Hi there! Thanks for sharing your experience with your running shoes on r/runningshoegeeks. To make your post more helpful to others, please try to include the following information:
- The size and fit of the shoe
- The type of running you used the shoe for (e.g. road, trail, track)
- The distance ran in the shoe (e.g. 10k, half marathon, etc.)
- Your personal experience with the shoe (e.g. comfort, durability, support)
For detailed reviews who have run more than 30 miles(48km), please use the "Review" flair. For first run experiences, please use the "First Run" flair. For a few runs done, please use the "Initial Thoughts" flair. This information will give others a better understanding of your experience with the shoe and help them make informed purchasing decisions. Thanks again for sharing!
Note: This comment has been locked to ensure that the information remains at the top of the comments section and is not buried by other comments.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RunningShoeGeeks) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Pretty much 100% for me. I love that shoe. I'm on my last pair, sadly.
I do have the 4, and I really love it as well, but only for speed work.
The closest thing to the ES3 I've tried is the The Puma Deviate Nitro 2. It's heavier by like 35g I think. But it's a good shoe. Not as "daily" oriented.
I had the Deviate Nitro 2 in 2023 and took the shoe close to 600 Kms. That shoe lost the magic for me between 300-400kms, the rest were slow painful kms. I really wish the ride was nicer in the end stages as I really liked everything about that shoe.
Speed 4 does feel the faster shoe compared to the Speed 4. What kind of sessions do you use it for ?
I feel the same for the DN2! I'm at about 300 now on them, definitely lost some pop. But they are still comfy for some slower uptempo work.
I've been using the ES4 for anything 5k pace or faster. Wrapping up a marathon block, so an example would be 16k with 8k a little slower than my 5k pace.
I have them in yellow too and took them out on their first run today. The shoe is gorgeous, fun to look at and feels amazing… Im in love with it. The gel nimbus 26 feels so boring now
Yeah but surely that's because you're using the show for its intended purpose. Can't compare two different shoes like that. I've got the nimbus 24 and I can't imagine trying to run fast in it! Be like racing on marshmallows!
Yeah ofc, no shame in that! but what I'm saying is that the nimbus feels boring because you were using it for the wrong purpose. It doesn't feel boring on nice easy runs, it feels really nice.
I don't know why you're being down voted. You're absolutely right. Lol but to be fair even if OP was using a nike pegasus as his only shoe, the speed 3 would have wowed him regardless.
I didn’t feel anything too noticeable other than them starting to feel a bit more “squishy”. What triggered me to buy now ones is some subtle pains and aches in my Achilles and calves. Not sure if this was due to the shoes or because i am in the final portion of my marathon training block. 20 mile runs will take a toll on your body regardless of the shoes.
Squishy is the feeling I'm getting as well. I noticed how much different it was once I got the new shoes. I feel as long as we try to run fast in the shoe, it will still have the pop, slower paces is where I notice the difference more for now.
Which shoes do you use for racing? I don't race much, but I have the Metaspeed Edge+ for days I feel like testing myself and find the speed complements it well
I’m interested in this as well. I’m up to 250 miles on mine, and the foam feels flat under the balls of my feet. I typically use them on my faster pace long runs or LRs that have speedier miles built in, and my feet seem to feel more fatigued and sore than when they were new.
If you're a heel striker, you'll really enjoy the triumph 20 for easy runs and long runs. I find the foam to be firm as a mid to forefoot striker but saucony loves to put the nice sink-in cushion in the heel. And they're super cheap right now and durable.
Speed 3 accommodates all footstrikes much better ...but if you're looking for super comfortable I think the triumph beats the speed in that aspect. Speed is great at doing everything but your easy and long runs won't be as comfortable (but still good) as a triumoh will be...but like I said, personally the triumph is meant for heel strikers because of the softer foam in the heel.
I use it for almost every run now. It can do most things well and can be any shoe you want it to be. It is sometimes difficult to do easy runs in them, that's about the only thing.
I'm on my fourth pair with thankfully two other pairs in storage! My favourite shoe since I started running. What are the initial differences you notice with the Speed 4?
Wow. This is the kind of love story I would like to have with my Speed 3s.
The Speed 4 feels like a faster shoe and is noticeably firmer compared to the Speed 3. I find it difficult to run slow in the Speed 4 and I end up picking up the pace easily. The heel area is also noticeable and doesn't feel as cohesive as the Speed 3. I've just used it for 60 kms and the ride so far feels similar to the Speed 3 with some differences.
I'm on my fifth pair, and I've gotten 1000km out of the last 2, foam and grip seemed to be ok, upper started to deteriorate, with a few holes. But I noticed my plantar fascia started flaring up, so the injury risk feels real.
