The fifth version of the Saucony Kinvara takes aim at the same market that the original Kinvara back in 2010. It’s basically everything that a shoe should be – pretty simple in construction, lightweight, and extremely responsive in nature. The saucony Kinvara 5 has overcome the fit issue experienced by many runners in Kinvara 4 as it has a spacious fit in the forefoot. In short, Saucony Kinvara 5 is a metaphor of a functionally minimalist shoe; made to log high mileage while still allowing the foot to perform naturally.

Upper: Saucony made most of the changes to the upper in this update, and to a large extent returned this model to the roomier upper off past Kinvaras. The upper of Kinvara 5 composed of stretchier, thread-like mesh (they’re shiny now!) that is much more breathable than its previous version. In the Kinvara 5 Saucony added a feature they are calling PRO-LOCK to the upper. PRO-LOCK consists of a triangular piece of material that extends from the sole up the midfoot on either side of the shoe. It’s sandwiched in between the outer mesh and a soft piece of interior mesh that attaches to the tongue. There is a lace hole at the apex of the triangle, and the intent is that PRO-LOCK will cradle the midfoot on each side for a more secure fit.

Outsole: The essence of any Kinvara is the midsole cushioning which features Saucony’s EVA+ foam paired with Powergrid foam in the heel. This is one of the lightest and softest EVAs on the market and helps the Kinvara attain almost featherweight lightness while maintaining a decent amount of cushion. A surprising benefit of this foam is that it seems to firm up a bit during faster tempos and really protect when just out plodding along. The Kinvara has long been a favorite for forefoot strikers and the differences between this Kinvara versus the third or fourth model are imperceptible. The outsole of the Kinvara 5 has durable carbon outsole on the lateral side of the foot and forefoot where an efficient neutral runner would foot strike.

Verdict: The Kinvara 5 continues to be an industry leader in the lightweight neutral cushioning category. The Kinvara has always sacrificed durability for weight and pillow like cushioning However; the sloppy mid foot of the Kinvara 5 continued to give me pause and was ultimately the reason for the mediocre rating here. Essentially Saucony updated the upper, changed the shape and sheen of the overlays, and called it good. If you’re a die hard Kinvara lover, then buy this shoe.