Saucony Endorphin Azura

The Saucony Endorphin Azura is the answer from Saucony for neutral runners looking for a versatile shoe that can cover everything from long runs to quality sessions and, here comes the twist, without any kind of plate. It joins the recent trend of rather lively lightweight trainers with a dizzyingly tall midsole, quite interesting for those who want a shoe "for everything". Within the Endorphin range it sits alongside the lightweight trainer Endorphin Speed 5, with its nylon plate, and the racer Endorphin Pro 5, which has a carbon fibre plate. There is no shortage of options.

The engineered mesh upper offers notable breathability without sacrificing lockdown, and the "Hi Octane" series surprises with very striking colours, in line with offering limited editions that do well on "Insta", oh well. The fit is precise but not aggressive, with a medium volume that suits different foot types. The tongue, stitched on both sides, stays in place, and the traditional laces allow a fine-tuned fit. The construction is sturdy but light, built to handle training miles without fatigue.

The imposing PWRRUN PB midsole offers exceptional energy return for a daily trainer, with a SpeedRoll rocker that, together with an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop (which seems a touch high), helps transitions without being intrusive. The outsole... gives a first impression of limited durability, because what little rubber you can see is quite thin. Very nice colourways and all that, but what matters is that it works well.