The Saucony Endorphin Rift ($170) is a giant shoe with dynamic capabilities and a lighthearted “sole.”

If there are any runners on the market remotely fascinated about exploring the probabilities of this new path operating shoe, I extremely advocate slipping on a pair. The three primary elements of the Saucony Endorphin Rift have distinctive qualities providing path runners new views on shoe design and building. This shoe is a quintessential versatile path operating shoe. It offers a nimble underfoot journey with distinctive power return coupled with shocking stability and sturdiness.

I preface this evaluate by saying that that is my first expertise operating within the Saucony Endorphin line of footwear — both these made for the path or street. Nevertheless, I’ve spent ample time in variations of the Saucony Peregrine — you may see our Saucony Peregrine 13 evaluate for information on probably the most present model of this mannequin. I’ll stress nevertheless, that I examined the Saucony Endorphin Rift in Arizona’s rugged and rocky trails, in elements of New Mexico’s colourful Santa Fe Nationwide Forest, and throughout Southern Oregon — alongside the coast and within the Siskiyou Mountains — for nicely over 150 miles, and I’ll proceed to run far on this shoe. I’ve marked it as one among my primary footwear for my private 100-mile journey this summer time, alongside a bit of the Pacific Crest Path.

To my shock the Saucony Endorphin Rift is a decrease drop shoe with 6 millimeters of drop, has a claimed stack top of 33 millimeters on the heel and 27 millimeters on the toe, is light-weight at 258 grams (9.1 ounces) for a males’s U.S. dimension 9, and has a sock-like higher that I discover intriguing from a consolation and holistic perspective.

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The Saucony Endorphin Rift. All photographs: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Saucony Endorphin Rift Higher

The Saucony Endorphin Rift higher has an fascinating design attraction with various levels of assist from the toes to the heel. How this assist and stability feels largely will depend on the form and dimension of a runner’s foot. Beginning distally, there’s further TPU materials to guard the toes from rocks and cactus needles — undoubtedly a plus whereas coaching on extra technical path. Nevertheless, the toebox is markedly tapered, however fortunately the smooth, breathable, and pliable mesh above the toes permits for a modicum of reduction. I’ll observe that after each run on this shoe I instantly wore my toe spacers for restoration and corrective care. I’ve thought of sizing as much as see if that may afford my toes extra room, however apart from that it is a glove-like match for me.

Since I do have toe splay and a comparatively huge midfoot, the complete sock-fit building coupled with the more durable plastic mesh connecting the 2 higher lace eyelets to the heel collar absolutely locked down my foot. This characteristic additionally offered one other layer of safety and higher integrity, including to the flexibility of this shoe. Because it pertains to gait mechanics, the double mesh building anchored behind the heel helped keep easy observe by way of and foot alignment from touchdown to toeoff, which has a contact of roll for ahead momentum. The additional heel cushion is nice and can also be aimed toward stopping any undesirable motion or slippage. Sadly, I went into carrying this shoe with a slight irritation from a gown boot — and the additional padding and inflexible heel counter rubbed the again of my proper heel. It was negligible, however one thing I needed to be proactive about earlier than runs. The left heel was left unscathed and unbothered.

Total, the higher design helps a steady really feel with a contact of softness. Future iterations could also be higher served with underlays as an alternative of exposing extra material and stitching than is critical. I nonetheless advocate carrying socks to beat back any hotspots. There was no want on my finish to tighten the laces. I merely tied them to get them out of the way in which. The added pull ropes on prime of the tongue and heel are extraordinarily helpful when donning the footwear.

A lateral view of the Saucony Endorphin Rift.

Saucony Endorphin Rift Midsole

The Saucony Endorphin Rift midsole is a full-length PWRRUN PB foam, comprised of pellet-based expertise. Shoe designers melted PEBA pellets and castor bean oils within the form of the shoe, leading to a bouncy, light-weight, energetic, and comparatively agency foam. Though there’s extra to it than this rationalization, the engineers behind the design have been in search of a polymer with nice snapback, bounce, and power return, highlighted with sturdiness. They achieved their mission. As with most PEBA foams, the runner can really feel the power return. The Rift’s midsole does this exceptionally nicely, whereas additionally providing a decrease density than conventional TPU and EVA midsoles — an total softer and extra compliant expertise for the runner. As an alternative of sinking into the cushion like some smooth engineered midsoles, the PWRRUN PB plus the model’s SPEEDROLL geometry aids the runner in saving power and propelling them ahead. It might be fascinating to see the place the analysis lands by way of probably improved operating economic system with PEBA-designed midsoles.

