Hoka Mach X vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 3: Which Plated Trainer Should You Buy?

Introduction

Plated daily trainers have become the sweet spot of the running shoe market: comfortable enough for easy miles, fast enough for tempos and even race day. Two names define that conversation right now: the Hoka Mach X, Hoka’s new PBAX-plated daily trainer, and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3, an established nylon-plated favorite that has topped the category for years.

Both are versatile, high-stack, everyday training shoes built around the tech from carbon super shoes, just in a less aggressive form. Having run extensively in both, here is how they compare and which one deserves your money.

Quick Specs Compared

The differences on paper are subtle but worth knowing. The Hoka Mach X uses a 5mm drop: 37mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot for the women’s shoe, and 39mm heel, 34mm forefoot for the men’s version. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 has a higher 8mm drop but a lower overall stack, at 36mm heel and 28mm forefoot.

In a UK men’s size 8.5, the Mach X weighs 9.1 oz (258g), while the Endorphin Speed 3 is lighter at 8.4 oz (237g). On price, the Mach X sits at £160 in the UK and $180 in the US. The Endorphin Speed 3 has an RRP of £165 or $170, but as a slightly older shoe it can now be found much cheaper, which matters more than you might think later in this comparison.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes fit true to size for most testers, so start with your regular running shoe size in both.

The Mach X runs a touch snugger: tighter across the toe knuckles, a bit more fitted through the midfoot, and a more secure, race-like heel hold. The Endorphin Speed 3 is noticeably roomier, especially in the forefoot, which adds comfort for longer distances but slightly reduces stability for some. Narrow-footed runners have reported a touch of heel rub with the Speed 3, while the Mach X delivers an excellent lockdown around the heel and midfoot.

Uppers and Construction

The Mach X features a creel jacquard upper with a pleasant soft lining, a touch of structure in the outer layer, and a padded detail on the tongue to prevent lace pinch. The Endorphin Speed 3 uses a simpler single-layer mesh upper. Both shoes use half-gusseted flat tongues, medium-padded heel collars, similar heel counters, and standard lacing setups.

Underfoot, the Mach X has a ProFly X midsole with a PBAX plate sandwiched between a layer of PEBA and a layer of EVA foam, plus an early-stage meta rocker. The Speed 3 uses PWRRUN PB foam with an S-curve winged nylon plate designed to stabilize the foot from landing through toe-off, paired with Saucony’s SpeedRoll rocker geometry. Outsoles are very similar: extensive coverage of thin rubber over the main impact zones on both.

Ride Feel and Performance

This is where the two shoes genuinely diverge. Interestingly, the difference in drop is not really noticeable when running. What you do feel is the response character.

The Mach X engages quicker: the ProFly X midsole reacts faster on landing, the rocker is more pronounced under the midfoot, and the whole shoe feels slightly firmer and more immediate, particularly over the ball of the foot. The Endorphin Speed 3 feels softer and sinkier by comparison, slightly slower to respond, but with a more fluid rolling motion that tips you forward, especially over longer, consistent-paced runs.

In terms of stability, there is little to choose between them: similar platforms, similar engagement, and the Mach X’s big wide base feels grounded and protective for such a high-stack shoe.

Durability looks strong on both. The Endorphin Speed 3 has a proven track record, with some runners logging around 600 miles per pair and roughly 1,200 miles across two pairs. The Mach X has not been pushed quite as far, but the outsole rubber coverage is generous and wear has been minimal so far, suggesting a similarly long-lasting trainer.

Speed, Versatility and Verdict

Both shoes can genuinely do everything: recovery jogs, easy runs, long runs, tempo sessions, track reps and even races. The Endorphin Speed 3 set the template for the category, and in performance it remains as good as ever: bouncy, comfortable PEBA midsole, an effective rocker, a nylon plate that is less aggressive than carbon, and enough pace for hard efforts while still enjoyable at slow paces. Its only real criticisms are the roomier upper compared to the Speed 2 and some questionable colorway choices.

The Mach X arrived with high expectations: a bigger stack than even the Saucony, with a plate added to what many loved about the Mach 5. For easy and daily runs it is excellent: comfortable, stable, protective and enjoyable straight out of the box. When you push the pace, though, it lacks a little nimbleness. It feels big on the foot, more of a rolling rocker shoe than an explosively bouncy one, while the Speed 3 turns over more speedily and pops noticeably better at faster paces.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both are excellent shoes, and it would be hard to be disappointed with either. The choice comes down to two factors:

1. Fit preference. If you want a roomier forefoot for longer distances, ultras, or just more toe wiggle, the Endorphin Speed 3 is the pick. If you want a snugger, more secure, race-like fit with excellent heel lockdown, the Mach X is slightly better.
2. Price. Because the Speed 3 is older, it can often be found for a good chunk cheaper than the Mach X. At any kind of discount, the Endorphin Speed 3 is the clear winner: it does the easy stuff just as well and is better at the fast end. At full retail price for both, they are genuinely equivalent and it comes down to which ride character you prefer: the quicker-engaging, slightly firmer Mach X or the smoother, rolling Speed 3.

Conclusion

The Hoka Mach X is a strong debut in the plated trainer category: comfortable, stable, and great for easy and long runs at easy paces. But the Endorphin Speed 3 still edges it overall, because in a category defined by versatility, the Speed 3 remains the near-perfect version of that shoe: excellent at slow paces, genuinely fast when needed, and usually available at a better price. Hoka still has a little ground to make up, but if your fit and priorities align with the Mach X’s firmer, more immediate ride, it is a shoe you can happily run in every day.