Article by Mike Postaski, Renee Krusemark, Jeff Valliere, and Alex Tilsley
Scott Kinabalu Ultra RC 2 ($160)
Introduction
Mike P: The Ultra RC is my first running shoe of any kind from Scott - so I have no idea what to expect. I’ve seen some of their burlier trail shoes at long, mountainous ultras in the past. The radial lug pattern was noticeable so I figure that traction must be a selling point. The Kinabalu Ultra RC’s that I’m testing now are explicitly designed for “man-made” trails - I do run ultras on all types of terrain, so let’s see if they can go the distance.
Alex: After being pleasantly surprised by the Scott Pursuit, I was excited to test the Kinabalu Ultra RC. Billed as Scott’s shoe for ultras and long training miles on man-made trails, I thought they might be perfect for ramping up my trail mileage around our local parks.
Pros:
Refined upper, good forefoot volume, secure from midfoot through toebox Mike P/Renee/Alex
Easy toe-flex when running/hiking uphill Mike P/Renee/Jeff
Decent lateral flexibility for such a stiff shoe Mike P
Very secure foothold: Jeff V
Light and responsive feel: Jeff V
Excellent traction given size of lugs: Jeff V
Cons:
Firm midsole can feel a bit harsh Mike P/Renee/Alex
Heel/Achilles collar seems overbuilt, mismatched to rest of the upper Mike P
Somewhat stiff - comes with the rockered territory Mike P/Alex
Outsole peeling off at only 21 miles Mike P
The rocker can get in the way if you get thrown off of straight-line motion Alex
I found forefoot width to be a bit narrow, even for my narrow foot. Not a problem for me, but those with wider feet take note: Jeff V
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.7 oz/ 275g (US9) :: women's 8.71 oz / 247g (US8)
Samples: men’s 9.45 oz / 268g US8.5, 10.4 oz / 294g (US10.0)
women’s L: 8.89 oz / 252g R: 8.54 oz / 242g (US8)
Stack Height: 29mm heel / 21mm forefoot
$160
