Saucony Kinvara 15 Review
By Matthew Klein and David Salas
Saucony Kinvara 15Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 6.7 oz, 190 g (men's size 9), 6 oz, 170 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 30 mm / 26 mm
Drop: 4 mm
Shoe Purpose: Lightweight Trainer/Workout Shoe/Plateless Racing Shoe
Pros: Extremely Light, Different from Other Shoes on the Market, Possible Plateless Racer
Cons: Slightly Baggy Midfoot, Forefoot Takes a Little Time to Break In
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Saucony Kinvara 15 is a lightweight training/plateless workout/racing shoe for those who like extremely light shoes with cushioning and flexibility. The new upper provides a normal fit without being too wide or narrow while still creating a comfortable and slightly adaptable fit. The midsole continues the PWRRUN blend while reducing weight thanks to a slightly decreased stack height and deep ribs that grip and maintain flexibility. A great more naturally inclined training and racing option for those who don't want crazy plates and foams, the Kinvara 15 stays true to its roots while being the lightest version yet.
SIMILAR SHOES: New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel v4, Brooks Hyperion 2
PAST MODEL: Saucony Kinvara 14
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Saucony Kinvara 15 fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The upper is a thin mesh material with excellent breathability. The overall fit is normal in width with moderate volume throughout the forefoot and midfoot. The forefoot fits normal in width with a slight taper up front. The mesh does have some stretch and begins to adapt after a few runs. This transitions into a normal width but slightly higher volume midfoot. The tongue is gusseted and mild to moderately thick. While the upper is secure, I had to tighten the laces to get a secure fit. I did not have to lace lock the shoe and security was fairly good. This transitions into a normal to slightly snug heel with moderate heel collar cushioning. There is a moderately stiff heel counter in the rear that did not bother me but those with extremely sensitive heels should be cautious.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
David: The Saucony Kinvara 15 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The length of the shoe is pretty dialed in but may come off a tad short for some people. The shoe runs more on the snug side in general but does break in well. The engineered mesh upper is surprisingly comfortable for how lightweight and supportive it feels. The width in the normal to slightly narrow in the heel, normal in the midfoot, and normal in the forefoot. The volume is on the lower side in the forefoot and increases through the midfoot. Because of this you get a sensation of shoe hugging the foot in the heel and forefoot, but there is a small amount of play in the midfoot. The mesh has a little bit of stretch to it and breaks in pretty well with good comfort. The heel does have a decently rigid heel counter that has mild padding. I had no irritation with it and I felt it locked the heel in pretty well. The tongue is mild-to-moderately padded and does a good job of preventing biting from the laces. I can feel the laces a little bit, but not in a problematic way. The upper fits similar to many traditional performance shoes, but with a more comfortable daily training feeling upper.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Somewhat
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Somewhat
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Moderately
How Flexible is the Shoe: Moderately
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Kinvara 15 is a lightweight, moderately flexible, moderate stack height shoe for training and faster running. The midsole maintains the PWRRUN cushioning with a slightly reduced stack height compared to the previous version. This provides decent cushioning underfoot with a slightly firmer but protective ride. The Kinvara 15 is the lightest of the series coming in at 6.7 oz for men's size 9. This makes it feel incredibly light and allows it to transition faster and easier running. There is a 4mm drop listed but it feels closer to 5-6 mm. There is a large central bevel in the rearfoot with a split heel design that allows for the lateral side to compress independently. This creates a smooth heel transition into a slightly stiff midfoot. This continues into a moderately flexible forefoot with solid forefoot rocker that starts slightly stiff and relaxes slightly with more miles. The forefoot transition is snappy and works well at faster paces. This is not a super shoe but still manages to turn over well from intervals to tempo runs. Those wanting a shoe to do speed workout without feeling artificial will find one of the best options here. It can also do easy running once the forefoot breaks in and has been a shoe I have continued to reach for during easy runs where I want to feel light on my feet. It feels a little too minimal for me to use for long runs beyond 10 miles. Those used to more minimal footwear and have strong feet should be fine.
