Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Introduction
When the primary Endorphin Velocity was launched, it was means forward of its time. Again then, no coaching sneakers had full-length PEBA midsoles and only a few of them had versatile plates of their midsoles.
Priced at solely $160, the Endorphin Velocity was a pace coach that you could possibly additionally race in as a result of it was so gentle and so agile. It was less expensive than the Endorphin Professional, its carbon-plated sibling and it used the identical midsole foam.
Through the years, different pace trainers have advanced, caught up and overtaken. Their foams bought extra energetic, their stack heights grew to become taller and their plates grew to become extra propulsive.
The Endorphin pace has stored its versatile nylon plate and its stack heights have remained comparatively much like the primary model. The Adidas Boston, ASICS Magic Velocity, PUMA Deviate Nitro and Hoka Make X now all really feel sooner than the Endorphin Velocity.
Once I reviewed the Endorphin Velocity 4 two years in the past, I stated that it felt sooner than its predecessor due to its larger degree of floor really feel and its streamlined design. I additionally stated that it didn’t present as a lot pace help as different pace trainers resulting from its flexible nylon plate.
The Endorphin Velocity 5 nonetheless makes use of PWRRUN PB however Saucony says it’s been tuned and sculpted to really feel sooner. It additionally has new nylon plate design and a brand new single layer higher mesh. Its worth has elevated by $5 and it now prices $175. It has the identical stack heights and drop because the Velocity 4 however it weighs 0.2 oz (5 grams) extra.
Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 First Impressions
My first run was a 14 kilometre simple run and the very first thing that I observed was that the Velocity was a lot quieter than the Velocity 4. Gone was the hole, suction-cup sound with every footstrike that was current within the Velocity 4.
I additionally observed that the plate within the Velocity 5 wasn’t as stiff as within the Velocity 4. Transitions felt extra relaxed and it didn’t really feel like an uptempo coach anymore.
It jogged my memory of the Topo Cyclone 3 that I reviewed final month however a extra cushioned, stiffer model. It additionally provided much more assist than the Cyclone.
Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Higher
The brand new higher materials of the Velocity 5 feels rougher and fewer premium than the Velocity 4. It now makes use of an engineered hexagon mesh which is extra breathable than the zonal mesh of its predecessor.
The tongue is gusseted so it doesn’t slide round and the collar/heel tab are frivolously padded so there’s no irritation across the ankle. There’s an inside heel counter and general foot lockdown is nice.
It has a really spacious, roomy inside and it feels extra spacious than its predecessor. I’ve a slender foot and the fabric within the forefoot puckers once I lace it up. The match is true to measurement and it’s extra suited to runners with huge, high-volume ft.
Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Sole Unit
For those who’re an Endorphin Velocity loyalist, you’ll be glad to know that it nonetheless looks like an Endorphin Velocity with regards to the experience. It has a comparatively comparable experience to the earlier variations as a result of it makes use of the identical PWRRUN PB midsole. Saucony says that they’ve tuned and sculpted it to really feel sooner on this model however that’s not the case.
The most important distinction is the nylon plate. The earlier variations had wings on each side which offered extra stability and construction to the midsole. This model solely has 1 wing on the medial facet. This ends in much less midfoot torsional rigidity and a extra versatile plate.
The Endorphin Velocity 5 has a much less distinguished forefoot rocker than the Velocity 4 due to the additional plate flexibility. This makes transitions really feel slower, so the Velocity 5 feels extra like a day by day coach and fewer like a pace coach.
Most of my runs within the Velocity 5 have been simple paced. It naturally desires to run at relaxed paces however as a result of it’s so light-weight, it could decide up the tempo for brief bursts. It’s the type of shoe that disappears in your ft. It’s not an thrilling or enjoyable experience however it feels snug and it will get the job carried out.
The Velocity 5 has an SRS (Tremendous Responsive Sockliner) which is supercritical and designed to enhance the cushioning & bounce however it’s too skinny to make an enormous distinction to the experience. I desire the a lot thicker, extra substantial, PWRRUN+ sockliner discovered within the Journey 18 and the Endorphin Coach.
The longest run I did within the Velocity 5 was 36 kilometres. It felt okay throughout that 4 hour run however I discovered it arduous to select up the tempo due to how versatile its forefoot is. It additionally didn’t really feel very environment friendly as its midsole foam isn’t notably bouncy. The Saucony Endorphin Coach is a significantly better long term shoe: it has deeper cushioning, a extra supportive experience and a extra distinguished SpeedRoll rocker than the Velocity 5.
On the Velocity 5’s outsole, there’s a brand new, strong strip of rubber on the outer lateral heel space. This makes it extra sturdy for heel strikers. The forefoot rubber is cut up into 2 sections which once more makes the only much less inflexible.
The forefoot rubber is flatter than the Velocity 4 so traction isn’t nearly as good. Sturdiness is superb and I haven’t skilled a lot outsole put on on my pair after 92 kilometres.
Saucony Endorphin Velocity 5 Conclusions
The Velocity 5 nonetheless feels and rides like an Endorphin Velocity however it has misplaced a few of its punch and propulsion. The Velocity 4 felt like a handy guide a rough pace coach that you could possibly use for uptempo runs however the Velocity 5 feels extra like a day by day coach for relaxed runs.
I desire the Velocity 4 over the Velocity 5 as a result of it jogs my memory of the unique Endorphin Velocity, a pace trainer- earlier than they tuned it to really feel like a day by day coach. The brand new, rougher higher materials additionally makes it really feel much less premium.
The Velocity 5 has no main flaws however it simply doesn’t really feel thrilling or participating. Saucony must breathe some new life into the shoe by rising the stack top, bettering the midsole foam or altering the geometry.
It doesn’t really feel like a brilliant coach and for $175, its worth is means too excessive, particularly contemplating it hasn’t modified a lot from V1 that launched 5 years in the past. For less than $5 extra, you may get the Saucony Endorphin Coach which feels much more trendy. It has a stiff carbon plate and it makes use of Saucony’s newest and most bouncy racing foam, Incredirun.
