Saucony Kilkenny XC5

Name: Saucony Kilkenny XC5
Brand: Saucony

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road

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

How it ranks

The Saucony Kilkenny XC5 ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 3 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the Kilkenny product line. Another 9 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

Current estimate: Very good

91/100

Overall

Very good 91

Value

Exceptional 98

Comfort

Exceptional 97

Appearance

Very good 90

Cushioning

Decent 74

Durability

Bottom-tier 56

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

47/100

Low 47

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.

What runners say

“The upper tends to rip not long after purchase, usually on rocky or icy ground.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kilkenny XC4

“Since there isn't really any cushioning, there isn't anything to break down over time.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw

“Lightweight, with enough sole for rocky trails.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kilkenny XC4

“Light, durable enough to wear on dirt trails.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for middle distance

“Price doesn't get any better than this.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for middle distance

“Extremely lightweight as it is a racing flat.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

It lists at $60, and all three reviewers so far rate it 5 out of 5 overall and for value.
Two reviewers train in it every day, one for twelve months on a pair and one across about fifteen pairs in eight years.
Reviewers call it lightweight with enough sole for rocky trails.

Cons

Durability is much the weakest dimension at 3.0 out of 5, and one reviewer has the upper rip early on rocky or icy ground.

Kilkenny XC5 rates 91. This shoe has low certainty. 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

40 60 80 100

79 2014 91 2014 81 2018 78 2022

Release year

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

Kilkenny XC9

2022 · 0 reviews

78 Decent

35 Confidence
Kilkenny XC7

2018 · 1 review

81 Good

22 Confidence
Kilkenny XC5 This shoe

2014 · 3 reviews

91 Very good

47 Confidence
Kilkenny XC4

2014 · 2 reviews

79 Decent

19 Confidence

Reader Ratings

3 ratings

5/5 3

4/5 0

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Release: 2014
MSRP: $60

Runner reviews

Write a review

Racing flats every day

5/5

Overall

When I was a high-school xc runner 30-some years ago and bought my first pair of racing flats, I wanted to do all my running in them. The conventional wisdom, though, was that you needed the cushioning for your daily running. Since then, though, the minimalist wave hit, and I decided I could wear them all the time. In the last 8 years I have had about 15 pairs of Saucony Kilkennys. They are sold as racing flats, not minimalist shoes, so I can often get them for $50 or less. I do most of my running on grass and trails, and for this they are perfect. - lightweight, with enough sole for rocky trails. I've even done a 50-miler (mostly on gravel roads) in them. My only complaint is that the upper tends to rip not long after I buy them, usually on rocky or icy ground. I know, though, that my use is not the intended use for the shoe, so I won't complain much, especially since they work for me even with a 2-3" rip in the instep.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kilkenny XC4

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Extremely lightweight as it is a racing flat. I do not own a 'day-to-day' running shoe and instead run in my Saucony Kilkenny racing flats every day. This is regardless of whether I am going for a long run, a tempo, or running intervals. Treadmill, track, road, and dirt trails are all fair game. I've worn them for 12 months now and they're still in great shape. Since there isn't really any cushioning, there isn't anything to break down over time. I guess I'll need to replace them once the sole starts to wear out or if the exterior starts to tear. No sign of that yet.

Anonymous runner · Apr 3, 2015

40 mpw

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Light, durable enough to wear on dirt trails. I use it for training even though it is a racing flat. Price doesn't get any better than this.

Anonymous runner · Aug 29, 2014

50 mpw training for middle distance

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

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Saucony Kilkenny XC5

Current estimate: Very good

What runners say

Where to buy

Pros

Cons

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Saucony Kilkenny

Reader Ratings

Specs & fit