Gear Geek: Saucony Kinvara 7


Saucony Kinvara 7

Men's 7.7oz

Women's 6.6oz

The seventh edition of Saucony's Kinvara brings the lightweight performance trainer into another season with some new features. The continuation of this popular 4mm shoe provides runners with versatility in tempo and distance. Saucony designed the shoe with characteristics that resemble premium models like the Triumph and Zealot, but the execution is simple and effective. It's a great second shoe for runners to keep in the bag for workouts and races. 

Upper: 

The updated material features a softer mesh from the arch to forefoot, while the heel appears minimized with layered materials. The ankle cup and heel counter feel lower and more accommodating, but still provide enough security to hold the foot. 

The Flexfilm overlay system carries over from previous generations. This offers structure and reinforcement to the portions of the foot with the most flex. In addition, the Arch-lock system sits between the second and third eyelet to clutch the midfoot and provides support. This works well with high insteps, but can limit the width of the shoe for runners with lower arches or wider feet. 

Midsole:

SSL EVA provides the same responsive feel that made this shoe popular. You might read about the shoe being firmer or softer, but the changes to the midsole and outsole just transitions and flexes differently than versions 5 or 6. By removing the large flex grooves from the medial side of the shoe, the solid midsole provides more support under the foot. Combine that with the updated Tri-Flex grooves on the outsole, the experience really is in the same ballpark as previous models. With the introduction of EveRun material in place of the previous PRO-grid system under the heel, the design is more responsive to compression and adds to the firmness.

Outsole:

Following the same concept, the minimal materials help reduce weight, but provide some cushioning and abrasion protection. The new flex-groove design provides a similar feel to the Kinvara with less opportunity to trap debris and gravel in the cut-outs. 

Despite all the pros this shoe offers in performance, I advise against using this as a daily mileage shoe. Pairing the Kinvara 7 with a comfy, high-mileage trainer will allow the life of the shoe and your legs to go the distance.