Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 Review: A Fast Shoe That Falters in the Wet

Introduction

Some shoes get tested in ideal conditions. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 got something far more useful: a 10.25 mile (16.5 km) long run in gusting 26 mph winds, driving rain, and temperatures that felt like 3°C once the wind chill kicked in. It was a punishing session, and a genuinely revealing one for a shoe that has always looked a little suspect in wet weather.

The short version: the midsole is excellent, the upper holds up far better than expected, and the outsole is the one part of the shoe that will make you think twice before racing in bad weather.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Endorphin Pro 2 is built for runners who want a fast, plated trainer that can handle far more than race day alone. On test, it was used at a steady 8 minutes per mile (around 5 minutes per km) aerobic pace for most of the run, with a few half-mile reps thrown in close to half marathon effort. It coped comfortably across that whole range, which says a lot about the shoe’s flexibility as a training partner.

If your week mixes long steady miles with tempo work and occasional racing, this is exactly the kind of shoe it was designed for. If your racing is mostly done in dry, predictable conditions, even better.

The Upper

The upper is light and nimble, and importantly it does not absorb much moisture when it rains. That matters more than it sounds: after 16.5 km of soaked conditions, most of the water simply vented out through the breathable toe box. The exception is the heel section, where a little extra material soaked up the most moisture and stayed heavier for longer.

There is one cosmetic casualty worth knowing about. With the shoe completely drenched, some of the dye from the upper transferred onto the laces and turned part of them blue. Nothing structural, just something to be aware of.

Fit and lockdown were the standout here. The lace loops on both the lateral and medial sides create an excellent lockdown that wraps the foot securely. Even with thin socks and a runner’s knot, comfort held up and the fit stayed consistent over the miles. There was no slipping in the heel, and there was never a moment where stopping to retie felt necessary. That is high praise on a day when the run itself was thoroughly miserable.

The Midsole

The firmer but forgiving PWRRUN PB midsole is the heart of this shoe, and it has genuine range. At around 8 minutes per mile it simply does the business, but turn the pace up and it responds in kind, giving back energy when you put effort in. That versatility is exactly what you want in a shoe for half marathon training, where you do not want to be locked into slow miles only.

Pull the pace back and it still feels great, which is a trait the Endorphin Pro series has carried since the first version. It is a shoe you can lace up for practically any type of run. It does feel a touch rigid when running very slowly, but at any proper aerobic level it comes alive.

The plate performs well too, adding a nice rolling feel underfoot. Compared with the lighter Endorphin Speed 2, the Pro 2 has noticeably more snap and a greater pace range, while the Speed 2 arguably works better as an everyday trainer but loses some of that liveliness sooner.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The outsole is the honest weak point. On wet roads and pavements, pushing the pace and toeing off produced real slipping and sliding. At easier paces and midfoot landings, traction was fantastic, but every time the cadence rose the slipping issue crept back in. The solid rubber feel and the pattern across the front of the shoe, where rubber coverage is heavier, look like the likely culprits. Losing a little rubber up front might actually improve grip.

In fairness, the conditions on test were extreme, so the shoe should not be entirely written off. And the durability of the rubber is genuinely impressive: an earlier pair showed no visible wear at all after 100 miles.

The trade-off is a simple one. If the forecast looks bad for a race or speed session, this is not a shoe you can fully rely on. It earns its reputation as a fair-weather friend.

Buying Advice

If you race and do most of your speed work in dry conditions, the Endorphin Pro 2 is easy to recommend: superb lockdown, a breathable upper that dries out fast, and one of the most versatile plated midsoles available. Save it for the days you can trust the forecast, and it rewards you every time.

If you live somewhere with reliably wet winters, or you need a race-day shoe that behaves on slick roads at half marathon pace, weigh that outsole limitation carefully before committing. The grip at tempo effort on wet surfaces is the one gap in an otherwise excellent shoe.

Conclusion

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 is a superb plated trainer with a genuinely versatile midsole, a secure and breathable upper, and long-lasting rubber. Its only real weakness is traction at pace in the wet, which rules it out as a wet-weather race shoe. For dry sessions and predictable race days, it is a very easy shoe to love.