We ran 55 miles in the Saucony Endorphin Azura — here's our verdict

The Saucony Endorphin Azura is the newest addition to Saucony’s popular Endorphin shoe lineup, sitting somewhere between the everyday Endorphin Shift and the speed-focused Endorphin Speed. It’s designed as a non-plated, high-energy daily trainer that still uses Saucony’s premium PWRRUN PB foam — the same foam found in the brand’s racing shoes — but without the carbon or nylon plate.

My colleague Nick Harris-Fry and I have been testing the Azura across a range of runs, including easy miles, longer runs, tempo efforts, and intervals. Our impressions are that it packs a touch of race-day pep into what is otherwise a very reliable daily trainer. Here’s a closer look at the details and our thoughts.

Saucony Endorphin Azura: Price and Availability

The Saucony Endorphin Azura comes in at $150 / £140, making it noticeably cheaper than the Endorphin Speed 5. The shoe will be available to buy from the 1st of February 2026.

Saucony Endorphin Azura: Design and Fit

The shoe sits on a 40mm heel and 32mm forefoot stack for an 8mm drop. It has a modern ‘super-trainer’ silhouette, tall but light, and the curved rocker through the forefoot is there to help it roll smoothly from heel to toe.

I tested the women’s US 9.5, which is my usual running-shoe size, and the fit felt spot-on for me. My women’s 9.5 weighed in at 8.2oz and it felt light on the foot throughout testing. There is a comfortable amount of space for the toes, and the heel and midfoot feel nicely secure without being tight. I found the lockdown was good, and the shoe felt stable across both road and treadmill running.

Upper

The upper uses a breathable engineered mesh with small reinforcements around the toe box and heel to add structure without making the shoe feel stiff. The heel collar has medium padding, which offers a secure but not bulky feel, and the thin, gusseted tongue stays neatly in place. Even though I’m usually cautious with very thin tongues (I begrudge when they slip out of place or dig in), I didn’t experience any slipping or irritation here.

Midsole

The full-length PWRRUN PB foam gives the Azura its lively, cushioned feel. Without a plate, the cushioning feels softer and more natural, yet it still delivers the fast springback this foam is known for. The Speedroll geometry, which is essentially a steep rocker, helps smooth the transition from heel to toe. Overall, there is a nice rolling sensation that makes quicker paces feel effortless.

Outsole

Saucony has used its XT900 rubber on the outsole, with rubber pads placed in key contact areas across both the forefoot and heel rather than full coverage. I had good grip even running downhill on wet, leafy and slippery roads, though the lighter overall coverage could affect long-term durability

Saucony Endorphin Azura: Running Performance

JD: I was genuinely excited to test the Saucony Endorphin Azura because I tend to stay firmly in my comfort zone with running shoes. I usually gravitate towards max-cushioned, very stable options like the Saucony Guide 18, but this year I’ve been trying to mix things up by adding in more exciting shoes.

The Azura feels like the perfect middle ground for someone like me. It’s lively and far from a boring ride, but it still feels comfortable and secure to work as a solid daily trainer.

I’ve been testing the shoe in the early stages of a new marathon training block, using it for easy runs, tempo miles, intervals and longer efforts, with my longest run in the shoe coming in at nine miles. What stood out is how easy it was to move between paces in the Azura.

That said, if I were heading out purely for a very relaxed, easy run, I’d still be more likely to reach for one of my simpler, max-cushioned trainers. Where the Azura really shines for me is when there’s a bit of purpose to the run. Tempo miles and intervals felt smooth and energetic, with the rocker helping me roll through each stride and the foam delivering plenty of bounce without feeling unstable.

NHF: I used the Endorphin Azura for a mix of training runs at different paces, and its versatility is its key strength for me, because it is comfortable for jogging through recovery runs but has some nice pep for faster efforts.

The Speedroll rocker delivers a smooth whatever the pace you’re running at, and the Azura feels cushioned enough for me to be comfortable over any distance, though it’s not a max-stack shoe like many daily trainers these days.

At faster speeds, especially when trying to hold them over long distances, the lack of a plate in the midsole is noticeable when you compare the ride with a shoe like the Endorphin Speed 5. I’d pair the Azura with a plated shoe in my own rotation, but it is a good all-rounder for those who don’t want to always use plated shoes.

The PWRRUN PB foam in the shoe is durable and pretty responsive, but I do find it a bit dense and that it lacks the bounce of some materials used even at this price, like the Lightstrike Pro foam in the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, or the Nitro foam in the Puma Velocity Nitro 4. I'd be excited for Saucony to add some of its IncrediRun to a shoe like the Azura, as that's a springier, more exciting material than PWRRUN PB.

Should you buy the Saucony Endorphin Azura?

JD: The Saucony Endorphin Azura is well-suited to runners who want a lively, cushioned daily trainer without committing to a plate. It really comes into its own on quicker workouts, tempo runs, and longer sessions, making it a strong option if you want a fast-feeling shoe without stepping into a full race-day model.

For anyone a bit cautious about trying a carbon-plated shoe or can't face the price tag that comes with a pair, the Azura delivers energy and responsiveness in a more approachable package.

NHF: I enjoyed running in the Saucony Endorphin Azura and it is a good all-rounder thanks to its comfortable, lightweight design. You can use it for everything, or add it to a rotation to pick up a lot of daily training runs at different speeds, while reserving a faster, plated shoe for race day.

There are a few excellent alternatives in this category of lightweight, plate-free shoes, and I personally prefer the ride of the Adidas Evo SL and Puma Velocity Nitro 4, which are a little lighter and livelier than the Azura for me, though less stable.

I find the Azura more versatile and a better shoe than the New Balance Rebel v5 though, which is another excellent lightweight daily trainer. The Rebel is a bit more comfortable for me at easy paces, but the Azura is faster for workouts.

Ultimately the Azura succeeds in its aim of being a great jack-of-all-trades daily trainer at a good price, but there’s part of me that wishes Saucony had made this shoe a few years ago, when it would reality have stood out on the market. It’s still a great option now, but there are a couple of rival shoes I do prefer, most notably the Evo SL.