Scott: T2 Comp

STATISTICS

Shoe- Scott T2 Comp
Weight- 261g
Heel Height- 27mm (self measure)
Toe Height- 17mm (self measure
Stability- 7/10
Cushioning- 8/10
Durability- 9/10
Comfort- 9/10
Miles Run- 188miles
Longest Run- 45.7miles
Terrains- Hard-Pack Trail, Soft Mud, Canal Path, bridleway, chalk, clay, Road

Style and Type:
Yes Scott do running shoes and this is their flagship trainer racer
The Scott T2 is advised as a shoe that is cushioned enough for training and light enough for racing which I totally agree with! It has a low profile and lightweight features so I found it easily doubles as a long distance road race shoe (half marathon and up for serious runners). It has also been built with Stability in mind so recreational runners can use it for training and racing in all distances.

Fit and Feel:

The first of several real deal sealers for Scott is the fit of the T2. The width hugs my foot in the right spots with enough flexibility to allow natural foot movement and toe splay. Scott uses their Ergologic Ride to help the transitional feel from hell strike to toe off. The fit has a hard to achieve combination of flexibility and strong foot hold. The supple overlays allow the foot to be fastened but flexible (important for fitting different foot shapes) and the foot liners wrap the foot seamlessly to ensure good foot stability and increased forefoot flex. Only thing I would change in respect to fit is the depth of the toe-box, my big toe has a little top down pressure which was completely alleviated by removing the footbed. The shoe fits half a size small compared to most brands to so this could just be a result of that.

Outsole:

A carbon grip is used in all the high wear areas of the outsole and Scott have ensured that the durability of the outsole and materials used are the same at the lateral front of the shoe as they are at the heel of the shoe. This is something I talk about regularly in reviews as it seems to be a common area of fault from a lot of other lightweight shoes. By using the same materials the shoe becomes ideal for forefoot strikers as well as rearfoot and midfoot strikers.


Midsole:

Scott has used a rockered platform which is slightly different to the Hoka and Tecnica platforms. Simply put a bar is placed across the midsole of the foot right at the beginning of the medial arch. Now this placement is crucial as it is at this point the foot begins to rotate and twist which pronates the foot (not necessarily overpronates, two different things). At this point the midsole raises up ‘hump’ like and protects the foot right under the navicular (the navicular bone drop has had a lot of interest lately from BROOKS and they have put navicular pods on both the Adrenaline models and Ravenna from Brooks). This support stops the foot from excessively rotating and increases propulsion as you transition off this ‘hump’. I love this feature as it allows for support and stability of the foot and gait without having to include heavy and dense EVA midsoles to the mid/rearfoot. The hump runs straight across to the other side of the foot which is perhaps my only issue with it. To increase the stability further if this hump was slightly graded off (higher medially and lower laterally) then it creates a varus wedge type effect with repositioning the foot. For example Brooks with the Defyance and Asics with the Nimbus create this varus wedge by making the medial side of the rearfoot EVA thicker than the lateral side. This does help prevent overpronation even in Neutral/cushioned shoes but it does mean the foot sits unnaturally high on one side. Another option for the hump/rocker is to put it diagonally across the shoe. This would stop the lateral hump sitting on and aggravating the cuboid bone in some people (not a problem for me) and then act as a guidance system to increase population. (See Tecnica Diablo Max shoe review for more on rockers)
Another great feature is the carbon shank used in the midfoot. I have also loved this feature in other shoes and feel it does a great job of returning energy into the foot whilst keeping it stable. Asics new 33 line have just elaborated on this idea to be shaped like the Plantar Fascia which I see as nothing more than marketing. The placement and stiffness of this by Scott is already spot on. It’s not too hard that you feel it but it is defiantly a contributing factor to why my foot feels so damn comfortable and efficient in the T2

Upper:

The upper has a great wrap around the foot and is extremely lightweight for a traditional shoe. Drainage is very good which helps keep the shoe breathable. Lacing is very secure although I had to change the thinner lace for a thicker one (Scott are changing this in newer models) and supremely comfortable. The tongue is exactly how I would design it for any shoe, no excessive use of foam where not needed. The tongue only has some soft foam across the top of the midfoot where you tie the laces off. This stops the laces digging into the foot and helps the rest of the tongue just be light, flexible and comfortable.


