Saucony Azura Review: 144 Miles In and Still Searching
Written by Andy Hood · Ultra runner, cancer survivor and Runna ambassador
Published 24 October 2026
Article contains affiliate codes/links which support this blog and the cancer charity work Andy undertakes.
Overall rating: 6/10
In short: The Saucony Azura (full name Saucony Endorphin Azura) is a plateless road running shoe with a 40mm heel, 32mm forefoot (8mm drop), a PWRRUN PB midsole and an XT-900 rubber outsole. After 144 miles of easy and long runs on the Tarka Trail and the hilly lanes of North Devon, I rate it 6/10. It's stable and has been kind to my Achilles, but it's firm, light on energy return and reluctant to pick up the pace.
After the huge let-down of the Asics Superblast 3, I landed on the Saucony Endorphin Azura as my shoe for easy days and long runs. Is it the shoe I was looking for, or am I still searching?
If you're new to my reviews, firstly, welcome. Secondly, I'm not the reviewer who unboxes a fresh pair, runs 7 or 8 miles, then crowns them the best shoe ever or banishes them to the bin pile. I might love a shoe at mile 8 and hate it by mile 50. So I won't insult you with a puff piece until I've put real miles in.
I also pay for my own shoes, and the Azura is no exception: I bought this pair from Run North West in summer 2026. No freebies means no tiptoeing around the negatives for fear of upsetting a brand.
The Runna app tells me I've run 144 miles in the Azura. It's time for my Saucony Azura review.
In this Saucony Azura review:
Saucony Azura Review: The Quick Verdict
Rating: 6/10. The Saucony Endorphin Azura is a firm, stable, plateless daily trainer that has been kind to my Achilles. It's fine for easy miles, but it never feels exciting, and it really doesn't want to pick up the pace. It loses four points for a ride that gives too little back.
Saucony Endorphin Azura | At a glance |
Best for | Steady easy runs, runners who want a stable, firm, plateless trainer |
Not ideal for | Speedwork, marathons, ultras, anyone after a bouncy ride |
Weight | 240g (men's US 9) / 212g (women's US 8) |
Stack / drop | 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot, 8mm drop |
Midsole | PWRRUN PB supercritical foam, no plate |
Outsole | XT-900 rubber with exposed foam |
Price | £140 / €160 / $150 RRP |
Miles tested | 144 |
My rating | 6/10 |
Asics Superblast 3 Alternative: Why I Switched to the Saucony Azura
It's all Asics' fault.
I ran 1,200km in the Asics Superblast 2. That's well beyond the 350 to 400 miles I usually get from a shoe before I retire it, or before it goes flat. It did everything for me, from easy days to ultra-distance training runs, until the outsole was beyond sticky taping.
In came the Superblast 3. I paid full price, and I wanted to love it. From the first run it was noticeably softer, having lost the firmness of the Superblast 2, and I found it less stable.
I gave it a fair crack, a full 400 miles, but that was a mistake. It aggravated my Achilles, and I'm still paying for it today.
The bigger stack changed my gait, and for me that puts pressure on the calf and Achilles. I've written about that break-up with Asics before.
Which brings me to one of my bugbears. The current obsession is to cram as much foam into the midsole as possible, so stacks keep getting fatter. In my view, most modern shoes could do with a course of Mounjaro.
With Saucony already in my rotation with the Endorphin Speed 5, a shoe that deeply divides opinion online, but definitely works for me. So I turned to Saucony again. The Azura gave me the lower stack I was after, while still being a cushioned daily trainer.
Who Makes the Saucony Azura?
Saucony makes the Endorphin Azura. It's one of the oldest running brands around, founded in 1898 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and named after the Saucony Creek that ran beside its first factory. It's now owned by Wolverine World Wide.
The Azura name isn't new either. Saucony first used it on a lightweight runner back in 1988, long before anyone was cramming 40mm of foam under a heel.
Today's Azura sits in the Endorphin family alongside the Speed, Pro and Elite. With the Endorphin Shift discontinued, Doctors of Running see it filling the daily trainer slot. It launched alongside the Endorphin Pro 5, and T3 describe it as sitting deliberately below Saucony's plated shoes.
Saucony Endorphin Azura Specs: Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Foam
The Saucony Endorphin Azura has a 40mm heel and 32mm forefoot stack, an 8mm drop, and weighs 240g in a men's US 9. It has no plate.
Spec | Saucony Endorphin Azura |
Stack height | 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot |
Drop | 8mm |
Weight | 240g (men's US 9) / 212g (women's US 8) |
Midsole | Full-length PWRRUN PB (PEBA-based supercritical foam) |
Plate | None |
Geometry | SpeedRoll forefoot rocker |
Outsole | XT-900 rubber patches over exposed foam |
Upper | Engineered mesh, semi-gusseted tongue |
Type | Neutral road trainer |
Released | 1 February 2026 |
Price | £140 / €160 / $150 RRP |
Specs from Believe in the Run, RunRepeat and T3. RunRepeat's lab measured the drop at exactly 8mm.
