Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 vs Puma Deviate Nitro 4:
Which to Choose

On paper these two are strikingly close: the Endorphin Speed 5 weighs 241g in a men's US 9 to the Deviate Nitro 4's 247g, both ride on an identical 27mm forefoot, and the drops are within a millimeter of each other (8mm stated for the Saucony, 7mm for the Puma). The decisive differences are the plate and the stack. The Endorphin runs a full-length semi-rigid winged nylon plate, which guides and rolls you through toe-off rather than snapping — it feels smooth, forgiving, and flexible enough to drop into easy miles. The Deviate uses a full-length carbon PWRPLATE, which is stiffer and delivers a more insistent, rolling forward push that wants pace to feel its best. Underfoot, the Saucony sits taller and softer at a 37mm heel versus the Puma's 34mm, giving it more protective, race-tuned cushioning (it rates a notch higher on both cushioning and top-end pace), while the Deviate's lower, carbon-stiffened platform feels more planted and agile — it earns the edge in stability despite both being neutral. In practice the Endorphin Speed 5 is the more genuine one-shoe racer, happiest when you push toward roughly 3:45–4:15 min/km; the Deviate Nitro 4 is pitched a touch slower, optimized for an uptempo-training zone around 4:15–5:15 min/km and explicitly not built as a dedicated racer. Both feel busy and slightly stiff at jogging pace and reward leaning in, so neither is a plush recovery cruiser.