Four Upcoming Running Shoes Worth Watching: Carbon Racers, Flow Foam, and a Fresh Endorphin

Introduction

A fresh batch of upcoming running shoes gives runners plenty to think about, from Reebok’s first serious carbon plate effort in this line to a heavily refreshed Saucony racing pair. Here is how the four shape up, and why each earned its verdict.

Reebok Floatride Energy X

The Reebok Floatride Energy X looks set to arrive with a carbon plate, possibly a partial plate through part of the midsole rather than the full length. That could address one of the main complaints about the Energy 3: at certain paces and distances it felt a touch too flexible, with too much give underfoot.

The stack has clearly been raised, with noticeably more foam than the Energy 3, though keep in mind that the Energy 3’s foam cupped around the foot, so it often looked taller in photos than it felt on foot. The eyelets borrow a nod from the MG3, and the heel resembles Reebok’s Symmetros, making this a mishmash of several profiles rolled into one carbon plate shoe.

Weight and full stack specs are still unconfirmed, but the listed price sits at $170, roughly £127 in the UK, which is fairly reasonable for a carbon plate shoe. Given the miles logged in Reebok shoes so far, this higher-stack, improved Energy 3 successor is one to test when it lands.

Under Armour Curry Flow Go

Under Armour keeps building on its Flow foam with the Curry Flow Go, a shoe that leans toward a more knit-type upper compared with the mesh on the Flow Velociti Wind. A key question is whether the UA MapMyRun features carry over into this shoe, since many buyers would lean toward the Flow Velociti Wind otherwise, especially if it stays lighter.

The Flow material itself has plenty of appeal: it acts as midsole and outsole in one, delivers a more rebound-like cushioning than the spongy foams elsewhere, and holds up well over time. Two concerns stand out, though: there are only a few eyelets, which rules out a runner’s knot, and the small lace loops look odd. Until those details make sense, this one is a hesitant pass despite the interesting midsole.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

The Endorphin Pro 3 looks like a complete refresh, with a new upper, midsole, and outsole throughout. Saucony appears to be maxing out the stack, cranking the midsole up to just under 40 millimeters in line with the AlphaFly and Adios Pro 2, while retaining the 8-millimeter heel-to-toe drop.

The upper moves toward the mesh seen on the recent Endorphin Pro Plus, and the 4-millimeter increase in heel stack comes with a claimed weight drop to 204 grams, about 7.2 ounces. Just as important, the outsole finally changes: the ground grip on the Endorphin Pro was subpar, and the new design appears to use much less rubber in a thinner application, with some exposed carbon plate sections for good measure. No confirmed price yet, though figures around $225 have circulated, likely more than the Endorphin Pro 2. With the outsole change, extra stack, and new upper, this is a clear yes.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

The Endorphin Speed 3 is a subtler update than its Pro sibling. The listed weight is marginally higher than the Speed 2, by roughly five grams, a difference you would need very sensitive feet to notice. The outsole gets thinner rubber pieces by the looks of it, though early images are low quality and leave plenty to the imagination.

Saucony says the nylon plate has been redesigned, but the details are vague. Whether that means something like the winged plate in the Skechers Go Run Speed Elite or a forked Hoka-style design is hard to say without more specifics. It is not quite as exciting as the Pro 3 update, so a middle-of-the-road maybe feels fair until clearer information arrives.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want a carbon plate race shoe with real changes, the Endorphin Pro 3 stands out as the most convincing update of the group. The Floatride Energy X is worth a look for Reebok fans at its sensible $170 asking price. The Endorphin Speed 3 is a wait-and-see, and the Curry Flow Go only makes sense if the knit upper and limited eyelets do not bother you.

Conclusion

These four upcoming releases cover a wide range of running needs, from max-stack carbon racers to rebound-focused training shoes. Waiting for final specs and hands-on testing is the smart move, especially for the two Saucony models where details are still emerging.