Details
Brand
Scott
Breathability
7/10
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• AeroFoam+ midsole• eRide Geometry• Scott Insole System• Removable insoles• Seamless upper• Self-cleaning lug positioning• Lace pocket• Lace bungee• Wet traction rubber
Upper
The upper of this shoe consists of a fine weaved mesh and synthetic overlays around the midfoot area for better stability. The upper mesh allows air to flow in and out the shoe with ease, providing optimal breathability to the shoe. The mesh used in the toe box area has wider holes than the one used on the side of the shoes. Both together, do a great job maintaining your feet dry and cool for longer. The tongue is padded and works together with the lacing system to provide a great fit to your midfoot. The molded heel counter comfortably locks your foot in for to help to provide good fit. Your foot will never slip within these shoes. The inner lining of the shoe is seamless to provide extended comfort to the runner.
Midsole
The midsole of this shoe is the component that transforms the tractor into a more comfortable 4×4 truck. The AeroFoam+ midsole has been made with a more durable and resilient foam compound than other midsoles from Scott. This midsole provides extra cushioning and outstanding comfort to your underfoot. The midsole and outsole, combined, follow the eRide technology, which works providing a rocking chair motion to every step you take.;The eRide geometry of the shoe promotes a mid-foot strike rather than a heel strike. That is good news for your knees and hips as it prevents injuries, and also good for your timing, as it promotes more efficient rides. The insoles are gender-specific, so for the women’s model they are narrower and have more volume, they also wrap up further in the heel area when compared to the men’s.
Outsole
When you look at the shoes from the bottom, you will see the pattern of a tractor tire in the outsole. The 7mm deep and aggressive lugs have been designed and made to provide the best traction for all kind of terrain. The lugs look like studs that make a triangular shape. The lugs point to the front on the forefoot area and to the back on the rear foot area for better traction going down hill and uphill. The combination of the rubber compound, the gap between the studs and the shape of the studs make possible a highly efficient outsole. The lug pattern makes possible for the shoes to have self-cleaning properties and not collect mud or dirt between the lugs, which decreases their efficiency. The height of the shoe when running on flat surfaces and complex rocky terrain make them feel unstable.
Breathability
In general, the breathability of these shoes is good. The mesh upper is finely waved to avoid debris found on the road to get inside the shoe, but also to promote a good perspiration rate. The toe box is covered with a mesh that features wider holes for enhanced breathability, while the sides of the shoe are covered by a more thigh mesh. Both promote good temperature control to prevent your foot from overheating. The seamless inner lining provides good moisture management as well as the removable insoles. You will not have to worry about blister formation at any point of your ride.
Comfort
Scott has decided to sacrifice some weight for cushioning and comfort with the Kinabalu Supertrac. The midsole does an amazing job providing a very soft but responsive bed for your foot. The default insoles from these shoes have been made to provide neutral support and even more cushioning. The underfoot will experience really good comfort when having those long technical runs in the mountains. The seamless construction of the inner lining of these shoes makes them feel as if you were wearing your favorite socks. They embrace your feet with comfort and will decrease the chance of getting blisters as there is no stitching on the way.
Style
These shoes do not look as powerful as they truly are. It is not until you flip them over and get the chance of seeing the aggressive lugs in the outsole, that you realize these belong to the trails. The shoes look just as comfortable as they are, you can see the cushioning pretty much anywhere. The Lace Locker is a pocket placed on the tongue that is mainly a pocket for your laces. It works as a protective feature for your laces but it also helps the shoes to look great when you are wearing them. The Supertrac come in different colors, not many to choose from though. For men, they come in Yellow and Green, and for women, they only come in Orange.
Durability
The high-quality materials used in these shoes and their careful design makes them last for longer than other similar shoes. Reviewers have run on them for over 350 miles and have claimed they still look amazing and perform remarkably. As the lugs are deep (7 mm), running on asphalt and other flat surfaces will decrease the durability of the outsole overall as there is less surface of contact. The upper mesh in both the toe box and the sides is really resistant. These shoes are really designed and built to be taken outside to the wild.
