With the various shoes in the Endorphin collection, Saucony has been attracting some attention for some time now. Especially the Saucony Endorphin Pro as well as the Saucony Endorphin Speed are repeatedly praised from many sides. Now Saucony has launched the Saucony Endorphin Trail, the first trail shoe in the Endorphin collection, and I was asked to test it. To really put the new Saucony Endorphin Trail to the test, I immediately took it with me to the Scottish Highlands, where changing surfaces and several challenging trails awaited. There is probably no better test environment.

With a weight of 329 grams (in size UK 10), the Saucony Endorphin Trail is one of the heavier shoes, even among trail shoes. The Torrent from Hoka One One, for example, weighs only 292 grams. Nevertheless, even during my first test run, which I completed on a fairly flat trail in the woods, it was noticeable that you can quickly get rolling with the Endorphin Trail. The Speed Roll technology, for which the Endorphin range of shoes is known among other things, also shows its effect in the Endorphin Trail. This is especially the case on flat trails in the forest at medium-high speeds.

The Saucony Endorphin Trail also made a good impression on more challenging terrain. It offered good grip not only on rocky trails, but also in muddy conditions. The PWR-TRAC outsole has a lug height of 4.5 millimetres and, thanks to its quite smooth surface, ensures that mud does not stick to the sole for long, so that the grip of the outsole is not affected.

The PWRRUN PB midsole of the Endorphin Trail is an eye-catcher. This not only impresses with its attractive design, but also with its high reactivity. Due to the use of Pebax, this sole is quite soft, which is only partially reflected in the running feeling. This is because it does not resemble the pleasant running feeling of other models that also rely on the use of Pebax. Nevertheless, the Saucony Endorphin Trail is not lacking in comfort. A pleasantly cushioned running experience is guaranteed.

The Endorphin Trail is particularly comfortable in the upper. It feels like a sock and adapts to the foot without constricting it. The shoe also feels very comfortable at the heel when running, but also when standing. Despite all the comfort, various protective features that characterise good trail shoes are not neglected. For example, the toes are additionally protected and there is also a high level of water resistance.

I really enjoyed running with the Saucony Endorphin Trail. The shoe is very suitable for running a lot of training trail kilometres, where the runner and shoe can be put to the test. Whether I would also wear the shoe for trail races depends on the race, the exact course and the race distance. In the future, it is conceivable that Saucony will continue to work on the weight of the Endorphin Trail to reduce it further and make it a top shoe.

For more information on the Saucony Endorphin Trail and several other Saucony models, visit Running Warehouse Europe.