Speedland RX:FPY Initial Review: 4 Comparisons

Article by Sam Winebaum

Speedland RX:FPY ($299, including removable carbon plate)

IIntroduction

The RX:FPY is trail innovator Speedland’s first dedicated road shoe. It follows Speedland’s signature formula of a removable midsole to which a forked carbon plate (included here) can be attached and a BOA System “lacing” system, here a single L2 dial that can be micro adjusted without releasing the tension. 

Both foams (outer carrier and inner midsole) are supercritical bringing the weight to men’s  8.3 oz / 238g US US M 8.5 (with plate add 21g / 0.74 oz) for a  “super shoe grade" 40mm heel / 33mm forefoot stack height with a notably broad (and stable) 90mm heel platform with, more than the usual for super shoes, while the other platform dimensions are along the lines of supershoes.

The removable insole is softer and yet more energetic than the outer carrier and is supercritical  “uncompressed foam” while the outer carrier is also supercritical foam. 

Speedland does not give more details but the inner midsole if the same as the similar UA Mega may be a supercritical EVA with the outer either a TPEE, eTPU, or PEBA. Suffice to say the combination is super energetic with a friendly quick return and no sensation of “seams”  glue or otherwise between them and this even carries forward to the carbon plate  

I said first road shoe but in a collaboration with Under Armour the recently released UA Infinite Mega (RTR Review) is a very close sibling differing in having a heavier TPU carrier and a dual dial BOA with an innovative and highly effective heel wrap approach. It is considerably heavier at 10.65  oz / 302g US8.5 than the FPY as it is higher stack with a non supercritical TPu outer carrier with a more mellow ride with no carbon plate.

Fun fact the FPY is named for Speedland sponsored athlete Don Reichelt who is a former RTR contributor.

Before we get into the details, readers may question the $299 pricing.  While I have only been able to run fairly short and slow so far due to a knee injury, I am convinced assuming good outsole durability which I expect, that the pricing is more than fair as essentially you get two shoes in one, a carbon plated uptempo and even for me any day daily trainer. It can also be a racer If you have found “elite” shoe over rigid and prescriptive and then morph removing the plate to a more mellow daily trainer that can also handle for sure recovery type runs as it also has some flex, always important at slower paces.  

Pros:

Versatile: one road shoe for training and racing. 

The removable plate makes it two shoes in one

Energetic well blended ride: with or without plate ( prefer the plate in at all times so far.)

Wide variety of feet should be happy due to the BOA System's adaptability 

Some may disagree but I think a good value.

Cons:

Pricing at $299 is at the upper range for running shoes.

Wish the weight was lower. Lighter mesh and straps without compromising BOA and its hold?

Most comparable shoes 

Brooks Glycerin Max

Hoka Skyward X

ASICS Superblast 

Nike Vomero 18

Stats

Approx.Weight: men's US 9 / 241 g without plate, 9.4 oz /262g  

  Sample Weight: men’s  8.3 oz / 238g US US8.5 (with plate add 21g / 0.74 oz)  

Stack Height: men’s  40mm heel /  33mm forefoot 7(mm  drop spec) 

Platform Width: 95 mm heel / 70 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot 

First Impressions, Fit and Upper

The upper is a spacer mesh with of course the BOA Fit System as its closure. 

Basically the mesh appears to be an outer grid of non stretch monofilament type threads with the inner main mesh a soft thin and stretchy mesh. 

Clever as the outer grid provides structure and hold everywhere while the inner mesh has some give and soft on foot comfort. I expect the upper to be very breathable.

Of course, the BOA is a key feature. Using dual L2 micro adjustable dual direction dials putting on a taking the shoe off is a pleasure and of course can be adjusted very easily on the run. 

The dials and cords in combination with their soft suede like straps deliver a superb lockdown with no pressures anywhere. 

This comfort is assisted by the stretch knit tongue which directly under the straps has some standoff 3D structure.

The rear collars are well padded with the pads higher up closer to the top edge which is not overly rigid. 

So far the lateral side dial has gone unnoticed on the run (sometimes an issue with BOA) as it is very well padded inside with rest of the collars as said above also not overly rigid. Rear hold is superb. 

There is a firm heel counter but it only a the far rear and extends forward not much more than an inch.

The toe box is moderately broad with the thin mesh having some give for broader feet. The toe bumper, while it looks “big” is a soft rubber-like material.  I am true to size with no issues. 

Midsole & Platform

As discussed in the introduction, the midsole is made up of an outer carrier with a removable inner midsole. Both foams are supercritical with the outer “uncompressed”.  If the same as the UA Infinite Mega, the inner one measuring about 15mm thick  may be a supercritical EVA. A forked carbon plate is included and can easily be attached to the bottom of the inner midsole. 

I have felt no harshness from the plate, just extra propulsion, a touch more stability and also a bit more dialed in lower volume fit as it is rigid and prevents the foot from sinking down quite as far as without the plate on board.

Both foams are of similar firmness with the inner a touch softer and more reactive and the outer maybe denser for support.

