Speed trainer with all-round capability
4/5
Overall
Lightweight low drop shoe with enough cushion for long runs. The front portion of the shoe fits too loose for my taste. Lack of rubber on the bottom leads to faster than average wear. I've raced from 1 mile to 10k in the shoe and typically use it for speed work. Simple shoe with natural feel and no tech bs. Outperforms other shoes at its price point.
I've worn multiple Kinvaras since version 4. I think the Kinvara has lost a little of its speediness over the years in order to improve its all-round capabilities, particularly in increased cushioning. In my opinion, the increased cushioning is worth it, as v4 was definitely lacking in forefoot cushioning on hard surfaces. The very squishy insole makes this Kinvara more cushioned than ever. Maybe even a bit too squishy at higher speeds. If Saucony took the Kinvara to 0mm drop (current is 4mm), it would be a near perfect speed trainer. I find that the heel on anything other than my track spikes gets in the way at race speeds. The only other changes I would make to the current model are making the forefoot fit tighter and adding rubber to the outsole for durability.
Anonymous runner · Jun 29, 2024
15 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Kinvara 12
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
