Update 1 Apr 2013

I've started doing 9-10 milers with these shoes.  No problems at all - the same, consistently light feeling throughout the run.  I have noticed that the ones I'm using outdoors (around 150-160 km mileage so far) are starting to show some wear and tear on the soles.  Still very usable but they clearly don't look new.  The ones I use in the gym on the other hand (with perhaps 120-130 km on them) still look almost brand new.  The difference is greater than what I remember with other shoes.

Update 9 Jan 2013

Did a 10 km run on the treadmill yesterday in these - soreness materially reduced.  Looks like it takes about 2-3 runs to get used to them.  Still love the feel of just how light these things are.  The next test (judging from the other reviews) is durability.  So far it is about 21 km on this pair (7.5 on another).  Will have to relook after about 300-400 km.

Original Review

I have been running regularly for just over two years now.  Through that, I have been resisting switching to minimalist or transition shoes.  I've been running mainly with a pair of Asics Kayano 17s and two pairs of lower end New Balance and Asics shoes.  Interestingly, I didn't like the Kayanos at first but after about a year or 'breaking in', they started to feel really good!  The cheaper shoes were generally lighter but also not ideal for anything above 7-8 km.  Recently, I read some rave reviews about the Kinvara 3 and was convinced mainly because it did look like a normal shoe and I was getting into a bit of a rut and was hoping for an 'equipment' boost.

I went to a shop which carried the K3 at US$130 but unfortunately (or fortunately!), they did not have my size (they have my usual size but as you can see from the reviews, most people will need a half size bigger for Saucony).  The next shop I went to did not have the K3 but had the K2 - at US$48!!  Evidently a clearance sale of an older model.  Usually this sort of pricing also means that they only have sizes above 14 or below 5 but somehow they had my 11.5 in 3 different colours.  I bought the neon yellow ones first and went back less than a week later to pick up the white / black and the red / black ones.

I've done two runs so far - a 6.4 km and a shorter but faster 3.72 km.  These shoes are fast.  I've always been a mid sole striker.  These shoes make it far easier to land that way than the conventional ones (where the large heel tends to get in the way).  After running with 10-11 ounce shoes, you feel like flying in these 7.7 ouncers!

One thing I regret and will serve as a good warning.  I normally run between 6-10 km each time.  I should have done max 2-3 km on the first run with these.  That was the intention but they felt so good that I kept on going!  About an hour or so after the run, the soreness started.  And it was bad - the entire legs, right up to the hips were sore!  That lasted for the rest of the day.  The second, shorter run resulted in soreness in the same large areas, but much less.  Both runs were on a treadmill so I'm looking forward to the first outdoor run today!

US$48 isn't a lot more than what I paid for the lower end shoes, which aren't half as good.  At this price, you are getting one of the best running shoes ever made.  It isn't the latest and greatest but now I have a pair in the office, a pair at home and a pair packed for travelling - all for a couple bucks more than a pair of the K3s!