Grip:

The carbon rubber grip is very sticky on roads which is handy considering it’s a road shoe! Not had a single issue on roads/pavements in the rain either which is a real bonus. The mild winter means I have not tested this in harder conditions but the Grip is the same type that is used in the Adidas Adios which I have a lot of experience with and never an issue. So far this grip has been extremely durable too. Almost 200miles in and no signs of excessive breakdown.

Conclusion:

Light, protected, innovative and durable makes this shoe a MUST try for everyone. It really is game changer to be as light as a racing flat without having to needlessly drop the heel down to a smaller height. I think this is the shoe a lot of people who can’t handle 0mm-8mm drop shoes but like the lightweight feel have been waiting for. This will definitely stay in my shoe rotation and I genuinely look forward to running in it when I put it on. If I’m changing anything then I am looking at improving the rocker/hump to better accommodate every runner but I imagine this is not easily done. I would also have that toebox with a couple mm’s more depth to allow the natural plantar flexion of the 1st met heads. You won’t be disappointed in this shoe if you need a new road runner.

Please email at ra_felton@yahoo.co.uk for more questions or feedback or leave a comment.

QUICK SHOE REVIEWS: SAUCONY KINVARA

STATISTICS

Shoe- Saucony Kinvara
Weight- 216g
Heel Height- 16mm
Toe Height- 12mm
Stability- 3/10
Cushioning- 7/10
Durability- 4/10
Comfort- 9/10
Miles Run- 142
Longest Run- 45.7miles
Terrains- Road, Hard-Pack Trail, Soft Mud, Canal Path
Style and Type:
Billed as a minimalist shoe with lots of cushioning. For me true minimalism would be a racing flat, the Kinvara has too much sole to be a racing shoe. However it is extremely light weight and built purely for neutral runners to encourage a mid-forefoot landing.

Fit and Feel:
Fits true to size. Feels comfortable on the sole straight out of the box. Soft upper means a flexible wrap around the top of your foot. Wide toe box that allows for a comfortable fit.

Outsole:
The EVA material (red foam) provides the cushioning and the Black triangle patches provide the grip and durability (see picture below). Presumably to keep weight down Saucony went minimal with the durable and grippy black rubber.....a mistake! The lateral heel is ok but considering this shoe is designed to encourage a mid to forefoot landing these areas are seriously lacking durability. Any forefoot runner will land on the lateral border, the current design has no lateral border durability due to this lack of black foam. On a positive note the whole outsole is nearly flat (4mm drop between heel and toe) this provides a fast transition between heel and toe which allows a more ‘natural gait’.


Midsole:
The cushioning (red portion of the sole) in the Kinvara is left a lot thicker than most minimalist shoes which makes me feel like it is more of a transition into minimalism running than an actual bonafide minimalist shoe. This thick midsole also means you ‘ride’ a bit higher from the ground although it keeps it super comfy and smooth.

Upper:
Soft, flexible, breathable and light. Perfect.

Grip:
Being the road shoe that it is, it provided excellent grip on tarmac, pavements and towpaths even when wet. I could not help myself and test a little off-road running, although not made for this it held up remarkably well! It was great at shedding mud but breathe caution when on real soft and slick mud as they will slip. The red cushion foam can also be pierced easily by thorns....this is not too much of a problem due to the thick midsole but it does mean you will have to stop every 6miles or so to pull a thorny branch out!

Conclusion:
The Saucony Kinvara has too much cushioning to be truly minimalist but is definitely the perfect transition shoe. I used this shoe in a 45mile race and it held up perfectly. My only complaint would be the webbed stitching that sometimes irritates the little toe (seems to be a common problem when I read some other reviews), although for me it only started after 40miles! I think my feet might have swollen a bit by then! Despite that, this is my go to shoe for all road runs and speedwork, highly recommended. I predict this shoe will only last solidly for 350-400 miles but that’s pretty damn good for a lightweight.