Protection
As these shoes are meant to be worn outside in the wild, they come with all the features so you can have a protected, efficient and comfortable ride. The rocker motion that is brought by the eRide geometry of these shoes not only promotes smoother heel to toe transitions but also makes possible a mid-foot strike that helps to distribute the impact forces of the landing phase decreasing the chance of injuring your knees and hips. The upper mesh is very resistant and will keep most of the debris away from your feet. The great fit of the shoe will not let your foot slip inside it, and its seamless construction will prevent blister formation. A big toe cap will prevent any objects on the road to harm your toes.
Responsiveness
These shoes are not the most flexible ones, but it doesn’t stop them from providing great responsiveness on the road. The eRide geometry promotes more natural mid-foot strikes for enhanced efficiency. The fit the shoe provides is remarkable, so your foot will always be in the correct position when landing and taking off. The energy return is high thanks to the promotion of a roll through motion thanks to the slightly curved midsole and outsole. The traction is ideal for any terrain. These shoes can take you wherever you want to go with comfort and precision.
Support
These shoes are neutral trail running shoes with a slight curvature in the midsole and outsole. The base of the shoe is very cushioned and comfortable. The AeroFoam+ midsole makes a great job providing the best support for your underfoot. These shoes, however, do not provide support for over-pronators or under-pronators. The very resilient insoles are removable, so you can use your custom made insoles or any superfeet insoles with these shoes. The eRide technology promotes a mid-foot strike, for more protected and efficient rides, they promote a better posture and running mechanic.
Terrain
These shoes can take you virtually anywhere you want to go. The resemblance of the lug pattern with a tractor tire says it all. They can navigate through mud, grass, loose rocks, gravel, and sand. Thanks to the multi-directional lugs, you can run uphill and downhill with ease and comfort. We suggest not to take them running on asphalt or complex rocky terrains. As the lugs are 7 mm deep, they will suffer more abrasion on asphalt and they will feel unstable on complex rocky terrains. The height of the shoe can affect your balance when running on the latter. Great for ultra runs.
Price
These shoes are surprisingly affordable. You would think that shoes that feature what they do and last what they last would be expensive, but thankfully the Supertrac are not. The average price of the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac neutral trail running shoes is $130 USD for both men and women. Really good value for your money. Remember that the price may vary depending on the size.
Drop
The drop of a shoe is the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe. The Scott Kinabalu Supertrac neutral trail running shoes have an 8 mm drop. The forefoot height is 21 mm and the heel height is 29 mm for both men and women. The shoes have a significant height that is perfect when running on soft surfaces, but that makes unstable when running on hard surfaces.
Stability
In general terms, these shoes are very stable. The fit in the mid-foot area that the overlays and the lacing system provide, secures your foot in an optimal position. The heel counter also helps to provide good stability and great lock-in feeling. Your foot will never slip inside these shoes and the shoes will never slip on the ground. The only situation where the shoes get unstable is when running on hard and flat surfaces. The height of the shoes combined with the extra height from the lugs will make you feel unstable. We do not recommend to run on asphalt or complex rocky surfaces.
Flexibility
As expected from shoes with great cushioning and a curve outsole, these shoes are not the most flexible shoes in their category. However, they are surprisingly flexible for their condition. The AeroFoam+ midsole is very flexible and resilient. The upper adapts to your foot after a few runs for an almost custom-made feeling. The outsole is not that flexible though. The good thing is that you won’t need to worry about it, the other features of the shoe make your rides more efficient. Once you get used to the rocking motion of the eRide technology, you won’t need any more flexibility.
Traction
As mentioned before, the deep and aggressive lugs provide truly great traction on almost every surface. The design of the outsole and position of the lugs do not only make possible for them to provide a great traction but also to have self-cleaning properties. They prevent the accumulation of mud and dirt between the studs in order to provide the best traction all the time. The rubber compound used in the outsole makes the lugs flexible enough to provide great grip and adapt to the terrain while making them highly durable.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a very comfortable pair of trail running shoes that can take you virtually anywhere, we think you should consider looking at the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac. If you prefer comfortable, lightweight runs, these shoes will make you a very happy runner. The traction, comfort, support, and protection they provide are remarkable. These shoes will take you comfortably through any ultramarathon. One of the greatest things of the Supertrac is their extended durability. They last longer than other similar shoes, and, good news, you will not have to spend a fortune on them. They are very affordable. They come with gender-specific features, so make sure you get the pair that fits you the best.