For comparison, my beloved Endorphin Speed 5 sits lower at 36mm heel and 28mm forefoot, weighs a similar 237g and has a nylon plate (SportsShoes).
At the time of writing (October 2026), Saucony UK has it on sale at £112, down from £140. Shop around and it gets cheaper still: Foot Locker has it at £80, down from £139.99.
That's a big slash for a shoe that only launched in February. Could it be a sign the Azura hasn't sold and is overstocked? I'll put my next tempo effort on that being the case.
At £80, though, it's worth a look, even if it only ends up walking the dog or heading to the supermarket for a pint of milk.
Saucony Azura Long-Term Review: 144 Miles Tested
I tested the Azura over 144 miles of easy and long runs, with the longest at 14 miles. This wasn't a quick 8 miles round the block before recording a video.
The Azura joined my 2026 shoe rotation for easy days and long runs, alongside the Speed 5 for faster sessions and the Kailas Fuga EX330 for the trails.
Most of those miles were on two kinds of ground:
The Tarka Trail: a mainly paved, sometimes hard-packed rail trail in North Devon. It crosses the river three times, and at one crossing there are otters, which draw some very patient walkers with binoculars.
North Devon single-track lanes: narrow country roads with so much climbing and descending they ride like a rollercoaster.
I also tried to pick up the pace in them, which didn't go well.
What Is the Saucony Azura Like to Run In?
Firm, stable and steady. The Saucony Endorphin Azura is fine for easy miles, but it never gets the heart pounding the way the Superblast 2 did.
Saucony Azura First Impressions: The Lazy Brother of the Speed 5
My first impression was that the Azura is the lazy brother of the Endorphin Speed 5. The Speed 5 looks every inch the svelte fitness model with a solid six-pack. The Azura carries a bit more weight all round. Its toe box looks wider, more like a casual trainer than a running shoe.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura Firm or Soft?
Firm. Read any review and firmness comes up as a feature. RunRepeat's lab measured the midsole firmer than average (RunRepeat).
In many ways it reminds me of the Superblast 2, just with less energy return. The midsole is packed with PWRRUN PB, so how Saucony made it this firm is a puzzle. I'm not going to get technical, as that's not how I review. I'll just tell you what it's like to own and really run in.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura Good for Speedwork?
No, not for me. When I ask it to pick up the pace, it doesn't want to, at least not for long. It feels like I'm having to drag it to the party. The wide forefoot may be part of that problem.
That puts me at odds with some other reviewers. One Believe in the Run tester set a 5K PR in them (Believe in the Run). But a Running Warehouse tester felt it wasn't fast enough for 5K and 10K workouts (Running Warehouse). I'm with the second camp.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura Good for Long Runs?
It's OK, and that's the problem. I've run up to 14 miles in it and it got the job done.
It isn't offensive, but it isn't inspiring either.
Would I choose it for a marathon or an ultra? No, definitely not.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura Stable?
Yes, and this is where it delivers. It's far more stable than the Superblast 3. Others agree: Doctors of Running found it surprisingly stable for a neutral shoe (Doctors of Running).
The lower stack has also helped my Achilles, which is much improved since I switched. I'm not a physio, so that's just my experience, but for me it's the Azura's biggest win.
Saucony Endorphin Azura vs Endorphin Speed 5
If you want one Saucony for faster running, pick the Speed 5. It has a nylon plate, a lower 36/28mm stack and the snap the Azura lacks. RunRepeat also rates the Speed 5 as Saucony's better option for speed sessions (RunRepeat). The Azura is the steadier, more stable of the two, but it's the one that stays at home on workout days.
Saucony Endorphin Azura Problems, Pros and Cons
The Azura's main problem is that it's firm without giving much back. Its main strength is stability.
Pros
Stable, far more so than the Superblast 3
Lower stack has been kinder to my Achilles
Firm ride, a welcome change from all the marshmallow midsoles
Solid for steady easy runs up to 14 miles
Copes with paved rail trail and hard-packed paths
Good value, with sale prices from £80
Cons
Firm without giving much back
Doesn't want to hold a faster pace
Just OK on long runs, never inspiring
Not one I'd pick for a marathon or ultra
Bulkier look and feel than the Speed 5
Is the Saucony Azura Worth It? Final Verdict
For me, no. I'll give the Saucony Endorphin Azura a 6/10.
I wanted a shoe that was more stable than the Asics Superblast 3, with the firmness and responsiveness of the Superblast 2 and an enjoyable amount of energy return. On stability, the Azura measures up. On energy return, it doesn't.
The lower stack has helped my Achilles, which is much improved. I'll run this pair to the 350 to 400 miles I get from most shoes. But I won't be buying another.
So the hunt continues for that easy-day, long-run shoe.
Who Should Buy the Saucony Endorphin Azura?
Runners who like a firm ride and are tired of soft, squishy super trainers
Anyone wanting a stable, plateless trainer for steady easy miles
Runners moving down from a big-stack shoe, as I did from the Superblast 3
Bargain hunters, with sale prices currently from £80 to £112
If you want a shoe that comes alive at tempo pace, or a long-run shoe with real bounce, look elsewhere.