If anyone is considering purchasing these and want to know anything specific then please leave a comment.

ULTRArace 45mile race report

Not entirely sure where to begin with this but unlike the last race report this is largely positive! Saturday Morning I woke up still feeling the effects of the bug I picked up during the week. Hadn't been ill for over a year and sods law is I pick one up a few days before a race! Despite this, I was fairly chilled out about the day ahead and my only stressful decision was shoe choice! I went with Kinvaras, it may be a road shoe but it has great wet mud grip and I decided today is the day I test my feet with a long minimalist shoe run (I will wade into the minimalist shoe debate another day but essentially i'm neither for or against- do what works for you!). Back to the race, the race was just a way of kick starting my year and mainly being used for training purposes, so the race plan? Cruise out the blocks (metaphorically speaking), take it east to halfway point whilst enjoying some good views and fellow outdoor enthusiasts company. The Outcome? Perfect!
0-15Miles:
Race started 8am sharp after a 7am sign up. Apart from the cough, I felt good from the get go. Quickly attempted to settle into a 9:30 per mile pace. I was looking for an overall race pace of 9:36 so coming out a little quicker is necessary due to potential stops etc. Pace felt extremely comfortable all the way to the first checkpoint at 9miles. After a quick mental evaluation I decided I would attempt to hold this pace for the entire race. I noticed a lot of people had been going out hard, probably being dragged along by the epic pace of a former Swedish record holder and a former German record holder. It was certainly evident that this was not training for a lot of people and fast times were on the agenda. I decided to stay patient, run my own race and let them go.
16-30miles:
Cough started to ease which helped to keep me relaxed and pace still had not waned. Biggest issue here was to stop myslef from getting carried away and speed up, I knew if I kept this pace I would slowly start to reel people in. Mile 22 represented my longest run since the 60mile CCER in October. My training had been geared towards speedwork through the winter so my body was not fully trained for a 45mile run! Due to this I kept on top of my fluid and calorie intake, this ensured I put my body in the best position to perform. It was approx the half way point at which I started to catch A LOT of front runners. My pace was still bang on but clearly the early fast pace was telling for others. This was almost an enigma moment for me- usually I like to start hard and try to hold on but everytime someone passes you late in a race it can be quite demoralising, this time round I found that every time I passed someone I would get a mini boost and more so the deeper into the race we got.
31-45 miles:
Holding the pace started to get tougher but as previously mentioned I was mentally prepared for this. In the days leading up to the race I used some imagery tactics (both during and after training runs) of how my body needs to be moving in order to run well (sounds very yoga I know!). I kept reminding myself that my footsteps should be light and quick, arms should be swinging smoothly and straight and my trunk should be kept high. It sounds quirky but practising these mantras certainly made it second nature on the day and undoubtedly aided my performance. Over the last 8km I reeled in and passed no less than 17 people (including a guy racing in Vibrams!). My final 5km split (25:11) was the fastest split of my whole race. A GOOD DAY!
In hindsight if I was racing then you could say that I paced my race terribly as I had so much in the tank at the finish line but training this was and im glad I ran it like I did. I will definitely be using all I have learned about pacing through out my races this year. My schedule is still in pencil (im a poet and I know it) but there will be at least 2 epic journeys. Im in Grand Union canal 145mile race in May should I choose to accept but Im also looking at a hefty performance over a 24hour time trail. I want to smash the 100mile mark but the one im looking at is May also so I cant do both. I'd also love to re-peak my training for a 100miler in the north downs come August- www.centurionrunning.com This race is organised by a fellow London Ultra Runner who has a great running CV including a Badwater finish! Finally I need to get my final 3qualifying points for Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc entry in 2012. This race is THE 100mile race to be at. Best competition, best scenery and best atmosphere in the world. If I can find a solid 50mile race to gain these points then I want to combine that with a 8 hour performance target. 8 hours for 50 miles over rugged hills will do me nicely!
Anyway, for now friends, thanks for reading and keep hitting the site! Gear reviews start with a Socks rant in two weeks time :-)