Saucony Kinvara 15 running shoes

The Saucony Kinvara 15 running shoe is a lightweight, flexible, fast carbon plate-less running shoe for shorter (10-15km), fast runs. Recommended primarily for runners who don’t like to use carbon plate running shoes for their fast workouts, but want a fast, dynamic and lightweight running shoe for this type of running. Compared to the previous version, the upper has changed the most, the midsole has been lowered by 2 mm, the outsole is the same.

Saucony Kinvara 15 upper

The upper of the Saucony Kinvara 15 Running Shoe has changed the most from the previous version. The upper is made of the same mesh material as the previous version, but it has smaller ventilation holes, softer, more flexible material and a bit more cushioning, making it more comfortable and lock secure the foot than the previous version. The breathability of the Kinvara 15 is still good, but the previous version had better breathability. Because it is primarily optimized for performance, the Kinvara 15’s cushioning isn’t great in the upper, but it is cushioned enough to be comfortable. It hugs the foot tightly, which is important for a running shoe designed for such fast runs. The tongue is fixed, wide and flatter than average. The lacing system has been redesigned to give a better and more secure foot hold. The heel collar is high, medium cushioned and narrow. The upper is made to measure but has a narrow design.

Saucony Kinvara 15 midsole

The design of the Saucony Kinvara 15 Running Shoe Midsole bucks today’s trends. The previous version didn’t have a high midsole either, but Saucony has reduced this further, so the Kinvara’s midsole height is 29mm at the heel and 25mm at the forefoot with a 4mm drop. The midfoot is flexible, responsive, has a high ground feel, and the low drop and midfoot height results in a more natural running feel. As running shoe manufacturers have spoiled us with high midsoles in recent years, this is an unusual but distinctly good feel for those who prefer a natural run and who have the muscle to do so. The Kinvara 15 is designed to give a fast, natural running experience. The midsole foam is made of PWRRUN foam, which feels rather stiffer in this volume. In exchange for speed and flexibility, we have to give up the high shock absorption in the Kinvara 15, so for running longer than 15 km, the Saucony Kinvara 15 is not the best running shoe.

Saucony Kinvara 15 Outsole

The Saucony Kinvara 15 Running Shoe Outsole is the same as the previous version. There are only two small areas of outsole on the midsole of the shoe, as you can see in the pictures, outside the heel and inside the toe of the shoe. This solution is not favourable for traction and wear resistance. To compensate for the grip, Saucony has also patterned the uncovered midsole to grip well, question is how quickly these ribs will wear. The manufacturer claims to use a compound for the midsole that has very good wear resistance, durability, and will confirm or deny this. It is true that the 14 version had the same outsole, but few or no people have reported this as a defect,

Summary

Over all, the Saucony Kinvara 15 running shoe is primarily for non-beginner runners who are looking for a fast, lightweight, carbon plate-less running shoe for shorter distances of 10-15km. The Saucony Kinvara 15 is resilient, flexible, has a high ground feel and no high shock absorption, giving you a natural running experience. As it hasn’t changed much from the previous version, it’s worth considering whether the cheaper previous version is better value.