Scarpa - Spin Planet Trail Running Shoes - Green - UK 13

Comfortable and light. Sturdy underfoot. The grips are excellent and hold well. Stone guard means you can't feel stones/rocks through the soles. No blisters which is always a bonus.

Have 50 miles on the shoes so far, and love them for short to medium distance training runs on hilly single track and fire roads (1-2K of vert), with some roots and rocks. On Jeremy’s advice, I bought my “normal” shoe size (US 9) and the Planets fit my somewhat wide midfoot perfectly. I get a good heel lockdown, with plenty of space—but not too much space--in the forefoot to accommodate my “un-tapered” toes (my pinky toes get squished if there’s not enough room). And for me, getting those things right in one shoe is not very common!Traction on dry surfaces is superior, and the midfoot provides a solid, somewhat cushioned landing on the downhills. I haven’t been out with them on very technical trails yet, or runs longer than 10 miles, but I look forward to seeing ... MoreHave 50 miles on the shoes so far, and love them for short to medium distance training runs on hilly single track and fire roads (1-2K of vert), with some roots and rocks. On Jeremy’s advice, I bought my “normal” shoe size (US 9) and the Planets fit my somewhat wide midfoot perfectly. I get a good heel lockdown, with plenty of space—but not too much space--in the forefoot to accommodate my “un-tapered” toes (my pinky toes get squished if there’s not enough room). And for me, getting those things right in one shoe is not very common!Traction on dry surfaces is superior, and the midfoot provides a solid, somewhat cushioned landing on the downhills. I haven’t been out with them on very technical trails yet, or runs longer than 10 miles, but I look forward to seeing how far I can push them. I’ve been wanting to simplify my shoe inventory, and the Spin Planet will definitely help me do that. It’s a comfortable shoe with a great fit and lots of ability.

100k Ultra Ready

Used them in the 100k Grindstone Ultra 2024 , worked flawlessly for me. That’s a more technical east coast trail with rocks , roots and steep ascent / descents.I think these have excellent stability and ground feel despite the cushioning, and I can navigate difficult terrain with confidence. Fast on descents. Lots of energy return too.I compared them to a few other similar shoes such as Saucony Xodus Ultra , Brooks Catamount, ASICS Trabuco, Hoka Mafate, Hoka Tecton x3 and I liked the Scarpa the best - surprisingly.I will say I see a lot of trail runners now going for the super trail shoes like Tecton X3 , and I think on your more technical terrain something like the spin planet is just better unless you are elite or something. They provide good support and ... MoreUsed them in the 100k Grindstone Ultra 2024 , worked flawlessly for me. That’s a more technical east coast trail with rocks , roots and steep ascent / descents.I think these have excellent stability and ground feel despite the cushioning, and I can navigate difficult terrain with confidence. Fast on descents. Lots of energy return too.I compared them to a few other similar shoes such as Saucony Xodus Ultra , Brooks Catamount, ASICS Trabuco, Hoka Mafate, Hoka Tecton x3 and I liked the Scarpa the best - surprisingly.I will say I see a lot of trail runners now going for the super trail shoes like Tecton X3 , and I think on your more technical terrain something like the spin planet is just better unless you are elite or something. They provide good support and more secure descending.

Early review

Wanted slightly more cushioning than the Spin Infinity (which are a brilliant shoe). For longer distances as I have a bit of an issue with my forefoot.Good stiff sole for rugged terrain but still enough feel to give confidence when you plant.No extra hole high up for that extra loop lace up for those descents. Hasn’t been a problem so far but will know when I tackle a long steep decent.I have a narrow foot and would have preferred the fit of the old “Spins” however (like the Infinity’s) the laces take up the bit of slack no problem to give you confidence on the technical stuff. I have been using the Speedgoat’s on longer runs for the cushioning, but a bit too much room in the forefoot for my feet.The Planet looks like the excellent construction as always from ... MoreWanted slightly more cushioning than the Spin Infinity (which are a brilliant shoe). For longer distances as I have a bit of an issue with my forefoot.Good stiff sole for rugged terrain but still enough feel to give confidence when you plant.No extra hole high up for that extra loop lace up for those descents. Hasn’t been a problem so far but will know when I tackle a long steep decent.I have a narrow foot and would have preferred the fit of the old “Spins” however (like the Infinity’s) the laces take up the bit of slack no problem to give you confidence on the technical stuff. I have been using the Speedgoat’s on longer runs for the cushioning, but a bit too much room in the forefoot for my feet.The Planet looks like the excellent construction as always from Scarpa. Lots of complimentary comments on the colour which wasn’t really a priority for me as I tend to buy running shoes with my eyes closed.

