Scott Kinabalu Ultra Review: Scott Goes Long

Introduction to the Scott Kinabalu Ultra

TAYLOR: We all have that ONE friend. The one who took the trip to India for self-discovery and betterment. There was really no telling what toll that trip would take on their souls, but there are only a few outcomes: they return more cynical than they left, they never return, or that friend returns, enlightened and bettered by the experience.

I’m not saying that Scott, as a brand, took a one-way ticket to Never-neverland to seek self-help, but something definitely happened over the last couple of years. They’ve changed. Yes, the grip-it-and-rip-it black-and-yellow vibe is still there, but that’s not the only focus now. There’s more.

We felt it coming in the Scott Pursuit Gravel. A boost of momentum arrived with the Scott Kinabalu Trail and, now, it’s even better in the Scott Kinabalu Ultra. We mention all of those noticeable changes, but we can’t forget to highlight their subtle, meaningful update to the Scott Supertrac RC3.

I feel like Scott is just a pressure-cooker scenario, and we’re waiting to see what comes from all the energy.

The Scott Kinabalu Ultra is perhaps their best example of growth. It’s brand-new yet mostly on brand. And I like it. I like it a lot.

SAM: Hey, it’s me, I’m that friend. I travelled, mostly right before and right after college. I was entrenched in Evangelical culture at the time and had visions of, you know, really helping. Really doing something good in the world. I didn’t want enlightenment. I was stocked up on answers. I was a dude, 21, and white. I had a liberal arts degree and with it a confidence in my rightness that only youth soaked in masculinity and an exorbitantly expensive education can provide.

Retrospect, however, is the arbiter of all past folly. I look back now and see that enlightenment found me anyway, just not in a monastery or at the foot of a guru. It found me when I saw the limits of myself within a world that was more expansive, more complex, and in which I had few, if any, answers. My experiences seeing the sheer limits of myself set the course for the rest of my life. I guess, if you had to place me into one of Taylor’s three categories, I’m the cynic. The world has more to offer than I could imagine, and I only need to set my idiocy (pride?) aside and learn.

What does this have to do with trail running shoes? Man, I don’t know. Taylor sent me into a nostalgic spiral, and now I have to connect the existential crisis of my early 20s to the Scott Kinabalu Ultra, which, frankly, is too good a shoe to have to deal with my college-aged foibles.

There’s a world where I can argue that, experientially, reaching the end of myself careened me right into endurance sports and into this constant quest to physically find the end of myself. On the other hand, the cynicism I brought back from seeing other places has bled relentlessly into the rest of my life. When I’m reviewing shoes or gear, my default is to expect said item not to be good. I find this lets me approach hype without being caught in its allure, while also letting me really delight in the unexpected gems.

The Scott Kinabalu Ultra is an unexpected gem, and I’m kind of wild about it.

MICHAEL: Alrighty, so here we are after reading Sam’s magnificent introduction, trying to come up with something quippy, introspective, and interesting to say. It’s a familiar area for me, really, having a hard time following up a beautiful piece of writing with some mashed-together jibber-jabber. So, in lieu of putting together a huge rambling intro like I’m otherwise so prone to doing, I bid you to take the time and reread Sam’s intro and appreciate his perfect use of the word foible.

And with that, let’s get onto the review of the Scott Kinabalu Ultra. Which, spoiler alert, is anything but a foible.

What we like about the Scott Kinabalu Ultra

TAYLOR: I can’t help but focus on the aura-giving component of this shoe first. The luscious bed of Kinetic Nitrogen Foam is enough to make this shoe feel special. I’m not even a sucker for soft foams, but this one has my number. It’s a mix of PEBA and EVA, a proven blend for many successful trail runners lately.

What’s different is this nitrogen infusion process created a soft and responsive foam with character that gives me flashbacks to a few shoes like the Norda 001a, Mount to Coast H1, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, Nike Zegama 2, and… do I need to go on? This is really some of the best company to be in! While it falls on the denser, more cushioned side of that group, it’s also quite resilient, like the foams found in the aforementioned shoes.

Perhaps the best quality of this midsole combination is that, even though it’s a 40 mm to 33 mm stack (the measurement includes the outsole and insole), it can move and groove on anything from gravel roads to semi-techy trails without hindrance. I appreciated that even with the amount of cushion it provided, the sole offered some flex for an in-tune ride. Also, a subtle forefoot rocker and slight bathtub construction kept the feet rolling forward and functionally stable.

It’s such a confidence-inducing combination that it runs “outside of the spec sheet.” What I mean is that it runs more nimble than it should and gives a much more cushioned sensation than the specs suggest. Two thumbs up for that!

