Saucony Progrid Kinvara

The Kinvara is a lightweight neutral shoe that gives the impression of mainstream minimalism. That is to say, it is very lightweight with a minimal heel drop, yet still looks and feels like a running shoe. 

Specifications

Weight:

Men's 7.7 oz. (7.6 oz. tested size 9)

Women's 6.7oz. (6.7 oz. tested size 8)

Heel-Toe Drop

4 mm (18 mm Heel/14 mm Forefoot) Typical shoes are around 12 mm. A lower drop in the Kinvaras promotes a mid to forefoot footstrike. 

Fit/Feel

When you first pick up the Kinvaras the first thing you notice is the weight, or rather lack of it. The Kinvara's lightweight materials are responsive yet provide an ample amount of cushioning and support.

The upper wraps snuggly around your foot and is roomy in the toe box. Padding on either side of your achilles provide a snug heel fit with no heel slippage.

Testing

I took out the Kinvaras for a 15 mile trail run in Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City. If you're not familiar with Bootleg, its network of trails are among the toughest and rockiest in the area. I was impressed with the Kinvaras from the beginning. The lightness of the shoes was particularly noticable while climbing and hopping over rocks. They have an agile feel and foot placements were effortless and accurate.

I was most amazed how much protection the Kinvaras provided over the sharp Bootleg volcanic rocks. They provided excellent responsivness to the trail, yet stopped even the nastiest of rocks from poking through. The only negative I can report is that the Kinvara's firm outsole didn't provide the best traction on some surfaces. However, this only applied to very short sections where the dirt trail gave way to bare rock. The air mesh upper is perfect for the Las Vegas hot and dry climate and didn't allow any dirt to permeate through.

While not a trail specific shoe, the Kinvaras were one of the best shoes I've ever worn on trails. They have all the benefits of a lightweight minimalist shoe, while providing excellent protection and support. 

On the road the Kinvaras were simply brilliant. The smooth surface made the low drop much more apparent and I noticed my foot striking more towards the forefoot than normal. The Kinvaras helped this movement feel smooth and natural. Unlike other minimalist shoes, the Kinvaras provide ample support and cushioning so you don't feel like took a pounding.

Saucony has hit a home run with the Kinvaras. Appealing looks and simple minimal lightweight design make for a formidable shoe on a variety of surfaces. 

Saucony ProGrid Kinvara from Saucony on Vimeo.

Comments

[Jackie]

I have seen many posts similar to this one on internet but all other have filler content and are not up-to-the mark. This post especially made me to post my comments as its credible, HYSEK replicas it’s very good!

[Stephan]

I totally agree with the comfort and joy of running in these shoes. However, having run on them for about 350km (a bit over 2 months) the sole is really worn (and not because I run on the edges). That is just too little mileage, even for a great shoe.