Saucony Kinvara 14 vs Ride 17: Which One? (2024 Comparison)
The Saucony Kinvara and Ride are among the American brand’s bestsellers but feature different configurations.
The Kinvara comes with less cushioning and a firmer underfoot feel but with the advantage of being lighter and more responsive.
On the other hand, the Saucony Ride is for daily training and longer distances. Therefore, it’s more cushioned with a higher stack that feels softer.
However, the latest versions of these shoes nuance these differences. As a result, these models are more similar than in the past. For example, the Kinvara 14 has a higher stack height, with 31 mm in the heel versus 35 mm for the Ride 17. There’s a difference, but it’s less obvious. Similarly, the underfoot feel is balanced in both cases.
What’s more, the low heel-to-toe drop of the Kinvara 14 (4 mm vs. 8 mm for the Ride 17) means that the height under the toes is the same (27 mm). However, it also makes the shoes less accessible as a low drop is not comfortable for everyone and may require a time of adaptation.
Finally, despite this slight difference in cushioning, the Kinvara is much lighter, weighing 1.8 oz / 50 g less. That’s quite a feat for a daily trainer!
Kinvara or Ride: Which One Is Best for You?
There’s a trend among running brands in 2024 to ramp up cushioning, even for shoes that historically were relatively close to the ground and offered moderate shock absorption. The Saucony Kinvara is no exception and now offers a similar level of cushioning as the Ride.
However, it’s lighter, with greater energy return.
Clearly, the choice primarily depends on your cushioning preferences and drop preferences. For long distances at slow to medium speeds, the Saucony Ride 17 may be more suitable. For everything else, the Kinvara has the advantage, especially for runs at faster paces!
Side-By-Side Comparison Table
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| Overview | ||
| Description | The Saucony Ride 17 is a highly versatile running shoe that runners love for daily training. | |
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9
9
9.5
9
9.5
9.5
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9.5
9
9.5
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9
9.5
9
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| Facts | ||
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Heel stack height | 29 mm | 35 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 25 mm | 27 mm |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 4 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight (men) | 204 g | 270 g |
| Weight (women) | 168 g | 238 g |
| Features | Vegan, Heavy runner, Recycled materials, Rocker | |
| Athletes | ||
| Release year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Technologies | ||
| Outsole | XT900 Rubber | |
| Midsole | PWRRUN+ | |
| Upper | FORMFIT | |
| Cushioning | ||
| Cushioning | Firm | Balanced |
| Responsiveness | Medium | Medium |
| Use | ||
| Distance | Short|5 km|Mid|10K|Half marathon | Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon |
| Speed | Moderate|Fast | Slow, Moderate |
| Workouts | Daily running | Daily running |
