Scott Speed Carbon RC - first look

Tri pioneers launch their first carbon-soled running shoe, the Scott Speed Carbon RC. Matt Baird has the details...

Published: July 6, 2021 at 12:22 pm

From the Scott DH tri-bars to Alistair Brownlee’s Scott Plasma 6 tri bike, Scott has a long heritage in multisport innovation.

While certainly not the first carbon-soled running shoe to the party, they’ll be hoping the new Speed Carbon RC has enough tech wizardry to stand out from the increasingly crowded carbon shoe marketplace.

Released today, the Speed Carbon RC comes after 10 years of continued R&D and is claimed to be Scott's fastest road shoe to date. The spec list includes a Carbitex DFX carbon fibre plate in the midsole that increases in stiffness as it’s flexed, aiming to give runners more power and efficiency when you need it, and an ease of movement when you don’t.

The Evolved Rocker2 aims to promote a “more dynamic running position, reducing heel strike impacts and increasing running efficiency,” says Scott. The Kinetic Light Foam, meanwhile, is an update of the existing Kinetic Foam, and keeps the weight of the shoe down to a claimed 240g, despite a Hoka-esque 30mm heel height. The heel-to-toe drop is a relatively low 5mm.

The Speed Carbon RC is out now and retails for £170. We’ll be putting it to the test in issue 395 of 220, out on 2 September.