Article by Jeff Valliere
Speedland GL:SVT ($299)
Introduction:
Jeff V: The Speedland GL:SVT and its design particulars pay homage to Speedland athlete Avery Collins and the San Juan Mountains/Silverton, Colorado.
The SVT is meant for extra rugged mountain terrain and all distances, that includes a Carry out Match wrap with twin BOA Match System Li2 dials, tight ripstop mesh higher with inbuilt mesh gaiter, beaded HTPU exterior service midsole, with detachable blended SCF (supercritical foam) inner midsole, and Michelin Fiberlite outsole with 6.5mm lugs. It’s Carbitex Gearplate suitable for an extra $35.. The precision match, cushion, safety and traction make the SVT a terrific all mountain, any terrain versatile workhorse.
Professionals and Cons
Professionals: Consolation, cushion, traction, high quality, sturdiness, safety, stability, inbuilt gaiter, higher with twin Li2 BOA
Cons: Weight, worth, gaiter might be dialed in
Stats
Spec Weight: US males’s 9: 10.7oz / 303g
Pattern: US males’s 10: 11.6oz (12.25 oz w/ Carbitex plate) / 332g (350g w/ Carbitex)
Stack Top: males’s 33mm heel / 28mm forefoot (5mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 80mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot
$299. SVT accessible at Speeedland HERE
First Impressions, Match and Higher:
Jeff V: The GL:SVT is without doubt one of the newest commissions from Speedland. It’s a little bit of a departure from the earlier fashions that I’ve examined, the GS:TAM and the GS:PGH, which supply extra cushioning and a extra beneficiant match. The SVT is a little more trimmed down, extra streamlined, agile and has a extra exact match with a safer higher and deeper 6.5 mm lugs.
Like different Speedland fashions, the higher options twin BOA Match System Li2 dials with Carry out Match wrap integrating for a really mushy but comfortably safe match.
The Li2 BOA dials are twin course, that means which you could rotate in both course to make micro changes to tighten or loosen as desired with out having to totally launch the dial and begin over. I actually recognize having the Li2 dials, because it makes changes tremendous fast and straightforward on the go, which is useful on any run to accommodate for foot swell, terrain or desire.
The higher materials is rugged and sturdy, as it’s a ripstop mesh, but it is concurrently skinny and versatile. The toe bumper can also be considerably on the skinny facet and as it’s coating is extra for sturdiness and abrasion resistance than precise safety. This has not been a problem for me for my day after day path working on technical trails and off path, however may presumably be a weak point in steep scree and talus.
One other be aware is that if you’re utilizing Microspikes/EXOspikes (or different types of supplemental traction) on the SVT, the higher is skinny sufficient that it may be a bit uncomfortable with traction gadgets on the shoe (particularly over the toe)..
With that, the higher is sort of breathable and the fabric does a terrific job conserving out path mud and particles.
Match is usually true to dimension in my traditional dimension 10, with a really adaptive match, or, extra particularly, with the twin BOAs, you possibly can obtain a really comfortable and safe match when wanted, but you may also rapidly again off the strain for a extra relaxed, comfy match.
I discover that I’ve a bit of additional room on the finish of the toe field, which isn’t uncommon for me (I measure 9.75 on the size and all the time spherical as much as 10). If you’re on the sting of sizing or choose smaller for higher management in tech terrain, you may contemplate sizing down a half dimension relying in your desire. The SVT is barely narrower than the TAM and PGH and has the identical platform/match because the PDX (however with two dials as a substitute of a single dial and velcro strap), SVT is best for my low quantity, narrower foot and its match is, for me< a bonus in technical terrain.
The inbuilt gaiter is nice, however with my skinny ankle, there’s a little bit of a niche.
Total, I discover it’s useful conserving out grime and particles and you probably have a barely bigger ankle than mine, you shouldn’t have an issue. The general design of the shoe with no tongue makes the SVT really feel slipper-like and fairly comfy.
The heel counter is semi versatile, with a minimal (however very enough) quantity of padding on the within.
Midsole & Platform
The proprietary drop-in (detachable) midsole is made from a supercritical foam mix (in all probability EVA and PEBA) with the outer service ar 100% beaded HTPU compound. The midsole is gentle, mushy and responsive in really feel, very comparable in appears and design to earlier Speedland fashions with simply slight variations in form with the midsole development (and stack top) equivalent to the concurrently launched GL:PDX.
In fact, like different Speedland sneakers, the SVT is plate suitable. You should purchase the Carbitex Carbon plate for an extra $35
The plate is simple so as to add/take away, taking simply seconds and is simple sufficient to do effectively within the subject for those who so select. I discover the SVT to be fairly fast and responsive, however its weight of 11.6oz (12.25 oz with Carbitex plate) / 332g (350g with Carbitex plate) is an element if making an attempt to run quick.
I don’t discover the plate to be a bonus from a pure efficiency standpoint, however I do like utilizing it for many of my runs, if solely from a safety standpoint, as most of my runs are rocky and technical. If I have been working extra reasonable trails, softer surfaces, and so forth…, I’d take away the plate.