The Saucony Endorphin Rift doesn’t have a carbon fiber plate like its counterpart, the Saucony Endorphin Edge — right here’s our Saucony Endorphin Edge evaluate — however has a skinny and versatile plate built-in into the smooth foam for further forefoot safety. The plate is a pleasant addition to the PWRRUN PB foam, permitting for a contact of construction and an uptick in confidence for the runner on extra technical terrain. The midsole sidewalls are a factor to behold, however in the end, I didn’t thoughts the lateral and medial assist they offered. As I mentioned concerning the shoe’s higher within the part above, this design building saved the toes monitoring and steady all through the gait cycle. One factor I’ve observed is that the coloring is beginning to peel off the midsole foam exposing its white inside, however a very powerful factor is that the midsole’s qualities have been maintained since mile one.

The midsole is the explanation why I needed to check this mannequin, and it didn’t disappoint. I additionally like the way in which it brings the higher and the outsole collectively for a enjoyable and energetic expertise.

A medial view of the Saucony Endorphin Rift.

Saucony Endoprhin Rift Outsole

The Saucony Endoprhin Rift outsole boasts an aggressive lug sample, 4.5-millimeter lug depth, and Saucony’s PWRTRAC outsole rubber. The PWRTRAC has respectable stick, however coming from footwear like VJ Extremely — learn our VJ Extremely 2 evaluate for extra info on this mannequin — and path trainers that use Vibram Megagrip, I’m hesitant to laud this outsole as a main performer exterior of summer time and fall climate circumstances. Alas, that is an enviornment the place my evaluate falls brief. If something, the lug sample retains it alive and environment friendly on rocky and hilly trails the place further seize is required. The lug placement additionally provides to the soundness of the shoe, offering a grounded base on all edges — even on the prolonged heel. I really feel stable once I land in these footwear. It’s noteworthy so as to add that the outsole and midsole complement one another. Or maybe one other technique to body it’s that the PWRTRAC is an extension of the smooth, energy-laden midsole.

Nevertheless, some weight could possibly be saved by reducing the lug depth, an astute statement by different wearers and onlookers, and doubtless warranted on condition that despite the fact that these footwear are extremely versatile, a push for extra velocity could also be granted by a decreased use in outsole materials. Plus the stack top is pushing it for me since I are inclined to run in footwear with a little bit extra floor really feel and fewer materials beneath my toes.

A particular plus of the PWRTRAC is that it carried out exceptionally nicely throughout the desert panorama, proving that the abrasion-resistant materials was residing as much as its mission. It has held up decently on my road-to-trail jaunts, however I feel that the low weight helps to get by way of these sections with a quickened tempo.

The outsole of the Saucony Endorphin Rift.

Saucony Endorphin Rift Total Impressions

The Saucony Endorphin Rift has a stable future forward of it for each efficiency or as a each day coach — a testomony to its versatility. It’s ultimate on public forest roads, easy singletrack, and reasonable technical terrain. I’ve but to check it in inclement climate and on moist and snowy path circumstances. This shoe has an lively and responsive journey with a kicking bounce but fortified with a versatile rock plate within the forefoot. This provides a little bit rigidity and safety to the PWRRUN PB foam and integrates properly with the SPEEDROLL ahead geometry.

Curiously, the design from prime to backside and from entrance to again gives one thing for any sort of runner and for quite a lot of foot shapes. I’m retaining my fingers crossed that the following iteration has a wider toebox and barely a little bit extra inflexible really feel coming from the outsole and midsole, which can hopefully prolong the lifespan of each. By some means, Saucony was capable of finding a nuanced stability between consolation, power return, weight, stability, and sturdiness — a troublesome feat. There may be the additional benefit of a little bit velocity that may be generated.

As I discussed, the Saucony Endorphin Rift is an thrilling shoe to run in, and I hope all forms of runners discover it intriguing sufficient to journey in.

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Name for Feedback

• Have you ever run within the Saucony Endorphin Rift? How did you discover them?
• How do you suppose they evaluate to different shoe fashions within the Saucony Endorphin line?

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A prime view of the Saucony Endorphin Rift.