Saucony Kinvara 11 Review
The Only Shoe You Need
Likes
- Great fit
- Responsive cushioning
- Versatile trainer
- Sleek look
Dislikes
- Same weight as version 10
- Less breathable
What's New
As Saucony's most popular lightweight trainer, the Kinvara is known for its responsive cushioning and smooth ride. The new Kinvara 11 stays true to its speed-inspired lineage while offering an enhanced fit and feel. Although the update features mostly small tweaks to the shoe, the biggest change made to the Kinvara 11 is the addition of a new PWRRUN+ topsole and PWRRUN EVA midsole. These innovative new foams help to provide a slightly softer ride while maintaining the shoe's responsiveness and lightweight design. To cut weight and increase flexibility, the outsole features exposed EVA with strategic rubber placements at high-wear areas, and the shoe is finished off with a new engineered mesh upper that's designed to offer a more secure lockdown of the foot while eliminating constrictive overlays.
The Bottom Line
The responsive cushioning and lightweight design make the Saucony Kinvara 11 a versatile option that excels in both daily training and on race day. Our testers loved the feel of the new midsole package and felt that it offered better protection for long runs without sacrificing performance on uptempo days. The redesigned upper helps to slim down the look of the shoe, and the padded heel cup and tongue provide a plush feel, although our testers found that the extra padding slightly inhibited the shoe's breathability. Overall, our testers thoroughly enjoyed running in the Kinvara 11 and found it to be a great option for runners who want one shoe that can do it all.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to low | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.0 oz (size 9) | Women's: 7.1 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | Stack Height: Coming Soon! | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
Our testers found that the Kinvara 11 was just a touch softer than the previous model. This is thanks to the new PWRRUN+ topsole which is lighter, softer, and more responsive than the EVRUN foam used before it.
Jasmine: "This model is slightly softer than the previous version. However, when running, the cushioning seems to firm up to offer a springy feel. If you are looking for something similar to the discontinued Break Thru or Asics 33-DFA, this is a great option."
Erik: "The Kinvara 11 is soft and cushioned without being mushy. You get the protection you want during your everyday runs but you also get a performance feel when you want to go faster."
Ride/Energy Return i
The Kinvara 11 continues to offer a responsive ride despite its plusher underfoot feel. This is due to the addition of PWRRUN+ foam in the topsole and the PWRRUN EVA in the midsole. These new foams provide softer cushioning and better underfoot protection while maintaining optimal energy return.
Justin: "The Kinvara 11 is an incredibly versatile shoe, and a huge part of that is due to the amount of rebound the shoe provides during faster efforts."
Erik: "You don’t usually get this much responsiveness with this much softness. The big improvement from last year is a more responsive midsole that keeps the weight the same while improving the feel at faster paces."
Underfoot Protection i
The new midsole foam combination gives the Kinvara 11 a more protective feel than its predecessor. Our testers felt confident taking the shoe on longer runs as well as using it for their daily training.
Justin: "With the slight increase in perceived softness, I felt much better about taking this shoe on longer runs. I wouldn't consider myself an efficient runner, but I feel confident using the new Kinvara on longer days."
Jasmine: "Though similar to the previous model, the Kinvara 11 feels a tad more substantial and protective underfoot. It just feels beefier, but still lightweight! You can train in these as well as taking them out on race day."
Underfoot Flexibility i
Our team thought that the Kinvara 11's minimal outsole and Tri-Flex design allowed for a smooth and unrestricted ride.
Jasmine: "I'd say this shoe is pretty darn flexible — especially from midfoot to forefoot, which is exactly where I need it. This makes for a smooth toe-off experience that allows me to run more efficiently."
Erik: "The Kinvara 11 is super flexible right out of the box. This shoe molds to your foot and has a smooth feel at a variety of paces. The upper provides just the right amount of support and adds to the overall flexible feel."
Upper Feel i
The Kinvara 11's engineered mesh upper offers a snug, race-ready fit that adapts to the foot just enough to avoid being restrictive. The minimal design works to support the wearer without excessive overlays or constrictive structure.
Justin: "It feels like Saucony made the heel counter a little less plush (which I was happy about). Overall, the upper was fantastic — structured enough to be comfortable and pliable enough to fit my goofy feet."
Jasmine: "With no heavy overlays or bulky logo designs, the Kinvara 11 has a comfy, adaptable fit. The upper has been updated with a close-knit mesh which makes the fit more structured and secure, although a little less breathable."
Women's Saucony Kinvara Running Shoes
Men's Saucony Triumph Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
I reviewed the Saucony Kinvara 10 back in 2019, and overall, I didn't feel there was a significant difference between the Kinvara 10 and Kinvara 11. There were, however, a couple of little tweaks that I really enjoyed. The Kinvara 11 is softer and more protective underfoot while maintaining a lightweight feel. The shoe is incredibly versatile and should provide a great experience for the majority of runners.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Kinvara has been one of my favorite shoes for the last few years, and this has not changed with the Kinvara 11. It will continue to be my "everything" shoe. While it's mostly intended for uptempo runs and race days, I find that with my smaller stature, I'm able to use it as a daily trainer as well. The fit has changed a little, but I had no hot spots or areas of concern. Overall, I think Saucony hit the mark with this iteration, and it will continue to be a strong, lightweight contender in their lineup.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Kinvara 11 is a lightweight daily trainer that is good for everyday runs and faster paces. Although this shoe feels just like the Kinvara 10 in fit and function, thanks to a new topsole foam, it is a little more responsive when the time comes to pick up the pace.