Comments on: Sole Width Comparison Photos: Saucony Kinvara TR vs. Saucony Kinvara 3, Brooks Pure Grit, and Merrell Mix Master 2

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pete,
I read your review yesterday and got nervous b\c the day earlier i had ordered my Kinvara Tr's from runners warehouse. I currently run in the Kinvara 3 and Green Silence :-( " sad Brooks is doing away with my beloved GS" for road and the Pure Grit and Peregrine for trail, and was really excited to get my hands on the Tr. Well to my relief my foot fit in the shoe fine " guess my foot is not as wide as yours" and after a 8 mile run on my normal loop with a mix of trails and roads, i am extremely impressed and happy with the shoe. It fit perfect on my feet and i love how light, flexable, low to the ground and the incredible feed-back with just the right amount of cushoning. I can't wait to run more in this shoe to break it in and see how it feels long-term, but for now i'm very pleased with the Kinvara Tr.

By: Gianluca Gaggio Gaggioli

Gianluca Gaggio Gaggioli — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pete,
I always read carefull your review, and often agree; but this time i'm disappointed, cause i think you cannot compare Kinvara Trail - a minimalist shoes - with Merrel Mixmaster , Brooks PureGrit, or Kinvara, that are "transition" shoes (= conventional shoes with a low drop).

By: Kristin

Kristin — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for the photos. I also have a wide forefoot, but have no problems with the Kinvara 3 or Pure Grit, both of which are among my favorite shoes. I was considering the Kinvara TR, but the width is noticeably thinner as you pointed out in your last post. Now I am having second thoughts.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Ken B.

Actually, the pictures reflect pretty well how the forefoot fit in the three shoes feels to me. Brooks and Merrell both feel much roomier on my feet. It also shows that both the Brroks and Merrell have a wider base. If you like a tighter fit with a narrower base, by all means, enjoy running in the Kinvara TR's. No need to get all worked up about a photo :)

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pete,
Great photos! I have been trying to decide whether or not I should purchase the Kinvara TR's, but the pictures made my decision for me. I am a dedicated supporter of the Kinvara road shoe, but the TR's look too narrow for my wider feet. Do you know if they make wider versions of the TR?

By: Dan H

Dan H — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Interesting comparisons. I think there's a tendency for shoe designers to keep the forefoot narrower in trail shoes so that you are more secure with the off camber footing, twisting, etc that goes along with running a rugged trail. Personally, I'd rather have more room up there as long as my heel and mid-foot are secure.

When Shoeftr has scanned the TR, I think that will be more telling than an outside sole shot though.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Ken B.

I can comment quite well about how a shoe fits by putting it on my foot ;) It's not that complicated. You have your preferences, I have mine.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Nils.

I agree that the road Kinvara sole is a bit flared, but my foot and toes tell me all I need to know about the width difference ;)

By: Ken B

Ken B — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Pete Larson.

True, so your pictures up above are of no value.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Showing a picture of the bottom of the shoe isn't at all representative of how the inside of a shoe fits. I generally trim off the excess material around the outside of a shoe to make it a bit more responsive. The Brooks PureGrit, for example, has all kinds of extra material there to provide a more "stable" platform. The Kinvara 3 also has a wide platform. Showing the sole of a shoe provides little information about how that shoe will fit.

I definitely do not have narrow feet, my left foot boarders D and 2E width, and my foot fits just fine in the Kinvara TR. What Pete is complaining about is the taper in the toebox, and the taper in a performance shoe is integral to its performance. While this shoe might not fit the same as the Kinvara road shoe, it does fit appropriately for its intended use.

I would not consider running repeats on asphalt in a trail shoe an adequate way of assessing that shoes functionality, it is a trail shoe! Perhaps Pete should relegate reviews of trail shoes to someone with actual experience as a mountain runner.

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to NeilTryAthlete.

Running Warehouse reports weights in size 9, so if I'm lazy and don't weigh my own size 10's that's what I usually report in the posts. Almost all of my own shoes are size 10. K3 is a great shoe!

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By: NeilTryAthlete

NeilTryAthlete — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think you’ve just convinced me to get some Kinvara 3’s. It seems when you quoted the weights of the K1, K2 and K3 versions (in your reviews) you had size 10 for Kinvara 2’s and size 9 for the others. I’ve been using K2’s and they were a little tighter than other Saucony shoes I’ve had (Ride, Ride 2 and Phoenix 4) despite being the “same size” (9.5US). I’m beginning to think tight shoes and tighter laces are the reason I’ve got tendonitis across the top of my foot now. And K3’s with a roomier forefoot look like they just might fit the bill once I’m fully recovered. Thanks!