Saucony Kinvara 13 Review
Only the Essentials
Likes
Dislikes
What's New
The Bottom Line
The biggest change to this year's Kinvara is the stripped-back upper that makes this the lightest Kinvara to date. Our testers felt that the Kinvara 13 disappeared on foot while still providing just enough underfoot protection for longer miles. While the midsole remains unchanged, the upper of the shoe is now a single-layer mesh with lighter overlays. Our testers appreciated the soft and lightweight new upper and felt confident that it would provide adequate support for all types of runs. Overall, our team enjoyed the updates to the Kinvara, and they were glad to find that the shoe is similar to years past in an even lighter package.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 7.2 oz (size 9) |
| Stack Height | 28 mm (Heel), 24 mm (Forefoot) 4 mm Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Matt: "The Saucony Kinvara has a thin layer of PWWRUN+ foam with a more traditional, slightly firmer feel, and it doesn't offer a very soft experience underfoot. This foam provides runners with good ground feel and peppy responsiveness rather than a pillowy softness. I was able to take the Kinvara 13 for 10+ miles multiple times, but I only grabbed it when I was looking for a lighter and more fun option hitting the roads."
Connor: "The Kinvara 13 continues to offer a fairly balanced cushioning feel with a slightly firmer ride. The tooling is identical to its predecessor, and I thought the underfoot sensation was pretty much the same. I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing, as Kinvara fans have come to enjoy a similar experience year after year. Still, I personally wouldn't mind a slightly softer cushioning compound, as most of the shoes in my training lineup have started to lean softer over the past year. With that being said, I didn't find the ride uncomfortable and still feel like the shoe performs very well for a mix of daily training and uptempo efforts."
Ride/Energy Returni
Matt: "I think the majority of the Kinvara's energy return comes from its incredibly lightweight design. The Kinvara has always been one of the best lightweight daily trainers on the market, and this thirteenth version somehow continues to get even lighter. The foam isn't super bouncy or propulsive, but it does offer a nice level of responsiveness."
Connor: "The Kinvara has never been the fastest or springiest shoe, but it continues to deliver a hint of pop and has no problem picking up the pace. It's not the most exciting material, but it's simple, gets the job done, and is hard to beat for the price point. The shoe's bounciness and lightweight design continue to make it a versatile training option that both loyalists and those new to the series will love."
Underfoot Protectioni
Matt: "Right off the bat, runners should know that this shoe is designed to be simple and lightweight. With my very efficient and light stride, I was able to take this shoe over 10+ miles several times, but I think that most runners who want a comfy daily trainer that will just absorb everything will not want to grab this shoe. On the other hand, those who want a peppy and insanely light shoe for daily training should put the Kinvara in the front of the line."
Connor: "Underfoot cushioning continues to be somewhat low and natural feeling, but the Kinvara has just enough protection for some runners to use for daily training. While I personally prefer a little more stack for my daily training, I found it fairly versatile and brought it out for a fairly wide range of distances and paces."
Flexibilityi
Matt: "With its low profile and simple design, the Kinvara 13 has a ton of flexibility. The flex grooves underfoot make this shoe very smooth and adaptable to any landing. Runners should expect to move freely in the Saucony Kinvara 13."
Connor: "With the running world moving more and more toward stiffer carbon-plated shoes for performance, it is nice to see the Kinvara remaining true to its natural feeling origins. The shoe has a nice flex that allows your feet to adapt to their surroundings. The flexibility, mixed with the low-to-the-ground design and low drop, creates the classic Kinvara feel that helped this model gain popularity years ago."
Upper Supporti
Matt: "For how simple this upper is, the Kinvara 13 has a very nice lockdown and should be adaptable enough for most runners. Since it has a slimmer construction, those with wider feet might need to get the wide version."
Connor: "The Kinvara keeps weight low by stripping down the upper, but in version 13, we have the lightest upper to date. While it still has just enough support to get you through some longer distances, it really is thin and has quite a performance feel. The fit is snug, but there is very little substance actually built into the upper construction."
Men's Saucony Triumph Running Shoes
Women's Saucony Kinvara Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
I have been running in the Kinvara line for over a decade now, and this thirteenth version is one of my favorites. The Saucony Kinvara 13 has a refreshingly simple and light design, making it an awesome choice for runners looking for a lower profile daily trainer.
The midsole has Saucony's PWRRUN foam, which feels more like a traditional foam and provides a quick, firmer-feeling responsiveness. This is obviously a different feel than the high-stack-height models out there, but the simple design and "just-right" amount of foam felt fun and nimble out on the roads. I was able to roll with this shoe over 10 miles several times, and I think runners like me who have an efficient stride will fall in love with the Kinvara 13's ride. Those runners who need some more protection underfoot can absolutely grab the Kinvara 13 for faster runs or when they just need a lower profile option.
The upper of the Kinvara 13 fits a little slim, but the lockdown and lacing were incredible. I never had an issue, and the shoe really disappears on foot with how lightweight it is. This shoe has a basic construction, but it still wraps the foot and gives runners confidence when lacing up. Overall, the Saucony Kinvara 13 continues to enhance its legacy as one of the best lightweight daily trainers out there.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Saucony Kinvara 13 continues on the Kinvara line's legacy, and while there were only small changes with the latest iteration, this shoe is now even lighter than ever. With a more stripped-down upper and the same versatile yet adaptive underfoot experience, the Kinvara can literally handle any type of training. It's light and nimble enough to pick up the pace for uptempo efforts while also having just enough protection for many runners to consider for some daily training. I've run in several iterations of the Kinvara, and this update continues to maintain the model's core philosophy of a lightweight and simple trainer while making small changes to enhance fit and strip out any unneeded bulk. While the Kinvara isn't necessarily the very best shoe in any specific niche, it does do a lot of things very well and is one of the few natural and flexible trainers still on the market that retains this type of simple yet effective performance.