I'm a fan of the Kinvara 12 for the exact reasons people don't seem to like it. I prefer shoes that are not overly bouncy and not over-engineered. It's light and simple, has a gusseted tongue and great volume (maybe a bit too much in the 13), and to have something steady and solid in the rotation is hard to find these days.
For me the Kinvara is a summer shoe, bopping along 70F outside, natural feel, low to the ground, not too bothered whether I am going quick or not but I feel light and nimble. There's nothing performance-enhancing going on, just my legs doing all the work and loving it.
Good morning believe in run and all the runners from 🇪🇸. Excellent review of my favorite saucony shoes. Here my like. I finished the Madrid maratón 2021 with my kinvara11 in 4h. Kinvara 13 ¡¡¡For Ever!!!. A nice Sunday for everyone. 🌞🏃♂️🌞
Kinvara 11 works wonders for me- I still have 4 pairs in heavy rotation mostly used when I go to the gym during snowy /raining days to workout on the treadmill, and for my fast intervals. truly amazing shoe - the K12 was kool -not as great as the 11, so I hope the 13 lives up to its name & the reputation gained by previous versions.
Run Specialty Outfitter / Saucony Stan here: my first running store purchase in 2011 was a pair of Kinvaras and I've loved them since. They haven't changed much for a reason: Saucony has a shoe for every category covered and there's no reason to really change the Kinvara much year to year as they still sell a good number of them. Change the foam to something softer and you get the Freedom, add more of the existing PWRrun you get the Ride. I actually pull them a lot for our High School athletes whose parents don't want to buy super Cushioned trainers, a pair of Super Shoes and a pair of spikes. The Kinvara can get them through 99% of their training and encourages an efficient relationship with the ground. A 16 year old running 30 miles a week shouldn't need a Bondi. They get all they need in a $110 package. (Yes I know it's going up but so is every shoe from every brand and the price of bread!) Keep doing u Saucony.
I don't think Kinvara was ever a special shoe (except maybe when it first came out and created the lightweight daily trainer/racer category). I started with the K9 (and have the K11 & K12 since) and even then, I didn't find anything fun about it. I also had the Freedom ISO, which I thought was much softer, bouncier and enjoyable to run in. But it just quietly does its thing. I think it's the best vacation shoe, since it's so low profile. And every race I've taken it on, I've PR'd. (Mostly half marathon, but I ran 1 marathon in it). So while it doesn't win my heart, I've got to respect its performance.
the K5-6 were awesome. Light, snappy, yet cushy. Very good all-round trainer. Starting from v7-8 they changed something and the shoe lost cushion and became more and more responsive. I recenty used the v11 but resold them because while it's a decent half marathon racer (for me) it's also meh compared to what's out there.
i love my kinvara 12 and i don't like my endorphin speed so there is still a market for kinvara. saucony won't bother continuing it if people weren't buying them. my mile,5k and marathon pr is with kinvara while i get knee discomfort whenever i run more than 10k with endorphin speed. reason i keep running with endospeed is because i'm trying hard to like it as most people who own them do and hoping it will feel good after some good breaking in but almost 200km and still feels meh
I complete agree on the fact that isn’t super cushioned or filled with insane technology. But I think people love it for what is it. In 2022 people can totally daily train in it but most people will probably use it for longer track session or maybe just shorter runs, etc.
Kinvara has never been especial compared to other shoe brands but come on, we all have a special memory with it. I ran my fastest half marathons with this shoe (Kinvara 5)
I do love my 12s!! My vice lighter shoe in my arsenal. I’m skipping this 13s since it seems to be the same thing, but as soon mine Is over, I’m buying another Kinwara!!
Thanks! High cushion shoes are being made and promoted. Some dont want anything to do with high cushion amount. Numerous reasons. Dr. Scholl insole is loved by alot. An option. I like the Mizuno insole. But you are part of it. Nikes rubber is not high flexible. High heel to toe ratio stops can hurt. U forgot , you walk to build?! So u can go miles. Thanks for your free help.
I used to love the Kinvara too, I ran my at-the-time 10k PR in the v2. But now there are more options that are nearly as light, more responsive, better looking, and just more fun to run in. The NB Rebel v2 comes to mind, as well as the Rincon or even the Mach. I still like the Kinvara for just kicking around, but not so much running anymore. And now at $120, it’s even less attractive.
Hope that wasn’t before a run, or Robbe must have been miserable! Hopefully the $10 helped that go away…🤣 As for the shoe, was hoping for something new foam wise and I’m guessing several of the flops you’ve reviewed recently were developed right in the middle of the covid and supply chain delays so maybe we have to wait for next year?
I always tried on the Kinvara when in a shoe store in the old days (2019 and earlier) but never bought it. I had better luck with the Brooks Pure series and then the Launch (I’m talking about Launch v6 before the shoe-plosion). Those Brooks shoes always fit my foot better. I ran my first marathon in the Launch 6 in 2019 and BQ’d so oh my, how quickly things have changed since with our options! When the Launch 7 disappointed me I switched to the Boston 8 and 9 for that category of shoe. And now I’m enjoying the Rebel v2, the Mach4 and the Hyperion Tempo (while using up my last Boston9), all of which check the same boxes except for marathons.
I ran a 47 in a 10k in the Kinvara 7 .. I saw a guy in the Kinvara 10s in a marathon.. I still have those 7s .. tho they are kinda trashed. The Kinvara 11s are $65 at Runningwarehouse..
Still love the Walking and talk shoe...really interesting set up! The Kinvara needs to be the to the Endorphin Pro that the StreakFly is to the Vaporfly. It needs Pwrrn PB midsole! I hope Saucony are reading!!
Kinvara or Rincon? Both are minimal light weight daily trainers, and appear to be competing in the same space. Or as a wild card would the Noosa Tri be the play?
I had a load of Kinvara 4's on rotation but ran out of them a few years ago. I tried the 8 and that was completely different. I'm not sure where Kinvara fits in now? I run in the Nike Invincible and Endorphin Speed.
Lads! 😂 Saucony claim they've tweaked PWRRUN to make it better but you guys didn't notice it then? You'd think they'd be dabbling with nitro foam for these cheaper models by now, even skechers are ahead of saucony for that now! 😅
Kinvara is a pairing knife. good short workout shoe. Hill sprints, 800s, 30-40min tempo run. Wouldn’t use it for easy days or medium/long or goal pace runs.
