Saucony Endorphin Speed vs Azura: which one do you need?

The Speed vs Azura question is the one I get asked more than any other Saucony decision right now, since my recent pre-release Endorphin Speed 5 review dropped; and it's a fair one.

Both run SpeedRoll geometry, both use Saucony's PEBA super foam (although one has faster tuning...), both are 8mm drop, and only $25 separates them.

What separates them most is a nylon plate, and that one part decides everything about how each shoe wants to be run.

I've tested both, the new Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 and the Saucony Endorphin Azura, through the same Florida training weeks. Here's how to pick, in about five minutes.

The quick answer

If your week has structured speed in it (intervals, tempo runs, quality long efforts) and you want a shoe that turns those sessions up, get the Endorphin Speed 6. Its new PWRRUN PBX foam and redesigned nylon plate make it springier and quicker onto the forefoot than any Speed before it, and it's the lighter shoe.

If you want one shoe to do nearly everything, easy days included, get the Endorphin Azura. No plate, more stack, a smoother and more adaptable ride, and $25 less. It's my desert island Saucony for a reason.

The Speed is the sharper tool. The Azura is the one that doesn't mind what pace you run.

Key specs, side by side

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The one key difference is the nylon plate

The Speed 6 sandwiches a full-length, semi-rigid nylon plate between two layers of PWRRUN PBX, and the redesigned plate is the reason this version moves you through the gait cycle quicker than the Speed 5 did.

It pushes you onto the forefoot faster, toe-off has real snap, and at tempo pace and quicker it feels like the shoe is doing some of the work for you. Nylon rather than carbon keeps it in speed-trainer territory instead of race-day-only territory, but make no mistake: it wants to be run fast.

The Azura has no plate, and Saucony was right not to give it one.

Its speed comes from the PWRRUN PB foam and the SpeedRoll geometry alone; a soft landing, a smooth forward roll, and a surprisingly big toe-off, with none of the stiffness. That's why it flexes naturally at easy pace and still feels responsive late in a run when your legs are heavy and your form isn't perfect anymore.

Same rocker family, two different engines. One is spring-loaded, the other is more elastic.

The ride, insistent vs adaptable

Here's where the plate turns into a personality.

The Speed 6 is springier, deeper and lighter than the Speed 5, and the trade is that it's a little less grounded at easy pace.

The higher stack, the more energetic foam and the faster roll onto the forefoot make it more insistent about being run fast; warm-ups and cool-downs are fine, but it's a speed-day shoe first and an all-rounder second.

Both have good inherent stability considering their stack heights but the Endorphin Speed 6 has the edge and takes the win for me.

The Azura has the opposite temperament.

It handles easy and recovery runs comfortably, steady state and moderate tempo with ease, and long runs without bottoming out, and it doesn't lose its character when you change pace. You can even race a marathon in it and have a good time, and to be fair you could in the Endorphin Speed 6 too...

Where the Endorphin Speed pulls ahead is the top end.

On intervals and hard tempo work the plate's snap and the PBX rebound are on another level, and that's the sensation you're paying $25 extra for.

Fit and the upper: two easy fits, one difference at the heel

Both fit true to size in my US 9, both breathe well in Florida heat, and neither has any hot spots or rubbing to worry about.

The Speed 6's upper is the leaner of the two, built to lock the foot down when the pace climbs, with a longer tongue than the Speed 5 that no longer slips down mid-run. Heel lock is great and the collar padding is generous.

Both toe boxes are medium but spacious, with room for toe splay without feeling sloppy, and both have articulated heel counters which are nice and forgiving and make them easy to slip on.

Outsole Durability

This could lead to being a big one.

You'll notice on the outsole of the Endorphin speed 6 that coverage at the heel is very limited, and although the rubber compound itself is very durable, it's only going to be a matter of time before you're running on foam.

It's a shame to see just a little strip on the lateral (outside) edge, especially since the Speed 5 had more coverage. Time will tell on that one but experience tells me it's going to be a weak point as the miles stack up.

So, the Azura wins here!

Do you need both?

Yes, and no; there is real overlap here but if you run four or more days a week with at least one real workout, yes, and this is the best two-shoe Saucony rotation you can build for $325.

The Azura takes easy days, long runs and steady miles. The Speed 6 takes intervals, tempo and any long run with quality in it. They share the SpeedRoll feel, so switching between them never feels jarring, and the plate stays fresh for the days that need it.

If you only want one shoe, that's the Azura. If you already own a cushioned daily trainer and only want a speed-day upgrade, that's the Speed 6.

Which one should you buy

Buy the Endorphin Speed 6 if:

• Your week has structured speed in it and you want it to feel faster
• You want the lighter, springier, more propulsive ride
• You already have a daily training shoe and this is the upgrade slot
• You do Hyrox; it's still the shoe I recommend every time

Buy the Endorphin Azura if:

• You want one shoe that handles easy, steady, long and moderately fast
• You'd rather have a more natural flex than a plate underfoot (the Nylon plate is still very flexible though...)
• You want the more forgiving ride of the two
• You'd like to keep $25 in your pocket

My verdict

The plate and use case decides it. If you want your speed days to feel like speed days, the Speed 6 is probably the best Endorphin Speed Saucony has built, and it's an easy yes at $175.

If you want a shoe that turns three training shoes into one, the Azura is the most well-rounded high-stack trainer I've run in, and it's a steal at $150.

Most runners asking me this question already own a daily trainer, and for them the answer is the Speed 6. Runners starting from scratch should buy the Azura first and add the Speed later.

Want a carbon plate for race day instead of either? The Endorphin Pro 5 is the racer that sits above both but I didn't rate it due to comfort issues at the achilles.

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My Saucony Endorphin range explained guide covers the whole family if you're not sure which one to go for.

Whichever way you go, my best Saucony running shoes guide shows where each sits in the lineup, and my best running shoes roundup covers the rest of the rotation.

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