Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Nothing further afield worth the detour from this lineup.
Sizing note
Sinister run snug — go up half a size, especially for long runs.
Durability
Plated models here average ~250 mi; non-plated land closer to ~330 mi.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Saucony Fastwitch 9 | Saucony Sinister | Saucony Kinvara 16 | Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 6 | Adidas Adizero RC 5 | Topo Athletic ST-6 | Nike Flex Experience Run 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 139 g / 4.9 oz | 198 g / 7.0 oz | 210 g / 7.4 oz | 210 g / 7.4 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 240 g / 8.5 oz |
| Drop | 4 mm | 6 mm | 4 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 0 mm | 6 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 20 mm | 25 mm | 29 mm | 23 mm | 28 mm | 18 mm | 26 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Narrow | Narrow | Standard | Very wide | Standard | Very wide | Standard |
| Plate | — | Carbon | — | — | — | — | — |
| Intended pace | 5:30–7:15 /mi | 5:15–7:15 /mi | 6:30–8:30 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 6:15–8:30 /mi | 7:00–9:30 /mi | 9:00–12:00 /mi |
| Purpose | Race day, Tempo | Race day, Tempo | Tempo, Daily | Tempo, Daily | Tempo, Race day | Tempo, Daily | Daily |
| Sizing | Size up ½ | Size up ½ | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~250 mi | ~250 mi | ~400 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~350 mi |
| Price | $100 | $180 | $140 | $110 | $90 | $125 | $75 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.