Adidas Adizero Adios vs Saucony Kinvara
Comparing the current Adizero Adios 9 and Kinvara 16. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 4 mm on the Kinvara 16 against 7 mm on the Adizero Adios 9. Coming off the Adizero Adios 9, the Kinvara 16 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (tempo). The Kinvara 16 lists $10 lower.
- Adidas Adizero Adios 9Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Saucony Kinvara 16Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Adizero Adios 9 | Kinvara 16 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 6.2 oz | 7 oz |
| Widths | D | D |
| Upper | One-way stretch mesh with a Lightlock band and Slinglaunch heel wrap | Redesigned breathable engineered mesh |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 28 mm | 29 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 21 mm | 25 mm |
| Drop | 7 mm | 4 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Full-length Lightstrike Pro (single slab) | PWRRUN foam |
| Plate | Thin nylon stiffener (Torsion rods removed) | None |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $140 | $130 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
The Adizero Adios has done it 2 times in 5 versions, most recently with the Adizero Adios 9 in 2025, and the Kinvara has done it once in 6 versions, most recently with the Kinvara 14 in 2023. If you want a shoe you can rebuy without reading a review first, the Kinvara has the steadier record.
Buy the Adizero Adios 9
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Buy the Kinvara 16
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Adidas Adizero Adios lineage and the Saucony Kinvara lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Adidas Adizero Adios or the Saucony Kinvara lighter?
- The Adizero Adios 9, by 0.8 oz in a men's US 9 (6.2 oz against 7 oz).
- Can I switch from the Adidas Adizero Adios to the Saucony Kinvara?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 3 mm (7 mm on the Adizero Adios 9, 4 mm on the Kinvara 16), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.
- Which is more cushioned, the Adidas Adizero Adios or the Saucony Kinvara?
- They are close: 28 mm of heel stack on the Adizero Adios 9 against 29 mm on the Kinvara 16. Foam matters more than the millimeters here (Full-length Lightstrike Pro (single slab) against PWRRUN foam).
- Which costs more, the Adidas Adizero Adios or the Saucony Kinvara?
- The Adizero Adios 9, by $10 at list ($140 against $130). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated September 10, 2026.