Kicking off its 120th anniversary in style, Saucony scored to wins in the Runner’s World 2018 Spring Shoe Review. The Kinvara 9, the Editor’s Choice award, and the Liberty ISO, a lightweight stability model, for Best Debut. Both the Kinvara 9 and the Liberty ISO received the highest marks in their class of the 28 shoes reviewed by the Runner’s World shoe lab, its wear-testers and editors.
“The Editor’s Choice award is one of the most coveted prizes in the running industry,” states Pat O’Malley, senior vice president of global product for Saucony. “The whole Saucony team is truly honored that Runner’s World and the running community continue to put us on the winner’s podium. These kinds of awards really matter to runners and further cement our position as thought leaders committed to elevating the running experience through progressive design and next-generation running technology.”
“This lightweight trainer is a top-performing shoe, scoring exceptionally well with our testers in nearly every category,” states the Runner’s World review of the Kinvara 9. “The Kinvara is one of the lightest shoes in the guide, yet lands in the top 5 for cushioning, too. That softness is due, in part, to the addition of a thin layer of premium foam to the midsole, yielding lots of cush without extra weight. The shoe tested stiff but that feel improves the faster you run. Testers loved it right out of the box, racing 5K’s and even making it their new marathon shoe.”
As for Runner’s World review of the Liberty ISO: “Sometimes support can feel sloppy−but not here. If you love the Saucony Freedom, the Liberty is similar but with added stability. In fact, lab tests found it was one of the most supportive shoes in this guide. Independent bands wrap the midfoot to hold the foot in place for extra stability. The midsole’s bouncy, full-length foam feels plush. While soft, this material is also stiff, according to our lab test, but our wear-testers didn’t seem to mind.”
