Active Community: Message List - Saucony Kinvara

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Sun, 22 May 2011 03:11:02 GMT

I bought a pair of the Kinvaras a few weeks ago, and I really like them. I should add a caveat that I am a new runner and know very little about shoes. I started running in Nike Free 5.0s, because I had bought a pair of them last summer for traveling (very lightweight and easy to pack!) I originally bought the Nikes just for walking, and found them very comfortable for that, so when I started the Couch to 5K program, I started out in the Nikes. A few weeks after completing C25K (about 15 weeks into my entire running career!), my running buddy and I went to the running store to have the gait analysis done and get new shoes. The salesperson told me that although I do overpronate a bit, she thought that if I was running pain free in the Nike Frees (and really loving the lightweight shoe), I should stick with something similar. She suggested the Kinvaras as lightweight and flexible, but with a little more cushioning than the Nike Frees, as we were working up to a very hilly and challenging 10K. I have now been running in them a few weeks, and they are great! Very lightweight, very breathable, and I have no problems with rubbing or hot spots in them. Again, I am about as novice as they come, but I have been very pleased so far.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Sat, 07 May 2011 04:25:23 GMT

Was going to skip by this post but noted your comment about the shoe hitting your ankle in an odd way. I had that happen with my second pair of Kinvanas but jI ust bandaided the area that the shoe was hitting and trained through it. I switched to the Saucony Kinvara from my Mizuno shoes, which I had worn through a couple of marathons and half-marathons, after I developed my first case of plantar fiscitis. During some of that timeframe I also tried barefoot running and liked it. So, I reasoned that lighter was better but wasn't ready to do marathons in my Vibram five fingers. I switched to the Saucony Kinvana for my last marathon. My PF seemed to improve during training but I can't say it was the shoe although I didn't rest or take any other measure to recover the PF problem. My first pair was very comfortable and whenever I tried to wear a pair of my older shoes after wearing the Kinvanas it felt like runnig with bricks tied to my feet. So I've stayed with the lighter shoe and even tacked a 50-mile run in them. I wouldn't expect the Kinvanas to last as long as other shoes with more support though. That's my experience. Good luck.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:09:01 GMT

Well - you never heard my review because they have been sitting in the box for the past two weeks. I can't bring myself to take them outside because they hit my ankle bones in a weird space and just walking around the house they drive me nuts. I'm afraid to take them outside because I'm afraid if it annoys me inside just wearing them around it will drive me NUTS on a run - and possibly even cause blisters.

But that's just me... I'm going to a store to try on Newtons and see if they feel the same as my 3 year old pair.... If they do I'm thinking I'm going to bite the bullet and buy them again because I LOVE my old pair.

Deep sigh......... Oh - but other than that one ankle problem I loved them. They felt SUPER light weight and like they would be great. Even tried to unlace them a little to see if I could avoid the problem.... but hopefully your ankle bones aren't as big and sensitive as mine hahhaa.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 06:13:20 GMT

I really like them. I currently have 3 pairs if that tells you how much. You may want to ease into them if you're used to typical trainers. I've worn them for a 1/2 and could tell by the end that I was in a lighter shoe but no lasting pain or injury, about what you would normally expect after a 13 mile race. I'm 160 lbs. if that matters. I've seen some heavier runners use them too. They're good if you're a mid/forefoot striker or working towards that but they still have enough cushion that you can heal strike if you don't overstride alot. I would strongly recommend at least trying them.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:46:02 GMT

I love them! I always have issues with shoes--I supinate and have arches that are on the high side. When I run in the wrong shoe I have lots of issues with my hip/piriformis. The Kinvara might be the best shoe I have run in so far (and I have tried lots of shoes!). I think that it is because they get out of the way of my feet and let them do what they want to do naturally. I also love that they do not have much of a heel drop (where the heel of the shoe is higher than the ball of the foot/toe box). I have not gone longer than 7 miles in them (I use a different shoe for longer runs), but I think that I might take them on a longer run soon.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:42:54 GMT

I'd say they will only place stress on your calves and all thatt if you're used to shoes that are very built up. The Kinvara is really a more natural shoe and that "stress" is really just using muscles that have atrophied and are now being worked again. Work them in right and it's a good thing.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:38:19 GMT

Fantastic shoe with excellent cushion despite it's lightweight nature. If you're neutrl the only question is whether you like the fit. If you're not neutral you can try the new Saucony Mirage as it's a stable shoe built on a similar platform.

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:38:01 GMT

I tried them on and liked them - I had to order my size so I can't go for a run in them tonight But you can read my review and initial reaction to them here:

http://momsrunthistown.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-of-saucony-kinvara.html

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:18:51 GMT

Thanks for the review! I'm going to try them if I ever get my stress fracture healed up!

Re: Saucony Kinvara

guest — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:17:53 GMT

Yes! Do let me know how you like them!