Review: Saucony Kinvara Running Shoe

[ultraviolet]

I love the detail in your reviews. Thanks for posting this! I've been eyeing these for myself, as I'll need new running shoes soon.

After ending up with all kinds of pain and injuries from motion control shoes that more than one running store put me in, I finally decided to try something (anything) different. Switching to neutral shoes was the best exercise-related decision I've ever made.

Now I just have to decide between the pink and the orange. So hard. Those are my two favorite colors. *sigh*

[nscrbug]

Another thanks for the review. I too, have been looking at the Kinvara...for over a year now, but have yet to pull the trigger on a pair. I've been fairly happy in my Nike Free Run, but just this week started to get some familiar toe pain/numbness (which is usually my signal that it's time for new shoes). So today I ordered a new pair of the Nike Free Run 2 (new version) from Running Warehouse. I'm hoping they will fit exactly like the previous incarnation...but if not, then I will try the Kinvara. I too, need a wide toe box (hammertoes) with a narrower heel. I did try on a pair of the women's Kinvara at my LRS...I tried a size 10.5 and I thought it felt a tad bit narrow in the toe box...my toes felt a little squished. I haven't tried the men's version though, so I'll have to do that. In the Nike Free Runs I wear a women's size 11, and I have lots of toe wiggling room.

Does the Kinvara have a traditional tongue? It's been a while since I last tried a pair on, and I can't remember if they did or not. That is one of the characteristics about the Nike Free that I love...no tongue to move around and irritate the top of my foot.

[OakLeaf]

Mmmmm. Tempting. I'm trying to think if these are the ones I tried on last year ... is the toe box really pointed?

[KnottedYet]

Yup, the shoe has a tongue. It's pretty much sewn down, only the last 1 1/2 inches moves. It doesn't shift at all when I run.

Oak - I'm not sure what you mean about a really pointed toe box? The toe box is quite wide across the toe-break and gradually tapers medially as you go forward. The farthest tip of the shoe would be at the 1st and 2nd toe, where most running shoes it's more toward the 3rd toe (which is generally not the longest toe on folks). Looking at it from above the toe box is asymmetrical, like a human foot. Longer on the medial side than on the lateral side. I guess that would look kind of pointy from above compared to something like an oxford (Doc Marten), but compared to another asymmetrical toe box (Birkenstock) it looks pretty normal.

I like the fit of the Kinvara toe box, no excess space in front of my toes. (I have Roman feet.) I tried the Brooks Green Silence after the Kinvara. The Green Silence has a rounded symmetrical toe box that left a lot of empty space in front of my last 4 toes and felt a bit like a flipper when I ran. I can see where someone with a dramatic Irish/Greek foot would prefer the rounder toebox of the Green Silence to accommodate the longer 1-3 toes. However, I don't get the impression that the average Irish foot would have any trouble with the Kinvara.

[nscrbug]

Ok, since I've never heard the terms used before...I have to ask what exactly is an Irish, Greek, or Roman foot? How do they all differ?

[OakLeaf]

My issue I don't even know whether to describe it as length, width, or toe length.

Even if I can get a shoe that's wide enough across the metatarsal arch and narrow enough in the heel - rare as that is - even on most of those, the outsides of my first and fifth toes rub right at the end of the nail.

So if the toe box isn't really square, if a shoe is big enough, I wind up with this enormous triangle of empty clown shoe ahead of my second through fourth toes.

I may still have to find a pair of those Chacos in Wide - although I'm very hesitant about running in the country with open toes - and they sure are heavy. Can they be re-soled with lighter soles?

[KnottedYet]

Even if I can get a shoe that's wide enough across the metatarsal arch and narrow enough in the heel - rare as that is - even on most of those, the outsides of my first and fifth toes rub right at the end of the nail.

So if the toe box isn't really square, if a shoe is big enough, I wind up with this enormous triangle of empty clown shoe ahead of my second through fourth toes.

Sounds like you've got dramatic Roman feet, like me. I'd suggest trying the Saucony Kinvara in the Men's sizes. I find it easier to run in than even my beloved Chacos.

(the Women's Kinvara rubbed my toes just like you describe)

The Kinvara did NOT give the clown-shoe effect, which I have had in just about every other running shoe I've ever tried.

(I luuuuuv my new shoes, can you tell? )

ETA: the Chaco "Yampa" sole is slightly lighter than the "Uniweep" sole. REI has sandals with each sole option. I have Z2 wides with Yampa soles that are quite nice to run in.

[KnottedYet]

Ok, since I've never heard the terms used before...I have to ask what exactly is an Irish, Greek, or Roman foot? How do they all differ?

Foot structure.
It's more than just toe lengths, but the quickest way to guess at your foot structure type is to look at your toes.

If you have a second toe that is longer than your first toe, and/or if your toes are very long - might be Irish or Greek (or "Royal") foot.

If your second toe is shorter than your first toe, and/or if your toes are very short - might be Roman foot.

There are more distinctions than that (metatarsal proportions, toe break angle, etc.) but that's the short cut definition.

[nscrbug]

Hmmm...I guess that means that I fall into the "Irish-hammertoe" category. I have long toes (when forceably straightened), but in their natural state they curl downwards.