Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 vs the Plated Trainer Field: Six Shoes Compared

Introduction

The plated trainer category has become the most competitive segment in running shoes, and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 sits right at the center of it. This comparison lines it up against five credible rivals: the Endorphin Speed 3, the New Balance SC Trainer V2, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2, and the Adidas Boston 12.

The short version: the Speed 4 is the shoe built to work for the most runners, but each challenger here takes a slice of its job and does it better for a specific type of runner. Knowing which slice matters to you is the whole decision.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

The Speed 4 keeps the core DNA that made the Speed 3 such a fun shoe to run in. It still uses the PWRRUN PB midsole, it is still soft and bouncy, and the overall vibe is the same. The changes are subtle but meaningful: the Speed 4 gains roughly half an ounce in a US men’s 10.5, the tongue gets a bit more padding, and the styling is noticeably cleaner on foot. It feels more like a regular sneaker and less like an aggressive racer.

The rocker is less prominent than in the Speed 3, and the flexible, sock-like upper gives the Speed 4 a natural everyday feel. It has moved firmly into daily trainer territory, closer to a versatile all-rounder than an uptempo weapon. It is not a super fast shoe, and that difference matters for how you choose between the two.

The practical takeaway: if you want a supportive, softer everyday trainer, go with the Speed 4. If you want a lightweight uptempo shoe that can handle faster work, the Speed 3 remains the better pick thanks to its lighter weight and more aggressive rocker. The Speed 3 has also been available at a discount since it is now the previous generation, which makes it an appealing value play.

New Balance SC Trainer V2: The Long Run Specialist

The SC Trainer V2 earned a reputation as one of the best replacements for runners who loved the Endorphin Speed 3 for long runs. The FuelCell foam delivers a soft, pleasant ride, and the carbon fiber plate adds a bit of pep. That plate is the key difference versus the Speed 4: the SC Trainer V2 is not flexible at all, and on some runs you can feel the harder plate coming through the midsole. The Speed 4 uses a plastic plate that supports the ride without altering your stride, which is exactly why it works better for daily miles.

The SC Trainer V2 also runs heavy, at 9.7 oz in a US men’s sample size 9. It slots in best as a cruising shoe for long, relaxed efforts, and for faster runners it can even stretch into race day duty at marathon distance. Neither shoe here is particularly durable, since both rely on soft foams with limited rubber coverage, so neither is a 400 or 500 mile workhorse.

For most runners the Speed 4 is the better everyday option, while the SC Trainer V2 shines as a relaxed long run or recovery shoe, particularly if you run faster paces and want something forgiving on easy days.

Puma Deviate Nitro 2: The Durable All-Rounder

The Deviate Nitro 2 shares the Speed 4’s spirit: it is easy to run in, not harsh underfoot, and behaves more like a souped-up daily trainer than a speed workout shoe. The differences show up in the ride character. Puma does not really use rockers, so the Deviate Nitro 2 feels flatter and even more natural than the Speed 4. It is also less flexible, with a carbon composite plate that sits between plastic and full carbon in rigidity, and the forefoot runs a touch firmer.

That extra rigidity means it is less suited to stacking big daily mileage week after week, but it brings a major advantage: durability. Puma has loaded the outsole with substantially more and thicker rubber than the Speed 4, and you should reasonably expect 50 to 100 more miles out of the Deviate Nitro 2 at a similar price.

If budget and longevity matter, the Deviate Nitro 2 takes it. If you just want something soft, forgiving and fun for everyday miles, the Speed 4 is the safer choice. The Deviate Nitro 2 is also the do-it-all option of this group, able to handle some faster paces and some longer runs, though it is less forgiving above the two-hour mark.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2: The Niche Speed Weapon

The Wave Rebellion Flash 2 looks like a direct competitor to the Speed 3, Boston 12 and Hoka Cielo X style plated trainers, but its spirit is entirely different. This is a much faster, much more aggressive shoe, closer in character to a short-distance racer that most hobby runners repurpose as a workout shoe for fast repeats and top-end efforts.

Its defining feature is the heel cutout, which demands strong forefoot or midfoot striking, paired with a very aggressive rocker that launches you off the front of the platform. It is far firmer than the Speed 4 and offers almost no rotational flexibility, and there is essentially nothing in the heel to land on because of that cutout. Both it and the Speed 4 retail at $170, and a slightly lower launch price would have made the Flash 2 easier to recommend as an experiment.

For forefoot strikers targeting a sub 3 hour or sub 2:50 marathon, it is a genuinely exciting option for track work and fast sessions. For everyone else, the Speed 4 is more versatile, more forgiving, and far friendlier for everyday miles. The Flash 2 is a niche product best added to a rotation only if you do serious track work or want something unconventional.

Adidas Boston 12: The Workout Specialist

The Boston 12 has been the go-to workout shoe of this group, handling everything from fast 800m repeats to long marathon-paced tempos with confidence. The ride is deliberately firm: a Lightstrike base layer, a Lightstrike Pro top layer, and glass fiber energy rods combine into a firm, fast package built for speed.

The trade-off is break-in. The firmer midsole needs miles before it comes alive, and the ride is an acquired taste that does not suit relaxed recovery running at all. The Boston 12 really only feels good from steady pace downward, roughly 7:30 per mile and faster, and into race pace territory. The Speed 4, by contrast, works at any pace and feels best around everyday running paces, slightly toward the faster side.

The Speed 4 also wins on fit and lockdown, with a fantastic upper that holds the foot securely, while the Boston 12 can feel a bit sloppy until you learn how to lace and tie it properly. On price, the Boston 12 undercuts the Speed 4 by $10, but the two shoes are different enough that price should not drive the decision.

For faster runners, meaning anything in the sub 3:15, sub 3:00 or sub 2:50 marathon range, the Boston 12 is one of the best marathon training shoes available for keeping legs fresh at top-end efforts. The Speed 4 is the better daily option, and the two actually make an excellent pairing: Speed 4 for everyday faster miles, Boston 12 for workouts, plus a soft, unplated recovery shoe alongside them.

Overall Buying Advice: Which Plated Trainer Should You Pick?

In the plated trainer segment, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is the shoe that will work best for the most people. The downside is that it lacks the aggression and bite some rivals bring to fast running, and Saucony is clearly pushing it toward the daily trainer category. In this generation, it has become a top-notch daily trainer with premium materials: PEBA-based foam for softness and bounce, plus a plastic plate for stability and structure.

If your priority is speed workouts, the Adidas Boston 12 is still the top pick in this category, especially for marathon training at the sub 3:30, sub 3:15 or sub 3:00 level. For pure top-end speed and track work, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is the fun, niche option, but only add it if you do a lot of track sessions or want to try something outside the norm.

The closest competitors to the Speed 4 for everyday plated miles are the New Balance SC Trainer V2 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 2. The SC Trainer V2 is superb for longer runs with its forgiving FuelCell ride, but its weight rules out speed work. The Deviate Nitro 2 is the do-it-all option with generous rubber coverage, a firmer feel than the Speed 4, and the ability to handle both faster paces and everyday miles.

Conclusion

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 wins this field on versatility and will be the right choice for the majority of runners who want one plated shoe for everyday training. Around it, the field splits cleanly: the Speed 3 for lightweight uptempo running, the SC Trainer V2 for long relaxed miles, the Deviate Nitro 2 for durability and structure, the Boston 12 for serious workout duty, and the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 for fast, aggressive specialists. Match the shoe to the job in your rotation and you will not go wrong.