Outsole
The Michelin Fiberlite outsole options deep and aggressive 6.5mm lugs which might be sticky and provide very good traction over a variety of surfaces and circumstances.
Like earlier fashions, the lugs are cuttable. Personally, I couldn’t think about spending $300 on a shoe, to then cut back the general lifetime of the shoe by chopping the lugs and can’t visualize a state of affairs the place I’d need to lower them down (until I have been a sponsored runner and have been significantly making an attempt to depend grams). Both means, the choice is there (you may also snip a drainage gap).
Total, I discover traction to be excellent on all kinds of terrain, be it steep and free off path, some snow and frozen snow, rocky slab, within the moist, arduous packed grime, somewhat mud, and so forth… The deeper 6.5mm lugs do make a distinction right here, particularly when free, muddy or snowy. Up to now, sturdiness has confirmed to be excellent.
Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions
Jeff V: The trip of the SVT is easy and dynamic and varies relying on whether or not you might be together with the plate or not. With the plate, it’s a bit stiffer (although not inflexible or tippy), protecting and higher tailored for harsh terrain and with the added safety. With out the plate, they really feel lighter, extra nimble, versatile with improved path really feel.
The midsole is mushy, but secure and general the SVT runs lighter than the load may suggest. They are perfect for lengthy runs over technical terrain, however are versatile sufficient for runs of any size and each day coaching on nearly any terrain or floor. Regardless of a couple of minor nitpicks, Speedland as soon as once more delivers a shoe that’s of the very best high quality, most technically superior and revolutionary. For my technical mountain each day working preferences, I discover the SVT to be the very best Speedland but!
Jeff V’s Rating: 9.6/10
Experience: 9.5, Match 9.5, Worth 9, Model 9.5, Traction 10, Rock Safety 10
😊😊😊😊😊
6 Comparisons
Speedland GL:PDX (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The PDX is a bit lighter, solely has one BOA dial plus velcro strap, whereas the SVT has two BOA dials and a inbuilt gaiter. In any other case, they share the identical platform/midsole/outsole. I personally choose the 2 dials over the dial strap combo as I believe it supplies a greater, extra modulated stage of foothold and adjustability. The PDX continues to be a tremendous shoe and the $50 financial savings has plenty of attraction with out vital sacrifice.
Speedland GS:PGH (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The PGH is definitely a bit lighter, regardless of extra stack and being an general bigger shoe, a few of this possible from the deeper lugs on the SVT. The PGH has a wider match and platform and with the extra cushion, is best suited to longer distances on extra reasonable trails, the place the SVT with deeper lugs, safer match and deeper lugs is best for extra technical mountain working.
Hoka Tecton X 3 (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The Tecton X3 is way lighter, sooner and responsive, with a softer foam midsole and likewise has a gaiter that’s gentle but efficient and that needs to be trade commonplace, or at the least a gaiter that each one shoe corporations ought to do their finest to copy. The Tecton X3 additionally has wonderful traction as nicely. I believe the SVT nonetheless is more proficient on extra rugged, technical mountain terrain, the place the Tecton is a pure race shoe for reasonable to much less technical programs.
Salomon Genesis (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The Genesis is a couple of ounces lighter with its platform a bit narrower within the midfoot and heel, although the identical width on the forefoot. The Genesis is a sooner working shoe, a lot of that attributed to the lighter weight, however the SVT is extra protecting (carbon plate), has a superior higher (BOA) and a extra aggressive outsole with 6.5mm lugs (vs. 4.5). The Genesis is strictly half the worth (not factoring within the carbon plate).
Saucony Peregrine 15 (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The Peregrine is lighter and faster general, with comparable traction, although the SVT’s Michelin rubber outsole has a extra sticky compound that’s advantageous within the moist or on slabby rock. The SVT has extra cushioning, so maybe is best for longer distances, however the Peregrine can also be very nicely cushioned and protecting underfoot given its woven forefoot plate. The SVT higher with twin BOA is superior with the last word simple adjustability. The Peregrine at $140 is a good worth.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 (RTR Evaluation)
Jeff V: The SG6 is lighter, has extra cushion, is roughly half the worth, has wonderful traction and is so versatile, and thus is so fashionable for good causes. The SVT has deeper lugs and a superior higher which needs to be extra accommodating for many, whereas the SG6’s is a bit tapered and could be bothersome to these with wider toes and particularly over longer distances.
Index to all RTR evaluations: HERE
Tester Profiles
Jeff Valliere likes to run and discover the mountains of Colorado, the steeper and extra technical the higher. He has summited all the 14ers within the state, many 13ers and different peaks in Colorado and past, plus, he has summited his native Inexperienced Mountain over 2,100 instances prior to now 20 years. He could be discovered on mountain trails each day, regardless of the climate, season, circumstances or whether or not there’s daylight or not. On the facet he likes to ski (all kinds) bike and hike, typically along with his household, as he introduces his twin daughters to the outside. Jeff was born and raised in New Hampshire, however has known as Colorado dwelling for over 25 years. He’s 5’9” and 145 lbs.
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