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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Saucony Kinvara 5 6 Review}}The [http://www.zappos.com/saucony-kinvara Saucony Kinvara 5] is a lightweight (7.6oz), comfortable shoe that has justifiably become popular with people wanting something more minimalist, but not too radical. While Saucony claims The Kinvara is one of my top picks for runners looking to transition to have a 4mm drop, but my measurements better running shoe from something more traditional. (and others on the webSee below for details of changes from version 5 to 6.) indicate it's more like 6mm. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
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|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-top.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px250px|TopSaucony Kinvara 6 top]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-bottom.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px250px|BottomSaucony Kinvara 6 bottom]] |- valign="top"|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-inside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px250px|InsideSaucony Kinvara 6 inside]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-outside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px250px|OutsideSaucony Kinvara 6 outside]]
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=Characteristics=
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Kinvara is softly cushioned and comfortable, though it's not as soft as a [[Minimax]] shoe like the [[Hoka Clifton]].
* {{H:drop}}. The Kinvara has 6mm of drop, which is a little more than I'd like (I find 4mm is generally okay). However, this can form a useful transition step to a zero drop shoe.
* {{H:structure}}. This shoe uses single density of foam, with some shallow grooves to improve flexibility and save weight. Part of the foam is colored differently, but this is just a superficial paint, not actually a different density. Saucony's foam, branded "power grid" is claimed to be 15% lighter and 30% more durable than standard EVA.(It seems like everyone has foam that's better than standard EVA foam.)* {{H:flexibility}}. The Kinvara is reasonably flexible, and perhaps more flexible than you might expect from its thickness.
* {{H:outsole}}. There is hard rubber covering about a third of the surface area, which protects most of the main contact patches. I found that the outsole and exposed midsole wore reasonably evenly (some shoes the midsole wears faster creating an uneven sole.)
* {{H:shape}}. The shoe is does not match the shape of the human foot, so the [[Shoe Modifications| toe box needs to be cut open for comfort]]. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Saucony Kinvara and Hoka Cliftonversions 5 & 6 ==Comparing The update to the Kinvara and 6 is quite minor, with the [[Hoka Clifton]]:* Similarities** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe boxbiggest change being to sizing.* Advantage A Kinvara** {{H:weight}}5 sized 10. The Kinvara 5 is slightly lighter.** {{H:flexibility}}. The the same as a Kinvara is quite 6 size 11; a bit more flexiblehalf size difference.** {{H:grip}}. The I measured the Kinvara has slightly more grip6 as about 0.** {{H:price}}. The Kinvara 7oz heavier (size matched), but the update is cheaper.** {{H:availability}}also slightly better cushioned in the forefoot. The updated Kinvara is easier also had a little less drop, down from about 5mm to find, as Saucony is widely stocked3mm when loaded. * Advantage Hoka Clifton** {{H:cushioning}}. The Clifton has far thicker, softer cushioning.** {{H:drop}}. While neither is zero drop There are some trivial changes to the Clifton drop is smaller than the Kinvara and the difference seems more noticeable than the figures suggestupper, probably due but these are hard to the softer cushioning in the Clifton. ** {{H:trails}}spot even when you're looking. The Clifton has a lot more protection on rocky trails.** {{H:longevity}}. Both shoes have a lot of exposed midsole"pro-lock" remains, but the Clifton wears betterI found it mostly harmless in both versions.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-top.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|TopSaucony Kinvara 6 top]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-bottom.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|BottomSaucony Kinvara 6 bottom]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-inside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|InsideSaucony Kinvara 6 inside]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-outside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|OutsideSaucony Kinvara 6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:HokaSaucony-OneOneKinvara-Clifton5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Hoka OneOne Clifton topSaucony Kinvara 5 Top]] |[[File:HokaSaucony-OneOneKinvara-Clifton5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottomSaucony Kinvara 5 Bottom]]|[[File:HokaSaucony-OneOneKinvara-Clifton5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Hoka OneOne Clifton insideSaucony Kinvara 5 Inside]]|[[File:HokaSaucony-OneOneKinvara-Clifton5-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outsideSaucony Kinvara 5 Outside]]
|}
