SCOTT Speed Carbon RC 2 introduction:
SCOTT’s racing shoe offers a carbon plate, low stack and a very lightweight and breathable upper. It eschews modern superfoams in favour of an EVA blend in the midsole. The second version of SCOTT’s racing shoe, makes the midsole softer with a new formulation of the Kinetic Light Foam. While SCOTT are famous for their bikes, their shoes have received mixed reviews from our team.
How does the Speed Carbon RC 2 stack up against the competition?
SCOTT Speed Carbon RC 2 upper:
Andy: As soon as it comes out of the box, the Speed Carbon RC 2 looks clean. A bright white upper with some neon green pinstripes to make it pop. It is also very transparent, the insole can be seen clearly through the upper. Make sure you wear clean socks with this one! Looks aside, the initial step in feel of the upper is good. It wraps the food well with the gusseted tongue.
Furthermore, the minimal padding is positioned well and ensures that there is no rubbing or discomfort from the rear of the shoe. The lacing is fairly traditional looking, however, the lace chain doesn’t seem to come up high enough on my foot. When tied, it seems to come a little loose and lead to heel slippage which is far from ideal in a speed day shoe. That said, some tinkering with the lacing and using a runner’s knot mitigated this somewhat and meant that it became a much more runnable shoe than my first impression made me think.
Finally, as may be expected from such a thin upper, breathability is no issue at all. Even on the hottest of summer days, my feet remained cool. As a bonus, on wet days, the Speed Carbon RC 2 dries very quickly.
SCOTT Speed Carbon RC 2 midsole:
Andy: In a world of 40mm midsoles being the norm for a shoe designed for racing, the Speed Carbon RC 2 is a very thin shoe by comparison. With only 30mm in the heel and 25mm in the forefoot, it is almost 10mm closer to the ground than most of its competitors. The EVA midsole compound is also a world away from the PEBA pillows that most are used to.
This combination is a double edged sword. With less foam and what there is being firmer, the Speed Carbon RC 2 is inherently stable. The flipside of that is that the energy return is rather lacking. It is not a shoe that bounces you from one stride to the next. Rather the firmer midsole, rocker geometry and Carbitex plate work together to roll you through your gate cycle. At first, I really did not enjoy the feel of the Speed Carbon RC 2. However, once I got used to the feel and the foam broke in a little, I have found myself reaching for it when I want to run a Fartlek style session or just fancy a shoe to make an easy run feel even easier.
Despite the lack of pop and depth of cushion, I have found myself coming to enjoy the Speed Carbon RC 2. In fact, it helped me take my first Strava crown in quite a while. That is a big tick in the plus column for me. While I don’t think the ride will be for everyone, it will appeal to those who like a firmer ride and stability in their shoe. It also seems to be a fairly democratic shoe when it comes to foot strike. Regardless of which part of my foot hit the floor first, the shoe rolled through the rocker nicely and had me moving forward.
SCOTT Speed Carbon RC 2 outsole:
Andy: The outsole of the Speed Carbon RC 2 is perfectly decent. A thin layer of rubber covers the high strike zones in both heel and forefoot. During my runs, I have experienced no hair raising moments in wet or dry. After my initial testing miles, there is no real sign of wear. I would imagine that the denser EVA midsole and rubber coverage would make this a rather durable shoe.
SCOTT Speed Carbon RC 2 conclusion:
Andy: This is a tricky shoe for me to conclude. The £190 price puts it on the lower edge of super shoe pricing. However, outside of the carbon plate and thin upper, the Speed Carbon RC 2 doesn’t have much in common with its brethren. It is a shoe that on paper, I should really dislike. Firmer, flatter and lower, it is the antithesis of those shoes which I usually enjoy. But, I have really enjoyed running in it when I’m going for a run where I want to play with my paces.
It is a shoe with a much more traditional feel in a world of space age flights of fantasy. Were it priced lower, it would be easier to recommend. If you are looking for stability, a smooth roll and a firmer ride, this is a good shoe. If you are a person who like deep cushion, bounce and a more wild ride, stay clear.
