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Saucony

Kinvara 5

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road

Excellent (93/100)

Weight: 7.6 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $100
Stack Height: 24mm heel - 20mm toe
Drop Height: 4mm

Excellent (93/100) overall

Where to buy

No offers available

Shoe details

Weight: 7.6 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $100
Stack Height: 24mm heel - 20mm toe
Drop Height: 4mm

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent (93/100)

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

Scores better than 93% 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.

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

Excellent (93/100)

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

Excellent (93/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 93% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Overall

Overall rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (93/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 93% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Excellent (93/100)

Comfort

Excellent (95/100)

Comfort rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (95/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Comfort rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (95/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Excellent (95/100)

Cushioning

Excellent (93/100)

Cushioning rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (93/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 90% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Cushioning rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (93/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 90% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Excellent (93/100)

Appearance

Very good (89/100)

Appearance rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (89/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 88% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Appearance rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (89/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 88% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Very good (89/100)

Value

Very good (88/100)

Value rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (88/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 87% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Value

Value rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (88/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 87% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Very good (88/100)

Durability

Bottom-tier (49/100)

Durability rating

Better Shoes Rating

Bottom-tier (49/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than <1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Durability

Durability rating

Better Shoes Rating

Bottom-tier (49/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than <1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Bottom-tier (49/100)

33%

38/115

Prefer this shoe over another.

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

Comparison set

Rating

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 93% of 2,617 running shoes.

Excellent

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 91% of 1,872 daily trainers.

91%

Kinvara Family

Scores better than 60% of 10 kinvara family.

60%

Saucony

Scores better than 89% of 209 Saucony shoes.

89%

Pros & Cons

Pros

Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Kinvara 14.
One of the most popular shoes among LetsRun.com readers.
Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
Rated among the top 5% of shoes on comfort.

Cons

A majority of reviewers like this shoe less than their last shoe.
Rated below average on cushioning.
Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Kinvara 5

Kinvara 16

SUPERBLAST 2

Current shoe

Reference shoe

Newest / Lowest price / Best value

Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning

Shoe properties

Type

Daily trainer

Pronation

Neutral

Weight

7.6 oz M

—

Stack

24/20mm

—

Drop

4mm

—

7mm

Release

2014

2025 Q2 Newest

2024 Q2

MSRP

$100

—

$200

Best price

—

$129.95 Lowest price

$149.99

Ratings

Overall

Excellent (93%)

Very good (85%)

Exceptional (>99%) Best overall

Comfort

Excellent (95%)

Good (77%)

Exceptional (99%) Best comfort

Cushioning

Excellent (90%)

Below average (40%)

Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning

Durability

Bottom tier (<1%)

Bottom tier (2%)

Exceptional (99%) Best durability

Appearance

Very good (88%)

Good (73%)

Exceptional (98%) Best appearance

Value

Very good (88%)

Excellent (96%) Best value

Very good (86%)

Where to buy

$123.96

Top 5%

Ranks higher than this shoe

Reader Ratings

128 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 128 written reviews

Saucony Kinvara 5-Deserved Its Hype

Anonymous runner · Mar 18, 2019

5/5

Overall

I got this shoe a little after it came out and it has lasted me all the years since. I haven't used it as much as my other shoes, but that's mainly due to its speed in races. Overall I've logged around 200 miles in them and left them to sit in a closet otherwise, but neither time nor wear have seemed to give them any turmoil. I have set PRs in this shoe for 5k and used it for many tempo runs and workouts that were some of the best workouts I'd experienced. An overall great shoe that I wish I had used more often for longer races (especially a half) and workouts.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Nice light, neutral ride, but uppers shred with less than 200 miles' use

Anonymous runner · Jul 6, 2018

4/5

Overall

Bought this earlier Kinvara version because it was available for a great price. I've been wearing Kinvaras since 2012. A versatile shoe for regular runs and races for anything over 10k. I'd rate this version middle-high among model editions... fit, cushioning, and lacing were improved over some versions (3 and 4 seemed to be problematic to me). The uppers not holding up was still a problem-- I had big-toe holes just before 200 miles, and some light pulling and shredding of the side mesh near the arch noticeable at about 250 miles. Hard rubber covering the foam of the rear right was also starting to go, but that might be more related to my gait. I'll be able to milk out another 50 miles or so to get this pair to the low-end of typical shoe life for me (300-400 miles). A good shoe that works well for me, but uppers not durable, making them frustrating, having experienced what Saucony shoes can be at their best.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 2/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 3/5

Reader review

Sethbale · Jun 13, 2016

4/5

Overall

Very good; lightweight and great for tempos and even long runs if you can handle it. Fortunately I can, although occasionally I experienced heel pain. The biggest two problems I found, as a runner who prefers neutral, low cushion shoes, is that a.)The shoe doesn't hold up very well and b.) The shoe is very rigid in the beginning. As for the durability, the shoe might last two-three months, depending on your surface(I mostly do trails around my highschool and stateparks) before they begin to rip across the sides and in various places on the front. The sole also breaks down quickly. A great shoe with a decent price if you're willing to shovel out the money fairly quickly. however, if you can find them at average cheapness(45-65$) you end up paying the same price for two pairs as most do for 1, so it ends up worth it. As for the rigidity, the beginning of training with them is rough as tehy are stiff and take a week of running to loosen them up, so it's always good to alternate runs with other shoes to keep your legs fresh. However, I enjoy them very much as a competitive high school runner and would recommend them to anyone who can handle low-support shoes.

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 2/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2016

5/5

Overall

Have run 14 mile long runs to track sessions in it. Versatile!!

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 1/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Jan 8, 2016

5/5

Overall

This shoe has been fantastic. Probably the best shoe I've run in for me since I began running about 10+ years ago. I've tried the Kinvara 3 as well and coming back to the Kinvara line was a great choice. I'll soon be trying the Kinvara 6 and I hope it hasn't changed much

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

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Kinvara 5

Where to buy

Shoe details

Ratings & Reviews

Rating breakdown

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Compared to other shoes

Where to buy

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Reader Ratings

Saucony Kinvara 5-Deserved Its Hype

Nice light, neutral ride, but uppers shred with less than 200 miles' use

Reader review

Reader review

Reader review