The outsole has only two small pieces of rubber besides the exposed midsole. The ribs grip well on both road and less aggressive trails. Those who want a shoe for more technical trails should consider the Peregrine series. Despite the exposed midsole, the outsole has held up well. I have 30 miles on my pair with only mild wear in my normal areas. Due to the exposed sole, I still expect an average number of miles out of this shoe for a lightweight trainer (but I will update this after more miles).
David: The Saucony Kinvara 15 stayed true to its roots with the newest iteration. The shoe has a low stack and flexible feel to it with just enough protection to hit some daily mileage. The PWRRUN blend is definitely on the firmer end but has a decent amount of resilience to it. Despite being firm I can feel some bounce coming from the foam. The 6.7 oz weight is very impressive and indeed noticeable. The shoe feels very nimble on foot. The outsole pattern is more of a ridged EVA, but it does have two sections of rubber for high contact areas in the posterior lateral heel and medial forefoot. The ridges seem to give a little bit more traction to the shoe, but also some flexibility as well.
The outsole has been holding up surprisingly well through my mileage and usage (even on the track, which normally tears shoes up). The shoe definitely lets you use your own mechanics. There is no dramatic rocker here. The shoe has a very slight heel bevel and forefoot rocker. The majority of this shoe's ride comes from how you load it. At slower paces the shoe is very lightweight, but can feel a little flat. The shoe comes to life when you pick up the pace more. I have actually found the Kinvara 15 being great for some track work. The firm and flexible nature of the shoe might make it harder to do long road efforts, but I am going to begin working that into the routine more. Those wanting a very natural feel, away from much of the new technology, can find a home with the Kinvara.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Saucony Kinvara 15 is a neutral shoe with some stable elements. There are no traditional methods of stability. However, there are large sidewalls in the midfoot that create noticeable guidance in the middle of the shoe. The forefoot and heel also have minor sidewalls which also add to the shoe feeling weirdly centered. The heel bevel is centered but the split heel does allow a lateral bias upon landing and breaking in the shoe. This is offset by the slight flaring of the sole in the heel and forefoot. So while this shoe is neutral, there are a few elements that add mild guidance along the length of the shoe for those who need just a touch of help (like me). Those with greater stability needs may need to look elsewhere.
David: The Saucony Kinvara 15 is definitely a neutral shoe, but runs surprisingly stable given its construction. The firmer PWRRUN PB gives you great ground feel and structure under foot. The upper lockdown throughout is good and you do feel very connected to the platform. The outsole traction could be better and does not really add stability here. There is ever so slight sole flaring through the forefoot and heel which helps some. There are also some gentle sidewalls in the midfoot both medially and laterally to give some gentle guidance. Despite being very neutral on the surface, there is some stability in the shoe. I still wouldn't classify it as stable neutral though, due to some space through the midfoot and nearly exposed outsole.
Thoughts as a DPT: Balancing More With Less
By Matthew Klein
While the Kinvara 15 moves in a different direction from the current super foam, max stack height trends, this is actually a good thing. A variety of shoe options in the market is important given the fact that not only do people need different things but even within an individual there are different needs for different runs, workouts, etc. There is also emerging research coming out that suggests that training in super, max stack height shoes (Advanced Footwear Technology or AFT) may not be the best option for everyone. While some people may benefit from training only in this footwear type due to various pathologies, most people may notice slowed or decreased responses to training with them (Matties & Rowley, 2023).
The current theory is that these shoes improve efficiency and may reduce muscle damage during training. They also may alter biomechanics during running, such as shift movement strategies from the ankle up toward the knee and hip (Sobani et al., 2017). The muscle damage that occurs with exercise is also the same stimulus that your body adapts to and gets faster, stronger and more efficient from. Reducing this may have short-term benefits, including reduced soreness, better maintenance of training, etc. Long-term, it may reduce how much you get out of your training. This is not the same for each person and there are many people who have been able to get far more out of their training using AFT. However, thanks to Justin Matties, we do know that those who train in more traditional footwear tend to improve their running economy and other functional measurements more over time compared to those using AFT. David and I have discussed this extensively and both begun to experiment with training with shoes like the Kinvara earlier in our training cycles then slowly progressing into AFT as we get closer to racing.
