With roots spanning a couple of decades in the world’s biggest shoe companies, Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon know a thing or two about footwear. Together, they launched Speedland. The company promises no compromise in their quest to create the best shoes on the planet for the toughest races going. With a deep trail pedigree, their shoes until now have focussed on the rough stuff. The GS:TAM brought hyper-performance to elite trail athletes (and me).
Now the trailsmiths have set their eyes on road domination. The RX:CCD and RX:FPY offer a very tempting premise. Both shoes can be carbon plated racers or flexible easy day rollers. I was lucky enough to receive the blood-red RX:CCD. While I won’t be running the Cocodona 250 any time soon, I have been hammering out the miles in the wilds of South East England.
How did they hold up to the road? Let’s find out.
Upper and Fit of the Speedland RX:CCD
What works for me
Those familiar with the work of Speedland will instantly notice that a BOA dial has gone missing. On their trail tech, we have a dual-BOA set up. Meanwhile, the RX designated road version comes with just the single dial. Whilst this does limit the absolute fine tuning which was possible before, it still gives an amazing, microadjustable fit for my foot. Furthermore, the dial allows for on the fly adjustments with a simple click and turn.
As you would expect from a shoe named after and designed around a 250 mile footrace, the toebox has plenty of room for the foot to swell. Although, the wires of the BOA system pull it tight when the feet are fresh.
Alongside the secure lockdown offered by the BOA system, we find a super soft mesh on top. With a socklike feel akin to Nike’s older Flyknit on the “tongue” portion of the upper, there is breathable comfort aplenty. The mesh around the toe and sides of the RX:CCD has a more structured, hexagonal overlay which keeps things tight but airy. Even on the hottest days I have had recently, my foot has always found the RX:CCD to be breathable.
Added protection comes from a toecap overlay which reminds you that while these are road shoes, they aren’t solely for suburban streets. Lockdown is assisted in the heel with a roughly centimetre wide foam pad around the heel which is soft and does the job well.
Overall, the RX:CCD has an upper which exemplifies the Speedland ideals. It offers comfort, quality and tank-like. build quality. The mesh and BOA closure system ensure a fit which will probably work for the majority of foot shapes unless you have a real outlier of a foot.
What doesn’t work for me
While the fit is very good and lockdown is secure. This is a shoe with a dual identity. When in unplated mode, the hold all around the shoe is strong. However, when the rigid carbon plate is added to the drop-in midsole, the rigidity of the plate can cause some heel lift when really putting power through the shoe.
Also, with the single BOA dial, there have been times when I have missed the adjustability in the toe area. Whilst this is nitpicking and shows how spoiled I was by the GS:TAM, I would love to be able to loosen the toe area a little while maintaining the tightness across the top of the foot. That said, it is still one of the better uppers I have worn this year with no noticeable hotspots or any other issues so far.
Midsole and Ride of the Speedland RX:CCD
What works for me
The uncompressed SCF foam is incredibly noticeable. A huge slab of white foam with SPEEDLAND emblazoned on the side is not subtle. While given a measurement of 40mm in the heel, they look gigantic next to anything but the adidas Prime X. However, they don’t have the feeling of instability that many other high stacked shoes offer. This is due to the feel of the foam and the width of the platform which also sets it apart from other carbon plated speedsters.
This is where I need to split the section into two as the RX:CCD is two shoes in one.
Firstly, we have an unplated daily shoe which offers flexibility and softness. This is a fun shoe for getting out on the road. The bounce of the foam gives some good energy return after a short(ish) initial break in period. It offers enough give to bob along at easy paces but has the rebound to help kick things along if you are in the mood. Here is usually where I would say something about feeling good at my usual marathon pace. However, I have no idea what my 250 mile pace would be.
That said, I know that the RX:CCD has been happy at whatever pace I have thrown at it in unplated mode. Overall, the whole ride is enjoyable. The roll through the gait cycle is smooth and supported due to the size of the wedge of foam underfoot. It has a pleasant toe-off feeling and most of all, it can be run over all distances.
Now, this is where most shoe reviews would end. But Speedland have given us a transformer of a shoe. With a quick slip of the midsole, you can lock in the rigid carbon fibre plate which is provided. This turns it into a very different beast. Gone is any sense of flexibility and in comes a real springboard of a shoe.
Before you even put it in the shoe, you can feel how stiff the plate is. I was worried about bending it in my hand too much for fear of snapping it, but it did not have much give. Once inside the RX:CCD, you can instantly feel the difference. The combination of plate and foam works to improve efficiency which shows in my Stryd data. I’m putting in less power to get the same results in pace.
That said, due to the chunky nature of the shoe it probably won’t become a favourite for those racing road miles or even a fast 5k. It could definitely be used for these, but short speed isn’t what it is designed for. For that you have myriad lightweight waifs to pick from. This is designed to keep you rolling for mile after mile while conserving energy through terrain which isn’t always friendly. That it does very well!