Of course, this Matryx upper and overall fit also play a role. We’re familiar with the top-shelf durability, breathability, and precise fit that Matryx is known for. It really is a wonder of a material.

The Scott Kinabalu Ultra is another great example of that. While the heel and midfoot are held securely via a slimmer fit and gusseted tongue, there is a little wiggle room up front. It’s not a spacious toe box, but it was accommodating without feeling too snug for my foot. The Scott Kinabalu Trail, North Face Vective Enduris 4, La Sportiva Prodigio, Norda 001a, and Saucony Peregrine 16 all have a similar fit.

Traction is the last box to check, and the Ultra Traction outsole with 4 mm lugs was a tacky, versatile option that kept me in control across a wide range of trail conditions. As far as grip is concerned, I’m not.

SAM: Very much unlike me, fresh out of college, some shoes just get it. Sometimes, even, the “it” that the shoe gets is a little hard to nail down. There’s a special mixture of ingredients that, when stirred in the shoe manufacturer’s cauldron and spit out, create exactly that thing we want in a shoe.

And while we might have trouble pointing out what “it” is, the Scott Kinabalu Ultra definitely has it. Taylor basically said as much above, but I can’t emphasize enough that this shoe is a delight to run in.

The fit is exactly what I want for trails: it has a roomy toe box, but feels and looks nimble and aggressive. There’s no sense of excess room. I think that some of that comes from how minimal this upper is. Padding is minimal and sleek, but always comfortable. There is excellent security in the lockdown with the Matryx upper. Because of the toughness and protection offered by that fabric and by the well-placed overlays, this feels like a shoe you can throw at any terrain. It’s going to hold up, and it’s going to keep your feet safe.

I know everyone is different, but this Kinetic Nitrogen midsole is exactly what I want underfoot for trail running. It’s the perfect mix of durometer and thickness: cushioned without being mushy, protective without being harsh. There is even some pep in the nitrogen-expanded PEBA/EVA blend.

As Taylor said above, the stack heights belie how nimble and stable this runs. I took it down some particularly sketchy sections of the Appalachian Trail and had an experience comparable to what I’ve felt in shoes like the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide and the Hoka Tecton X3.

A hefty part of that confidence comes from the Ultra Traction outsole on the Kinabalu Ultra. You’ll hear a lot of “why didn’t they just put Vibram on this” in our trail reviews. There’s a reason for this, as proprietary rubber compounds often leave a lot to be desired, and Vibram’s Megagrip is right there and proven. Scott’s Ultra Traction fortunately leaves me at “I’m totally good with this.” I felt very secure in all conditions, including on loose snow and ice.

MICHAEL: After shouting a hearty amen to Taylor and Sam’s dialogue above, I’d like to point out some additional details here. First, I think that, in addition to the proprietary outsole rubber doing a great job in the traction department, much of the excellent performance we noted stems from both the severity and placement of the lugs on this outsole. Having sharp right angles on your lugs is a surefire way to get a shoe to punch above its weight (or lug height) for traction, and the Kinabalu Ultra does a great job of that here.

As Sam said earlier, we tend to bemoan underperforming in-house outsole compounds with the same hackneyed refrain, “Why don’t they use Vibram?” Well, I’m about to begin asking the same thing about the lack of Matryx uppers on the market. As Sam mentioned, this material is really amazing, offering durability, some slight flexibility, and solid abrasion resistance in a very lightweight package.

Lastly, I wanted to take a stab at nailing down the on-the-run synergy we all experienced during our test mileage; however, words are eluding me when it comes to describing this perfect combination of midsole durometer, bounciness, stack height, heel-to-toe drop, and rock plate. Perhaps we should take time to talk about exactly what this shoe is good for. In my mind, this is a perfect 50k race shoe, yet it offers the durability and comfort for everyday running.

The protection offered by the plate and the traction from the outsole certainly lend it to technical trails, while the efficiency from the foam, rocker, plate, and the shoe’s weight make it equally suited to flying through a less technical, shorter race or climb. The relatively short stack height for its class keeps things planted and low to the ground for quick turning, yet also offers plenty of cushion for the ultra distances mentioned above. Simply put, this is just an all-around great shoe.

What we don’t like about the Scott Kinabalu Ultra

TAYLOR: Just like with its lower stacked counterpart, the Scott Kinabalu Trail, I have very little to say here. What was a little surprising was that even though the two shoes are formed on the same last (mould that the shoe is built around), I found the Kinabalu Ultra has some extra length, like half a thumb more. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, I would prefer a half size down for day-to-day runs and my normal size for the longer stuff when my feet need a little more space.

