Saucony Endorphin Speed v5 vs HOKA Mach X v3

Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .

• Getting underrated in 2026, but still a great all-round versatile trainer.

  Ride:Kieran's versatile daily-trainer pick — feels natural and light with good energy and a defined rocker. Some stiffness + pop suits his running style; easy to turn over quickly and shift through gears. Covers easy runs, marathon-pace intervals, and faster sessions in a single training run. Some will find it too direct or firm.

  In their words: "i love the energy of it" · "easy to turn over very quickly" · "a bit too firm and aggressive"

  — The Run Testers , source

• Kofuzi considers the Endorphin Speed 5 one of his top tempo shoes — softer and more daily-trainer-leaning than the DV84, using beaded PEBA foam and a plastic plate for a lightweight, peppy yet cushioned ride.

  In their words: "a daily trainer that can go fast" · "the softest of the bunch"

  — Kofuzi , source

• A nimble, soft, well-balanced speed-day shoe whose biggest weakness is price — at GBP 180 it's hard to justify against the cheaper Zoom Fly 6 and Boston 13.

  Ride:Softest midsole of the four (around Shore A 23) with a nice compressive heel and a rolling action; full PEBA midsole feels compressive and easy to shift up through the gears. Outsole durability has improved over previous versions.

  Fit:Configurable upper but less generous than the previous Speed 4; works for slightly narrow feet; traditional running-shoe feel over the top of the foot.

  In their words: "more consistent and soft ride" · "easy to go up through the gears" · "a nice rolling action"

  — EDDBUD , source

• A versatile daily-trainer-focused super trainer that the reviewer prefers over the V4 thanks to improved upper, slightly springier toe-off and added heel stability — the ideal do-everything shoe for the everyday runner, held back only by the £180 price tag.

  Ride:PWRRUN PB midsole combined with nylon plate gives a springy, responsive ride that's not mushy. Speed Roll rocker assists heel-to-toe transition. Wider heel adds stability without being a stability shoe — more forgiving than other super trainers. Slightly more springy and rigid off the toe than V4.

  Fit:New upper feels slightly wider and more comfortable. Locks down well with no heat spots or rubbing in previous Speed shoes. Fits the reviewer's foot shape well — 'like putting on an old friend'.

  In their words: "responsive, but it's not mushy" · "fast yet sort of stabilish" · "a little bit more springy off the toe"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , balanced feel , high energy return , neutral stability .

• The reviewer found the Mach X3 delivers the same bouncy, fast, versatile ride as the Mach X2 with a significantly improved upper that fixes the predecessor's comfort issues, at the cost of roughly 20 grams of added weight that did not noticeably affect performance.

  Ride:Bouncy and propulsive dual-density ride with PEBA foam over EVA and a plastic plate. Easy to turn over quickly with an effortless fast feeling. Works well across a wide range of paces from easy running to near-race efforts. The 20g weight increase over the Mach X2 was not perceptible during running.

  Fit:True to size in reviewer's normal Hoka size. More comfortable upper than the Mach X2 with improved padding around heel and tongue. Reasonably narrow shoe. No rubbing or discomfort over 15 miles. Good heel lockdown with no movement.

  In their words: "much more comfortable fit" · "reasonably narrow shoe" · "very fast and versatile ride"

  — The Run Testers , 15 mi tested , source

• A solid and durable uptempo daily trainer that improves the upper comfort over the Mach X 2 but loses some of the fun, bouncy ride that made the previous version special. Falls behind newer competitors in excitement and innovation despite being a competent shoe overall.

  Ride:Dual density midsole with PEBA foam on top and EVA below with a Pax plate between them. Feels less bouncy and less flexible than the Mach X 2, with a flatter, more one-note ride. Solid but lacks the fun factor of the previous version and newer competitors.

  Fit:True to size with a narrower build. Wider-footed runners should opt for the wide version. Tongue is no longer gusseted which may cause some buckling but reviewers had no issues. Heel collar sits a bit low near the ankle bone.

  In their words: "maybe an uptempo daily trainer feel" · "not the poppy fun sensation I was hoping" · "perfect shoe for maybe a bigger runner"

  — Believe in the Run , 25 mi tested , source

• A solid, mildly stable super trainer that fixes the Mach X2's heel problems and rides well across paces, but is undermined by its ~£170 price and increased weight in an oversaturated super trainer category.

  Ride:Dual-foam setup (PEBA over EVA chassis) with a winged PEBA plate delivers a stable, versatile ride with a nice pop off the toe. Handles multiple paces well. Heavier than competitors at ~292g in UK 10 (~10.3 oz).

  Fit:New heel design resembles the Clifton 10; resolves the heel rubbing/cutting issue from the Mach X2. Upper is thicker and coarser than ideal.

  In their words: "creates a nice stable ride" · "too heavy for a Super Trainer" · "do multiple paces in this shoe"

  — FORDY RUNS , 35 mi tested , source

• Hoka fixed the v2 heel-counter issue with a proper heel counter and a better wrap knit upper, making the Mach X3 a much more approachable and enjoyable plated performance trainer. Only real gripe is how loud the shoe is underfoot.

  Ride:Efficient toe-off with a speed-centric meta rocker; high-cushion midsole good for long days. One ounce heavier than v2 but the tradeoff is worth it. Notably loud on foot.

  Fit:Heel cup issue from v2 fixed — now uses a traditional V Achilles heel counter similar to the Mach 5, locking the foot in well. Upper is a more strategic, performancy wrap knit.

  In their words: "much more high cushion shoe" · "feel a little more locked and loaded" · "It's a loud shoe"

  — Run Moore , source