Scott Supertrac RC 3 Review: Low-Stacked & Speedy

Introduction to the Scott Supertrac RC 3

MICHAEL: As runners, we naturally go through down spells at various points throughout the year. For me, these are times when my running feels flat, and the motivation to get out the door just feels really low. Oftentimes, these periods occur right after a big race or weekend of adventure, during the oppressive heat of summer, or when life and all of its stressors choke out the joy of running. What were enjoyable morning jogs can quickly turn into rushed “have-tos” before rushing even more to get to work on time.

So how do we pull ourselves out of this rut? Obviously, having friends to run with is fantastic, 10/10 would recommend. For many, signing up for a challenging race or booking tickets for an adventure is the little spark that lights a fire of inspired, enjoyable training. However materialistic it may be, sometimes a new pair of shoes or a hydration vest showing up on my doorstep gives me a little boost of motivation I needed that day.

All this pales in comparison, however, to the real antidote to running boredom for me, which goes something like this: Step one, block out more time than I actually need. Like, add 30 minutes to the schedule for the run. (No doubt, this is definitely the hardest step, and I don’t even have kids yet.) Step two, get to some technical singletrack and just run fast. Don’t worry about pacing, intervals, or climbs, and certainly not your heart rate. It probably sounds silly, but these runs really help me return to the joy of trail running.

Naturally, there are shoes I prefer for this kind of excursion, and over the years, I’ve really enjoyed lightweight, low-to-the-ground racing shoes. These are often made for VK racing or technical, muddy courses, and examples include the Hoka Zinal 2, the On Cloudventure Peak 3, the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon, and the Arc’teryx Vertex Speed.

Whilst they may not be geared towards Ultra-distance racing like their higher-stacked cousins, I find these models typically prioritize the aspects of a shoe that boost confidence and fun on technical trails, specifically fit, weight, and traction. Enter the latest player in the space: the Scott Supertrac RC3.

JOHN: For the record, I’ve never been in the CIA doing dangerous missions and protecting democracy. Off the record, I have run the OSS CIA 50-mile night run at Prince William Forrest multiple times. The Supertrac RC3 came to me to review at a great time, right before the race, so I thought, why not wear a shoe I’ve never worn before (or a brand I’ve never even tried for that matter) on a 50-mile night run with minimal training and coming off injury. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve always liked doing things the hard way and making things more interesting. Let’s see how the Supertrac RC3 did!

What we like about the Scott Supertrac RC 3

MICHAEL: In his recent review of the Nike Terra Kiger 10, Taylor mentioned that a secure, precise fit is exactly what makes pared-down, lightweight shoes like this one work, and I couldn’t agree more.

Thankfully, the Supertrac RC 3 features a slim, form-fitting upper based around the highly acclaimed Matryx material, touted for its durable abrasion-resistance properties without sacrificing weight or comfort. It works like a charm, and I found that the secure, almost sock-like fit beckoned me to push technical descents hard and left no confidence lagging through technical terrain.

A performance fit like this, paired with a low-profile midsole and aggressive outsole, makes this shoe markedly fun to run in, like, in the sense that riding a dirtbike is fun. Sure, you might not want to take your dirt bike on a Route 66 road trip like you would a laid-back Harley, but the knobby tires and suspension sure make digging into the dirt and taking the corners hot a real joy.

One thing I should mention about the Supertrac RC 3 is one area in particular where I think it beats out its competition in the track spike for the trails category: underfoot protection, thanks to the moderately dense full-length EVA midsole and hearty outsole. This shoe may be a great option if you largely enjoyed the Zinal 2 but have thought to yourself, like I have, that you wish your feet weren’t getting so beat up by the chunky stuff.

This kind of shoe is really perfect, in my opinion, for a very niche spectrum of runs. First, there is the kind I mentioned earlier, the 4-6 mile jaunts through backyard singletrack, with no agenda or goals except to feel the trees flying by you while you lean hard into loose corners and push the climbs hard. The wind is in your face, eyes up, lungs working, and the sun beaming on your back. While descending from the mountain, you see a young whitetail deer spring out of the trees, bounding away with a powerful grace that you feel almost privileged to attempt to emulate while racing the sunset back to the trailhead. Man, what a feeling.

