Summer is for many (and there are more and more of them) the time when running can take on particular declinations. Trail running is one of them: frequenting the mountains and also the beauty of a discipline as diverse and engaging as running in the woods and on the slopes are irresistible magnets. Not neglecting then that it is a very challenging and comprehensive type of training, combining perfecting the athletic gesture with stupendous scenarios where one can improve.
Some of the most prominent outdoor and particularly trail running companies are Italian. Among them, Asolan SCARPA (a very clever acronym that stands for “Società Calzaturieri Asolani Riuniti Pedemontana Anonima”) has a very comprehensive proposal that is presented according to the distances to be covered. Within their catalog, two of their products for medium and long distances are very interesting for several reasons.
Golden Gate ATR
As the name suggests, the inspiration for the Golden Gate ATR stems from the famous San Francisco bridge, visible in the design of the breathable, ultra-lightweight mesh upper reinforcements that intensify at the sides and thin out toward the toe box, where more flexibility is required.
But it is not only this detail that is striking about these shoes, which SCARPA defines as medium-distance and suitable for not-too-demanding terrain and even road. It is its road shoe design, precisely: one could almost mistake it for an asphalt shoe, were it not for some details that are not at all minor, such as the fit contained by the Sock-Fit LW by SCARPA inner lining, which, in addition to facilitating the insertion of the foot and its comfort, ensures a hermetic sealing of the ankle and prevents the entry of stones and debris.
If you then look at the tread, you can see that this is not a road shoe, or not only (in fact, you can use it on asphalt as well): the Super Gum tread with 4 mm variable geometry lugs on a SCARPA design allows traction on unpaved terrain, while the central EVA islands promote flat transition on asphalt. This is then mounted on a dual-density EVA foam midsole and Adaptive Cushoning System in the heel.
It’s kind of like having a street shoe but with a wild soul. With a low weight (290 g for the male version and 260 for the female version) and at a very attractive price indeed for the technology and build quality it offers: 139 euros.
Rebel Run
Again, one should not be fooled by appearances. The Ribelle Run-named “Rebel” after a famous and historic mountaineering boot by SCARPA-might look like a hiking shoe because of its armored construction, but instead, despite its considerable protection, its heart is raced and extreme. The considerable armoring does not constrain its movement and is only superficial: it is there in times of need and to protect the foot from trail accidents, but the function of the TPU band that connects the upper with the sole compartment is to slightly pretension the shoe. The process is very interesting and is also used in construction: a material is “loaded” to make it resist more when subjected to the weight of exercise, effectively increasing its mechanical properties. In short, the strength of the Rebel Runs is increased by “preloading” them so that they are more resistant to stress. Why use this ingenious and simple system? Because it can be achieved with a very limited use of material, in short without burdening the shoe with buttresses and additional elements.
The Ribelle Runs are the result of a highly accelerated period of experimentation conducted under the most difficult conditions: in fact, they were designed, tested, proven and finished within the first lockdown, resulting in a brand new, innovative shoe.
The Ribelle Runs also feature an “inner sock” made of Sock-Fit LW by SCARPA and a 4-millimeter tread pattern with tread blocks. You can find them on the SCARPA website and in specialty stores for 149 euros.
