PWRRUN foam midsole that feels soft and energetic, and they enhanced the ride with Speedroll technology that propels you forward.

While the Endorphin Shift is designed as a complement to the speedier Endorphin Speed and Endorphin Pro, it can easily stand on its own as your go-to shoe for everything from easy miles around the neighborhood to uptempo days on the track.

Still not convinced? Don’t sweat it. Fleet Feet's return policy means you can test drive your shoes and gear without risk. If you’re not happy with the way your gear performs, looks or fits, we’ll take it back within 60 days. Plus, you’ll get free shipping on orders over $99 and free return shipping on all fleetfeet.com orders. That's our Happy Fit Guarantee.

By Evan Matsumoto. Evan played many sports growing up but didn’t go pro in any of them. Now, he’s the digital copywriter for fleetfeet.com and editor for the Fleet Feet blog where he writes about different foam densities and engineered mesh uppers.

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