One big change makes the RX:LDVL our favorite Speedland shoe yet

Introduction to the Speedland RX:LDVL

TAYLOR: Let me start with a bit of a hot take. For a brand founded on innovative design and high-quality materials, the last couple of years of Speedland have felt stale to me. While I know they had some serious growth and gathered a loyal fanbase, they still weren’t pushing the envelope as they did upon their inception with the original Speedland SL:PDX or GS:TAM.

We saw the Speedland RX:LDVL and RX:SKY last year at TRE, and it was a breath of fresh air, really. It’s a shoe that seems to reach back to their early days and original ethos. The difference is that now they have a solid brand identity, which has helped drive performance.

The RX:LDVL borrows the silhouette from their road racing shoe, the RX:FPY. It is a more trimmed-up design with a specifically tuned foam for trail racing, and it comes with a true rigid carbon plate to utilize as necessary. Designed for the wide variety of trail racing demands that the Leadville 100 is famous for, the RX:LDVL finally fills a major hole in Speedland’s lineup.

As for the Speedland RX:SKY, it’s the same performance package with a beautifully unique colorway.

RENEE: Brand collaborations are all the rage these days. And by rage, I mean people seem to have honest rage about some collaborations. I won’t name brands, but if you follow the trail and ultrarunning scene, you likely know of a few events and gear items that have been mocked on social media for being performative instead of functional.

I’ve seen no such rage about the Speedland x Saysky collaboration, but maybe that’s just me ignoring social media as much as possible. Or maybe it’s the clear focus of the collaboration: running pieces made for training and travel with a sharp visual edge. The collaboration knows what it is: functional items with a bit of flair to spice up your running.

MATT: The collab between Speedland and Saysky was one that kind of surprised me. Speedland is no stranger to doing collaborations, but those have historically been with athletes directly and not with another brand. 

I'm a fan of both brands, so I was excited to see them working together, and while I've tested pretty much every Speedland model from the beginning of their journey, I had not had the chance to run in the RX:LDVL, so learning the RX:SKY was essentially the same shoe gave me another chance to see what I may have missed out on.

What we like about the Speedland RX:LDVL

TAYLOR: Get ready for us to talk a lot about surprise here. I’ve been so conditioned by the release of stout, heavy models from Speedland (compared to many other high-stack shoes) that when I put the Speedland RX:LDVL on, I immediately felt inspired. I have a couple of common routes for my first test runs of a shoe, but I scrapped those for a mix of speedier terrain just because I was pretty pumped by what I was feeling.

The ATPU external midsole had a nice density with character that no other Speedland model has. There’s true cushion and energy return that I felt when I didn’t have the plate in. While we’ve experienced many PEBA-based midsoles for race day options, the ATPU superfoam really plays well with the trails and offers durability and density that helps balance some of the other design elements in the RX:LDVL.

Speedland also has a drop-in midsole, which is responsible for harnessing the plate (if you choose to use it) and roughly a third of the overall stack height. So, it’s a considerable amount of foam directly underfoot that has always felt nice. A benefit of having that much foam inside the shoe is inherent stability. To be frank, I’ve thought recent models have felt overbuilt and overly stable, but the RX:LDVL strikes a nice balance with a slimmer, more performance-tuned package.

A smooth forefoot rocker and broader, stable midfoot/heel should be quite popular for those looking for a dynamic race day option for long distances.

I think what will be most desirable about the Speedland RX:LDVL is its underfoot adaptability. Being able to essentially have three unique shoes in one is a huge value and performance proposition. As mentioned above, this shoe felt really nice sans-plate, which offered cushion with some peppy, high-quality foam underfoot; perfect for going long and/or relaxed efforts. 

When I decided to go on more technical terrain or wanted a little more zing, the Gear Flex plate was perfect for adding a more dynamic sensation in terms of stability and energy return. When speed was on the docket, I could throw in the stiff traditional carbon fiber plate.

This is the adaptable promise that Speedland’s design started with, but this is the first time I feel like I had three distinct tools at my disposal, and that’s special within the space.

Uptop, a lighter engineered mesh felt "minimal" compared to most Speedland models and, again, it felt really refreshing. The fit is broader than most others in the category. So, this is a wide-foot-friendly race day option. It also has the unique ability to be cinched down via the lower BOA Li2 dial and upper strap closure. While it still isn’t perfect, of all their combinations of Speedland “lacing” systems, this is my preferred for both the quick, customizable lockdown and overall comfort.

RENEE: If you enjoy the RX:LDVL but crave glow-in-the-dark features, the RX:SKY is for you. I did need some time to figure out that this shoe is the exact same as the RX:LDVL aside from the Saysky logo and glow-in-the-dark upper and outsole. We never released a full review of the RX:LDVL before I received this shoe, so consider this our catch-up.

I did not run in the RX:LDVL, so the ride of the RX:SKY was a surprise, in a good way. This is a fun shoe. Period, or maybe an exclamation mark. The only other Speedland shoe I have is the much heavier GS:RAR, which has a HTPU midsole and 4.5mm lugs. That shoe ran better than I anticipated on trails given its weight and rocker, but it wasn’t a shoe I continued to wear after review because it felt too big and too bulky. 

The RX:SKY is a much lighter shoe, and it feels even lighter than its actual weight. The ATPU removable midsole is protective, cushioned, and comfortable. I don’t consider it overly soft, which aids in the shoe being more stable than I assumed given the very apparent forefoot rocker. The shoe comes with an insertable carbon plate, but I enjoyed the shoe more without it. At my paces, the plate doesn’t add much benefit.

MATT: Ok, so first I can echo Renee on the RX:SKY bringing a loud yellow colorway that will ensure that nobody mistakes your shoes at the start line. I actually dig the look, as it’s not really a highlighter yellow like most brands go with yellow; it's a more muted lemon.