If you are a bigger runner or someone who pushes a lot of power through each stride, the RX:CCD will probably be a good bet. That said, it doesn’t really require a particular strike or stride pattern to feel the effect.
What doesn’t work for me
This is one of those shoes which doesn’t really have a glaring problem where I can say, “This doesn’t work!” It is more of a case of some small personal preferences which I would change to make an already good shoe even better for me. The main one is that I just don’t really like the upper surface of the insole. While there is nothing really wrong with it, I just don’t really like the texture underfoot. It has a braille like texture and a midsole feel to it. I would prefer a more traditional fabric like cover. Maybe I just don’t run long enough for me to gain the benefits.
After over 100 miles in them so far, that’s all I can really come up with for the midsole and ride.
Outsole of the Speedland RX:CCD
Grip and Traction
The RX:CCD outsole owes its pedigree to racecar tyres. Ridgeless, nubless slick rubber greets the eye and the road. The Scratch Rubber does a very good job of holding firm and as it roughs up on the road, it improves. I’ve run the RX:CCD through the gamut of weather conditions outside of snow and ice. At no stage have I worried about slipping. Even when the pavement has been grimy and suffering from muddy run-off, it has held me firm.
Furthermore, after all my testing distance so far, it is showing no signs of excessive wear. It is only where the rubber is cut away to expose the Uncompressed SCF foam that there is some discolouration.
Durability
One would hope that a shoe designed for a 250 mile road race would have a good bit of durability to it. From my initial 100 miles in the RX:CCD, I can see or feel no real degradation. Aside from a half centimetre strip on the base of the midsole material which has gained a greyish-brown tinge from being run through the muck, the shoes look like new.
Moreover, during the time I have been reviewing them, the midsole foam has softened up somewhat and the ride has become even better. My experience of the GS:TAM also tells me that the shoe will last a good long time. The no compromise build and material quality of Speedland really pays off here.
Conclusion
Value for Money
The RX:CCD is $299. This puts it at the top end price of running shoes today. Outside of the adidas Pro Evo and some of norda’s offerings you’d be hard pressed to spend more on a single shoe. However, this is where the Speedland RX:CCD sets itself apart. You aren’t really getting just one shoe.
Included in the price, you have a flexible daily trainer and a carbon plated racer. Added to that, it is a shoe which is designed to last. When one race is 250 miles, Speedland puts its quality into durability. The quality of materials and build do tip the scales in the value for money stakes.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
In addition to the build and material quality, the Speedland RX:CCD pretty much is your shoe rotation. Without the plate, it is a more flexible daily trainer which soaks up the miles and offers versatility in its own right. When the plate is locked in, it changes nature, adds efficiency and a real springboard feeling.
If you are only running short and fast, you probably don’t need this in your rotation. If you run long and often, the Speedland is a great addition to your shelf. It will cover any distance and most types of run. From daily short miles to longer tempo and up sessions, it has you sorted. For track 200s, you might want to look elsewhere.
Final Verdict
This is a very interesting shoe. It offers versatility alongside a high build quality and top notch materials. As an unplated shoe, it is excellent with the ability to move you from easy recovery miles to uptempo paces. It is definitely an excellent super trainer. When it is in plated mode, it is an efficient running shoe. The plate works well with the foam to reduce the effort needed to cover the distance. It is hard to compare it to something like the Vaporfly or other plated marathon racers because it isn’t an apples to apples comparison. The RX:CCD is an ultramarathon shoe for terrain which isn’t always friendly. It isn’t as light, nimble or perhaps as fast as its more groomed road compatriots. But, it isn’t designed to be. It sets out to offer comfort over long distances and that it does in spades.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Speedland RX:CCD vs ASICS Superblast v1
Two very large shoes with similar weights and similar purposes. I have managed to accumulate 800+ km in my original pair of Superblast so far and they are still doing me proud. This comes down to personal preference. Both are comfortable, they offer rebound and stability while picking up the pace. Do you want to go with the tried and tested or do you want to stand out from the pack?
Speedland RX:CCD vs Nike Vaporfly 4
As I mentioned in the review, this is not a like for like comparison. However, if you are not in the lead pack of your marathon, it may be worth considering the Speedland RX:CCD as it offers more stability. Furthermore, it is designed for a long time on foot and comfort in all areas. Can Nike’s top end racer say the same?
Speedland RX:CCD vs Mount to Coast R1
Two very different takes on the same goal. Mount to Coast offer a very simple take on a road ultramarathon shoe and it worked very well. An unplated shoe without a demand for any particular footstrike, the R1 works excellently. On the other hand, the RX:CCD is anything but subtle. That said, it will also work for a wide variety of runners and footstrikes. Albeit those with deeper pockets.
