Details
Brand
Saucony
Heel To Toe Drop
4mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Racing
Key Features
• Tri-Flex outsole• EVA+ midsole with EVERUN full-length topsole• Flexfilm engineered mesh upper• Breathable• Extremely comfortable, especially if you prefer firmer shoes• Great price point• Less durable outsole due to frugal use of rubber• Road, track and treadmill shoe• Extremely flexible• Fantastic responsiveness
Upper
In the upper rearfoot area of the Saucony Kinvara 9 is a woven heel that is firmer and more supportive than the rest of the engineered mesh upper, made out of Flexfilm, a seamless, flexible material that provides a glove-like, snug fit. The Flexfilm lightweight overlays are extremely thin and are melded into the upper, providing both upper stability and breathability. Some runners will enjoy the Pro-Lock midfoot lacing system, which remains unchanged from the Kinvara 9’s predecessor. After all, it does provide greater stability and firmness to the movements of the gait cycle, however, some low-arch and wide-foot runners would argue that it makes the upper less flexible and makes the natural toe-off harder than it should be. This is in no way a dealbreaker and it’s easily fixed by simply loosening the laces. This version’s tongue is slimmer and more breathable, lying flat against the top of the foot.
Midsole
The midsole of the Saucony Kinvara 9 is made out of the EVA + lightweight compound that provides great comfort and energy-return, while also keeping the midsole very flexible and staying on the firmer side of the spectrum. In the upper part of the midsole area, there’s the EVERUN full-length topsole that adds another layer of bouncy cushioning. The EVA + is a fairly durable compound that needs a few runs to soften up, but once that happens, the midsole won’t flatten or become hard, but will instead keep the rebound and responsiveness on approximately the same level for miles to come.
Outsole
The Tri-Flex outsole of the Saucony Kinvara 9 running shoe features Strategic Rubber in the heel and forefoot area. The Strategic Rubber is placed differently than with the previous model, where the rubber was placed in the midfoot lateral area as well. This omission of the grippy rubber compound was likely made in order to make the outsole lighter than before. This rubber compound in the areas of high ground contact provides more durability to the shoe, while its strategic placement increases forefoot flexibility. The rest of the outsole features an arrow-like injection-blown rubber pattern that is designed to ensure a faster and smoother toe-off.
Breathability
The Flexfilm upper compound provides a bit more firmness to this speedy shoe, but it doesn’t take away from its breathability – there’s the mesh forefoot area of the upper to thank for that. The simplified no-overlay upper aids in reducing potential hotspots, so you won’t experience sweating and blisters, even during the Kinvara 9 break-in period.
Comfort
One of the biggest changes to the Kinvara 9’s upper, compared to the Kinvara 8, is the tongue. It’s not padded and bulky as it used to be, and a sleeker version has proudly taken its place. The new tongue does a great job at accentuating the overall sock-like fit of this running shoe. Additionally, this minimalist shoe features a wide toe box and comes in wider versions as well – D for men and B for women. The softness of the supportive woven heel lessens the Achilles tension and makes the ride enjoyable and forgiving even for the heel-strikers.
Style
The Saucony Kinvara is a minimalist shoe, to be sure, but that doesn’t make it plain or boring. The sleek, fast, lightweight look gives an aerodynamic impression, and the cushioned midsole is anything but bulky. In this aspect, the Kinvara 9 has continued with the 9-year-old tradition. This new model has an obvious two-part upper, with a noticeable difference between the structured Flexfilm and the engineered mesh in the front, which is a novelty compared to the Kinvara 8. Also, the Kinvara 9 looks slimmer, but isn’t – it’s just the lower lateral edges of the shoe that make it appear as such. The shoe comes in 9 (!) color combinations, with the pure white as a special treat to all hard-core minimalists out there.
Durability
The outsole of the Kinvara line has always been one of its flaws – in order to achieve the desired weight and speed, there can’t be too much heavy-duty rubber down there. With the amount of rubber even lower on the Kinvara 9 than with the 8, decreased durability is a natural consequence. Contrary to some running shoes that don rubber outsoles throughout the length of the base, the Saucony Kinvara 9 hands over some traction duties to the EVA+ midsole. This may lead to quicker wear and tear and a slight loss of cushioning as the mileage goes up. You can expect to go anywhere from 200 to 350 miles in these shoes, which can be an issue if you’re logging serious miles per week. However, this lack of longevity does come with increased flexibility and smooth transition, especially with the added outsole flex grooves. The durability of the Kinvara 9 will be an issue only if that’s the only running shoe you’re using.
