Article by Kurt Biesemans
Scott Kinabalu Extremely (170€) – Launch date February 2026
Introduction
Scott Sports activities is a Swiss model based in 1958, initially identified for its ski and biking tools. Round 2006, Scott entered the working shoe market with a robust concentrate on efficiency footwear. Since then, the model has positioned itself as a technical and innovation-driven participant, particularly throughout the path working phase, the place light-weight development, grip, stability, and effectivity are key priorities.
Through the years, Scott has constructed a strong fame within the path working world, although it by no means fairly reached mainstream dominance. Their high-performance RC line has lengthy been the flagship, aimed toward aggressive and technically demanding terrain.
Nonetheless, Scott appears to be getting into a brand new part. With the introduction of a number of new fashions for 2026 — and with Romanian path working star Mădălina Florea, winner of the 2025 Golden Path World Collection, becoming a member of the crew — the model is clearly making a renewed push into the efficiency working scene.
Inside the new Kinabalu lineup, two fashions stand out:
Kinabalu Extremely – constructed for lengthy distances, consolation, and stability
Kinabalu Path – designed to be quick, agile, and playful
On this evaluate, I concentrate on the Kinabalu Extremely, which I primarily examined on forest trails and semi-wet underground. Coming quickly our evaluate of the Kinabalu Path
Professionals
Light-weight and sturdy Matryx higher
Very secure platform
Good power return
Agressive rocker geometry
Versatile: works properly from straightforward trails to extra rolling terrain
Glorious weight-to-stack ratio
Dependable grip
Cons
Heel lockdown may very well be higher
Restricted padding within the tongue
Specs
Approx Weight: 270 g (males) / 240 g (girls)
Pattern Weight: Males’s US10/EU 44 – 284 g
Stack top: 40 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot, 7mm drop
Platform width: Heel: 95 mm, Midfoot: 80 mm, Forefoot: 115 mm
Comparable Footwear
Inov-8 Trailfly Max
On Cloudultra 3
First Impression, Match & Higher
The Kinabalu Extremely has a clear, fashionable look with out showing overly cumbersome. I examined the darker colorway (black / glacier gray), which is right for winter path working the place mud and filth are unavoidable.
Two issues stand out instantly: the low weight and the excessive stack top (40 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot).
As soon as you place the shoe on, the consolation is immediately noticeable. The foot is properly wrapped, with a safe midfoot match that feels supportive with out being restrictive.
The toe field is just not notably extensive, so runners with broader ft would possibly discover it barely comfortable. For my narrower foot, nonetheless, the match was wonderful, even throughout longer runs.
The higher makes use of Matryx materials, which strikes a really good stability between lightness, help, sturdiness, and luxury. Regardless of being a extremely technical cloth, it feels delicate and versatile on foot and adapts properly to foot motion.
Breathability is excellent, permitting warmth and moisture to flee simply. On the identical time, the fabric has a sure diploma of water and filth resistance, which is beneficial in moist path circumstances.
The lacing system makes use of stretch laces with bolstered eyelets. The laces are barely lengthy should you don’t use the runner’s loop, however they permit for exact adjustment.
When utilizing the additional runner’s loop, the tongue does really feel barely on the brief facet. Nonetheless, when the runner’s loop isn’t used, the tongue size is completely sufficient and offers good protection.
The collar sits comparatively low, and due to that, reaching an ideal heel lock could be a bit difficult, even when utilizing the runner’s loop.
Midsole & Platform
The Kinabalu Extremely makes use of Scott’s KINETIC NITROGEN FOAM, created by infusing nitrogen into the froth in the course of the manufacturing course of. This makes the midsole lighter, extra responsive, and extra energetic.
This foam contributes considerably to the shoe’s low weight whereas nonetheless providing good power return. Whenever you improve the tempo, the shoe responds properly and feels full of life underfoot.
By way of softness, the experience leans extra towards agency relatively than plush. Don’t count on the delicate, marshmallow-like really feel of a Hoka Speedgoat. Personally, I want this firmer, extra managed sensation — it offers higher floor really feel and stability, particularly on uneven trails.
Regardless of the excessive stack top, stability is great. On forest trails with roots, ruts, and uneven surfaces, the shoe remained predictable and confidence-inspiring. I initially had issues that the peak would possibly compromise stability, however that proved unfounded.
This stability is essentially as a result of extensive platform (Heel 95mm – Midfoot 80mm – Forefoot 115mm), particularly underneath the forefoot and heel, which retains the shoe planted even on uneven terrain.
One open query stays: efficiency on very rocky terrain. The Kinabalu Extremely doesn’t function a rock plate, so sharp rocks could also be felt by means of the midsole. That stated we’ve got a stout outsole with close to full protection and 5mm lugs and a full forefoot stack top of 33mm so there needs to be loads of safety for its meant makes use of. That is one thing I plan to check later within the season.
Outsole
The Kinabalu Extremely makes use of Scott’s Extremely Traction outsole, designed for quick and environment friendly working on agency to combined terrain.
The rubber compound feels comparatively delicate, which helps with grip and clean transitions. The total-coverage outsole also needs to guarantee good sturdiness over time.
Flex grooves underneath the heel and forefoot permit the shoe to maneuver naturally with the foot, bettering flexibility throughout toe-off.