Love Em!

I generally wear a 12 as one foot measures 10.6in and the other measures 11.6in. I bought the 46 and they fit perfectly. I deal with plantar fasciitis and have insoles in these shoes but the shoe is plenty stiff and supportive without them. I’ve had them a month or so now and wore them to Europe and back and they did great. I would buy them again!

Review of Scarpa Spin Planet Trail Running Shoe

Light weight, and plenty of cushioning. My favourite cross country shoe at the moment.

The Lambo of trail shoes--Supremely well engineered, outstanding comfort, beautiful aesthetics.

Got them yesterday. 4-star because can't assess how good and durable, or not, the sole is. For that, I need more time, and since we can't come back and edit a review, then it's 4 instead of 5-stars. (Seriously MEC, can't you design your site so it works more like Amazon, ie more user-friendly?)First impressions: Excellent craftsmanship. The laces are thin and I can see that over time, if you pull too hard and carelessly, you might either break them or one of the loops they go through. Perhaps not. In any case, don't pull like crazy and everything should be fine.As to fit and comfort:My feet size is 10 US or 44 EU in Merrell. But the Scarpa size differently. Since they are shown in EU sizes on this site, I looked up their size guide: it says 43.5 EU = 10-10.5 ... MoreGot them yesterday. 4-star because can't assess how good and durable, or not, the sole is. For that, I need more time, and since we can't come back and edit a review, then it's 4 instead of 5-stars. (Seriously MEC, can't you design your site so it works more like Amazon, ie more user-friendly?)First impressions: Excellent craftsmanship. The laces are thin and I can see that over time, if you pull too hard and carelessly, you might either break them or one of the loops they go through. Perhaps not. In any case, don't pull like crazy and everything should be fine.As to fit and comfort:My feet size is 10 US or 44 EU in Merrell. But the Scarpa size differently. Since they are shown in EU sizes on this site, I looked up their size guide: it says 43.5 EU = 10-10.5 US. So that's what I bought.Apparently, Italians (Scarpa is an Italian brand for those who don't know) must have narrow feet because even though the size should fit me, they feel tighter than a Merrell would at the tip of the foot. Don't get me wrong: the outsole is the perfect size, matching my Merrells Eco Trail. The insole also is my exact size with a finger's width to spare of empty space between the toes and the front end of the shoes. But for some weird reason, the inside feel like it's 1/2 a size down than what it should. Not uncomfortable though. After taking them out for a quick 3+KM jaunt, the tightness progressively went away, the shoe adapting to my foot. So I suspect over time, they will stretch out just enough for any residual tightness to disappear. But that also means I can't wear thicker Icebreaker Merino wool socks in current weather conditions (end of Winter). Not a big deal in fact, as these are not Winter shoes, and thus with your typical thin runner ankle height socks, everything fits fine.Key takeaway: If you have larger feet than regular, definitely get 1 size bigger than your usual. Perhaps even 1.5+ over your regular size.Comfort-wise, they are very comfortable. Immediately you can tell they are perfectly engineered to prevent injury, provide firm support where it is needed, while at the same time not compromising on softness where shocks need absorbing. There is tremendous support for your arches, so much so that it encourages your foot to adopt an almost rolling movement forward, coaxing your gate into the proper motion, somewhat similar to the Keen WK400 Walking Shoes, but much less pronounced than 'the Keen effect.' ;-) In fact, Scarpa finds a better balance in this regard, and that's a good thing for people not used to this different sole geometry of which the Keen WK400 are an extreme example.The shoe is so well engineered that I suddenly forgot I was wearing them after only 3KM! This tells me that on a more serious hike or walk, you will become one with your tool, and that is the mark of excellence in any product. You don't fight the tool, but the tool becomes a part of you, as if it had always been there. This is why I keep saying these shoes are well engineered, because if this is how it feels on the first day after just 3 clicks, you can imagine how much better it gets after you break them in. Uncompromising comfort for 10, 20, or dare I say, even 30 KM.The sole is endowed with magnificently large lugs and as a result, the grip and traction are excellent as well. They use something called Presa for the outsole, so no Vibram here. Not sure what the quality and durability of this particular Presa rubber is going to be. Only time will tell and why I could not give 5-stars even though I wanted to.The temperature was around 4C and I could feel some coolness through the side vents. I was wearing cotton blend Champion socks, so nothing technical or warm. But the brisk walk and the polyester in the sock blend kept my feet warm enough. That being said, these shoes are not meant for the Winter, or 0C or under. Now, even though I could feel they breathe, I am not convinced that the synthetic upper will let your feet cool down enough above 20C on an intensive walk. For one, the upper is not a mesh material, but more closed in design. But I am extrapolating here and it remains to be tested. Unfortunately, I will not be able to come back and update this review with my new findings once the temperature is at 20C since MEC does not make it possible to edit a review.