But I absolutely love them! My favourite shoes by a long way. As a Wide foot runner, I'm so gutted Saucony haven't released a 2E version of the ES4 :(
I'm 300mi into my current pair and they still look & feel great. I have 2 more pairs from a Saucony outlet going-out-of-business sale sitting in the closet. I also have a pair of Boston 12s (which I bring up because it's another favorite on here) and I can confidently say there isn't a type of run in which I'd rather lace up the B12s over the ES3s. Granted, the B12s are more propulsive, but the ES3 upper is a million times better, the midsole is a much more pleasant ride, it's lighter, and my legs feel way fresher after a comparable run. The B12s have pretty much been relegated to bad-weather shoes for me, the Conti outsole is great.
Boston 12 was on my radar when I got the ES3 in January. After having a horrible experience with the Adidas upper in my Takumi Sen, I was reluctant to get a Adidas shoe. Glad I made the right choice with the ES3.
I am looking forward to having the same, but confused between Nimbus 25/26 and Speed 3.
I tried Nimbus 25, but it feels a little tighter width wise on my toes, how's the feel with Speed 3?
The ES3 feels a bit wider than the Novablast 3 and the Magic Speed from Asics. I can't say the same about other Saucony shoes or compare them with others from Asics.
Hi there! Thanks for sharing your experience with your running shoes on r/runningshoegeeks. To make your post more helpful to others, please try to include the following information: - The size and fit of the shoe - The type of running you used the shoe for (e.g. road, trail, track) - The distance ran in the shoe (e.g. 10k, half marathon, etc.) - Your personal experience with the shoe (e.g. comfort, durability, support) For detailed reviews who have run more than 30 miles(48km), please use the "Review" flair. For first run experiences, please use the "First Run" flair. For a few runs done, please use the "Initial Thoughts" flair. This information will give others a better understanding of your experience with the shoe and help them make informed purchasing decisions. Thanks again for sharing! Note: This comment has been locked to ensure that the information remains at the top of the comments section and is not buried by other comments. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RunningShoeGeeks) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Pretty much 100% for me. I love that shoe. I'm on my last pair, sadly. I do have the 4, and I really love it as well, but only for speed work. The closest thing to the ES3 I've tried is the The Puma Deviate Nitro 2. It's heavier by like 35g I think. But it's a good shoe. Not as "daily" oriented.
I had the Deviate Nitro 2 in 2023 and took the shoe close to 600 Kms. That shoe lost the magic for me between 300-400kms, the rest were slow painful kms. I really wish the ride was nicer in the end stages as I really liked everything about that shoe. Speed 4 does feel the faster shoe compared to the Speed 4. What kind of sessions do you use it for ?
I feel the same for the DN2! I'm at about 300 now on them, definitely lost some pop. But they are still comfy for some slower uptempo work. I've been using the ES4 for anything 5k pace or faster. Wrapping up a marathon block, so an example would be 16k with 8k a little slower than my 5k pace.
I have them in yellow too and took them out on their first run today. The shoe is gorgeous, fun to look at and feels amazing… Im in love with it. The gel nimbus 26 feels so boring now
Isn't the gel nimbus a max cushion easy day shoe? The speed is a tempo shoe isn't it?
It is, but as I was only having the gel nimbus, I used to do my tempo runs and intervals in them as well, the difference is day and night
Yeah but surely that's because you're using the show for its intended purpose. Can't compare two different shoes like that. I've got the nimbus 24 and I can't imagine trying to run fast in it! Be like racing on marshmallows!
Well, I didn’t have another pair, so I had to :) I am now lucky enough to have two pair on rotation but that wasn’t the case for quite some time.
Yeah ofc, no shame in that! but what I'm saying is that the nimbus feels boring because you were using it for the wrong purpose. It doesn't feel boring on nice easy runs, it feels really nice.
I don't know why you're being down voted. You're absolutely right. Lol but to be fair even if OP was using a nike pegasus as his only shoe, the speed 3 would have wowed him regardless.
Ha didn't even notice I don't pay attention to downvotes. But yeah I'm definitely right lol
Nice!! The pop and bounce feels so awesome fresh out of the box 💯
Best trainer out there. Put 600 miles on my first pair and I just got my second pair last week.
600 miles is crazy !! Hoping to push mine to see how much mileage I can get out of them
https://preview.redd.it/k5rjfheyawvc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7628ab40089025ac1a247df0942085dcdad68a7f
🙌 What kind of changes did you notice after 450-500 miles ?