The second type of run these shoes are going to be absolutely killer for is technical, short-course mountain pursuits, like vertical Ks or Cirque series-style races. Those are fun, too, but slightly less romantic to write about.

JOHN: Great, Scott! There’s a lot I like about this shoe. Let’s start with the EVA outsole and outsole. On OSS/CIA, this combo offered pretty decent protection from rocks, roots, a waterlogged course, and more, and definitely prevented issues on the bottom of my feet. I initially was not into the anti-debris sock, but it felt great on the trail. I kicked a lot of roots and rocks out there, but the toe guard was excellent.

Going back to the course being waterlogged, the shoe drains pretty well. However, when it gets extremely wet, it makes a crazy sound like an animal. I thought something was chasing me, but it’s just something with the midsole, I think.

What we don’t like about the Scott Supertrac RC 3

MICHAEL: While I do enjoy my time in “grip it and rip it” shoes like the Supertrac, it’s certainly worth noting that it, like many others like it, is not at all a versatile shoe. In fact, it isn’t really even that enjoyable to run in slowly, given the simplistic, low-profile EVA midsole and constricting fit of the upper.

Speaking of that fit, it’s worth noting that this is a very narrow shoe, meant to provide a glove-like fit reminiscent of the early Salomon S/LAB models. Due to the narrow midfoot, some runners who pronate will have the propensity to form blisters along their arch. Although I am one of those pronators, I was surprised to come away from my runs blister-free, but that doesn’t preclude the opportunity for others like me to run into that issue.

But hey, at the end of the day, just don’t try to run 50 miles in it (looking at you, John) and you should be fine. Really, the biggest downside I see to the Supertrac RC 3 is that this model space is becoming increasingly competitive. I’m not saying it’s not a competitor per se, just that in choosing the RC 3, you will have to pass over some great shows like the Brooks Catamount Agile, Hoka Zinal 2, and Inov-8 Trailtalon Speed.

JOHN: The fit of this shoe is disappointing to me. I got a US M12, and initially, when putting it on, it felt great. It feels good in the heel and midfoot, but I definitely got a huge blister on my big toe. I felt the blister coming on even before I got to the ultra mark, so pretty early on, actually. But in all fairness, the course was very wet, and it was also raining. I really feel like if the toe box were just slightly wider, the fit would be much better and prevent blistering.

I felt a lot of Inov8 and VJ Shoes vibe in this one. It’s the look, feel, fit, and such, but I actually got this comment on the trail, “Is that a Walmart shoe”? I don’t think the shoe looks bad, but I did actually get that comment, so I thought I’d include it here.

Final thoughts on the Scott Supertrac RC 3

MICHAEL: I’ll come back around to where I started. Lightweight, grippy, and form-fitting shoes like the Supertrac RC 3 are simply a joy to run in. Fast, precise footing over technical singletrack is always going to put a smile on my face, and this shoe delivers.

Its simple design incorporates quality technology (like the Matryx upper and outsole) without feeling too gimmicky, a rarity in today’s wild west lexicon of shoe marketing lingo. This shoe is perfect for attacking everything from Cirque series races to your local Strava segments with technical poise and confidence. If you’re looking for your next precision race slipper, the Supertrac RC 3 is as good a choice as any.

JOHN: I really enjoyed testing the Supertrac RC 3, but the fit really holds back what should be a great shoe. In terms of comparing this shoe to a spy movie, I’d say it’s The Good Shepherd. It’s a very good movie, but it doesn’t fit everyone, and it can be a tough experience for some. I thought the midsole and outsole combo worked great in the wet and muddy conditions; however, today my feet are pretty wrecked, especially the transverse arch area, and I will be walking a little funky the next few days.

Remember, though, that I used this shoe straight out of the box on a tough night 50-miler that a good portion of the field DNFd, so keep that in mind. Overall, I like the Supertrac RC3. It was great out there, just a little tough on the feet.

You can pick up the Scott Supertrac RC 3 for $180 (we think) on September 10, 2025, from Scott by using the buttons below.