Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

Saucony Kilkenny XC4

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Saucony Kilkenny XC5 replaced it

How it ranks

The Saucony Kilkenny XC4’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 2 runner reviews so far, with brand history also informing the score.

Current estimate: Below average

64
Overall
64
Value
86
Comfort
81
Appearance
73
Cushioning
64
Durability
62
Confidence

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

46 Low

46

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

  1. Brand rating
  2. Our ratings
  3. External ratings

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.


Pros

  • Both reviewers so far rate comfort and value 5 out of 5, over track and off-road running.

Cons

  • Durability draws 3.5 out of 5 in the two reviews so far, the lowest mark of any dimension.

Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale

Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Kilkenny XC4 rates 64. This shoe has low confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Saucony Kilkenny

Each dot is one version of the Kilkenny, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Kilkenny XC9 Flat

    2022 · 0 reviews

    65 Below average

    30 Confidence

  • Kilkenny XC9

    2022 · 0 reviews

    71 Decent

    45 Confidence

  • Kilkenny XC7

    2018 · 1 review

    70 Decent

    67 Confidence

  • Kilkenny XC5

    2014 · 3 reviews

    70 Decent

    49 Confidence

  • Kilkenny XC4 This shoe

    2014 · 2 reviews

    64 Below average

    46 Confidence

Runner Ratings

2 ratings
5/5 1
4/5 1
3/5 0
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Release
2014

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–2 of 2 written reviews

Good shoe!

5/5

Overall

This spike has great bounce and energy return. I use it on the track because my geezer feet need more support than a mid-d spike. I injured my posterior tibialis tendon using this shoe without an orthotic; but now that I put a Powerstep in it things are back to good. That said, I had to get a size 9 shoe and I usually wear a 7.5 in street shoes. So these do run small. I just had to return the newest version Kilkenny XC7 because they are much smaller and narrower than XC4. Even getting a bigger size wouldn't solve the narrow issue...and the laces were too short! I wish I could still get the XC4's.

SpringChicken · Sep 27, 2018

12 mpw training for middle distance

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

4/5

Overall

I have been wearing Sauconys for about 20 years, and with a move to minimal footwear (and doing most of my running offroad) 4 years ago, found that these shoes are exactly what I want. (I also do a lot of my running without shoes.) Since they are racing flats and not marketed as "minimalist" shoes, I can buy them for about $50 (and occasionally much less) online. My wife and kids all wear them as sneakers.

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

25 mpw training for a half marathon

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

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Best value rating
Lightest
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Trail shoe
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
—
4.9 oz Lightest
9.9 oz
Stack
—
—
40/35mm
Drop
—
—
4mm
Release
2014
2022 Q3
2022 Q3
MSRP
—
—
$165
Best price
—
—
$95
Ratings
Overall
64 Below average
65 Below average
99 Exceptional Best overall
Comfort
81 Good
75 Decent
99 Exceptional Best comfort
Cushioning
64 Below average
61 Below average
99 Exceptional Best cushioning
Durability
62 Below average
62 Below average
97 Exceptional Best durability
Appearance
73 Decent
72 Decent
75 Decent Best appearance
Value
86 Good Best value rating
78 Decent
77 Decent
Specific shoe

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