The other minor thing is the naming convention. While “ultra” is mostly associated with the wider-fitting max stack options, this Kinabalu Ultra is still a moderately stacked trail runner, well-suited for a well-rounded variety of miles. Again, not inherently a bad thing, don’t get lost in the perception and industry standard of “ultra”. With that said, would I go the ultra-distance in this shoe? Absolutely.

While durability is a concern for many modern foams, it’s actually the outsole that experienced the most wear during my testing period. Some of the forward lugs are starting to wear down, but the midsole’s character has remained — something to keep an eye on.

SAM: Honestly, nothing here other than the sizing that Taylor mentioned above. This shoe is “ultra-distance” sized, and since I’m a weirdo and pay too much attention to my feet, I noticed that I had a difficult time dialing in the lacing on my one foot that is slightly smaller than the other, because that shoe felt just a bit too big in my traditional US M10.

MICHAEL: Like Sam, I am also a weirdo and pay too much attention to lacing. Due to said minor obsession, I couldn’t help but notice that the Kinabalu Ultra doesn’t have enough padding on the very top of the tongue. Since I always use the extra eyelet for extra lockdown (I have slim heels, okay?), the padded part of the tongue slipped beneath my last lace, and I was never able to achieve the tight lockdown I desired for fear of cutting into the tops of my extensor tendons.

Additionally, the Kinabalu Ultra falls prey to one of my most petty of pet peeves. Specifically, when applying tension through the lacing chain, after tightening a lace, it quickly slips back through the eyelet a smidge, resulting in a noticeably looser fit than otherwise desired once you’ve worked your way to the top. (If you’re reading this now and happened to be wondering what the clue for 20 across in Monday’s NYT crossword is, you’re welcome) This can be fixed with either tighter eyelets or larger-diameter laces, both of which are absent here but could easily be included in version two.

Lastly, I experienced some minor slippage in the heel. It’s to be expected, honestly, given the noticeable stiffness from the rock plate, and I believe this is something that will be either a non-issue for most runners, as well as be easily remedied in version two with a change in materials to something less smooth and slip-prone. For this reason and the others mentioned above, I would argue that the Kinabalu Ultra has a good fit, not necessarily a great one. However, given how well the rest of this shoe comes together, I find these issues easy to forgive.

Final thoughts on the Scott Kinabalu Ultra

TAYLOR: There’s gotta be some Friends fans out there. Remember the Thanksgiving episode “The One Where Ross Got High?” Rachel makes a dessert but accidentally combines a trifle and a shepherd’s pie. As good friends do, they all agreed to eat it regardless. Joey’s response, “I mean, what’s not to like? Custard, good. Jam, good. Meat, good!”

That’s my exact response with the Scott Kinabalu Ultra. Really, what’s not to love? The Kinetic Fusion foam? Delicious! How about the Maytrx upper? Wonderful. And the Ultra Traction outsole? Yum! The solid fit and durable build are the garnish that beautifully brings the whole Scott Kinabalu Ultra package together.

This could easily be my daily driver. Some runners may prefer the technical capabilities and lush sensation for races, and I would give the nod. The Scott Kinabalu Ultra is a well-cushioned, versatile trail shoe with some spunk.

SAM: Apparently, an excellent trail shoe (and one Taylor Bodin) can push me into nostalgic self-examination. I hope that has made for as decent a review of the Scott Kinabalu Ultra as the shoe is a decent one to run in. It is great for daily miles, and would be equally great at distance and races for trail runners who want sleek, technically oriented protection in a more traditional, non-plated package.

Between the Matryx upper, Kinetic Fusion foam, and Ultra Traction outsole, this seems to be a shoe that will take a beating and keep performing. I’m a fan, and I sense that the Kinabalu Ultra is one that will stay in my rotation for a while.

MICHAEL: Since Taylor and Sam both ventured into the subjective for this review (not the least of which happens to be Taylor’s use of the word “Aura”), I will happily do so as well. Some shoes we receive make sense on paper and feel good on the trail. “A + B + C = blah-blah-blah, and therefore it’s a great shoe.” But some shoes are just straight-up fun to run in, no matter what their midsole foam is called, their stack height, or other particulars.

The Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 and 5 come to mind here, among others, and now the Scott Kinabalu Ultra joins that group as well. Don’t get me wrong, this shoe has all the tech and build quality to back up its on-the-run feel, but it’s shoes like these — the fun shoes, the shoes that just work — that we’ll continue to reach for for miles to come.

You can pick up the Scott Kinabalu Ultra for ~$170 from RunnerInn by using the button below.