OUT OF THE BOX out of the box by NORRIE WILLIAMSON
Endorphins Guaranteed with the Pro 2
Having experienced and enjoyed some of the incredible shoe technology coming out of China , I was really keen to wear-test the Saucony Endorphine Pro , as it comes out of the same stable as the impressive Chinese XTEP shoe I have been running in . I ’ m happy to report that it more than lived up to my expectations .
In January 2020 , while working at an event in Xiamen , China , I was privileged to visit the research and development offices of XTEP , one of the world ’ s largest manufacturers of sporting goods , and chat to Jason , one of their designers . While there , I was given a pair of the XTEP 160 , which Jason has designed with a thin and more flexible plate , making this probably the best plated shoe for club / recreational runners I had ever experienced , to that point .
Thanks to the partnerships signed with various American or European companies , XTEP also produces shoes , clothing and accessories for the four international brands , namely K-Swiss , Palladium , Merrell and Saucony . This means that the Saucony Endorphin range of running shoes have evolved out of the same stable and are made in the same factory as the XTEP 160 , so they share a number of key innovations .
It also means that Saucony shoes , like a top racehorse , have an excellent pedigree . This is because the Chinese know a thing or two about running . Keep in mind that there are over 1800 marathons per year across China , with over seven million individual marathon entrants . To put this in perspective , South Africa only sells around 100,000 provincial licenses each year , so when I say the Chinese know about running , I mean they have insight into the mass running market . After all , 300,000 entries in a virtual event held alongside a real event with 50,000 is not unusual over there !
Unfortunately , Chinese-manufactured products tend to have a ‘ bad rap ’ around the world , and that ’ s partly due to the typical Chinese approach to marketing and retail . South African producers tend to send their best products , such as fruit and wine , to the international market , while keeping the lesser quality products for local consumption . By comparison , Chinese producers develop top-end products for their local market , and the lesser quality ( or flawed ) products are made available on the international market .
Images : Courtesy Saucony
76 ISSUE 147 DECEMBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za