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

Saucony Kinvara 4

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.7 oz · 4mm drop · 22/18mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Saucony Kinvara 5 replaced it

How it ranks

The Saucony Kinvara 4 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who came to it from another shoe preferred it. The rating rests on 129 runner reviews and 14 other rated shoes in the Kinvara product line.

Saucony Kinvara 4

of 2

Decent

73/100
Overall
73
Value
83
Comfort
83
Appearance
80
Cushioning
76
Durability
49
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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

99/100

99

What runners say

“Minimal enough for mid-strike and ground feel, yet still protective.”
5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for middle distance
“Zero issues, injuries, or will to find another running shoe.”
5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon
“Before they break down, the most comfortable, lightweight shoes that make you feel fast.”
3/5 Full review 40 mpw 521 miles in this shoe training for middle distance
“Fit perfect, lightweight, feel like running on pillows.”
5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon
“Not durable at all; every pair ends up with holes after a couple of months.”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon
“Toe box is wide—great for slow running, not so good for fast running.”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon
“Haven't experienced a trainer as responsive at high speeds.”
4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for middle distance
“Can run 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and track in one shoe.”
4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon
“Got 2 stress fractures back to back—not enough support.”
4/5 Full review 45 mpw 196 miles in this shoe training for a marathon
“Lasts up to 450 miles if the upper doesn't fall apart.”
4/5 Full review 70 mpw 12,166 miles in this shoe training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

42% 32/77

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.


Pros

  • Reviewers find it light at 7.7 oz and comfortable for daily miles.
  • Runners use it for easy days, tempos and races alike.
  • Many reviewers like the 4mm drop and the low, flexible feel.

Cons

  • The upper mesh often tears at the toe box within months, several reviewers by 250 to 300 miles.
  • Durability is by far its lowest-rated dimension at 3.2 out of 5, with reviewers reporting the outsole foam wearing fast and the cushioning packing out early.
  • Several reviewers prefer earlier Kinvara versions, and the Kinvara 3 and 5 both score 97 against this shoe's 73.

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

Kinvara 4 rates 73. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Saucony Kinvara

Each dot is one version of the Kinvara, 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.
  • Kinvara 16

    2025 · 2 reviews

    88 Good

    74 Confidence

  • Kinvara 15

    2024 · 13 reviews

    82 Good

    84 Confidence

  • Kinvara 14

    2023 · 49 reviews

    88 Good

    94 Confidence

  • Kinvara 13

    2022 · 36 reviews

    77 Decent

    93 Confidence

  • Kinvara 12

    2021 · 6 reviews

    87 Good

    84 Confidence

  • Kinvara 11

    2020 · 7 reviews

    71 Decent

    76 Confidence

  • Kinvara 10

    2019 · 51 reviews

    97 Exceptional

    98 Confidence

  • Kinvara 9

    2018 · 55 reviews

    88 Good

    97 Confidence

  • Kinvara 8

    2017 · 57 reviews

    89 Good

    98 Confidence

  • Kinvara 7

    2016 · 21 reviews

    98 Exceptional

    97 Confidence

  • Kinvara 6

    2015 · 8 reviews

    97 Exceptional

    94 Confidence

  • Kinvara 5

    2014 · 128 reviews

    97 Exceptional

    100 Confidence

  • Kinvara 4 This shoe

    2013 · 129 reviews

    73 Decent

    99 Confidence

  • Kinvara 3

    2012 · 11 reviews

    97 Excellent

    92 Confidence

  • Kinvara 2

    2011 · 3 reviews

    58 Bottom-tier

    75 Confidence

Reader Ratings

129 ratings
5/5 61
4/5 60
3/5 7
2/5 0
1/5 1

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
7.7 oz
Release
2013
MSRP
$100
Stack Height
22mm heel - 18mm toe
Drop Height
4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 96–100 of 129 written reviews

Reader review

5/5

Overall

It is a lightweight trainer, but cured me of plantar problems, which I believe has a lot to do with the shoes arch support being placed closer to the heel.

North Quarry Runner · Aug 29, 2014

90 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

This shoe has been durable/reliable, and can handle high mileage, but it is stiffer and less responsive than I would prefer.

Anonymous runner · Aug 29, 2014

40 mpw training for a marathon

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Tend to use on easy runs, I enjoy the lightness and lack of structure.

Anonymous runner · Aug 29, 2014

100 mpw training for a marathon

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

45 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

TheJimmyLegs · Aug 28, 2014

30 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Alternatives

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More from Saucony

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Lightest
Newest / Lowest price / Best value
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.7 oz M Lightest
8.5 oz M
Stack
22/18mm
40/35mm
Drop
4mm
5mm
Release
2013
2025 Q2 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$100
$130
$145
Best price
$119.53 Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Decent (73)
Good (88)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Good (83)
Good (86)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Decent (76)
Decent (79)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom-tier (49)
Bottom-tier (53)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Good (80)
Good (89)
Very good (91) Best appearance
Value
Good (83)
Excellent (95) Best value
Good (88)
Specific shoe

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