Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 vs Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III
Our pick: Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 takes it — 81 vs 76.
Both are strong — the call comes down to what you prioritise:
- Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 — You coach runners who want one shoe for daily miles, workouts and races, without the stiffness of a carbon plate.
- Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III — Buy if you want maximum ground feel for lifting and functional training and you are ready to transition to barefoot gradually.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Still one of the most versatile plated trainers you can buy, now softer, bouncier and roomier. It costs more than the discounted Speed 4, and durability has slipped.
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III
The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III is the reference barefoot gym shoe: a wafer-thin, zero-drop platform with class-leading ground feel that makes it superb for lifting, functional training and hard-floor work. It is polarizing though — the adaptation curve is real, versatility is limited, and the price is steep for what it is.
Affiliate disclosure. We may earn a commission from links on this page. It never affects the Sqwod Score — scores are set by the methodology, not commission.