As a runner and bike enthusiast, curiosity in trying out the new Scott Speed Carbon RCs was high. Yes, because the Swiss brand certainly knows how to work with carbon, and the Carbitex that makes up the plate that Scott’s new shoes feature had me very intrigued.
He had already mentioned it here but I was in charge of testing them and wanted to touch with my hands-or rather, feet-this model that marks Scott’s arrival in road running with a new and innovative product.
The first contact
The Speed Carbon RCs, right out of the box, instill some awe. The fluorescent coloring, the thickness of the midsole, and the almost transparent upper make them perceived as racing shoes with an exaggerated setting and born only for pure race performance. And that is exactly how it must be and how you expect them to be.
Such a shoe doesn’t have to be pastel colors, it doesn’t have to be a compromise. This shoe has to say, hey, look at me, I’m here and I’m going strong!
And in all this, the weight of 240 grams plays a very important role in first contact.
You put them on your feet and immediately understand the character. They are very comfortable and there is plenty of room especially at the forefoot, so much so that you don’t seem to feel the toe near the big toe at all. They need to be laced very carefully to fit the foot well, and here we probably find the main mole of the Speed Carbon RCs: in my perception, they would need an extra eyelet. Four lacing eyelets are sufficient to lace them properly (thanks in part to the flat laces that facilitate a snug fit), but one more would have allowed for greater lacing control.
Support elements on the ankle and heel are present, support the foot well, give confidence to the stride, and make even the fastest changes of direction safe. And they do their job without being intrusive in any way.
On the static level, certainly what is most noticeable with the shoes on is this feeling of “unobtrusive security.”
But, once we have them on, the thing we are most interested in doing is going out for a run to see how they do on the road. And, indeed.
On road
The motto of the Scott Speed Carbon RCs is “Faster for Longer” and – spoiler alert! – does not betray expectations.
But let’s go in order.
The shoe consists of 4 building blocks: the lightweight mesh upper, the dual-density Kinetic Light Foam midsole, the Carbitex carbon plate, and the Speed Traction outsole. Each individual element is designed to be light and fast and integrates with the others harmoniously because everything is designed with the same logic in mind. A bit like a perfect string quartet, but with very rock ‘n’ roll sounds, for 240 grams and 5 mm drop.
I know, the technology is secondary and functional to the effect it has in the race but, in this case, it is really assembled harmoniously and without excess.
The Scott Speed Carbon RC, while having the carbon plate drowned in the midsole and “racing” technical features, is not an extreme shoe. It retains qualities of comfort and pliability found in few other products.
The most astonishing compartment is precisely that of the midsole. The Carbitex plate, by its very nature, is rigid at faster rhythms so as to return maximum energy and take advantage of the “spring” effect, and becomes more flexible the moment you slow down, while still making its presence felt.
The spirit of the shoe can be felt from the pairing with the dual-density Kinetic Light Foam midsole. In fact, the effect of the compound, combined with Carbitex, is the feature that most impressed me about Speed Carbon. It feels like tires on your feet. Ultraribassed, precise, perfectly transmitting foot movement and reactions on the asphalt but at the same time maintaining good comfort.
You clearly feel the push of the shoe when you go fast, and when you slow down, you appreciate its lightness and comfort. Above all, however, what is most impressive is the dynamics, which comes not only from the building elements but also from what their arrangement is.
Specifically what Scott calls Evolved Rocker2: the special shape of the midsole that shifts support more toward the midfoot, giving the shoe excellent dynamics in rolling fluidity.
Ultimately
The Scott Speed Carbon RCs are not shoes for everyone and they are not one-size-fits-all shoes to tackle any workout with, but if you are looking for a fast shoe to use during quality training and in competition, you should undoubtedly give them a try.
Especially if you don’t want to sacrifice comfort altogether and are looking for a product that will allow you to perform at your best at any pace.
Lastly, the price. At €179.90, it is certainly more affordable than other models in the same category, especially because of its high technological content.
For info: scott-sports.com