Scarpa Spin Planet Review
This week we’re featuring a somewhat lesser-known brand in running, Scarpa, with our Scarpa Spin Planet review. The Scarpa Spin Planet is a trail shoe suitable for everyday training, if not with a slant towards ultramarathon distances. The upper uses 100% recycled materials and the midsole uses 45% recycled material, for a substantial step forward. Typically running shoe uppers use about 20% recycled material. This is because recycled materials are often not durable enough to use exclusively for running shoe uppers. Scarpa have not only found a recycled fabric that is breathable and durable enough for a shoe, but durable enough for a trail shoe. The fabric needs to withstand abrasion from the trails and cope with mud and grit without developing holes. The Scarpa Spin Planet is not just a recycled trail shoe, It is a very good trail shoe that happens to be recycled.
Midsoles with recycled content often break down quickly and lack the bouncy responsive feel of modern running shoes. The midsole that the Spin Planet offers has a good level of underfoot protection and a bouncy responsive feel. I have a few hundred miles on these shoes and the midsole is showing no signs of wear. The shoes have become a little bit more flexible, which has made the ride feel a little more natural. That’s normal with EVA-type midsoles and one of the plus points of the material.
The midsole offers a good level of protection, but you can still feel the ground. The base is broad, which gives a very stable feel to the ride. The broad base also improves the traction, as there are always a good number of lugs in contact with the trail. The curve of the midsole at the toe makes it easy to stay on your midfoot whilst running up climbs and encourages you to lift the shoes off the floor rather than push against the floor. This makes you lighter on your feet and helps you stay upright. This posture helps you move quicker and means there is less wear and tear on the body. You can keep running for longer. Although the midsole has a bit of bounce, it doesn’t feel soft or overly cushioned. It also doesn’t lose its structure or get softer during a long run, which makes it ideal for ultramarathon distance.
The upper is a tightly woven synthetic material. It feels slightly course to the touch compared with a lot of road shoe uppers but it is a very comfortable upper. The tongue is constructed as part of the upper on the medial side of the shoe. It wraps over the foot and is partly attached to the lateral side of the shoe with a piece of stretchy material. The tongue is thin but provides ample protection from the laced and the ‘wrap around fit’ reduces the chance of getting any debris in the shoes. The tongue comes high up the front of the ankle compared with a lot of shoes. This is to protect the ankle from the undergrowth and prevent debris from getting inside. The tongue is shaped to fit around your ankle and has a soft material at the edge to prevent any chafing.
The heel cup is adequately padded and holds the heel well and isn’t plastic. The firm heel construction is achieved with the upper material and a few overlays. When you lace up the shoes the upper hugs your foot, giving a very secure comfortable fit. There is a thick overlay at the toe to protect the shoes. The big toe line is straight to allow for a strong toe-off and good foot function within the Spin Planet. The toe box is roomy to allow space for your feet to expand in during long runs or races.
The Presa outsole was designed especially for Scarpa, to be durable enough for a mix of road to trail use whilst still being grippy on wet surfaces like rock and wood. Quite often the really soft sticky outsoles that offer the best traction wear down very quickly on harder trails or tarmac. I have been very impressed with the Presa outsoles. I have used them on the Ribelle Run and the Golden Gate. Both outsoles are still going strong. My Ribelle Run midsole has compressed beyond use but my Goldengate’s are still usable as a running shoe after over 1,000 miles. There is no reason to think that the Presa outsole on the Spin Planet won’t wear as well. The pair I have been running in have a few hundred miles of mixed use, including quite a bit of tarmac and shoe no sign of wear. The outsole is in my experience very grippy. I can trot across wet stepping stones with the confidence that I won’t be having an early bath!
The Spin Planet weighs 290grams UK8, which makes it quite a light shoe. The midsole is 28.5mm in the heel and 24.5mm in the forefoot, giving a drop of 4mm. This promotes a more midfoot strike. The midsole is curved to give a rocker effect to encourage your feet to keep moving when they hit the floor. This helps maintain a quicker cadence and more efficient upright posture. This not only helps you run quicker, but reduces the wear and tear on the body. Something that will help you keep going during a long run.
My first review run in the Spin Planet was a quick dash around an undulating route of about an hour, with lots of different terrain. When going quicker I felt that the shoes where a touch heavy on the climbs and the rocker a bit controlling on the descents. However, a slower run of over 2 hours on similar terrain a few days later was a totally different experience. The curve of the shoe helped me maintain a good cadence up the climbs in the later stages when my legs where tied. The shoes felt really cushioned and comfortable on descents and although the rocker help me run smoothly downhill, the shoes didn’t feel like they were ‘pulling me’ down the hill like they did on the shorter, quicker run a few days previous.
In summary the Scarpa Spin Planet is a durable, grippy trail shoe best used for everyday training or longs/ultra races. The upper is 100% recycled and the midsole is 45% recycled, which is great. The main feeling I got during my review miles could be described as secure, due to a variety of points above. I have used them mainly for my longer runs and some shorter easy recovery runs. They are very comfortable and really come into their own when you have been running for a long time. They aren’t designed for fast runs, they are an excellent everyday training shoe and help you feel a good as you can over long runs.
Other Considerations
Hoka Mafate Speed 4: A softer ride with more compression in the midsole. Which means that you have less feel for the floor. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mafate-speed-4-review/
La Sportiva Jackal II BOA: The BOA fastening means there is no lace to become untied by the undergrowth. The shoes are less cushioned and more flexible with more ground feel. Which makes them feel a bit nimbler. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-jackal-ii-boa-review/
Inov-8 Roclite Ultra G320: Lacks the rocker. 8mm heel to forefoot and a narrower forefoot. Similar firm feel but, with less underfoot feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-roclite-ultra-g-320-review/
New Balance Hierro v7: Very soft midsole. 8mm heel to forefoot drop. Feel like road shoe. Lacks the stable feel of a trail shoe. Better for hard packs tracks and trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-hierro-v7-review/
Scott Supertrac 3: Longer lugs makes these a better option for softer ground. Still cushioned enough for some harder trails or tarmac but, doesn’t ride as well as the Spin Planet on the road. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-3-review/
Karhu Ikoni Trail: Karhu Ikoni Trail has a pivot in the midsole to help promote a more efficient running gait. This is an alternative to the rocker that a lot of other shoes use and is very effective at making you light on your feet. The cushioning is soft but, doesn’t lose too much feel for the ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-trail-review/
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