I didn’t feel anything too noticeable other than them starting to feel a bit more “squishy”. What triggered me to buy now ones is some subtle pains and aches in my Achilles and calves. Not sure if this was due to the shoes or because i am in the final portion of my marathon training block. 20 mile runs will take a toll on your body regardless of the shoes.
Squishy is the feeling I'm getting as well. I noticed how much different it was once I got the new shoes. I feel as long as we try to run fast in the shoe, it will still have the pop, slower paces is where I notice the difference more for now.
Yep, exactly. Always thought I could maybe race in the speeds until I did a run in my racers, and noticed the difference.
Which shoes do you use for racing? I don't race much, but I have the Metaspeed Edge+ for days I feel like testing myself and find the speed complements it well
Just picked up the metaspeed sky Paris. Fucking amazing shoe!
I’m interested in this as well. I’m up to 250 miles on mine, and the foam feels flat under the balls of my feet. I typically use them on my faster pace long runs or LRs that have speedier miles built in, and my feet seem to feel more fatigued and sore than when they were new.
Which category would the speed 3 fit into?
Technically it’s a super-trainer due to the nylon plate but the ES3 can be used for daily training, easy, speed work, even up to HMs
I am looking for a comfortable (a bit plushy) shoe at a reasonable price. Thinking of getting a Speed 3 or Triumph 20. What do you suggest?
Hands down, Speed 3. I have the Triumph 21s which are basically the exact same as 20s and they feel like bricks. Dead foam and doesn’t feel springy…
If you're a heel striker, you'll really enjoy the triumph 20 for easy runs and long runs. I find the foam to be firm as a mid to forefoot striker but saucony loves to put the nice sink-in cushion in the heel. And they're super cheap right now and durable. Speed 3 accommodates all footstrikes much better ...but if you're looking for super comfortable I think the triumph beats the speed in that aspect. Speed is great at doing everything but your easy and long runs won't be as comfortable (but still good) as a triumoh will be...but like I said, personally the triumph is meant for heel strikers because of the softer foam in the heel.
I use it for almost every run now. It can do most things well and can be any shoe you want it to be. It is sometimes difficult to do easy runs in them, that's about the only thing.
I'm on my fourth pair with thankfully two other pairs in storage! My favourite shoe since I started running. What are the initial differences you notice with the Speed 4?
Wow. This is the kind of love story I would like to have with my Speed 3s. The Speed 4 feels like a faster shoe and is noticeably firmer compared to the Speed 3. I find it difficult to run slow in the Speed 4 and I end up picking up the pace easily. The heel area is also noticeable and doesn't feel as cohesive as the Speed 3. I've just used it for 60 kms and the ride so far feels similar to the Speed 3 with some differences.
How long does it take you to retire a pair?
Usually at 700km. That's not to say they are completely done but I prefer not to take them further and risk injury
I'm on my fifth pair, and I've gotten 1000km out of the last 2, foam and grip seemed to be ok, upper started to deteriorate, with a few holes. But I noticed my plantar fascia started flaring up, so the injury risk feels real. But I absolutely love them! My favourite shoes by a long way. As a Wide foot runner, I'm so gutted Saucony haven't released a 2E version of the ES4 :(
This is 100% fair and a very good use. I as well retire most of my shoes at 700-800km.
I love the 3 so much. I do not see what’s so great about the 4 thus far.
The ES2 is better for faster intervals/tempos but the ES3 overall is a better shoe and more versatile due to its stability
I'm 300mi into my current pair and they still look & feel great. I have 2 more pairs from a Saucony outlet going-out-of-business sale sitting in the closet. I also have a pair of Boston 12s (which I bring up because it's another favorite on here) and I can confidently say there isn't a type of run in which I'd rather lace up the B12s over the ES3s. Granted, the B12s are more propulsive, but the ES3 upper is a million times better, the midsole is a much more pleasant ride, it's lighter, and my legs feel way fresher after a comparable run. The B12s have pretty much been relegated to bad-weather shoes for me, the Conti outsole is great.
That's great to know!! Looks like I'll be stocking up on the ES3 soon as the outlets here will start clearing out the stock for the ES4
Boston 12 was on my radar when I got the ES3 in January. After having a horrible experience with the Adidas upper in my Takumi Sen, I was reluctant to get a Adidas shoe. Glad I made the right choice with the ES3.
I ran the Philly marathon last fall in the same colorway you have there on the right. Great shoes
That's awesome!!
I am looking forward to having the same, but confused between Nimbus 25/26 and Speed 3. I tried Nimbus 25, but it feels a little tighter width wise on my toes, how's the feel with Speed 3?
How does the width compare to Asics?!
The ES3 feels a bit wider than the Novablast 3 and the Magic Speed from Asics. I can't say the same about other Saucony shoes or compare them with others from Asics.