Say what you will about Vibrams and other barefoot shoes, personally I think the Saucony Kinvara may have done as much for acceptance of “minimalist” shoes and the increased focus on running form as any other shoe out there. Blessed with barely-there upper, a modest 4mm heel-to-toe ramp angle to promote midfoot striking, a full-contact outsole, and a very light overall weight, the Kinvara is a well-cushioned, but largely minimalist shoe.The original Kinvara became my own long-run shoe once I had transitioned to running in Vibrams and barefoot, which is pretty amazing considering that a few years ago, something like the Kinvara would have been recommended only for the “mechanically gifted neutral runner” or something like that.
