New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 vs Saucony Endorphin Shift 3: Two Max-Cushion Trainers, Two Very Different Feels

Introduction

Some shoe matchups look identical on paper and feel completely different on the road. The New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 and the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 are exactly that pairing. Both are max-cushion trainers priced at $150 with a 4mm drop, yet they serve noticeably different kinds of running. One is a plush recovery-day cruiser that lets your foot sink into soft foam; the other is a firmer, rolling daily trainer that can handle a wider range of paces. Here’s how they stack up, and which one makes sense for you.

What They Share: Big Stacks, Same Drop, Same Price

On paper, these two are close cousins. The Fresh Foam More v4 stacks 39mm in the heel and 35mm in the forefoot, giving a 4mm drop. The Endorphin Shift 3 comes in at 34mm heel and 30mm forefoot, also a 4mm drop. Despite the different numbers, the actual cushioning footprint feels comparable, largely because your foot sits down into the Fresh Foam rather than riding on top of it.

Both shoes also carry the same $150 price tag, which is a solid value point for max-cushion trainers at this level.

Where the similarity ends is the feel underfoot. The More v4 is the softer of the two: a plush, comfort-first ride clearly aimed at recovery days and easy miles. The Shift 3 runs firmer and more supportive, closer to a traditional daily trainer.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4: The Plush Recovery Cruiser

The More v4 is all about sinking in. Fresh Foam X compresses under your foot at landing, then firms up as you push off, and the ride has noticeably more bounce and energy return than the Shift 3. It’s the shoe you reach for when the goal is easy miles and letting your legs recover.

The trade-off is versatility. This is a shoe best relegated to recovery and easy-day running rather than faster work. In the women’s version, a size 7.5 came in at 8.9 ounces, and testers found any extra weight simply didn’t register on the run.

One caveat worth noting: the upper leaves a lot of room in the toe box. For wider feet that’s a genuine advantage, but narrow-footed runners may find the fit could be dialed in a little more snugly.

Saucony Endorphin Shift 3: The Firmer, More Versatile Roller

The Shift 3 leans on Saucony’s Speedroll geometry, which gives the shoe its signature rolling ride: you come down on a slightly firmer platform and roll off through the toes. For this version, Saucony softened the foam so it’s more forgiving underfoot, with more flexibility in the forefoot than earlier models.

That firmer-but-forgiving character makes it the more versatile option of the two. You can run easy days and recovery runs in it, but you can also pick up the pace when the mood strikes. It’s lighter as well: a women’s size 7.5 came in at roughly 8 ounces.

The upper fits closer to the foot, with a sportier feel that suits runners who want a more locked-in, hugging fit rather than a wide platform.

Fit and Upper: Roomy Toe Box vs a Snugger Hug

Fit is where these two split most clearly. The More v4 offers generous room in the toe box and a wider fit overall, making it the better pick if you have a wider foot or simply want breathing room up front. The Shift 3 hugs the foot more closely with a sportier, more streamlined upper, which narrow-footed runners tend to prefer.

Neither upper is wrong; it really comes down to your foot shape. Wide-footed runners consistently favor the More v4’s roomy platform, while narrower feet get a more secure wrap from the Shift 3.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one shoe that can do a bit of everything, the Shift 3 is the more versatile choice for varied paces and daily training miles. If max cushion and recovery-day comfort are the priority, the More v4 wins hands down; even fans of the Shift 3 admit that for a strictly plush, soft-landing shoe, the More v4 is the one to beat.

At the same $150 price point, the decision becomes purely about feel and fit. Pick the More v4 if you want softness, bounce, and room for wider feet. Pick the Shift 3 if you want a firmer, lighter roller that handles everything from easy days to quicker efforts.

Conclusion

This matchup ends in a split decision for good reason. The Fresh Foam More v4 is the plush recovery specialist with a roomy toe box, while the Endorphin Shift 3 is the firmer, lighter all-rounder with a snugger fit. Both deliver max cushion and a 4mm drop at $150, so the right pick depends less on specs and more on what your feet want and how you plan to run.