Details
Brand
Scarpa
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Tenacious treads that offer a great amount of grip and traction• Thin but comfortable EVA midsole with extra cushioning in the forefoot• Extra space in the toe box• Breathable upper made of synthetic mesh• 6mm drop provides great stability
Upper
The upper of the Scarpa Spark is made of a breathable synthetic mesh that allows for excellent ventilation while running rough trails. Besides this, the Spark’s upper features a wide toe box that provides a great amount of comfort, and although the upper is snug to fit when wrapped around the foot, the wearer never feels as if their feet are being constricted. In addition, synthetic leather overlays provide the upper with structure and protect the foot.;The upper’s lacing system is slightly different from many American-made shoes, instead hewing closer to a boot lace system, which offers runners a number of holes so they can configure their own custom fit. A protective gusset connecting the tongue to the sides of the Scarpa Spark’s upper also helps in keeping dirt and grit from entering the shoe.;Unlike many of Scarpa’s other lines, the Spark does not have a Gore-tex lining, which many runners will appreciate since that lining usually prevents adequate ventilation and traps in sweat. Instead, the Spark’s upper remains open and breathable.
Midsole
The Spark’s midsole is made of compressed EVA that’s both durable and springy. EVA has been a go-to midsole material for many running and trail shoes, and for good reason. It provides a comfortable ride while also keeping the overall weight of the shoe down. An additional extra layer of padding on the forefoot is also included for extra protection and comfort.
Outsole
The Scarpa Spark’s outsole is made of the company’s proprietary Speedlite rubber outsole design that’s durable and built to last. Boasting 2.5mm lugs, which may be slightly shallower than some trail runners are used to, nevertheless they provide a great amount of traction that performs on wet granite and lots of grip on dry trails and mixed terrains.
Breathability
The Spark’s upper is made of a highly breathable upper mesh that provides excellent ventilation for long-term of the Scarpa Spark is made of a breathable synthetic mesh that allows for excellent ventilation while running rough trails. However, this seems to come at a price, as the Scarpa Spark has received complaints that its loose upper lacks structural integrity and is prone to deteriorating.
Comfort
The Spark’s compressed EVA midsole provides springy, lightweight cushioning that’s durable and long-lasting. This midsole is firm but supporting and soft without being too plush. For additional comfort, the forefoot has a thin high tensile fabric plate, which is protective but also flexible.
Style
The Scarpa Spark is a trail runner that looks more like a sturdy lightweight trainer. With dashes of green neon that would seem more at home on a Reebok or similarly colorful brand of running shoe, complete with the trademark Scarpa company name printed on the side, but the bright green highlights, blue mesh of the upper, and gray overlays also imbue the Spark with a little more serious aesthetic. But form meets function in the Spark: its overlays give the shoe a great amount of structure while the green highlights also provide for better visibility. It may be a slightly more colorful and less subdued trail runner than some runners are used to, but its dash of flash also belies its Italian origin. After all, what’s the use of having a solid all-around trainer if it doesn’t have a little flair?
Durability
The Speedlite rubber outsole is both durable and built to last, and its hardy lugs will keep their traction without losing its grip for a long time. Unfortunately, while the synth mesh that comprises its upper is breathable, there have been some complaints that the upper also tends to deteriorate after a while. However, this most likely varies from runner to runner.
Protection
With a protective thin high tensile fabric plate in the forefoot and a thick rubber outsole, the runner’s foot is well protected from the rocks and uneven surfaces on the trail. With synthetic leather overlays that provide both structure and protection, the Scarpa Spark will keep runners from injury while out on the trail.
Responsiveness
From the lug-heavy outsole that provides a great grip on the earth to its thin EVA midsole that allows for excellent responsiveness while on the road to its low-cut profile, the Spark is a highly responsive trail runner, which is needed when running on uneven and rocky surfaces in nature. Meanwhile, its 6mm drop also provides a great amount of stability, so runners who don’t want to go zero drop but still want more stability in their trainer will find the Spark a great improvement over many other higher-drop shoes.
Support
While some may find the Spark’s thin EVA midsole as a bit of a disappointment, its neutral arch support will appeal to the neutral runner. However, its thick Speedlite rubber outsole provides a fair amount of support and the overlays on the upper provides structure. This is not specifically a support shoe, but the lower 6mm drop does give a good amount of stability.
Terrain
Made for the trail, the Spark is great for active, adventurous runners who are looking to go out and engage in nature. With 2.5mm lugs that grip the earth and tenaciously tackle rocky terrain, the Scarpa Spark is an all-around ready-to-go trail runner that are made to take to the natural, uneven, and overall unpredictable running surfaces found in nature.
Price
Trail runners can be rather pricey, but the Scarpa Spark manages to stay in a relatively reasonable range. With a breathable upper, lug-heavy outsole, and comfortable midsole, the Scarpa Spark is a sporty, low-cut trail runner that trail runners will find well worth the price.
Drop
While the Scarpa Spark promotes itself as a minimalist shoe, this is a bit of a misnomer: besides having decidedly more weight and complex construction than a minimalist shoe, is it also not a zero-drop shoe. Instead, it boasts of a 6mm drop, which strikes a nice balance between a regular shoe drop and a zero-drop shoe, providing the runner with more stability.
Stability
One of the benefits of the Spark is that it’s not a zero drop shoe but still offers a great amount of stability due to its 6mm drop. This is a fair compromise between the regular drop of a shoe (usually between 6 and 10mm) and the more extreme zero-drop shoe, which allows for maximum stability. So for runners looking for a little more stability but don’t want to take the zero drop plunge, the Spark offers enhanced stability.
Flexibility
The Spark’s upper is made of a synthetic mesh that’s highly breathable and flexible. Besides this, although there are overlays that keep the overall structure together, the upper is still flexible and fits the shape of the foot. With a wide toe box that lets the toes sit naturally, the Spark is a firm but overall flexible trail runner.
Traction
With its outsole evenly covered in 2.5mm lugs, the Spark is a trail runner with plenty of traction. Although it has less traction than a running gaiter or spiked shoes, runners will appreciate its tenacious grip as they run over dirt, grass, rocks, and all of the uneven, unexpected terrain that the great outdoors presents.
Bottom Line
The Scarpa Spark calls itself a minimalist trail runner but it certainly doesn’t look or function like one. It’s a mixture of minimal and traditional. With a 6mm drop that provides a boost in stability and a trail runner that works great on regular running surfaces and the uneven terrain of the outdoors, the Spark is versatile and ready to run right out of the box.;With extra space in the toe box and a midsole cushion that’s thin but reliable, runners seeking a trail running shoe without going full trail gaiter will appreciate the Spark’s low profile, high breathability, and overall tenacity on a run. Part of this is its mesh upper that’s secured by synthetic leather overlays, which protects the foot and provides structure without blocking any potential ventilation. The other significant boost to be found is in its outsole, which is dotted with 2.5mm lugs–just enough to provide excellent grip without sacrificing the natural responsiveness or feel of a running shoe.;The eco-minded will also appreciate that it’s made of up to 40% recycled materials. Besides this, the low profile of the trail runner also helps runners unfamiliar with trail runners transition to this new footware. With great traction, a breathable upper, and solid construction, the Scarpa Spark is for both experienced and new trail runners alike. It may be slightly pricier than other comparable shoes, but runners will feel the difference in their ride.
