the Kinvaras changed my running life
"KudzuRunner" · Jun 11, 2023
5/5
Overall
I bought my first pair of Kinvaras four or five years ago when I was vacationing in Boston and paid a visit to the downtown store near the marathon finish line. I'd been running in Brooks Adrenalines for 15 years, but I'd slowly come to realize that the heel lift--that's the only term I had at the time--was giving me a stride that just didn't seem optimal, especially on downhills. I told her that my stride felt much more natural in racing flats with less heel lift. She quickly said, "You need a low offset shoe." I'd never heard that term! But she was right--and she put me in my first pair of Kinvaras, which were the 8s or 9s, and the rest is history. I LOVE these shoes! The Kinvara 12 is the best so far. They have 4 mm. offset, I believe; these, like the first pair, quickly guided me into a shorter, quicker stride rate and a midfoot plant, so that my feet got activated as cushioning and my achilles tendons and glutes were activated. I train full time AND race in these lightweight trainers, and I have no knee, hip, or other biomechanical problems. Great look in orange, too. I can't say enough. They don't have a huge amount of cushioning, but that's not a problem because, as I say, they've got me striding properly, and powerfully.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5