Saucony Kinvara 15 Review: Hello Again, Old Friend

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Saucony Kinvara 15

KALEB: If there’s one Saucony shoe that’s been synonymous with the brand for years, it’s the Kinvara. Before the Endorphin Speed became the heartthrob of tempo trainers, there was the Kinvara. Before the New Balance Rebel took the low-stack(ish) daily trainer world by storm, there was the Kinvara. Before Thomas’ hair started turning gray, there was the Kinvara (man, the Kinvara is really ol— I mean, uh, what an absolute spring chicken of a daily trainer).

Anyway, the Kinvara might only be 15 iterations deep (oh cool, it’s the same age as Believe in the Run), but it’s known by all and loved by many to the point that it seems like an older friend than it is. Version 14 pissed off 87.3% of the Kinvara fanbase by beefing up the stack by 3 mm, so version 15 seeks to apologize by trimming 2 mm back off. It’s probably some sort of toxic relational manipulation, but it makes the masses happy, so whatever.

Additional updates lie mainly in the upper, which is now a much less goofy-looking mesh than the previous Kinvara. Underfoot is the same old PWRRUN that has existed since the dawn of EVA, except now with Saucony’s new Super Responsive Sockliner (because at this point, until the material engineers come up with something else genuinely ground-breaking, shoe companies have resorted to literally anything to make their products sound cooler).

Last year’s version brought the Kinvara back into some of its former glory simply by returning to the simplicity of the original Kinvara. The Kinvara 15 seeks to continue that trend by keeping the good while shaving down on the extra stack that had everyone’s laces in a twist.

This is my first Kinvara, but if past reviews are to be believed, this very well might be the best one yet.

RUBY: It takes courage to hold still and not try to iterate for the sake of it, and the Kinvara 15 exudes courage. Saucony has doubled down, bringing runners the Kinvara they’ve come to know and love with a few little upgrades. It’s lightweight and nimble, with the same cast of characters you want. PWRRUN midsole foam? Yes. A 4 mm heel-to-toe drop? Yes. Carbon plate? Oh heck no.

For those not familiar with the Kinvara line-up, note that this is not a high-cushioned, pillowy daily trainer. The Kinvara 15 trends more towards the “old school” end of the shoe spectrum: low profile, good ground contact feel, lightweight, and responsive.

Unlike Kaleb, I’ve run in and reviewed the last five Kinvaras, and speaking from experience, the Kinvara 15 is nothing revolutionary. Before you totally write off the Kinvara 15, reread that line — nothing revolutionary. Nowhere have I said it’s a bad shoe because it’s not!

While there aren’t any major changes, a la the Kinvara 14’s 3 mm jump in stack that Kaleb alluded to above, Saucony has a way of attending to little details I hadn’t given much thought to and “tuning up” the Kinvara. Version 15 sees the introduction of Saucony’s new Super Responsive Sockliner (SRS), matching the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, a 2 mm reduction in stack height, and, of course, new colorways.

What we like about the Saucony Kinvara 15

KALEB: On the first step in, I was flooded with memories of the old Ride 13’s firm PWRRUN cushion. PWRRUN is one of those midsole foams that always has and always will need a little break-in period, so I was willing to give the Kinvara a few miles to lose the long face and have some fun. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that even though the underfoot experience did soften after a bit, even the starting ride wasn’t anything painful.

The at-first-rigid foam allows the foot to roll through the Kinvara’s slightly rockered geometry nicely, and even as the shoe softens and becomes more flexible (yes, purists, this Kinvara is plenty flexible, don’t you worry your little minimalist toes about that), the roll and firm, poppy toe-off stick around. As it was intended to do, the ride of the Kinvara allows for easy miles with plenty of cushion while also remaining lightweight and responsive enough to allow for fast, effortless speeds. Even at race paces, I was pleased to find that the Kinvara didn’t just keep up, it came to life. This is a shoe that can do everything, not because of some fancy proprietary shoe tech but because it’s just a simple, well-made shoe.

Kinvara fans tend to want three main things from any given iteration of their cult-favorite shoe: lightweight, low, and flexible stack and a good balance of ground feel vs protection. I feel like the Kinvara 15 manages to check each of those boxes while still creating something that is fun in the modern “every shoe is on drugs” era.

Let me break down the three categories:

At 7 oz, if you’re complaining that this Kinvara is too heavy, just run in flip flops because it doesn’t get much lighter than this in the trainer world. I’m pretty sure the original Kinvara was almost 8 oz. anyway. As for flexibility and low stack, no, it’s not the 18 mm stack height of the first Kinvara. That Kinvara will probably never return — sorry.

But 29 mm isn’t stilt-range either. We’re talking less than 3 centimeters of material between you and the ground, and what’s more, that material is pretty firm, so you still get a great sense of connection and ground feel through the stride. It’s not a barefoot shoe, but it’s slim enough to be flexible and feel natural on foot, and it will still allow your body and lower legs to do their own work and get stronger as a result.

The fun comes from that subtle rocker, or maybe it comes from the Stupid Responsive Sockliner thing (sorry, even if Kipchoge himself said a sockliner made THE difference in his sub-2 attempt, I would still think it’s dumb to market a “super responsive sockliner.” I’ve run up this hill, let me die on it), but whatever it is, the Kinvara doesn’t feel outdated or slappy: it rolls smoothly, and it’s got some pep in its step. It isn’t bouncy per se; it just works nicely with my stride.

