Saucony Endorphin Speed 5

V5 trades some of V4's stiffness and top-end speed for smoother transitions, more forefoot flexibility, a wider upper and mild medial heel guidance — making it a more versatile easier-going shoe that works for more runners, especially those needing subtle medial support.

Best for: Runners who want a versatile workout/daily/long-run shoe with mild medial guidance and a wider, more forgiving fit — and who don't need top-end race-pace snap.

A softer, smoother lightweight trainer whose plate and longer rocker make it feel better for long runs, though it is less stable and less snappy than the Azura.

Best for: Runners who want a softer, smoother lightweight trainer for long runs, uptempo and easy days, especially those with normal to wider feet.

A soft, unofficially stability-biased super trainer that works well for medial-stability needs and higher-volume feet, but suffers from a midsole that firms up quickly, poor outsole durability, and a pronounced lateral bias that won't suit everyone.

Best for: Runners needing medial stability with a higher-volume foot who want a soft ride and don't scuff outsoles heavily.

A real return to form for the Endorphin Speed model — a versatile jack-of-all-trades trainer with meaningful improvements to the upper and outsole over the V4, though the £180 price feels a touch steep versus cheaper competitors.

Best for: Runners who want a do-it-all trainer that handles any session — intervals, tempo, easy recovery, or even the occasional race.

EDDBUD's pick over the Sonicblast — a versatile, lighter, more energizing, softer plated shoe that works across the full pace range.

Best for: A do-it-all shoe for easy, recovery, tempo miles, and even racing — especially suited to lighter runners

The most versatile shoe in the comparison — a Swiss Army knife that handles everything from intervals to marathons, the one Eddbud would pick if limited to a single pair.

Best for: Swiss Army knife trainer for runners wanting one shoe to handle varied paces from easy runs to marathons to intervals.

#3 tempo shoe. Does both daily training and workouts — fun at fast paces. Could be more aggressive for workouts.

A subtle but meaningful refinement of an already excellent shoe; the slight firming and narrowing make it more nimble and bouncy at faster paces while retaining everyday comfort.

Best for: Everyday runner who wants a versatile tempo shoe with excellent pace range, or as a non-carbon race option for longer marathon race times

A versatile, speed-focused daily trainer that excels at faster efforts and handles easy runs competently, though its firmer ride may not suit runners who prefer softer, bouncier shoes.

Best for: Fast daily training, tempo runs, intervals, and racing for runners who prefer a firmer, snappier ride

The Speed 5 remains a standout versatile super trainer, offering a faster, smoother, and more accommodating ride than the Boston 13 across paces, albeit at a higher price.

Best for: A versatile training partner to a carbon race shoe for runners wanting a fast daily trainer that can also handle easy runs and even racing

Best for: Runners who want a plated shoe that handles uptempo training and marathon racing

A nimble, versatile speed trainer that excels at faster workouts and can also handle easy runs; preferred over the Superblast 2 by the more speed-focused testers because of its lighter, snappier feel.

Best for: Runners wanting a versatile speed-focused trainer that can double as a race shoe over shorter distances, with a nimble, responsive feel

A refined, versatile all-rounder that retains everything great about the Speed line; still one of the best super trainers for fast training and racing, though rivals like the Mach X2 and Evo SL have closed the gap.

Best for: A versatile uptempo daily trainer that works for faster training miles, long runs, and even racing — especially for runners who prefer a firmer, snappier ride

A very solid all-round fast training shoe with speedroll geometry and nice bounce — best used for training rather than PB attempts, where a carbon racer would win out.

Best for: Fast training runs, tempo sessions, and racing at 10k pace when not chasing a PB; great for runners who prefer speed roll geometry without a full carbon plate

Not a massive departure from v4, but feels pretty much more of the same and now feels more direct than some of the newer bouncy super-trainers.

All three testers prefer the Speed 5 overall as the more versatile, faster, and better all-round shoe, worth the price premium over the Rebel V5 for runners who want to do regular fast training or racing.

Best for: Runners who want one versatile fast-edge daily trainer that can handle tempo runs, intervals, and even races up to half or full marathon distance, while still being comfortable enough for easy days.

An excellent, fast-feeling plated super trainer that excels for speed sessions and even racing; testers split on overall preference vs the cheaper non-plated Azura, with two preferring the Speed 5's pace and one preferring the Azura.

Best for: Speed sessions, tempo runs and stand-in racing for runners who want a snappy plated super trainer.

Reviewers consider the Speed 5 a cracking, balanced all-rounder that excels at faster paces and shorter reps; one reviewer prefers it overall for its versatility and snappier rocker, and both note it as the better value next to the Megablast.

Best for: Versatile speed training and faster intervals for runners who prefer a more traditional, firmer, responsive feel over big bouncy cushion.