More and more companies are recognizing that buyers are increasingly trying to find sneakers that are ideal for a lively lifestyle without the technical offerings found in trainers .
These consumers simply need a shoe for daily wear, a contemporary aesthetic, the occasional use at the gym for a light-weight workout or an easy ride, for his or her daily walk, or maybe during low-mileage runs that require extra support.
The Saucony Kineta Relay Review
However, the first purpose of those shoes is to support a lively lifestyle. to satisfy this need, Saucony brand introduced the as a light-weight cushioned shoe for those trying to find a flexible sneaker for everyday wear but still with good performance technologies for an occasional gym workout.
Pros
Sleek, low profile that creates it versatile during a number of various environments.
Extremely lightweight and breathable.
Modern aesthetic.
FORM2U is comfortable immediately and disperses pressure evenly.
Low heel-to-toe offset giving the wearer an honest amount of ground feel given the utilization of memory foam cushioning material.
Cons
Inconsistent sizing.
Cannot remove the insole and for high-intensity workouts like running, the FORM2U cushioning doesn’t provide the specified level of support.
Outsole lacks rubber layer or traction pattern to be used during high-mileage or challenging runs. It also may reduce the longevity of the shoe.
Aesthetics
The may be a sleek, low profile shoe that works well during a sort of different scenarios. Saucony maintains its unique flowing creek logo along the side of the shoe and features minimal branding on the tongue of the merchandise .
The Saucony Kineta Relay design is extremely minimalist in its appearance without overcomplicating the design with technical details. It doesn’t feature pull tabs or an artificial midfoot cage to complicate the design .
Instead, built considerably within the mold of the athleisure running style, the Saucony Kineta Relay is comprised mainly of synthetic breathable mesh with minimal structural overlays to take care of a smooth silhouette design.
As a result, we found that a lot of users commented on how the Saucony Kineta Relay’s profile made it easy to double as a sneaker or an everyday wearer lifestyle. the shortage of overly technical details within the product also made it versatile enough to wear in certain work environments without being obnoxious.
We found that the “look” of the Saucony Kineta Relay was consistently one among the foremost highly praised aspects of the shoe. Many users commented on how the Saucony Kineta Relay was extremely stylish and tastefully understated. However, we also found that some users desired more vibrant color options outside of the core black, gray, and white choices.
Score: 8/10 – Low profile silhouette design makes it versatile during a number of various lifestyle environments. Some users wanted more color options that “popped.”
Upper
The features an artificial breathable mesh upper with structural overlays primarily within the midfoot for added stability and support. The synthetic mesh upper allows the Saucony Kineta Relay to be extremely breathable without sacrificing comfort during colder climates with appropriately worn socks or during a light-weight workout like short running.
The Saucony Kineta Relay also features flat laces within a standard lacing system that keeps the wearer locked into the shoe comfortably. thanks to the lightweight mesh upper, the shoe was ready to lock the wearer’s foot securely without feeling constricted.
The Saucony Kineta Relay is additionally extremely lightweight product, weighing in only below 7 ounces in men and roughly 5 ounces in women. We found that a lot of users commented on how the lightweight and breathable mesh upper made it extremely comfortable for all-day wear or maybe moderate athletic activity like gym workouts.
The also features a versatile heel that permits the wearer to simply slip the shoe on and off. We found that a lot of users enjoyed this ability on the merchandise despite not having a standard heel tab clustering the design . However, despite the convenience of pulling the shoe on and off, we found no evidence that users weren’t ready to stay within the shoe during daily wear.
However, many users commented on how the Saucony Kineta Relay was narrow out of the box requiring some users to either size-up or endure a break-in period. We found that that the breathable mesh upper will stretch to a particular point along side depression within the memory foam footbed to permit for a easier fit.
However, for those requiring a cushty fit out of the box may have to explore sizing up. For those with wider-feet, we also recommend that the user tries on the shoe first as many wide-foot users complained about the narrow fit and size of the Saucony Kineta Relay.
Score: 7/10 – Breathable and light-weight . Comfortable for all day wear and occasional workout. Sizing tends to be inconsistent and should require a risky break-in period.
Cushioning
Saucony utilizes a hybrid between a high-abrasion EVA foam outsole combined with their FORM2U memory foam cushioning system. The outsole is standard and light-weight , but truth highlight is that the FORM2U footbed.
FORM2U is actually a memory foam insole almost like the technology Skecher’s employs in many of their products or Fila’s Memory Speedstride. We found that the FORM2U is extremely soft and cozy from the primary step.
Unlike other cushioning systems, the FORM2U doesn’t require any break-in time and therefore the wearer will find them to be immediately comfortable.
We found that the FORM2U does a superb job of dispersing pressure evenly across the foot. Noticeably, we found that high-impact areas like the heel and forefoot were equally comfortable thanks to the individualized compressive and rebounding effects of memory foam.
We also found adequate arch and heel support during walks or long periods of standing.
However, the downside to the FORM2U is analogous to the downside of other offerings that utilize memory foam as their primary cushioning vehicle. Most notably, the Saucony Kineta Relay does a superb job of trapping and maintaining heat.
The mesh upper aids in providing some breathability, but in humid and hot environments where the wearer are going to be outside most of the day, the Saucony Kineta Relay may provide some discomfort.
