Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Review
The day the Saucony Kinvara 8 arrived I received a phone call from my sister asking about running shoes. Ironically, she was asking about where I could find a discount on the latest Saucony Kinvara 8. To make a long story short, this is a very popular shoe, one that you will see at pretty much every race. My wife and other running friends race and train in the Kinvara 7.
Similar to other new Saucony shoes, the latest Saucony Kinvara 8 sole is made entirely of the EVERUN sole. This sole feels incredible and more responsive than ever. The EVERUN sole provides optimal energy return with a touch of support.
If you are a fan of the Kinvara 7, you will like the updates to the Kinvara 8.
Similar to the Saucony Freedom ISO shoe, I was excited to try another shoe with a full EVERUN sole.
One thing that I was interested in was the sizing of the shoe. A number of different sites, including JackRabbit.com, suggest ordering a 1/2 size up.
There are 4 color options for this shoe, only 2 of the men’s colors are worth checking out (blue and orange). Saucony has an all black and all white model that I don’t expect to see very often while running.
Below are a few of the things I like and don’t like about the Saucony Kinvara 8 running shoe. The durability of the shoe is based on my experience with similar Saucony shoes.
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Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Verdict
It’s easy to see why so many people like the Saucony Kinvara 8 running shoe. This neutral shoe has an amazing EVERUN sole that really works for every workout. Even though the sole isn’t as large as a Hoka sole, it provides amazing support and comfort. It’s almost deceptive in my opinion.
The 7.9 oz shoe feels light, fast, and responsive. Way more comfortable than I expected.
The shoe has a few color options that are great for almost any type of run. I like the versatility of this shoe and will continue to try to mix this in my rotation.
The construction of the heel was different than expected. It really doesn’t have much structure at all, which allows the heel to conform to your foot. The upper isn’t super wide but stretches due to the material.
The Saucony Kinvara 8 runs true to size.
I do wish the drop was more than 4mm, but I can understand why Saucony did this with a shoe like this. I do think this shoe would be great for racing and speed workouts, but I would choose another shoe for my long runs.
The price of this shoe is very competitive at $110. You can easily find this shoe on sale so don’t pay retail.
Shop Saucony Kinvara 8 »Saucony Kinvara 8 Initial Thoughts
Having read that the Saucony Kinvara 8 was an incredible shoe, I was excited to give the Saucony Kinvara 8 shoes a try.
The 9.1oz shoe felt much lighter than I expected. The blue color scheme looked incredible and the really liked the sole. I am not sure if the pictures show how the sole is almost clear up front towards the toe with EVERUN in the background of it.
When I put the shoes on and walked around, the shoe almost felt like a sock, it was that comfortable. I noticed the low drop of the shoe but liked how fast they felt.
I did think the tongue was longer than I think it needed to be.
Here are some pictures of the shoes I wore for this review.
Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Specifications
- Shoe Weight: Men’s: 7.9 oz (size 9)
- Shoe Category: Neutral
- Pronation: Moderate
- Sole Offset: 4mm
- Heel Stack Height: 22mm
- Forefoot Stack Height: 18mm
- Cushioning: EVERUN (full sole)
- Surface: Road
- Previous Model: Saucony Kinvara 7
Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Overview
The Saucony Kinvara 8 running shoe is a neutral running shoe that is versatile enough to be used for any type of workout. Supportive enough for long runs, light enough for speed work, and responsive for those daily recovery runs.
According to Saucony.com, “Our first shoe to offer a full midsole of EVERUN Continuous Cushioning. For even more energy return, more responsiveness, more cushioning and a more amazing run from your first step to your last.”
The Saucony Kinvara 8 shoe is really that one shoe that can be used for training, recovery, and racing. It is tough to find a shoe that is as versatile as the Saucony Kinvara 8.
Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Sole
The Saucony Kinvara 8 sole is pretty simple. As I mentioned, all you have to say about the Saucony Kinvara 8 is EVERUN, which the sole is made entirely of.
The Full-length EVERUN midsole provides an incredible energy return with each step making each stride better than the last one. The additional layer of cushioning adds to the comfort with this shoe.
The Tri-Flex Crystal Rubber compound improves durability and flexibility which you will notice as soon as you hold the shoe.
I always wonder about the durability of soles that offer the kind of energy return that this shoe does. I am looking forward to reporting back on how the durability of this shoe.
Below are a few pictures of the Saucony Kinvara 8 sole.
Saucony Kinvara 8 Shoe Upper
Not only is the Saucony Kinvara 8 sole extremely comfortable, but the upper is almost just as incredible. I recently reviewed the Brooks PureCadence 6 and one of my favorite things abut the shoe was the sock-like feel that the shoe had. This shoe mimics that feel.
When you put on the Saucony Kinvara 8, you will immediately notice the mesh upper that forms to your foot, providing that sock-like feel that I was just talking about.
The mesh used for the upper is lightweight and extremely breathable. I expect this shoe to keep your feet cool during all running conditions.
The supported heel helps you securely move forward with each step.
Below are a few pictures of the Saucony Kinvara 8 upper.
Where to buy Saucony Kinvara 8
Shop JackRabbit.com »Other Purchase Options: Amazon | JackRabbit.com | Saucony | Road Runner Sports | Holabird Sports | Shoebuy
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