Saucony Men's Kinvara 13 Running Shoe

Product Information

Performance: A- (They fulfill the role of being a lightweight daily trainer in terms of comfort and responsiveness. However, they could use a bit more of a toe spring to help improve push-off and promote a forward lean) THOMAS: The new upper is too voluminous for my narrow foot. I had to cinch up the throat aggressively and still didn’t find a secure fit.

I’m always up for a bright and eye-catching colorway and this sunrise hue definitely turns some heads on the roads for me. Fit is excellent and true to size for me, with a very nice performance feel to the shoe. There isn’t much bounce to the ride in the first few strides, but I also know that PWRRUN foam tends to need a few runs to break in and develop deeper sort of rebound (from my experience with the Endorphin Shift) so it’s too early to make judgements around the ride now.The Kinvara 13 from Saucony goes on a diet with its 6.8 oz (192 g) weight in a men's US 9. This is lighter than all of the previous Kinvara iterations! And contrary to the average of tempo running shoes (8.9 oz), it doesn't tip the scales. The exposed PWRRUN midsole foam is relatively durable against abrasions and scuffing so it doesn’t show much wear after the first couple of runs. I’ve been impressed with how little wear is showing after about 80 km of running in it but the outsole still won’t be as durable as a daily trainer which has much more outsole rubber coverage. All applicable customs and import duties and any other charges are the responsibility of the customer. Ultraspire Fitted Race Belt: The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup

David: The Saucony Kinvara 13 does really well serving its purpose. I think the upper was a step in the right direction for sure. My only recommendation really lies in the transition through the forefoot. For nearly all uses it does well the way it is but the shoe can come off a little bit slappy through the forefoot when running fast. Because of how much flexibility is in this shoe the forefoot can get that slapping sensation upon loading and then you would flex through it into toe-off. I would like to see it get a slightly firmer forefoot while still maintaining some flexibility by just increasing the outsole coverage a tad through that region. That wouldn't affect the weight or flexibility too much but could make the shoe a tad more snappy. Sally : I agree with the others that this is a great upper: it fits well, holds the foot securely, is very breathable, beautiful in its simplicity, and very light. Not to mention that it is vegan and made of 100% recycled materials - extra points to Saucony for sustainability. And the padded tongue with the pull tab makes for a comfortable wrap and hold of the foot. Overall: A- (The fit and ride are the best yet for the Kinvara line. They have minimal stability, but satisfy the role of a neutral shoe) While not the stiffest model in our lineup, there is no denying that there are more comfortable shoes out on the market, especially for long-distance running. However, we are constantly impressed with this shoe's ability to offer a minimal responsive cushion in such a lightweight design. It is subtle but firm compression that is noticeable but doesn't feel squishy or like you sinking into the footbed. This cushioning requires a bit more effort to stay on top of when compared to the most responsive models, which is why it is our short-distance favorite.

IS THE SAUCONY KINVARA 13 DURABLE?

THOMAS: If you like the Kinvara 12, the good news is, the midsole hasn’t changed at all. Further, if your foot is on the wider side, you will appreciate the generous new upper. It looks good and has features like a breathable engineered mesh, a gusseted tongue, and a well-designed heel counter. Even better is that the Saucony Kinvara 13 is half an ounce lighter than its predecessor. The character of the Saucony Kinvara 13 stays true to its origin and provides a smooth, no-frills, lightweight ride. My 10.5 weighs 7.7 oz. (219 g.) with a 4mm 28.5/24.5mm offset. Mono mesh has come a long way here as it has that characteristic non stretch solid hold but now with a soft pliable feel. The “Engineered” part means it is woven in varying densities to deliver additional support and ventilation where it is needed. This happens to a mid-cycle refresh, so that means that the 2022 Kinvara is based on the same midsole architecture as the Kinvara 12. Though there are changes on the upper, there’s only a marginal difference in the overall fit. Beto: The Rebel v2 and the Kinvara 13 fall into the same category but are in very different midsole/foam categories and because of that the Rebel v2 will be my choice here. FuelCell feels more bouncy and more forgiving at longer distances and thanks to the wide platform more stable too. The Kinvara 13 is a good shoe and can do the same things as the Rebel v2, it is just that PWRRUN is a bit firmer and has a different responsiveness when comparing it to the more bouncy and fun FuelCell foam. Do also keep in mind the K13 has a more natural feel when running.

The upper materials and overall construction are similar to the past models, and none of them had concerns with low durability. THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT If I’m being honest, the Kinvara series has never really appealed to me. I’m a fan of chunky midsoles with deep cushioning. When running in lean midsoles like the ones in the Kinvaras of days gone by, it takes my legs longer to recover. The ride provides a unique balance of having enough cushion for shorter daily runs and being light enough for workouts. Most people used to current shoe design will find this shoe may work better as a workout shoe, especially if they are looking for a non-plated, flexible shoe. There is enough cushioning for me for runs up to 8 miles, but then I start to fatigue. Those used to more maximal shoe designs will want to take time to transition into this shoe as it requires more work from your body and especially the ankle. The sole and design make it a great workout shoe as it responds well to faster speeds. It is not the fastest shoe given the flexibility, but does quite well on tempo runs, fartleks and intervals. Most people may not be able to use this as a long run shoe due to this design not being as common, but for moderate to shorter length workouts it will do well. With no added carbon plate and less foam underfoot, this model feels a bit less responsive than other models, but there is no denying that this is one of the fastest shoes in our lineup, thanks to its ultra-lightweight design. With it being so light, it's impossible to not feel fast and responsive. Each footstrike is met with a small amount of compaction that is felt on rebounding. The foam has a nice density and is far from plush. Beto: Kinvara is one of my favorite trainers for basically any workout. It's a lightweight, minimalist shoe that has a low to the ground feel yet with control too which is something I really enjoy a lot.The Kinvara 13 comes along and instantly makes me feel like I’m putting on my running shoes from years ago. It’s a good feeling. It makes me work harder, and adjust my running form and gait. THOMAS: Like an old friend that you have grown apart from, I find myself wanting to talk about the good ol’ days. However, there isn’t a lot to talk about after that. It’s not that you don’t like the friend anymore, you’ve just moved on with a new crew. You have new inside jokes that the old friend doesn’t get. Stable forgiving heel, with just enough mid foot stability never in the way to a smooth flow forward then to very flexible toe off, all achieved with minimal rubber and relatively soft foam The toe box is notable for its solid hold and big ventilation slots over the toes. There are even ventilation at the far rear toe box and mid foot sides as the lacing starts using less dense mesh which also allows the upper to flex with the platform while to the front on the sides it is more dense for some support and durability as it extends forward to a vertical quite stiff toe bumper, No toes pressure from this toe bumper or toe box. David: The Saucony Kinvara 13 is a lightweight performance trainer for those looking to have a natural ride underfoot. The shoe does not have a dramatic drop and has good flexibility throughout the shoe. This is one of those shoes where it is "all you". There is just enough cushion to handle long runs and just enough durability for those that are looking for that in a daily training shoe. For me, this is a lightweight performance shoe great for long runs and fartleks. It isn't a shoe that has many bells and whistles but features a nice upper with good platform integration.