Over to you. Have you run in the Azura? Did it click for you, or are you still searching too? Let me know in the comments, or over on Instagram at @runningwestwardho.
Saucony Azura FAQs
What is the stack height and drop of the Saucony Endorphin Azura?
The Saucony Endorphin Azura has a 40mm heel and 32mm forefoot stack, giving an 8mm drop. RunRepeat's lab measured 40.7mm and 32.7mm, with the drop at exactly 8mm.
How much does the Saucony Endorphin Azura weigh?
The Saucony Endorphin Azura weighs 240g in a men's US 9 and 212g in a women's US 8 (Believe in the Run).
How much does the Saucony Endorphin Azura cost?
The Saucony Endorphin Azura costs £140 / €160 / $150 RRP. In October 2026, Saucony UK had it on sale for £112, and Foot Locker for £80.
Does the Saucony Endorphin Azura have a carbon plate?
No. The Saucony Endorphin Azura has no plate of any kind. Its ride comes from a full-length PWRRUN PB midsole and Saucony's SpeedRoll rocker. If you want a plate, the Endorphin Speed 5 has a nylon one.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura a daily trainer or a super trainer?
Saucony sells the Endorphin Azura as a plateless daily trainer, while RunRepeat classes it as a super trainer for its 40mm stack and energy return. After 144 miles, it ran like a firm daily trainer to me, not a super trainer.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura good for marathon training?
For steady easy miles, yes; for the long run, it's just OK. I've run up to 14 miles in the Saucony Endorphin Azura without problems, but it's too firm and flat for me to choose it for a marathon or ultra.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura good for tempo runs and intervals?
Not in my testing. The Saucony Endorphin Azura resists holding a faster pace for long. Saucony's Endorphin Speed 5 is the better choice for tempo runs and intervals, as RunRepeat also concludes.
Should I buy the Saucony Endorphin Azura or the Endorphin Speed 5?
Buy the Endorphin Speed 5 for faster running and the Azura for stable, steady miles. The Speed 5 has a nylon plate and a 36/28mm stack. The Azura has no plate and a 40/32mm stack, and feels firmer and slower.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura a good alternative to the Asics Superblast 3?
Partly. After the Superblast 3 aggravated my Achilles, the Saucony Endorphin Azura gave me a lower stack and a much more stable ride. But it lacks the energy return of the Superblast 2, which is what I was really after.
Does the Saucony Endorphin Azura fit true to size?
Most reviewers, including Running Warehouse, say the Saucony Endorphin Azura fits true to size. Its toe box looks and feels wider than the Speed 5's. One Doctors of Running tester went up half a size, as she does in every Endorphin.
How long does the Saucony Endorphin Azura last?
Saucony doesn't publish a lifespan for the Endorphin Azura, but early signs point to good durability. RunRepeat measured below-average outsole wear but a thin, less durable toe box mesh. I'll run my pair to my usual 350 to 400 miles.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura good for Achilles problems?
It has been for me. Since switching from the higher-stacked Asics Superblast 3, my Achilles has improved, which I put down to the Azura's lower stack and stable ride. Everyone is different, so see a physio if you're injured.
Is the Saucony Endorphin Azura worth it?
Not for me. After 144 miles, I rate the Saucony Endorphin Azura 6/10: stable and kind to my Achilles, but too firm and flat to buy again. At sale prices from £80, it's fair value if you like a firm ride.
About the Author - Andy Hood
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner based in North Devon, and the man behind Running WestwardHo.
In 2021, at 48, a testicular cancer diagnosis took his running away from him. Surgery and chemotherapy followed, and what came back out the other side is what he calls Andy v2.0, a runner with a mission attached. Since then he has designed and run a string of deliberately attention-grabbing ultras, from 24 hours on a treadmill in a busy shopping centre to 170 miles of the South West Coast Path, and has raised more than £28,000 for cancer and mental health charities along the way.
He is the founder of Check Ya Balls, a men's underwear range with a cheeky look and a serious point to it, and a Runna ambassador. He has circled Mont Blanc on foot twice, in 2023 and 2025, and was in Chamonix for the full week of UTMB 2026. Closer to home, his road miles happen on the Tarka Trail and the steep lanes of North Devon, which is where the Saucony Endorphin Azura earned its 144 miles. He doesn't run for times; he runs for hills, views and the people he shares them with.
His kit reviews follow one rule: at least 50 miles in a shoe before he says a word about it, and he pays for his own shoes. His writing here covers race reports, training guidance, honest kit reviews and the occasional strong opinion. The message underneath all of it stays the same: check yourself, and don't wait to be told twice.
You can find Andy on Instagram @runningwestwardho, or read more at runningwestwardho.co.uk.
Sources: Saucony UK and Foot Locker for prices. Believe in the Run, RunRepeat, Doctors of Running, Running Warehouse, T3 and SportsShoes for specs and other testers' findings. Checked 24 October 2026.
Comments