Kinvara 9
M J · Nov 25, 2023
5/5
Overall
Best training and racing shoe ever for road and trails.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Saucony
Kinvara 9
Daily trainer
· Neutral
· Road
Excellent
(95/100)
- Weight
- 7.6 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q1
- MSRP
- $110
- Stack Height
- 23mm heel - 19mm toe
- Drop Height
- 4mm
Excellent
(95/100)
overall
Shoe details
- Weight
- 7.6 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q1
- MSRP
- $110
- Stack Height
- 23mm heel - 19mm toe
- Drop Height
- 4mm
Ratings & Reviews
Excellent (95/100)
Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?
Scores better than 94% 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 (95/100)
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 (95/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 94% 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 (96/100)
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 (96/100)
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
Excellent (90/100)
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
Excellent (90/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 89% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Cushioning
Very good (85/100)
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
Very good (85/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 79% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Durability
Average (61/100)
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
Average (61/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 17% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
38%
31/81
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 94% of 2,617 running shoes.
Excellent
Daily Trainers
Scores better than 93% of 1,872 daily trainers.
93%
Kinvara Family
Scores better than 67% of 10 kinvara family.
67%
Saucony
Scores better than 90% of 209 Saucony shoes.
90%
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
- 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
- Reviewers rate this shoe worse than the Kinvara 8.
- Rated below average on cushioning.
- Rated below average on durability.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
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
7.6 oz M
—
—
Stack
23/19mm
—
—
Drop
4mm
—
7mm
Release
2018 Q1
2025 Q2
Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$110
—
$200
Best price
—
$129.95
Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (94%)
Very good (85%)
Exceptional (>99%)
Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (96%)
Good (77%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Good (79%)
Below average (40%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (17%)
Bottom tier (2%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best durability
Appearance
Very good (89%)
Good (73%)
Exceptional (98%)
Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (99%)
Best value
Excellent (96%)
Very good (86%)
Where to buy
No offers available
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More from Saucony
Reader Ratings
55 reader ratings
Showing 1–5 of 55 written reviews
Excellent Trainers and Race Shoes
Anonymous runner · Dec 28, 2019
5/5
Overall
Bought my first pair about a year ago and liked them so much I bought 3 more pairs. Great shoe to train in, very light compared to some of the other trainers out there, and responsive enough to race in.
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Light And Fast - Saucony Kinvara 9
Anonymous runner · Aug 15, 2019
5/5
Overall
When I first got this shoe it felt different from every other shoe I've ran in. It was light, springy and so breathable, especially compared to my Asics Gel Nimbus's which I wore before the Kinvara's. I instantly fell in love with lighter shoes that don't have any unnecessary padding all over the shoe. I felt comfortable wearing them in heat, on faster repeats and on slower long runs of up to 10 miles. These shoes opened my eyes to the wonders of more minimal shoes. They lack in cushioning, but that's a plus for me. And besides for some discomfort in the arches of my feet due to the strange material they used under the middle laces, I've never felt more comfortable and in control. I found these shoes on discount for around $75 and over the past 100+ miles they have been worth every penny. If you like lighter shoes that don't mess around with unnecessary cushioning, that can take whatever road (and even some flatter trail) runs or workouts you throw at them, than these will undoubtedly be high on your list of top choices.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Great shoe
Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019
5/5
Overall
Great shoe for my needs
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
kinvara 9
Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019
5/5
Overall
best shoe so far I can't complain about. provides cushoning and comfort for my feet thus minimizing injuries
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5