Saucony Kinvara 12 Shoe Review

A fast and crazy-light running shoe

The Saucony Kinvara 12 stays the course for runners who have loved prior versions of this shoe. This edition has new colors and a new design, but the features that made it a cult classic – featherlight design, cushioning, low drop – stay the same.

But you pay a price for a fast, snappy shoe – durability issues remain a problem. Don’t expect to get more than 250-300 miles from them. Not a problem if the Kinvara is only used for races and speed work.

PROS:

Lightweight, fast shoe – feels like you’re not wearing a shoe
Nice design and colors
Snug fit in upper
Good cushioning for low drop shoe

CONS:

Outersole wears out quickly
Not as durable as other running shoes

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The Saucony Kinvara 12 is a great choice for runners who want a shoe that’s lightweight, cushioned, and fast. It’s ideal for short and long races, interval workouts, and tempo runs.

New runners or runners looking to train for their first longer race will appreciate this shoe for its natural high energy return feel.

The shoe is simplistic in design, built for neutral runners who want a lighter weight shoe. At only 7.5 oz for men and 6.5 oz for women, the Kinvara 12 excels during any type of daily run you throw at it as a lightweight, fast shoe.

Upper

The upper on the Kinvara 12 is super lightweight and comfy, the most comfortable Kinvara series upper so far. The shape of the upper molds to your feet, but gives you a wider forefoot and toe box.

With the adaptable mesh included on the Kinvara 12, you get additional airflow into the foot chamber. Your feet will breathe! You’ll have no problem running during warmer weather when humidity and sweat could create abrasion, as the shoe naturally wicks moisture very well.

Previous models had some durability issues with the upper, and the new mesh is much more durable.

Overall, the upper is strong and light with nice flexibility.

Carrying over from the prior model, the Kinvara 12 features standard lacing for a locked-down fit. It’s comfortable and lets your feet breathe while remaining in place.

Your arch is also locked down with a padded tongue via attached elastic stretchy material. The tongue is padded just enough to provide extra comfort on the top of your foot.

The shoe utilizes a heel counter to keep your feet comfy while locking your foot in place. Another improvement with the Kinvara 12 upper is the addition of two padded areas on either side of the heel counter, which creates additional comfort for your Achilles.

The shoe fits great with the new improvements. A wider forefoot accommodates most foot types and lets your toes breathe with plenty of space. You can usually count on Saucony shoes to fit true-to-size, and the Kinvara 12 is no exception.

Midsole

The Kinvara 12 is not as cushioned and flexible as previous versions, but still has a decent amount of cushioning. You get a really comfortable ride with the combination of cushioning in the shoe.

The removable foam insole combines with layers of cushioning to create the right balance of comfort and weight. PWRRUN+ foam provides a springy soft landing with high energy return.

The result is really soft and durable midsole. I love the energy return in these shoes, and the responsiveness is just as advertised.

Keep in mind that the shoe has a really low heel drop, at only 4 mm. You get a more natural running form, as you rely less on cushioning and stability features. But low heel drops aren’t for everyone, and can cause calf strain for some runners. It’s a good idea to transition slowly into lower heel drop shoes if you aren’t used to them.

The overall feel of the Kinvara 12 is comfortable straight out of the box. It doesn’t take much to break in this shoe, and the seamless, snug fit prevents slippage. At the same time, it doesn’t irritate your skin. You get a decent amount of cushioning for how light the shoe is.

Outersole

The outersole continues the Kinvara line method of using an exposed EVA foam midsole with a blown rubber outsole. This helps the shoe shave weight, contributing to the Kinvara 12’s lightness.

The trade-off for weight savings is durability, with the midsole foam being exposed. The Kinvara 12 holds up better than previous versions, but don’t expect to get more than 250-300 miles out of the shoe (less for bigger runners).

The guidance system in the middle of the outsole on the Kinvara 12s helps to ensure smooth transitions and give you a nimble nice ride. You’ll see the split in the middle of the outsole that ends at your toes when you turn the shoe over.

The flex groove configuration that was added to the Kinvara 12 helps give additional flexibility to the shoe. They give you a more natural movement that matches your feet throughout your run.

The Tri-Flex grooves help to evenly distribute weight and therefore reduce overall impact to your joints. Overall the flexibility of the shoe is decent, but not super flexible.

You get a decent amount of traction with this outsole’s tread. Even so, some runners have reported issues in wet conditions.

Summary

The Kinvara 12 feels different than the previous iteration. If you are looking for a firmer ride with more energy return than previous Kinvaras, the Kinvara 12 excels.

Some support is provided through the guidance system and internal heel counter pads, but this neutral shoe is really built for lightweight energy return. So don’t expect much in the way of added stability.

This shoe is a smooth and reliable daily trainer, perfect for days when you want a firm, lightweight shoe. The Kinvara 12 is really versatile and will perform well for fast or slow days, from short to long runs. No matter where you want to take the Kinvara 12, you’ll get lightweight comfort.

Saucony Kinvara 11 vs Kinvara 12

There aren’t major changes between the Kinvara 11 and Kinvara 12. The upper has changed in design, but the snug fit and breathable mesh remains the same.

PWRRUN+ foam is the latest in Saucony’s cushioning for energy return and comfort.