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Saucony

Kinvara 3

Shoe image placeholder
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Exceptional (99/100)

Shoe details

Weight
7.9 oz
Release
2012
MSRP
$100
Stack Height
23mm heel - 19mm toe
Drop Height
4mm

Ratings & Reviews

Exceptional (99/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?

Scores better than 98% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Exceptional (99/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 98% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Exceptional (99/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Exceptional (97/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (97/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 96% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Very good (87/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (87/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 78% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Good (78/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (78/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 60% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Below average (54/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (54/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 3% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

64%

18/28

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 98% of 2,617 running shoes.

Exceptional

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 98% of 1,872 daily trainers.

98%

Kinvara Family

Scores better than 87% of 10 kinvara family.

87%

Saucony

Scores better than 96% of 209 Saucony shoes.

96%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Kinvara 14.
  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
  • Rated among the top 10% of shoes on comfort.
  • Rated among the top 25% of shoes on cushioning.

Cons

  • Several of reviewers reported getting injured in this shoe.
  • Rated below average on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Shoe image placeholder
Saucony Kinvara 16
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2
Kinvara 3
Kinvara 16
SUPERBLAST 2
Current shoe
Best value
Newest / Lowest price
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.9 oz M
—
—
Stack
23/19mm
—
—
Drop
4mm
—
7mm
Release
2012
2025 Q2 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$100
—
$200
Best price
—
$129.95 Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (99%)
Very good (85%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (96%)
Good (77%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Average (60%)
Below average (40%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (3%)
Bottom tier (2%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Good (78%)
Good (73%)
Exceptional (98%) Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (99%) Best value
Excellent (96%)
Very good (86%)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

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Ranks higher than this shoe

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Reader Ratings

11 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 11 written reviews

Outdated Kinvara

YourMom.Com · Jul 12, 2018

4/5

Overall

Decent cushion for a low heel-toe drop shoe. Good if you want cushion, bad if you want firm stiff and more ground feel. Light but sacrifices durability. Foam sole will wear down fast. I like the shoe so bought several of these older models.
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Best Shoe of All Time

PrimalCabbage · Feb 6, 2018

5/5

Overall

This is often listed amongst the best shoes ever made for a reason. Extremely comfortable and a high quality, no frills trainer that is unbelievably versatile.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

kc1223 · May 11, 2015

5/5

Overall

Excellent Shoe. Love the 4mm drop. Great cushioning whilst maintaining light weight.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Apr 7, 2015

5/5

Overall

Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Mar 10, 2015

5/5

Overall

I have run in over 10 pairs of this shoe. I average 350-500 miles per pair. I typically run 40-50 miles/week. I ran 1,800 last year. All miles logged in pairs of this shoe. I have raced in them at all distances 5K to marathon. It is the best shoe (aside from the original Kinvara) I have ever run in.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5