The FPY midsole is very energetic, relatively soft and deeply cushioned without ever feeling mushy. The two foams and carbon plate play very well together.  

The platform stack height at 40/33 is at max World Athletics “legal” heel height. Good, if that is important to you and I can very much see  this shoe being used in road ultra championships or Tri where such measurements are made. For example, the ASICS Superblast and Hoka Skyward X exceed the standards. I do not know yet if Speedland has had the FPY certified by World Athletics but will find out. 

The platform width is  95 mm heel / 70 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot. I note the heel is wider (and more stable for us slower and maybe faster ones too) than typical for a race super shoe (often less than 80mm) while the other measurements are fairly standard for a super shoe.

I like that Speedland kept the midfoot relatively narrow to ease transitions off the heel. I also note that the shoe in no way feels back weighted, while up front, due to its rocker and with or without plate, if a bit easier to turn over at slow paces without plate, (as they already have some flex) unlike say the plateless Superblast and Glycerin Max for me.  

Outsole

The outsole is a die cut type rubber similar to what we have seen on Topo’s Specter 2. Not sure why or how but such outsoles, and here almost full coverage, have great wet and dry grip and even nice gravel grip and always seem to provide some at the ground stability. And as I found out is not so great on soft snow.

Durability remains to be seen but based on my experience with such outsoles it should be solid and this is a good outsole design for Shoe Goo if need be.

Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations

Pick your ride! Both are super fine. Go plated for faster and unplated for more mellow. Or even change up during a run. Warm up and cool down going unplated changing in less than 30 seconds each including shoe off, plate secured and shoe back on.  So far, I definitely prefer the plated ride even for easier paced runs as it gives what is already an energetic shoe some propulsion, a touch more stability and a more dialed in fit

I am calling this an initial review as my knee does not yet permit me to push paces but I have been doing shoe tests long enough to know that this energetic, quite soft and fun shoe is a really good one. Actually it is two shoes in one: a mellow trainer and a carbon plated more uptempo trainer and racer while the weight is reasonable if not quite supershoe race light but lighter than most of its competitors. This helps go a long way justify its steep pricing. 

Fit and sizing is spot on, the BOA works without issue or strange pressures and of course they are so easy to take on and off, adjust and go. 

I am thrilled Speedland finally hit the road with this unique, versatile and effective shoe.

Initial Score: 9.5 / 10

Deduction for high  pricing despite its versatility, great ride(s) and effective BOA fit and comfortable upper.. Tough for a small company to work pricing down given their volume

😊😊😊😊😊

4 Comparisons

Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)

Considerably heavier (2 oz plus) at 10.6 oz / 301g US85 with a significantly higher stack height: of 45.2 heel / 39.25 forefoot the Max also has a dual density supercritical foam midsole which is co-molded and has no plate. To help this mega max cushion shoe move it has a pronounced front rocker. While very well cushioned, to a fault really, I found it far more ponderous to move at all paces and especially slower ones if one is not on its front. Yes it is $99 less, a factor for sure but apart from that the Speedland is a far more fun and versatile trainer that can be raced, something I wouldn’t consider doing in the 2 oz heavier less energetic Glycerin.

UA Infinite Mega x Speedland (RTR Review)

Same origins and same general design the $250 Mega has a TPU beads non supercritical foam carrier and I think the same inner supercritical removable midsole but without the plate option.It is 2 oz heavier, has a dual BOA closure and leans more "ultimate run comfort" than the FPY can still move along although I would race it as I would not hesitate to do with the FPY.. Its upper is more generous for higher volume feet yet fit our very narrow footed testers equally as well. A total rarity!

Hoka Skyward X (RTR Review)

I like this giant of a shoe alot and pretty much ignore its substantial weight, 2 oz more than the Speedland, with the highest stack height of any super trainer except the Prime X. It is energetic with its dual foams and elaborate 3D carbon plate playing well together. Nothing wrong with its deluxe very supportive upper which unlike the Speeland’s adds weight. Its true to size fit is slightly more generous than the FPY. Somehow this giant works well with a super fun and versatile ride but the weight difference between the two for sure is felt.

ASICS Superblast (RTR Review)

A close comparison. Very close to the same weights with the ASICS 4-5mm higher in stack, both have supercritical foam midsoles with the Blast a single density slab. While a fine shoe, as with the Glycerin how much is too much? The Speedland is more versatile with both better top speeds and more mellow runs manners. And it is World Athletics legal which SB is not.

Nike Vomero 18 (RTR Review)

Half the price, the latest Vomero clearly does not have the smooth excitement of the FPY but gets the max cushion job done well. It is higher stacked at 46mm heel /  36mm forefoot, and close to 2 oz heavier but none of us noticed that much. If you want a max cushion trainer focused on moderate paces training it is a better value and one of Nike's best trainers in many years. As with several here, if you want a lighter and more fun ride, with more versatility the FPY. 

Index to all RTR reviews: HERE

The RX:FPY is available for pre order with early May delivery at Speedland

  HERE

Tester Profiles

Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.

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