The 5 mm lugs present strong traction on dry and semi-dry surfaces. In deeper mud, grip naturally decreases — which is predicted with this lug depth.
Experience, Conclusions & Suggestions
The Kinabalu Extremely options Scott’s ER3 rocker geometry, the model’s newest midsole shaping idea. Moderately than utilizing a mechanical rocker plate, Scott optimizes the geometry of the froth itself to information the foot by means of the gait cycle.
This new ER3 design offers medial and lateral steerage, serving to the foot roll ahead easily and effectively. Whilst a midfoot/forefoot striker, I might clearly really feel how the shoe helps ahead propulsion, particularly when choosing up the tempo.
Briefly, the experience is clean, secure, and managed, with a agency however energetic really feel.
In comparison with the earlier Kinabalu model (V3), it is a clear step ahead. Earlier fashions obtained combined suggestions, however this new model feels extra refined, extra fashionable, and higher executed.
That stated, there’s nonetheless room for enchancment:
The collar is a bit low, affecting heel lock
The cushioning may very well be barely softer, particularly contemplating the “Extremely” title and long-distance intentions
The Kinabalu Extremely performs finest on flowing trails, forest paths, and reasonably technical terrain. It isn’t designed for very rocky or extraordinarily muddy circumstances, however inside its meant use case, it performs very properly.
The shoe stands out due to:
A snug and supportive Matryx higher
A secure and environment friendly midsole
A clean, pure experience
At €170, the Kinabalu Extremely sits in a really aggressive worth vary and gives robust worth for cash. It’s a flexible path shoe that may go well with a variety of runners on the lookout for consolation, stability, and effectivity over longer distances.
I’m trying ahead to testing it additional in additional technical terrain later within the season — and I’m curious to see how Scott builds on this strong basis in future variations.
Kurt’s Total Rating: 8,3/10 – 😊😊😊😊
Experience (30%): 8,5Match (30%): 8 (-1 for low lower and heel lock-in)Worth (10%): 8,5Type (5%) 9Traction (15%): 8,5Rock Safety (10%): 8
RoadTrailRun’s Preview Video of the Kinabalu Extremely and Path from The Operating Occasion
2 Comparisons
Inov8 TrailFly Max (RTR Assessment)
The Inov8 TrailFly Max includes a high-stack FlySpeed™ Professional foam infused with nitrogen for a bouncy, energized experience. Paired with a Boomerang™ insole, it offers long-run consolation.
The TrailFly Max is available in with a narrower profile (Heel 85 mm, Midfoot 60 mm, Forefoot 110 mm) in comparison with the Cloudultra 3 and shaves off a little bit of weight at 306 g. It doesn’t function a rock plate, and it feels barely much less responsive underfoot. The place it actually shines, nonetheless, is in traction — the aggressive 4 mm lugs ship excellent grip, making it a wonderful alternative for muddy and technical terrain.
Just like the Cloudultra 3, ankle help is minimal, the TrailFly Max truly options an excellent softer heel compartment. With the identical 6 mm drop and a barely greater stack (Heel 35 mm / Forefoot 29 mm), it runs firmer.
On CloudUltra 3 (RTR Assessment)
The Cloudultra 3 weighs 316g (US10 / EU44), which isn’t precisely light-weight, however it doesn’t really feel sluggish both. Whereas the stack top isn’t notably excessive, I by no means felt it was missing. Quite the opposite, the she delivers a balanced, managed experience with a robust connected-to-the-ground sensation, whereas nonetheless providing ample cushioning to comfortably sort out ultra-distance efforts.
What actually stands out is the flexibility. The Cloudultra 3 handles a wide range of eventualities with ease — from slower path coaching periods to longer ultra-distance races.
At €200 / $190, it sits on the upper finish of the worth spectrum in comparison with its opponents. Nonetheless, given its versatility and strong construct, I discover the worth properly justified. The shoe feels sturdy and constructed to deal with severe mileage with out breaking down rapidly. They don’t name it Swiss engineering for nothing 🙂
By way of terrain, the Cloudultra 3 is a real multi-purpose path shoe. I haven’t examined it in muddy circumstances but, however given the comparatively low-profile lugs, I believe it’s not the place the shoe will shine most. On rocky, technical, and dry trails, nonetheless, it performs confidently.
Tester Profile
Kurt is an skilled endurance athlete in his early 50s with a background rooted in long-distance triathlon. Lately, he transitioned totally into (path) working, constructing a robust résumé throughout technical and long-distance mountain occasions. He accomplished the Tour du Mont Blanc in 4 days, and raced each UTMB Tenerife (73K) and UTMB Mallorca (106K), alongside a gentle stream of native path and highway races starting from brief codecs to ultra-distance.
His each day coaching floor is a mixture of 70% highway and 30% trails, giving him a balanced, real-world perspective on gear efficiency throughout assorted terrain. Kurt is 1m86 and 78 kg, with a typical shoe measurement of EUR 44 / UK 9.5 / US 10, making him a dependable reference for match and sizing suggestions. Observe Kurt on Instagram and Strava
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Samples have been supplied at no cost for evaluate functions. No compensation was supplied by manufacturers for writing this text. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and should earn fee on merchandise bought through purchasing hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are completely the authors’.
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