What's the difference between the Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 and the Endorphin Speed 5? In this Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 vs 5 comparison, we look at the foam, plate, stack, weight and ride, to help you choose which one to lace up for your fast sessions.
The short answer: the Speed 5 was already one of the most versatile nylon-plated shoes on the market, the one we recommend for tempo, intervals and even race day. The Speed 6 doesn't change the recipe: it makes it lighter, more cushioned and snappier, with new PWRRUN PBX foam and a redesigned plate.
Both share the same DNA: a nylon plate rather than carbon, SPEEDROLL geometry that rolls you forward, and an 8 mm drop. What changes is the foam, the stack height, the plate and the upper. Here's the full comparison.
In short
The Endorphin Speed 6 moves to PWRRUN PBX foam (beaded PEBA), lighter and bouncier, adds 2 mm of foam (38 mm / 30 mm), gets a redesigned nylon plate on a wider platform and drops a few grams: 233 g for men, 198 g for women. The drop stays at 8 mm.
The Endorphin Speed 5 is still an excellent uptempo trainer, a little softer and more forgiving at easy paces. On sale while stock lasts, it's a great deal.
Contents
The Endorphin Speed 5 at a glance
The Endorphin Speed 5 cemented the line's reputation: PEBA-based PWRRUN PB foam, a winged nylon plate, SPEEDROLL geometry and 36 mm of foam at the heel for 28 mm at the forefoot. All for about 237 g in men's and 204 g in women's.
Its strength is versatility. Lively enough for a threshold session or a 10K race, comfortable enough for a long run with marathon-pace segments. The nylon plate gives propulsion without the stiffness of carbon, which makes it easy to get used to. That's why so many runners see it as the benchmark uptempo trainer.
The Endorphin Speed 6 at a glance
The Speed 6, launched in mid-October 2026, keeps the concept but changes the engine. The new PWRRUN PBX foam, a beaded PEBA, is lighter and returns more energy than PWRRUN PB. Saucony uses it to add 2 mm of foam: 38 mm at the heel, 30 mm at the forefoot, still with an 8 mm drop.
The nylon plate is redesigned, with visible winglets on each side, and sits on a wider platform through the midfoot and heel. The SPEEDROLL geometry is more pronounced, giving a real snap at toe-off. Despite the extra foam, the shoe gets lighter: about 233 g for men and 198 g for women.
The upper moves to a more breathable engineered mesh, with a slightly roomier toe box and a longer, fully gusseted tongue that stays put. The XT-900 rubber outsole gets a segmented forefoot pattern that grips wet pavement much better than previous versions.
Key differences
| Endorphin Speed 5 | Endorphin Speed 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | PWRRUN PB (PEBA) | PWRRUN PBX, lighter and bouncier |
| Plate | Winged nylon | Redesigned nylon, wider platform |
| Stack | 36 mm / 28 mm | 38 mm / 30 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight | ≈ 237 g (men) · 204 g (women) | ≈ 233 g (men) · 198 g (women) |
| Geometry | SPEEDROLL | Sharper SPEEDROLL |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | More breathable mesh, roomier toe box, gusseted tongue |
| Regular price | $229.95 (on sale) | $229.95 |
In other words: more foam, less weight, and a livelier foam. It's rare for an update to win on both counts at once.
On the road: what really changes
On paper, the Speed 6 looks like a simple evolution. Underfoot, the difference is mostly about firmness and rhythm. PWRRUN PBX is firmer and more responsive than PWRRUN PB: the Speed 6 is the snappiest Speed yet, with a clear push at the forefoot that rewards tempo paces and faster.
The flip side: at very easy paces it can feel a bit firm, and it takes a few runs to break in. The softer Speed 5 is still more forgiving if you also use it for recovery runs.
Our in-store tip
Try the Speed 6 at the pace you run most often. If that's mostly tempo and intervals, it's made for you. If it's a mix of easy and fast, compare it with the Speed 5: you'll feel right away which one suits your stride.
Which Saucony Endorphin Speed should you choose?
For a first purchase at regular price, choose the Endorphin Speed 6: lighter, more cushioned and snappier, for the same price the 5 launched at. Here's the breakdown by situation.
Choose the Speed 6 if…
- you'll mainly use it for tempo, intervals and race-pace runs;
- you want a plated shoe for a half or full marathon without going to carbon;
- you found the Speed 5 a little too soft when you picked up the pace;
- you often run on wet pavement: the new outsole grips better.
Choose the Speed 5 if…
- you want to take advantage of the sale price on an excellent plated shoe;
- you prefer a softer feel that's more forgiving at easy paces;
- you already own one and it suits you perfectly.
Both come in men's (D width) and women's (B width). Browse the whole Saucony Endorphin Speed line, our men's performance running shoes and women's performance running shoes, or the full Saucony collection.
What about other nylon-plated options?
The Speed isn't alone in its category. Two models often come up when we compare in store, and they're more cushioned but heavier:
- ASICS Sonicblast 2: taller (46 mm at the heel) and plusher, at the same price ($229.95). A good pick if you want more foam for long, fast runs.
- Brooks Hyperion Max 4: highly cushioned (45 mm) with a 6 mm drop, geared more toward long runs than intervals.
If you want the lightest, most responsive shoe for tempo work, the Speed 6 is still the snappiest of the three.
FAQ
Ready to go faster?
The Endorphin Speed 6 is the obvious choice for a first purchase: lighter and snappier, at the same regular price. If the sale on the Endorphin Speed 5 is still on, it's a great way into plated shoes. Come try them side by side in our store.
Read also
The same exercise, for a carbon-plated race shoe.