Kinvara-type shoes allow you to work on more natural mechanics and force production during earlier training where you don't have to worry as much about soreness or paces and the focus is on improving fitness, economy and strength. As the season or your training progresses, adding AFT in makes sense to get used to what you plan to race in and help freshen up for your big race. We are still learning about how all these different footwear types impact our bodies both short term and long term. What is clear is that these shoes are all tools. If you want the greatest benefit out of your training, it may be important to realize that periodizing your footwear may be an important part of long-term fitness gains.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: After tons of miles in version 14, the Kinvara 15 addressed almost everything I could have suggested. The continued drop in weight, the reduction of stack height and the maintenance of the essence of the Kinvara has been executed well. While I would love to see the midsole updated to PWRRUN+, that might ruin or change the purpose of the Kinvara. So for the moment, my major suggestions are focused on the upper. The volume is a little higher than necessary in the midfoot and that could be tailored down for improved security. The heel counter is stiffer than it needs to be and could be lightened for those with heel sensitivities. I would love to see the Kinvara series to use some kind of external counter or a lateral/medial counter design to reduce pressure on the posterior aspect of the calcaneus. Outside of that, this is one of the best Kinvaras to date.
David: I really enjoyed my time in the Saucony Kinvara 15, but I do have some recommendations. The upper is really dialed in, but does have a little bit of space through the midfoot due to the volume. I would like to see that filled in a tad to give more of a hold on the medial longitudinal arch. The other thing I would like to see is widening the fit in the forefoot just a tad. The upper is really comfortable but I can feel it pressing the sides of my forefoot some.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Saucony Kinvara 15 is for those who want a comfortable, moderate stack height, and light shoe for moderate daily miles and faster runs. The upper will fit those with normal width feet best given the normal width and extra midfoot volume. The sole will be best for those who want a more traditional feel foam that is still snappy, moderately flexible and quick. This is a shoe that has a permanent place in my rotation as something that helps keep my body moving more naturally. I have found myself grabbing it more and more as I have gotten used to less shoe again and my strength has improved. The price maintenance despite soaring footwear costs is great particularly with the durability being better than I expected. This shoe still needs to exist as an alternative to the extremely cushioned, maximal stack height trend that the majority of the market has followed. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the Kinvara series sticking to its roots ensures that there is still a variety of options on the market. Given the fact that the body tends to respond better to some variety, the newest Kinvara is a step in the right direction even if that is opposite to the current trajectory in footwear.
David: The Saucony Kinvara 15 is a lightweight neutral training shoe for someone that is looking for a lightweight flexible design away from rocker geometries. This shoe can do a little bit of everything, but will probably be a workout shoe and training companion for most. For those that can handle that design, the 30mm stack does allow for some usage with longer and daily mileage as well. Those that enjoy a little more of a snug fitting upper will also like how this one feels.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Comfortable upper with good against skin feel. Midfoot has to be secured due to a little extra volume)
Performance: A- (Extremely light shoe that does great for moderate mileage and faster workouts)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Sidewalls that are most prominent in the midfoot with good rocker providing surprising guidance for those with mild needs)
Value: A- (Great price for a shoe that can handle a bit of training and workouts.)
Personal: A- (A more natural shoe that has grabbed a permanent place in my rotation as I experiment with footwear periodization in training)
Overall Design: B+/A-
David
Fit: B (Upper is really comfortable with materials, but midfoot could be locked in a little more and forefoot can be a tad wider)
Performance: A- (One of the lightest training shoes on the market. Smooth and natural feeling transitions that makes it great for speed work. Might struggle a tad with longer distances, especially on road.)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Good upper security in most places, firmer base, good sidewall integration. Traction average.)
Value: A- (Despite the outsole design, the shoe is holding up very well. This is a great workout shoe for basically $120.)
Personal: A- (One of my go to track shoes and shorter distance running shoes. Not a full A because I do have some hesitancy with longer mileage.)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORSaucony Kinvara 15Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
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