Oh, and the white-on-gray-with-green-accents colorway I received is so good. So, so good.

RUBY: The Kinvara 15’s inherent stability and connection with the ground won me over almost immediately. With only a 29 mm stack height and 4 mm heel-to-toe drop, I felt noticeably closer to the ground than I do in most other shoes, ascribing to the “more foam plus higher stack height equals better” equation, which translates into feeling more nimble on my feet. The Kinvara 15 is perfect for runs on dirt roads, non-technical trails, and badly maintained roads where you want to feel agile and light on your feet and not at risk of rolling an ankle or tripping from a stray pine cone on the ground.

Hardcore Kinvara fans can rejoice as a lower stack height has returned. When Saucony increased the Kinvara 14’s stack height by 3 mm to 31mm, there was outrage (okay, I’m sure most people didn’t notice, but Kinvara loyalists certainly did). The Kinvara kings and queens spoke, Saucony listened and learned, and the Kinvara 15’s stack height dropped to 29 mm. Victory to the Kinvara loyalists!

If the top factor that goes into shoe purchases is its appearance, the next has to be first impressions of its fit and feel (especially if you’re trying shoes on in-store). Saucony understood this assignment and was rewarded with at least an A. Slide your foot into a shoe, and you’ll be warmly embraced by the Kinvara 15’s new SRS sockliner. It’s a great liner designed for comfort throughout the run, long runs included, but I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call it super responsive — that’s just me.

To me, that sounds like Saucony is throwing together popular shoe jargon that runners have heard is desirable, almost like describing the outsole as “form-fitting” or the upper as “carbon-infused.” Anyway, back to the good stuff: the heel counter is plush and cushioned, and the breathable upper flexes around the foot without being restrictive or tight. After putting the Kinvara 15 through its paces and logging over 50 miles in it, I feel the same comfort and secure lockdown around the heel and foot I felt out of the box, not to mention remaining 100% blister and hotspot-free!

What we don’t like about the Saucony Kinvara 15

KALEB: Like all Kinvara models, there’s very minimal rubber coverage underneath version 15. PWRRUN is pretty tough stuff, so I’m not as much concerned about durability as I am about traction. We’re in a dry spell here in Southeast PA, so I never got the chance to test the Kinvara 15 in the rain, but I’d be concerned about potential slips.

Other than that, I find it very hard to complain about this shoe.

RUBY: The obvious: make sure you set your expectations for the Kinvara 15 straight. Post-workout or long run, when the legs feel beat up and need some TLC, the Kinvara 15 isn’t the tool for that job. Instead, consider opting for something more cushioned and bouncy for those recovery miles, and save the Kinvara for when you have a bit more pep in your step.

Unless you’re strictly anti-plated racing shoes, the Kinvara’s aren’t a race day shoe either. That said, if you long for a traditional racing flat over a supershoe, the Kinvara 15 might be the solution. As lower-stack, more traditional racing shoes have gone out of fashion, they’ve become near impossible to find, so credit to Saucony for not trying to match the trend by adding an extra 10 mm of foam and a carbon plate to the Kinvara (let’s ignore the Kinvara Plus for now).

Fortunately, the Kinvara 15 has found a home in the happy medium between recovery shoe and racer. Designed for uptempo runs and workout days, it shines as you pick up the pace. Saucony’s signature PWRRUN midsole foam is responsive, and the outsole aids a seamless and efficient transition through the gait cycle.

Final thoughts on the Saucony Kinvara 15

KALEB: I’ve heard complaints that the Kinvara “just ain’t what it used to be,” but with the Kinvara 15, I feel like Saucony has begun to produce a classic Kinvara for the modern age. From bringing down the stack height to simplifying the upper, the shoe is trending in the right direction for the original Kinvara fans while still remaining accessible to the everyday runner. Minimalism in its purest, most popular form might be gone (for now), but the Kinvara 15 still provides the bridge between the maximal and the minimal that it was always supposed to.

RUBY: The Kinvara 15 is to an “old school” racing flat as the Endorphin Speed is to the Endorphin Pro. This is an ideal training shoe for runners who prefer the classic flat over the high stack, highly cushioned supershoe. To clarify, the Kinvara 15 is not a racing flat but a more minimal training shoe designed for faster running: think speed and track workouts, tempo runs, and pickups. Personally, I lace up the Kinvara for track work because the lower stack height makes for a stable ride around the tight track bends, while its lightweight and responsive qualities shine at faster speeds.

The “old school” trainer comparison only goes so far because the Kinvara 15 still packs a nice layer of PWRRUN foam. The Kinvara 15 isn’t exactly hard underfoot, but it has more ground contact feel than many shoes: you can feel the rocks on a trail.

Going away on a trip and only able to pack one trainer? The Kinvara 15 is for you. It’s a do-it-all shoe that will go the distance at a variety of efforts and paces. At only 6.0 oz for a US W8, you’ll have plenty of space in your case for snacks and more running gear.

You can pick up the Saucony Kinvara 15 for $120 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.