Additionally, while we found the FORM2U to supply adequate stability and cushioning for walking and standing, we didn’t find them to be ideal for runners. While they’ll work for a few runners, the over-compressive property that creates memory foam comfortable can also make them unstable for high-impact activities.
It may be a lso important to notice that the Saucony Kineta Relay is a neutral runner and that we found that some with “flat-feet” or tend to over-pronate complained about moderate foot pain after prolonged wear during runs.
Additionally, with any foam-based insole, but particularly with memory foam, we discover that users typically lose a number of the expressive rebounding properties of memory foam after a few months. Therefore, the wearer may find that the Saucony Kineta Relay not as comfortable after long-term wear.
This is complicated by the lack to get rid of the insole easily without damaging the integrity of the shoe and replacing it with an after-market insole. We also found users complained about having to constantly replace the Saucony Kineta Relay based mainly on the compressed memory foam insole.
Traction
The sole of the Saucony Kineta Relay is noticeably minimalist. The Saucony Kineta Relay features a high-abrasion EVA foam outsole in what seems to be a seamless single construction.
It features triangular lugs positioned round the shoe to supply traction. the only is additionally adequately flexible thanks to the froth compound, but not the maximum amount as a Nike Free, which utilizes strategic grooves.
In fact, we found that in terms of “sole feel,” the Saucony Kineta Relay most closely resembled the Nike Free’s lightweight sole from years past. the apparent difference being that the Saucony Kineta Relay doesn’t reinforce the only with strategic pieces of rubber or added grooves to assist in flexibility.
The is remarkably lightweight that weighs in at roughly 6.8oz. We found that this lightweight translates to a cushty wear-experience also . Combined with a mesh upper, the Saucony Kineta Relay was one among the lightest shoes we reviewed.
The foam outsole also allows the Saucony Kineta Relay to lean toward minimalist properties. The Saucony Kineta Relay features a 4mm heel-to-toe offset. We found this be one among the foremost attractive parts of the shoe because it provided a uniquely cushioned experience through the memory foam insole along side a decently responsive feel.
The Saucony Kineta Relay’s sole also doesn’t provide tremendous traction because the triangular lugs offer some support, but we found many users complained about noticeable slippage during wet conditions and even during some dry, yet uneven surfaces.
As a result, we caution consumers that the might not be absolutely the most suitable option for daily runs, particularly in damp conditions.
We found that the Saucony Kineta Relay are going to be fine for many conditions as an everyday comfort shoe. We found many casual wearers chose the Saucony Kineta Relay for the comfortable footbed during a lightweight package.
Additionally, for active audiences, the Saucony Kineta Relay will serve most general purposes adequately. as an example , we found that a lot of preferred the Saucony Kineta Relay for a few gym activities due to its comfort and light-weight .
Score: 5/10 – Extremely lightweight and foam compound is extremely comfortable. the shortage of an outlined traction limits the shoe as a runner or high-impact trainer. Users also commented on potential slipping issues in damp conditions.
Price
The Saucony Kineta Relay retailed for 69.99 for both men and ladies , but at the time of this writing, we were ready to find prices as low as 45.00 (). However, given the sturdiness of the memory foam insole, we still feel that 45 could also be a tad too high for a shoe that we found wearers complained had to get replaced every 3-6 months.
At retail, we might instead recommend that buyers go searching for similar lightweight offerings with a memory foam footbed like the Skechers Equalizer 2.0 which also features a knit upper.
Score: 5/10 –Due to the questionable durability of the lightweight outsole, the Saucony Kineta Relay could also be a tad too expensive even at sale prices. At a minimum, consumers should go searching and compare similar offerings at this price point.
Target Audience
The is right for those trying to find a cushty everyday wearer at a comparatively affordable price. We also anticipate this being perfect for those not expecting long-term durability.
Memory foam shoes also are popular among people whose jobs require long standing hours. Nurses, teachers, postmen etc. all rank high on the list. Memory foam also helps alleviate the strain of the feet and prevents some sorts of pain.
The Saucony Kineta Relay is additionally ideal for those seeking a shoe for low-impact activity like walking or stationary gym activities like weight-lifting. The lightweight makes it barely noticeable while the FORM2U footbed makes it adequately comfortable.
However, for those trying to find a long-term durable shoe which will handle high-mileage runs additionally to serving as a commuting or casual shoe, we feel that the Saucony Kineta Relay may offer limited utility.
For those activities, we recommend consumers compare the Saucony Kineta Relay to offerings from Skechers which also offer a memory foam footbed additionally to a rubber outsole layer.
Score: 7/10 –Extremely versatile and excellent for those on their feet tons throughout the day in office environments. Not ideal for long runs or wet, slippery conditions.
Should You Buy It?
No – The offers much in terms of everyday comfort from its light weight to the FORM2U memory foam insole. We found that users loved the flexibility of having the ability to wear the shoe as a daily wearer and to the gym.
The Saucony Kineta Relay is additionally amazingly well-designed aesthetically and excellent for the stylishly-inclined. However, given the worth along side questions regarding its durability and traction, we recommend that buyers a minimum of consider other offerings before purchasing the Saucony Kineta Relay.
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