Protection
The cushioning of this racing shoe is just where it needs to be – protective enough so you don’t feel the miles on your feet, but firm enough to protect your feet from having to flex too much on longer runs. The protective woven heel that supports the Achilles tendon is not a route you see often, but for runners who tend to experience discomfort in that area, this will surely be a welcome trait. The Saucony Kinvara 9 isn’t a waterproof shoe, so if you like to run in every weather, make sure you have a sturdier shoe for snowy and rainy days.
Responsiveness
The EVA + midsole, together with the EVERUN topsole, make for an amazing pairing that delivers continuous bounce and energy-return while remaining cushioned. The ride in the Kinvara 9 shoe will be lively, energized and springy, with the grooved outsole providing a smoother transition, encouraging a faster heel strike to toe-off. The overall responsiveness of this running shoe is fantastic, with the forefoot feeling just a little bit snappier.
Support
The Saucony Kinvara 9 offers neutral support, which is more than enough for about 50% of all runners. If you have normal, medium-high or high arches, this is the shoe for you. The wider midsole offers slight support and pronation control (as all wider shoes do), so this shoe might prove to be sufficiently supportive for races and competitions. However, if you tend to underpronate or overpronate significantly, you might need to find a more supportive shoe, especially for everyday runs.
Terrain
This lightweight running shoe is best for roads, pavement, tracks, light gravel, and treadmills, but it can provide a comfy ride on a slightly more technical terrain as well, as long as that’s not a daily thing. A running track is an ideal surface that can really accentuate what the Saucony Kinvara 9 is all about – speed, flexibility, and lightness. The low drop means there is less midsole cushioning, which is why we would take this running shoe on a half-marathon, but we’d opt for a more cushioned option for distances longer than that.
Price
The Kinvara 9 price point is great for anyone who doesn’t log 50 miles a week or more, in which case you’d have to go through a couple of pairs of this shoe per year. For anyone that needs a boost on their shorter runs or a snappy outsole for their speed work, this is a very affordable shoe. It’s one of the evergreens precisely because it’s cost-effective to most. Expect the price to barely enter the three-digit category, if that.
Drop
The Saucony Kinvara 9 is a low-drop 4mm shoe, with the heel and forefoot stack height being 23mm and 19mm, respectively. The forefoot stack height, along with the forefoot outsole flex grooves allow for a great feel of the track, while the low-drop enables a natural, smooth ride. This running shoe would be a perfect choice for a transfer shoe if your feet are used to medium drops of around 8mm, and you want to go to a zero-drop shoe in the future.
Stability
The wide midsole platform will increase the stability of any shoe, and the Saucony Kinvara 9 is no exception. The wider toe box is roomy enough so that you can spread your toes freely inside the otherwise snug upper, which allows for more natural stability that spreading the toes offers. As for the rearfoot, the Achilles support on the heel adds to the general stability of the shoe, and the lateral upper walls are vertical, which increases the overall stability of the shoe without much-added effort. Additionally, the lacing system provides great stability to the top of the foot and minimizes the risk of injury from a twisted ankle. This lightweight running shoe is a great option for every runner that leans toward a firmer racing shoe that provides enough stability, given the category and the purpose of the shoe itself. Of course, there are always dedicated stability shoes if you require some additional support while running.
Flexibility
The Flexfilm engineered mesh upper offers a great blend of structure and flexibility and it moves effortlessly to follow the natural movement of the foot. The outsole forefoot grooves have deepened on this newest Kinvara version, making them more flexible than before. The Kinvara 9 is made to work with you, not against you, so this forefoot flexibility allows for a stronger toe-off and a comfier ride. Much like the Kinvara 8, the 9 requires a short break-in period in order to soften up the EVA+ midsole (which isn’t a single-density one but features multiple layers) and achieve the maximum flexibility levels.
Traction
The Strategic Rubber on the forefoot and rearfoot of the outsole, combined with the foamy midsole, provide good traction on dry terrain, without making the shoe heavy. The low drop and a light touch of the outsole rubber give more ground feel while running, and the shoe will handle the terrains it’s made for with ease, even on a lightly wet surface.
Bottom Line
The Kinvara line has a steady fan base that won’t be disappointed by the latest addition of the Saucony brand. This racing shoe is lightweight, comfortable, very flexible and extremely responsive, with a low 4mm drop that enables a natural heel-to-toe stance and good ground feel. It’s one of the best minimalist running shoes on the market and every runner who isn’t all that crazy for extra cushioned, bulky running shoes will fall head over toes for them. With a great design and a better price point, the Kinvara 9 is a really attractive shoe. However, no one’s perfect, including the Kinvara 9, which sacrificed a bit of its durability to its light weight and flexibility required for speed training.