==Saucony Kinvara and Altra One2 Hoka Clifton==Comparing While the Kinvara and is a good transitional shoe, the [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>Hoka Clifton]]:* Similarities** {{H:trails}}. Neither has much protection from rocks.* Advantage Kinvara** {{H:price}}is the one of the better shoes that runners should be looking to. The Kinvara Clifton is cheaper, especially when longevity is considered.** {{H:availability}}. The both lighter and better cushioned than the Kinvara is easier to find, as Saucony is widely stocked. ** {{H:grip}}. The Kinvara has slightly more grip.** {{H:and given both have similar levels of drop and longevity}}. The Kinvara lasts a little longer.* Advantage [[Altra One2| Altra One2]]** {{H:drop}}. The Altra is zero drop, the Kinvara has 6mm. ** {{H:cushioning}}. The Altra Clifton is a lot more softly cushioned.** {{H:weight}}. The Altra is a little lighter.** {{H:flexibility}}. The Altra is a bit more flexible.** {{H:shape}}. The Altra has a much better toe boxshoe.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:SauconyKinvara 6-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 top]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara6-5bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 bottom]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 inside]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-outside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|TopHoka OneOne Clifton top]] |[[File:SauconyHoka-KinvaraOneOne-5Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|BottomHoka OneOne Clifton bottom]] |[[File:SauconyHoka-KinvaraOneOne-5Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|InsideHoka OneOne Clifton inside]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|200px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]|}==Saucony Kinvara and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==The [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] offers similar levels of cushioning to the Kinvara, but 2.6oz less, making it a more efficient shoe to run in. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 top]] |[[File:SauconyKinvara 6-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara6 bottom]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-5inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Saucony Kinvara 6 inside]]|[[File:Saucony Kinvara 6-outside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|OutsideSaucony Kinvara 6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:AltraAsics-One2Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra One2 Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]] |[[File:AltraAsics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-One26-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra One2 Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]] |[[File:AltraAsics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-One26-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra One2 Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]] |[[File:AltraAsics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-One26-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra One2 Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==Kinvara Saucony Kinvara and Saucony Virrata Asics GT 2000==Comparing the Kinvara and I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the [[Saucony VirrataAsics GT 2000]]:* Similarities** {{H:trails}}. Neither has much protection from rocks.** {{H:price}}. Cost is broadly similar.** {{H:availability}}. They are equally available. ** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.* Advantage Kinvara** {{H:grip}}. The Kinvara has slightly more grip.** {{H:longevity}}. The Kinvara lasts a little longer.** {{H:cushioning}}. The Kinvara GT 2000 is more softly cushioned.* Advantage over engineered and these features go against [[Saucony VirrataThe Science of Running Shoes]]** {{H:drop}}, causing more problems than they solve. The Virrata is zero dropGT 2000 represents the shoes I expect many runners to be transitioning away from; it's a lot heavier, the Kinvara has 6mm.** {{H:weight}}but less well cushioned. The Virrata is GT 2000 has a little lighterhigh heel and various densities of foam in an attempt to manipulate your stride.** {{H:flexibility}}. The Virrata Compared with the Kinvara the GT 2000 is a bit more flexiblerather clog like.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-top.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|TopSaucony Kinvara 6 top]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-bottom.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|BottomSaucony Kinvara 6 bottom]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-inside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|InsideSaucony Kinvara 6 inside]] |[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-56-outside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|OutsideSaucony Kinvara 6 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:SauconyAsics-VirrataGT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Saucony Virrata Asics GT2000 top]] |[[File:SauconyAsics-VirrataGT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Saucony Virrata Asics GT2000 bottom]] |[[File:SauconyAsics-VirrataGT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Saucony Virrata Asics GT2000 inside]] |[[File:SauconyAsics-VirrataGT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px200px|Saucony Virrata Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}