A excessive precedence for the model Scarpa is their dedication to sustainability, and I’m joyful they built-in this ethos into creating the Scarpa Spin Planet ($159) — aptly named for Scarpa’s small step in conserving us spinning round this wonderful blue-green rock, and occupied with its well being and well-being within the course of. Many of the shoe is constructed out of recycled supplies.
If Scarpa is a new-ish working shoe model to you, then let it’s recognized that the mountain-focused footwear firm with roots in Italy is making outstanding strides in off-road working. Though they’re extensively recognized for his or her snowboarding, mountaineering, and climbing footwear, the rising ensemble of path trainers are designed and engineered with the identical excessive altitude-minded craftsmanship.
The specs of the Scarpa Spin Planet maintain the technical and mountain runner in thoughts, however in my expertise this shoe may be for the all-terrain path runner over 50 kilometers to 50 miles or longer, relying on particular person match. This shoe even took Scarpa athlete Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz to victory within the 2023 Hardrock 100.
It performs exceptionally with reasonable cushioning and an general agency journey for lengthy, rugged days. The shoe can go the gap, however my ft want a a lot wider toebox for any 50- to 100-mile efforts. The consolation, help, and cushion are there, however my phalanges get aggravated. The Spin Planet is breathable and extensive general, however as famous with a tapered toebox.
The precise weight is 11.5 ounces (325 grams) for a U.S. males’s measurement 9, with a 4-millimeter drop and a claimed stack top of 28.5 millimeters. Thanks to Scarpa for nonetheless being considerably in contact with the bottom.
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The Scarpa Spin Planet. All images: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Scarpa Spin Planet Higher
The Scarpa Spin Planet higher is a extremely breathable engineered dual-mesh system with structural and wrapping underlays. It has an general minimalist but safe really feel. There are key sections of thermally welded polyurethane (PU) for augmented foot safety across the toebox and across the heel cup for lateral stability. They work as functionally designed and have withstood the take a look at of the path. There’s a thicker and extra constructed up TPU on the base of the heel higher, which gives substantial stability and integrity. The higher is 100% constructed out of recycled supplies.
A novel promoting level of this shoe is the whale fluke-like tongue building that evenly hugs the ankle with softness and stays securely in place. All socks are welcome, and the fluke tail catches particles with out the necessity for gaiters. It retains the path bits out! The mid-step aspect of the tongue is totally gusseted whereas the lateral tongue is elastically related to the bottom of the midsole for quantity changes if wanted. Scarpa refers to this design as Axial TR Tech — in a way it retains our foot axis safe as we sail longitudinally alongside the path.
The pull tab loop is asymmetrically interesting, however its operate is honest to middling.
A lateral view of the Scarpa Spin Planet.
Scarpa Spin Planet Midsole
Scarpa stored their midsole engineering on the Scarpa Spin Planet acquainted to most path runners. It’s a reasonably cushioned high-volume midsole embedded in medium density ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
The midsole nonetheless, has a a lot firmer really feel out of the field over the primary 50 miles than most different EVA foams I’ve beforehand skilled. I’ve run near 175 miles on this mannequin, and over time it has softened right into a extra versatile typical EVA midsole journey, however with out the sensation that it’s breaking down. It felt much like the dual-density EVA midsole within the Scarpa Spin Infinity — additionally try our Scarpa Spin Infinity assessment — whereby the underside layer is much less dense and softer with shock absorption qualities whereas the higher foam is firmer for help and stability. Collectively they supply an ideal, enduring bundle by being each versatile and stiff, providing compression resistance.
As I proceed to accrue miles, the sturdiness and safety have remained fixed. To me this can be a signal that the Spin Planet can face up to the take a look at of mileage and lengthy mountain days. The midsole additionally boasts 45% recycled content material, staying true to its sustainability mission.
A medial view of the Scarpa Spin Planet.
Scarpa Spin Planet Outsole
The Scarpa Spin Planet’s Presa outsole is uniquely designed and engineered by the corporate’s analysis and design crew. The parts and compounds within the proprietary Presa ATR rubber are maximized for a shoe’s efficiency indicators and its supposed actions — all terrain and all day. A Presa outsole is claimed to strike a steadiness between management, precision, and luxury.
The Spin Planet Presa outsole consists of variable stiffness and 4-millimeter multi-directional lugs. There are 4 primary underfoot zones designed for propulsion, braking, grip, and stability — that are distinguished by distinct lug patterns.
The braking zone is predominantly the heel area, whereas the propulsion zone consists of the lateral and medial lugs on the outsole’s forefoot. The soundness and grip run up the middle of the outsole, which primarily based on my variable terrain working, appears to work as acknowledged. In fact, multi-directional lugs aren’t new or novel, however I feel the midsole and outsole mixture of the Spin Planet performs nicely for these lengthy, mild-weather summer season mountain days.
Additionally, as anticipated, the outsole is constructed out of 30% recycled supplies.
The outsole of the Scarpa Spin Planet.
Scarpa Spin Planet General Impressions
The images of the Scarpa Spin Planet on this assessment present the sneakers after they had been nonetheless new and contemporary. My sneakers, nonetheless, are sporting the grime and mud of a summer season well-trodden and path blasted. For my part they appear higher this manner — worn, exhausted, and exhilarated to have skilled rugged and scenic landscapes alongside lone stretches of the Pacific Crest Path close to the place I dwell in Oregon. They stored me shifting ahead and upright on unforgiving and relentless sections of singletrack.
When I’m not adventuring, I additionally put on these sneakers on mountain bike trails with banked turns and moguls. Pondering of the shoe as an built-in entire, I feel it fantastically retains tempo with hurried and consistently altering downhill terrain. It’s a blast. As famous above, this mountain path working shoe is all-terrain and designed for endurance and sturdiness. I’ve already logged substantial miles, and I’ve many extra within the imminent future.
Importantly, when selecting a shoe measurement with a European sizing chart, it might be advisable to decide on the bigger of the sizes by which the U.S. measurement overlaps. It has been my expertise that European sneakers are likely to run barely small.
Moreover, I feel it’s commendable that every one three primary components of the shoe boast recycled supplies whereas having structural integrity. It’s a follow many different working shoe firms can be good to undertake.
As a bike owner I typically reserve the verb “spin” for my two-wheeled highway forays, however throughout this Scarpa Spin Planet testing journey, I verbed the identify, saying I used to be going for a “path spin” — and maybe I used to be.
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A high view of the Scarpa Spin Planet.