Update to my original review--more testing ensued and the Scarpa are stellar!

So, now that the weather is finally bearable again, and after 1 month+ of daily walking, I can report the following. I am averaging 7+KM/day, about 210KM/month of brisk walking on a mix of gravel/earth/grass/asphalt. The soles do not seem to wear out as quickly as my old Merrells Nova 3 or MTL LongSKy 2 who even after only 1 month of similar walking, were already showing greater signs of wear than the Scarpa. In fact, the Scarpa seem to have a proper sole that will last for at least a year is my guess.So now that I have been able to test them more properly, and by that I mean, 200+ KM/month, here is a more accurate comparison with the other pair of trail shoes I have, the Merrell Speed Eco Light Trail. Please bear with me as you will soon see why it is important ... MoreSo, now that the weather is finally bearable again, and after 1 month+ of daily walking, I can report the following. I am averaging 7+KM/day, about 210KM/month of brisk walking on a mix of gravel/earth/grass/asphalt. The soles do not seem to wear out as quickly as my old Merrells Nova 3 or MTL LongSKy 2 who even after only 1 month of similar walking, were already showing greater signs of wear than the Scarpa. In fact, the Scarpa seem to have a proper sole that will last for at least a year is my guess.So now that I have been able to test them more properly, and by that I mean, 200+ KM/month, here is a more accurate comparison with the other pair of trail shoes I have, the Merrell Speed Eco Light Trail. Please bear with me as you will soon see why it is important to have something to compare a pair of shoes with.First, re comfort, with the Merrell your feet will start to feel tired after just 5KM of non-stop walking. The exact opposite with the Scarpa Spin Planet Trail Running Shoes--the difference between the 2 is like day and night. The latter totally outshine the Merrells when it comes to comfort. No contest. I usually go 7+ KM/day and with Scarpa my feet still feel rested and you feel like you could go on and on. But with the Merrells, as soon as that 5KM mark is hit, you know that 7KM is all your gonna do for that day.I used to think that the Scarpa were almost too tight, but in fact, it's an excellent design feature. It keeps your foot, ankle, heel, everything in place and over time the shoe starts feeling like a second skin. The construction of the sole also helps a lot in this regard as it guides your step and helps you maintain a natural and effortless gait. Not so with the Merrells. In fact, the exact opposite, ie too soft, too flat as in not enough arch support, and too much lateral wiggle room inside the shoe, which I guess is great for those with a wider foot as they will fill the shoe, but those with a regular width foot will feel that the Merrell is not keeping the foot completely in place from side to side, and added to the softness of the sole and upper, you suddenly realize you gotta pay more attention to how and where you move your feet to avoid potential injury.Of course, if you are just gonna walk around the park at a leisurely pace, or up and down your workplace, then the Merrells are fine. But if you are a serious walker and like to burn the miles out there on the trail, the Merrells are not the best choice at all. The Scarpa are and your feet will thank you.I realize now how essential it is to be able to experience the same category of shoes in two different brands. IMHO it is one of the best way to learn what makes a shoe better than another. It just happens I got lucky with the Scarpa and that they turned out to be so outstanding. But now I have an excellent reference point against which to measure all other brands, and boy did Scarpa set the bar high.So again I wholeheartedly recommend Scarpa. Neither too soft, nor too hard, they strike the perfect balance between comfort and performance. Definitely a well deserved 5-stars and a must-have. But don't take my word for it and head to your local MEC store and experience them yourself. You will not be disappointed.