The SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Low drop. Mountain centered. Carbon plate. Aggressive outsole. Sport on. Though I’m late to the beginning line for the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT ($229) — it was launched in 2022 — I used to be offered on the specs and wished a chance to check and evaluation it for iRunFar readers.
As I sit right down to draft my evaluation of this extremely versatile and technically adept path operating shoe — the skyrunning occasion it’s named after lately happened in Italy – the Trofeo Kima, a 52-kilometer biannual mountain race. The footage was each astounding and abdomen dropping. The occasion, in flip, is posthumously named after a mountain information “Kima,” Pierangelo Marchetti, who risked his life throughout an alpine rescue. If you happen to can think about any skyrunning race course, then you’ll be able to clearly envision a tough and demanding panorama with out apologies for its severity.
The SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT is a shoe designed to command the Kima trophy, whereas remaining efficient on reasonable singletrack and forest roads. It was my go-to pace shoe over the past a number of months.
The profile and shut floor contact are interesting — in my view — for mountain operating, technical trails, and pace coaching. I desire the Kima for short-to-moderate distances solely due to its slender framework — I’ve a large toe splay. Though I might say it’s true to dimension, I may go a half dimension up for further toebox quantity. Its claimed stack peak is 22 millimeters on the heel, sloping right down to 16 on the forefoot, for a 6-millimeter drop — with noticeable rocker.
The precise weight is available in at 10.4 ounces (296 grams) for a U.S. males’s 9. The shoe design and mannequin stay related contenders in each the skyrunning and ultrarunning worlds, and for those who haven’t tried a SCARPA and you want quick and technical, the Kima is nice selection.
I used to be initially hesitant in regards to the slender and tapered final, however there was nonetheless a forgiveness within the higher supplies. Absolutely, I desire wider toeboxes for the majority of my path operating, however my general expertise within the Golden Gate Kima RT was quick, safe, and enjoyable. The slender heel and comfortable match augmented my path confidence. I’ll contend that although I wasn’t skyrunning or fell operating, I attempted to check this shoe in quite a lot of situations. I might qualify the general really feel as flexibly stiff and steady.
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SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT Higher
A lateral view of the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT.
There may be the look. There may be the texture. There may be the development. The SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT is an unassuming slender bomber. The ladies’s mannequin is available in shades of gray, camouflaged with rocks and scree with solely a blaze of sunshine blue foam. It’s ninja. It jogs my memory of a street shoe with the rocker able to roll.
Given the mission of the Kima, the higher is protecting and sturdy whereas nonetheless breathable. The toe bumper presents complete protection medially and laterally with a bit further over the massive toe. Likewise, the heel counters are thick and durable with fortification on the rear. This helps the trip really feel steady because the heel lockdown is on level. The heel collar provides some gentle cushion, but it surely isn’t overly finished. I additionally take pleasure in a pull tab that works. Not everybody will agree with me, however to have the ability to take the footwear off and rapidly put them again on in chilly environments is a clutch transfer, I’m not into re-lacing.
Notably, some runners could also be involved in regards to the tapered and slender toebox. The Kima, regardless of its built-up safety and slender final, nonetheless affords some wiggle room, albeit not excessive quantity. My ft by no means felt overly constricted whereas on the transfer, however I remained cognizant of what my ft require over time and distance. I held my runs on this shoe conservatively and would restrict them to twenty to 25 miles.
The tongue is thinly padded and semi-gusseted, supporting a midfoot wrap and prime sock really feel. Moreover, I appreciated the whale fork tongue design to maintain particles out of the shoe. The laces appeared cumbersome, however stayed tied, all the time.
Upon nearer inspection, you’ll be able to inform SCARPA designers positioned numerous thought into the supplies and development. The exterior layer is an anti-abrasion engineered mesh, additional structured by the welded polyurethane bumpers and heel counters. To enhance the higher’s sturdiness, a thermally welded underlay system known as an exoskeleton is used to wrap and defend the foot whereas operating such occasions such because the Trofeo Kima. Given the supplies put into the higher, it nonetheless runs gentle.
SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT Midsole
A medial view of the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT.
The SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT’s midsole took on a layered method with a 1-millimeter carbon plate inserted between two completely different densities of Energetic EVA foam. The highest layer supplies extra help and construction, whereas the underside layer of lower-density foam presents extra shock absorption. SCARPA calls the dual-density EVA and carbon sandwich a Foot Energetic Management system. It’s agency. It’s responsive. It rebounds with excellence, particularly uphill and on technical terrain.
I’ve been impressed with the midsole platform and vitality return on my runs. I’m not aching for cushion with the Kima, as they’ve discovered a solution to handle firmness with flex factors, strategic absorption zones, and carbon propelling factors. However a extra substantial insole could propel runs farther. The insert is almost negligible, however a skinny layer, nonetheless.
I’ve run over 100 miles within the Kimas, and I really feel like the froth has maintained its integrity whereas the carbon plate nonetheless helps to certain me ahead. But, I stay uncertain of the efficacy of a carbon plate for path operating. However alas, the Kima’s midsole has held up tremendously, and I’m nonetheless doing pace exercises within the footwear, so possibly it’s that carbon plate.
SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT Outsole
The outsole of the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT.
I might rank the outsole on the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT as among the finest all-around outsoles I’ve run in through the years. The Kima’s Presa TRN-03 Supergum and Water Lock outsole options “impact-absorbing domes for shock absorption” and a TPU Dynamic Stabilizer Torsion body to handle the rear foot and torsion.
Moreover, the rubber compound serves twin functions — Supergum on the forefoot tread for distinctive grip in all climate situations, and Water Lock within the midfoot to heel space for extra enhanced braking capabilities in wetter settings.
Particularly, Supergum was built-in to have a high-quality, high-friction rubber with enhanced abrasion resistance. The Presa base is utilized in a few of their different high-performing fashions, however every outsole is designed to suit the area of interest of the shoe’s supposed calls for.
Kima’s Presa outsole design is maximized for its excellent efficiency on demanding terrain with the power to trip smoother surfaces with out hesitation. The 4-millimeter multi-directional lugs, which resemble flying birds, present each steady floor contact and spectacular grip atop no matter floor is thrown underfoot. I used to be notably impressed with the outsole’s capacity to stride throughout dry granitic soils — normally a slick downhill trip throughout Oregon summers.
At midfoot, there’s a window peering in on the carbon plate, and on the heel, the midsole foam relaxes the shoe. I’ve actually loved pushing the shoe throughout the terrain spectrum and tearing it up on singletrack for quick interval work with out hesitation. The Kima jogs my memory of a high-performing VJ outsole, though with extra forgiveness on path and tarmac.
SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT Total Impressions
A prime view of the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT.
Surprisingly, I “fell uphill over downhill” for the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima RT. Regardless that they’ve been within the SCARPA lineup for a few years now … and will probably be disappearing quickly, they continue to be a sought-after shoe for technical, pace, and mountain operating. I additionally give a excessive score for the shoe’s capacity to run gentle, contemplating the sturdiness traits of every important part overviewed herein.
Noteworthy too is the outsole’s capability to easily tread primary trails and roads if essential, giving it a flexible enchantment. If I had extra alpine publicity this summer season and early fall season, I’m assured it might have upheld the storm of rocks, scree, slabs, and climate.
One main disadvantage I discussed is the slender final. Definitely, it was designed for pace and technical nimbleness, however to err on the aspect of warning, I’m hesitant to push excessive ultra-distance mileage within the Kima.
Lastly, the carbon plate was a terrific journey. I’m dominantly an uphill runner, and I did really feel as if the midsole carbon plate sandwich aided in a bit further propulsion and fewer fatigue. I’ll take it.
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