AltraVanish PulseLightweight / tempo87/100 · 1 review
SauconyKinvara 16Lightweight / tempo82/100 · 1 reviewWhich should you buy?
Choose the Vanish Pulse if you want zero drop and a roomy, foot-shaped forefoot.
Choose the Kinvara 16 if you want the lighter shoe with a little drop and you have narrow to medium feet.
The Vanish Pulse is 34 g heavier than the Kinvara 16. It has 7 mm less foam under the heel. Its drop is 0 mm against 4 mm. It costs £10 more at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Vanish PulseAltra | Kinvara 16Saucony |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 87/100 (1 review) | 82/100 (1 review) |
| Type | Lightweight / tempo | Lightweight / tempo |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 241 g | 207 g |
| Heel stack | 22 mm | 29 mm |
| Drop | 0 mm | 4 mm |
| Cushioning | Firm-ish | Firm-ish |
| Bounce | Calm | Calm |
| Plate | No plate | No plate |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Fit | True to size | True to size |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £130 | £120 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedReviewers praise the breathable uppers on both, but the fit differs. RunRepeat's Carlos Sánchez and RTINGS liked the Altra Vanish Pulse's roomy forefoot, though both found it surprisingly heavy and RTINGS felt its thin, firm cushioning suits only short runs. Sánchez and Running Shoes Guru's Paul Soriano rated the Saucony Kinvara 16 light and flexible, while RunRepeat found its toe box narrow.
Vanish Pulse
- Roomy forefoot and breathable upper
- Stable, versatile low-stack ride for daily and tempo runs
- Durable outsole at a fair price
- Thin, firm midsole lacks protection on long runs
- Narrow heel and weak wet grip up front
Scores from RunRepeat.
Kinvara 16
- Light and flexible
- Breathable, high-quality upper
- Dependable grip
- Firm with little energy return
- Exposed foam wears quickly
Scores from RunRepeat.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
Saucony Kinvara 16: Gets a nicer, more breathable upper, a stiffer 3D-moulded heel cup and grippier outsole, but the PWRRUN midsole is firmer and the shoe is about 7% heavier than the Kinvara 15.
About each shoe
About the Vanish Pulse
Low, light and flat, the Vanish Pulse is Altra's stripped-back road shoe for speedwork, with a zero-drop platform and a 22 mm stack. Its midsole is FAST PCE, a foam that Altra says is designed for a poppy, lightweight ride for tempo runs or race day, and there is no plate, unlike the Vanish Tempo 2 and Vanish Carbon 3 above it in the Vanish family, both of which add more stack and a heel drop.
A wide-gauge knit upper, flat tongue and heel pull tab keep the build simple, over a rubber outsole. Altra rates the cushioning as low and uses its Original FootShape fit, the roomiest toe box in the range, where the other two Vanish models use the snugger Racing fit. Its tagline promises a shoe to feel free, connected and responsive. For a daily-training option on a similarly low platform, Altra also offers the Escalante 5.
Specs and features from altrarunning.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Kinvara 16
Low, light and flexible, the Kinvara 16 is Saucony's pared-back neutral road shoe for tempo work and daily running. It carries far less foam than the Ride 19, and at 207 g in a men's UK 8.5 it even undercuts the Endorphin Elite 3 racer. Its 4 mm drop is the lowest among Saucony's current road trainers.
The midsole is PWRRUN, Saucony's EVA-based foam, with a removable FormFit insole above it. Rubber is limited to XT-900 pads on the lateral heel and near the big toe, leaving the rest of the midsole exposed. Version 16 adds a more breathable engineered mesh upper and a stiffer 3D-moulded heel cup, along with grippier outsole rubber than before. It replaces the Kinvara 15 and is available in a standard width only.
Specs and features from runrepeat.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Vanish Pulse vs Kinvara 16
In short
Two low, light shoes for quicker runs. The Kinvara 16 is 34 g lighter, £10 cheaper and a little taller at 29 mm with a 4 mm drop, but reviewers found it firm and narrow, with foam that wears quickly. The Vanish Pulse is zero drop at 22 mm, and reviewers found it stable and versatile with a roomy forefoot, though thin for long runs.
- Better reviewedVanish Pulse
- LighterKinvara 16
- CheaperKinvara 16
- More foamKinvara 16
Get the full story
AltraEverything on the Vanish Pulse3 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Vanish PulseSauconyEverything on the Kinvara 162 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Kinvara 16More comparisons
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