Aesthetics aside, having tested pretty much the entire Speedland line, I have to say the upper construction, including the single dial plus strap closure, is my favorite approach that Speedland has taken to dialing in a secure but comfortable fit. I really think the strap plus the lower dial brings that balance of getting locked down via the BOA dial, but having a secure, yet flexible fit with the strap that was sometimes too rigid and difficult to get just right.

The second biggest thing I loved with the RX:SKY was how much lighter and nimbler the shoe felt underfoot. A consistent complaint with earlier Speedland models was the weight, and for me personally, it felt like a rigid and very firm ride. That was the price you paid for a shoe that felt super secure regardless of conditions, and that could last you hundreds of miles before seeing any signs of degradation.

Speedland has implemented a top-notch combo of a softer and more responsive ATPU midsole, along with dialing back the aggression on the lugs. The 4.5mm lugs still provide plenty of bite when navigating the trails, but my turnover felt oh, so much quicker.

Finally, as Taylor and Renee mentioned, the shoe is highly adaptable with the removable insole and carbon plate. I chose to pull the carbon plate out for the majority of my runs as that seemed to provide me the best overall experience for training. That said, I actually felt like I got some benefit out of the plate in the softer midsole, at least compared to several of Speedland's earlier models, which put a stiff plate in an already firm stack of foam.

Shop Speedland RX:LDVL - Unisex Shop Speedland RX:SKY - Unisex 

What we don't like about the Speedland RX:LDVL

TAYLOR: As with the last few Speedland shoes, I’ve had the tingly toe issue. The BOA and strap system were kind of hard to dial in just right. They're quick and precise systems, don’t get me wrong, but when I took the RX:LDVL to even moderately technical terrain, the rear half was either not locked down enough and shifted with the wider base, or it was too tight and caused tingly toes and my ankles to shift.

I think it actually comes down to the midsole and heel collar design more than anything. The underfoot is so broad, and the collar is so stiff that they end up inadvertently controlling each other.

While this particular design offers stability that often lacks in race day options, it wasn’t for me in a race day model. It still feels a little overbuilt to compete with some others in this category. But again, there are some athletes who will really appreciate the stout build.

Other than that, I have minor gripes with the outsole seemingly losing some stickiness rather quickly. It just didn’t love the dusty, dry trails that I have here in the Rockies as much.

RENEE: I really can’t find fault in this shoe. Any issues I had during my miles were all fit-specific. I have narrow heels and low-volume feet, and the shoe’s heel counter/collar sits too high for my preference on trails. I wasn’t able to be nimble with my landings. 

The fit wasn’t a problem on gravel, even uneven gravel, but on single track, when the landings are always uneven and always narrow, the shoe is uncomfortable. For someone with a higher-volume foot and an average-to-wide heel, I could see this shoe being surprisingly useful on single track. 

I’m always in between half sizes, and the shorter of the two sizes left my toes cramped on the downhills. If I had a better heel hold, that might not have been an issue. The BOA and strap work better than I expected, but again, for my low-volume feet I prefer traditional laces.

MATT: Speedland made a trade-off to make the shoe lighter and more nimble, and I think it gave me my one true negative of this shoe. I found that the outsole is not as bombproof as some of Speedland’s other models. Less aggressive lugs and less-sticky outsole rubber mean that you could face some difficulties on more technical terrain, and especially in wet and sloppy conditions.

I am also unsure how well my feet would hold up on distances longer than 50K. I know Speedland shoes have clearly been on the feet for some great finishes at races such as Leadville (RX:LDVL), Western States, and even Cocodona 250 (GS:CCD), so the shoes are built to last, but I think I lean towards a softer durometer preference even on the trails when going that long.

Shop Speedland RX:LDVL - Unisex Shop Speedland RX:SKY - Unisex 

Final thoughts on the Speedland RX:LDVL

TAYLOR: Speedland’s RX:LDVL and RX:SKY are highly adaptable and fun trail shoes that can handle the demands of training and racing as needed. Their greatest assets are high-quality materials and the ability to adjust the underfoot feel to match your needs. I love that this is truly a three-in-one experience.

As for race day, there will be some who prefer the dependable inherent stability while getting a fun underfoot sensation. It feels like a “safe bet” in that way. Compared to many others in this category, it doesn’t feel as “sharp” or speed-inspiring; however, I have a hunch that the RX:LDVL is just a major step in that direction for the brand.

If you are already a Speedland fan, the RX:LDVL will absolutely please you.

RENEE: The RX:SKY is a fun shoe for racking up all of the miles on moderate trails or gravel terrain. Long runs, speed workouts; I used this shoe for everything. The shoe feels light and responsive on solid landings and it has enough stack for ultras. With low-volume feet and a narrow heel, the strap and BOA system don’t give me the security I’d prefer on single track, but the shoe is not marketed for that terrain. 

I’m a bit surprised the shoe hasn’t gotten more love. $300 is steep, but it’s in line with other carbon-plated shoes, and considering the shoe is a collaboration release, it’s a fair price.

MATT: I think the RX:SKY may be my favorite Speedland model to date. I love what they've done to address the fit with the BOA dial plus strap closure combo, and I also think the midsole and outsole work really well together across most terrain and give maybe the most responsive, light feel underfoot I have experienced. 

If you are already a Speedland fan and are looking for that next do-everything shoe, or you are intrigued by the brand but overwhelmed by the product catalog and all the model options, the RX:SKY might be the one to go with.

You can pick up the Speedland RX:LDVL and RX:SKY (in limited sizes) from Speedland using the buttons below.

Shop Speedland RX:LDVL - Unisex Shop Speedland RX:SKY - Unisex