Scott Kinabalu 3 Review
The Scott Kinabalu has been a good road to trail option since its inception and today we’ve finished up our Scott Kinabalu 3 review. The version 3 is very different to the previous two versions. Less versatile in the types of terrain it is suited to, but perhaps better suited to the terrain that it was designed to be used on. The Scott Kinabalu 3 is designed as a road-to-hard-packed-trail running shoe.
A straighter big toe line allows a much more positive push-off than the more pointed toe box of the previous version. The toe box also has more volume to give your toes more wiggle room. The heel cup is constructed with a plastic cup that gives it a high level of support. Plus the cuff comes high around the ankle to further add to that supportive fit. The padding in the heel cup and tongue is soft and comfortable but not excessive, to reduce the chance of the upper absorbing water. The tongue is gusseted to help prevent debris from getting into the shoes and the laces thread through a tab on the tongue to help prevent the tongue from moving around.
The mesh upper feels coarse on the outside but soft inside the shoe. It is designed to be abrasion resistant but still dry quickly. There are tapes on the inside of the upper that attach to the base of the shoes and the lace holes so when the shoes are laced up the upper is pulled around the foot. The fit is snug and supportive around the heel and through the midfoot but opens out to give your toes the space to move. There is an additional lace hole should you feel the need to make the fit at the heel snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes.
There is an overlay that runs around the base of the upper to protect from abrasion caused by grit and dirt. The is further re-enforced at the toe giving the Kinabalu 3 a good level of toe protection.
The midsole is 29.5mm in the heel and 22.5mm in the forefoot, making the Kinabalu 3 a lot more cushioned than previous versions. The Kinetic foam used for the midsole is softer in the heel than the forefoot to give a more positive push off and a soft initial landing. There is a bit more spring/energy return from the foam than in previous Scott running shoes. However, the foam still has an initial firm feel similar to other Scott Running shoes. This initial feel does soften up as the shoes get worn in and was never uncomfortable.
The heel to forefoot drop is 7mm, which together with the Scott e-Ride provides a smooth ride. The e-Ride or rocker is more noticeable than in previous version of the Kinabalu and feels to be more effective. The Kinabalu 3 feels chunky when I put the shoes on, but when you run in them they feel a lot smoother than you think. I am very aware of the stack height and in particular the higher heel drop when standing in the shoes, which I assumed would make me land on my heel, but they don’t. I found that I could easily land on my midfoot and the shoes guided my through the gait cycle quickly and efficiently, which was a pleasant surprise.
The more I ran in the Kinabalu 3, the softer and bouncier the midsole has become. They still have a firm feel but I prefer this feel to the softly cushioned shoes when your feet sink into the midsole. A firm midsole also lasts a lot longer than a softer one!
The 4mm lugs on the outsole provide a good level of traction on wet and dry surfaces. They ride well on tarmac and still grip on silt covered hard-packed trails which there is a lot of currently in the UK, due to the amount of rain we have had this winter. After 100 miles of mixed terrain running there is no sign of any wear to the lugs. The running I have done in the Kinabalu 3 has mainly consisted of road, disused railway lines and bridleways. This is the terrain that these shoes are best suited to. The thick stiffer midsole offers a good level of cushioning, stability and guides you through to a nice positive push off but it isn’t flexible enough to cope with very broken ground. There cushion is designed to feel comfortable on harder terrain, so there’s very little ground feel. It’s simply not designed for wet soggy trails.
Scott running shoes are one of the smaller fitting brands. Similar in length to Hoka, Inov-8, La Sportiva and New Balance. If you use Brooks, Saucony, Altra, Topo or NNormal then I would suggest trying half a size larger to get a similar length.
Summary
The Scott Kinabalu 3 trail running shoe feels nice at easy-run paces and looks after your feet and body on longer runs. I would suggest that the Kinabalu 3 is best kept for your easy runs and longer runs, even up to ultramarathon distance, as the cushioning and ride from the rocker is likely to aid fatigue when you have been running for a long time, unlike in really softly cushioned shoes, or more flexible running shoes. Rotate with another shoe for your faster days and/or tackling the soft stuff off the beaten track.
Other Considerations
New Balance Hierro v8: A softer feel to the cushioning and more flexible in the forefoot. No rocker. Grip level is similar. Available in two width Women’s and three width Men’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-hierro-v8-review-fresh-foam-x/
Altra Timp 5: A broad rounded toe box and zero drop gives the Timp 5 a more natural ride. The cushioning is similarly firm and the grip level is also similar. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-timp-5-review/
Topo Ultraventure 3: A broad rounded toe box. 5mm heel to forefoot. Not quite a grippy on silty covered hard pack trails. Not versatile enough for use on anything but, road and hard packed trails. Although the cushioning is firm it is softer than the Kinabalu 3 and more flexible. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-ultraventure-3-review/
Brooks Divide 3: A firm responsive feel that feel a lot like a road shoe. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-divide-4-review/
Brooks Cascadia 17: A thicker midsole than the Divide but, similarly these feel like a road shoe. The grip level is better than the Divide but, no better than the Kinabalu. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-17-cascadia-17-gtx-review/
Hoka Challenger 7: Softer feel to the cushioning. Doesn’t feel as positive at push off. The grip level isn’t as good. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-challenger-7-review/
Karhu Ikoni Trail: Softer cushioning. The grip is more versatile in that it will offer some traction on muddy trails. Doesn’t ride as well on tarmac because of the longer lugs. The Karhu Fulcrum offers some propulsion. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-trail-review/
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