Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 vs the Rivals: Five Plated Shoes Compared

Introduction

Few shoes in recent memory have earned the do-it-all reputation of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. It sits at a similar price to several other plated trainers and racers, which makes it a natural yardstick: stack it against a dedicated race shoe, an aggressive competitor, a stripped-back speed shoe and a budget marathon trainer, and its strengths and limits become much easier to see. That is exactly what this comparison does, drawing on hands-on running experience across the whole range.

The Endorphin Speed 3 itself is the softest and most squashy of the three Speed versions so far, with a woven upper and notably wider heel. It is an improvement over its predecessors, and its defining trait remains versatility: easy days, faster sessions, even a walk into town. Every shoe below earns its place by being similar in price, intended use or plate technology.

Mizuno Takumi Sen 8: The Race-Day Counterpart

The Takumi Sen 8 costs a similar amount to the Endorphin Speed 3, but the intended use case is very different. Where the Speed 3 can be stretched up to marathon distance, the Takumi Sen 8 is closer to a half marathon shoe at most, and Mizuno positions it firmly as a race shoe rather than a trainer.

Underfoot, the Sen 8 sits much lower in the midsole stack, feels more responsive and slightly firmer, and clearly beats the Saucony on outsole grip. It even showed some toughness on a part-trail 10k race, something the softer, more brittle-feeling foam of the Speed 3 would not be the first choice for. The Saucony also has noticeably more heel width if stability matters to you.

The honest verdict is that both are keepers. The Speed 3 handles practically anything, while the Sen 8 is the one to reserve for faster sessions and racing.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite: The Aggressive Racer

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite costs a similar amount and is a slimmer, narrower shoe, around a centimetre narrower at the heel and roughly 31 grams lighter in a UK 11 / US 12. The Nitro Elite foam is arguably a closer match to the Speed 3 than the Takumi Sen 8’s Lightstrike Pro, but the character is more aggressive and propulsive, with slightly less forefoot stack. It feels more like a pure race shoe.

The uppers differ the most: the Puma uses a dense engineered mesh that runs a little cooler in warm climates, while the Speed 3’s woven material will appeal to anyone preferring a more traditional feel. Be warned that the Puma has noticeably less toe box room, and its outsole grip is genuinely excellent.

For racing purposes the Deviate Nitro Elite just edges it, but as an all-day, all-purpose shoe the Speed 3 remains the one to grab first.

New Balance SC Pacer: The Modern Race Flat

The New Balance SC Pacer is included mainly on price and the presence of a carbon plate, but it is a very different animal. Its upper is extremely light and flexible, almost see-through, with weight saved everywhere in pursuit of a nimble, propulsive feel. Next to it, the Endorphin Speed 3 looks positively plush.

This is one of the last shoes in the old race-flat spirit, with a meager stack of around 27 mm in the heel and 22 mm in the forefoot, a very narrow heel and roughly 35 grams less weight than the Speed 3. It suits short, fast efforts on roads, concrete or track only; on other surfaces the exposed midsole material will chew up quickly.

The saving grace is price: pairs have been found heavily discounted to around £100, roughly £60 off the retail cost. As a low-distance pace shoe it is fun, but as an all-rounder the Speed 3 is a tough act to follow.

Reebok Floatride Energy X: The Value Marathon Trainer

The Floatride Energy X looks like an odd rival at first, being around 34 grams heavier, but it is a plated shoe with a very similar midsole stack to the Speed 3 and a much lower retail price, with pairs seen as low as around £90 in the UK.

What it gives up in nimbleness compared to Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam, it more than repays in stability and cushioning: the heel is very wide, which should help runners with mild stability concerns, and the grip is excellent. It is best suited to longer, slower efforts rather than speed work, making it a strong marathon training shoe and a natural rotation partner that can share the load with the Speed 3 and let the foam recover between hard days.

Of everything compared here, it is the closest in character to the Endorphin Speed 3 and the clear winner for value.

Which One Should You Buy?

If versatility is the priority, the Endorphin Speed 3 remains the benchmark and is hard to beat as a do-it-all shoe. Choose the Takumi Sen 8 or Deviate Nitro Elite when race-day speed is the goal, the SC Pacer for short, fast track and road efforts if you can find a discount, and the Floatride Energy X as an affordable cushioned partner for marathon training miles.

View more details for Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

Conclusion

The Endorphin Speed 3 earns its reputation as a unicorn shoe: cushioned enough for daily use, quick enough for sessions and durable enough for almost any distance. Each rival here serves a sharper purpose, and knowing which trade-off suits your running is what makes the right pick easy.