Saucony Endorphin Azura Review

The Saucony Azura is a road running shoe designed for fast training runs. In the olden days, it would have been classed as a racer/trainer. Essentially, it is a well-cushioned running shoe that is happiest when moving quickly but has enough cushioning and stability to be versatile enough for slower-paced runs and longer runs too.

If you like to be moving quickly when you run, or you do a lot of tempo, threshold, or steady runs in your training schedule, then the Saucony Azura is a road running shoe to consider.

The stack height is 40mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot, giving an 8mm heel-to-forefoot drop. As the midsole is quite firm, the Azura doesn’t feel unstable in any way. You also aren’t particularly aware of the high drop due to the curve and rocker shape of the midsole, which Saucony calls Speedroll Geometry. This is designed to keep the foot moving when it touches the ground, reducing braking and helping to maintain a quick cadence. It helps the runner maintain a more upright posture and feel lighter on their feet, keeping them moving along quickly with less effort.

The midsole is made from Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam, a supercritical material designed to offer a good level of shock absorption while providing high rebound to spring you down the road. The geometry and foam are the same as the Saucony Endorphin Speed. The critical difference between the two shoes is that the Endorphin Speed has a semi-rigid nylon plate. This makes the shoe stiffer, helping to guide your foot through the gait cycle more effectively. As a result, the Saucony Endorphin Speed should help you run quicker than the Saucony Endorphin Azura.

However, you don’t get something for nothing. The extra assistance from the Endorphin Speed means your body isn’t working as much. If your feet, hamstrings, and glutes are doing less work, they are training less, meaning you aren’t getting the same training stimulus or training effect. Arguably, it could be better to do quick training runs in the Saucony Endorphin Azura. It still helps guide the foot through the gait cycle to reduce over-striding and maintain good posture, but the lower rigidity in the midsole means your body has to function more naturally, which can result in greater training benefit.

BROWSE SAUCONY ENDORPHIN AZURA

When deciding how fast a shoe will help you run, you also have to consider your natural gait and your ability to maintain good posture. Carbon or plastic-plated running shoes are designed to keep you running fast in a straight line on flat ground. The moment you start going uphill, downhill, or around corners, they become less effective. When reviewing running shoes from my home area, which is undulating with lots of back roads that were probably last resurfaced before the Napoleonic wars, I often find that shoes like the Saucony Azura are just as fast, if not faster, while feeling more comfortable, easier to control, and more stable underfoot.

I found the fit of the Saucony Endorphin Azura to be in line with other Saucony running shoes. The big toe line is straight, which gives a strong and positive push-off. The heel cup is firm but still pliable, pulling in nicely around the heel when laced up. Padding in the heel and cuff has been kept light. Although the Azura is versatile enough for easy runs, its main job is speed, so the upper has been designed to be light and hold the foot securely onto the midsole. The tongue is thin with a few sections of light zonal padding. It is very pliable, and I found the shoe comfortable. A few two-hour runs with pickups in pouring rain were a good test. The Azura didn’t hold much water, and the high stack height helped prevent water from saturating the shoe, with many puddles not as deep as the midsole.

The upper is made from an engineered mesh designed to wrap the foot and stop it from moving around inside the shoe. There are two additional lace holes that can be used to create a snugger heel fit or to butterfly-lace the shoes.

Outsole rubber has been kept to a minimum to reduce weight, but this hasn’t affected grip. It has been very wet recently, and I have consistently found the traction to be good on wet roads.

As mentioned previously, the Saucony Endorphin Azura is happiest when running at a steady or quicker pace. The Speedroll midsole works more smoothly at these faster speeds. However, the Saucony Azura isn’t uncomfortable or difficult to run in at slower paces. You can comfortably complete a warm-up jog before quicker running without feeling that the shoe is trying to force you faster. It only goes quicker when you do. This also makes it a nice shoe for warm-downs after faster sessions or during longer runs. In running shoes designed to be versatile enough for all speeds, there is always some compromise, but the Saucony Endorphin Azura seems to strike a good balance.

Saucony running shoes are similar in length to Brooks, 361, Altra, and Topo. If you use Hoka, New Balance, Karhu, Inov-8, or La Sportiva, we would suggest trying half a UK size smaller to get a similar length. For example, a UK 11 in Saucony is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka.

In summary, the Saucony Endorphin Azura is a road running shoe best suited to quicker running but versatile enough for easy runs, long runs, and even racing.

Alternatives to Saucony Endorphin Azura

New Balance Rebel v5: A much softer feel to the cushioning and a more flexible feel to the forefoot. The toe box is a bit more rounded, and the Rebel is available in two width Men’s and two width Women’s. The ride is very different the Rebel feels like you aren’t running as quick due to the softer midsole but, you are. The Saucony Azura feels snappier just because of the firmer midsole. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fuelcell-rebel-v5-review/

Hoka Mach 6: A similar narrow toe box. The ride is similarly firm but, with a touch more bounce. You feel a lot lower to the ground with a bit more ground feel. This makes the Mach 6 feel more stable. Like a nice training shoe that responds well and allows you to run quickly rather than a shoe set up to propel you down the road. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mach-6-review/

Brooks Hyperion 3: A soft and bouncy feel to the midsole that be comes quite flexible in the forefoot as they wear in. Like the Mach 6 they feel just like a trainer that you can run fast in rather than a shoe that is propelling you forward. This is slightly different than the ride you get in the Saucony Azura which has much more of a rocker/curve to the midsole. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-hyperion-3-review/

Brooks Launch 11: More of an old-style racer/trainer. Light, nimble with a firm ride. The midsole does have some bounce but, will still feel firm to a lot of runners used to soft midsole training shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-launch-11-review/

Topo Specter 2: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet room to spread and function in the shoes. The rocker/curve to the midsole is noticeable. The ride is softer and the midsole foam provides a lot more bounce. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-specter-2-review/