TRAIL SHOE REVIEW: Scarpa Atom

Scarpa, one of the world’s best hiking boot brands, have so far not had much success breaking into the Australian trail running market so when Dan Slater got the opportunity to test out their top model, the Atom, he was intrigued as to whether they deserved a fair go.

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*NOTE: this one’s for international readers or those looking to get a feel for Scarpa trail shoes in general, as this particular model is not available in AU unless you’re an online shopper with a mate in Euroland or the US. But it’s sibling, the Proton, is and will be reviewed soon by TRM.*

With a 4mm drop and base weight of 249g per shoe (size 42), the Atoms are a different beast entirely to my current chunky runners, but with those guys finally falling to shreds and a big race on the horizon, I snatched up the offer and launched into testing like Hermes knocking off the Mt. Olympus Sky Run.

I’m not sure if the name is a nod to their minimalism hut I was immediately impressed with the weight, or lack of it, especially since I would be carrying them in a backpack for a few weeks before the race. Being built around a European-style last (the Scarpa TRM) means they aren’t the widest-fitting footwear ever, duck-hoofed flappers might need to look elsewhere, but they suited my European foot well enough.Mt Buller

I liked the little lace pocket in the tongue, reminiscent of the classic Salomon design but for real laces, of which the Atoms came with a spare pair (I never needed them). It took my pampered pods a few kilometres to get used to the lower drop but soon I was comfortably training in the 20km range. The few miles of tarmac on the way to the dirt, however, convinced me that I’d be better off strapping frying pans on my feet and stomping around Lake Eyrie than using them on roads. The 1.4 to 1.8 cm compression moulded EVA midsole just isn’t adequate for metalled surfaces, nor is it intended to be.IMG_7638

The next level of testing involved a training run through The Labyrinth on Tasmania’s Overland Track. The Vibram Genesis Lite sole’s space invader-shaped lugs gripped the mud, roots and rocks just fine and the lightweight polyester mesh fabric precluded overheating. Also, a good splash about in the mud produced no ill effects. However, that same thin fabric soon began to show signs of wear. Being a clumsy clodhopper I trip up a fair amount so the toes take a beating, and after less than 100km total run time I could see the garish upper colours beneath the thin black TPU of the toe bumper, plus the gel Scarpa branding was being knocked off letter by letter. However, they were still comfortable.

Satisfied with their performance during training I decided to trust the Atoms on the NUTR, or Nui Ultra Trail Run, a 68km course around the coastline of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It was a fantastic event but I learned that as great as lightweight minimalist shoes are on an even dirt track, the rigours of bounding over rubble strewn volcanic grasslands require slightly more supportiveness. Over the course of the day I kicked, skidded, skated and hoofed rock after porous lava rock, tripping hundreds of times and falling flat on my face on several occasions. By the finish line the uppers of both shoes were wearing through at the crease points and my plantar fascias were sore and stretched, but I was still upright and blister-free. And hell, I even won!

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So, with roughly half a million trail shoes on the market to choose from, do Scarpas deserve consideration for your next shoe purchase? Absolutely. Here’s the thing – the Atoms aren’t currently available in Australia. What? I’ve just wasted five minutes of your precious time? Well, not quite. Given the choice now I would probably plump for the new Scarpa Proton anyway. It’s similar in many ways (welded upper, lace pocket, polyester mesh) but sits a little further along the weight/durability scale, and while the Atom is a good minimalist choice for even distances, the Proton boasts a fat 10mm drop and a full Vibram Genesis sole with more cushioning and deeper lugs. The weight compromise is almost 100g but let’s face it – unless you are going to carry them on your back for several weeks, that’s not a huge issue. I’ll personally be sticking to a bigger drop on longer runs from now on.

TAKEOUTS:

Great for: mid- to long-distance even trails; running travellers/travelling runners
Not-so-great for: rubble strewn south pacific volcanoes; tarmac
Test Conditions: Centennial Park circuit; The Overland Track; Easter Island; 263km total
Tester: Dan Slater, organiser, sole runner and reigning champion of the NUTR
Tester Mechanics: slight pronator; heel striker; narrow foot
VITALS:   Scarpa Proton – $259.95/$229.95 Gore/Non-Gore
Website: www.scarpa.com


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Rapa Nui Run: or how to win your own race

Trail running has exploded in popularity across the globe, reaching into most wild corners of our spaceball (see what I did there? confused? does a ball have corners?), and now the last remaining outpost (perhaps) is about to fall to the sound of runners – or at east one runner – pounding the ancient soil at the feet of the giant Rapa Nui statues.  2015-04-29-1430312580-1303880-iStock_000018197703_Large

The Inaugural N.U.T.R. (Nui Ultra Trail Run) has been launched, to be held on 25 April on Rapa Nui / Easter Island, adrift from its mother nation, Ecuador, in the Pacific. .

This new off-road running event follows the 65km Ara Mahiva trail around the circumference of Easter Island.

April 25th 2016 will see the running of the new trail event based in Hanga Roa, the sleepy capital of Easter Island (Rapa Nui).

Sydney based runner and travel writer Dan Slater will be launching the event, the NUTR, by running solo and unsupported around the coastline of this magical isle, a distance of approximately 65km.easterisland04

Dan came up with the idea for the NUTR when he got the opportunity to visit Chile and needed a credible excuse to extend the trip to include Easter Island. He has since discovered that the route follows a traditional trail called the Ara Mahiva, and has only been run once in recent history (by Susie Stephen of longrunergy.com). If successful, the event may become a regular fixture on the trail running calendar.

As a journalist, Dan regularly writes for the Australian publications Australian Geographic Outdoor, Great Walks, Trail Run Mag and Wild, as well as numerous overseas magazines. His last running event was the 50km Wild Endurance in 2014, which he and his running partner won with a new course record.12377832_604886609675202_417459298760354246_o

Not wishing to lose that winning feeling, Dan is making the event an invitational and not inviting anyone else to participate.

“I hope to secure a win,” said Dan from his training ground in Inner West Sydney, “and I think my chances are good as long as I don’t fall off a cliff or run into a cow.”

Dan has a website and review blog www.thisisnotaholiday.com and has written a book about the trials of travelling through Africa on a budget of $10 a day.

Follow Dan’s run progress by visiting the official event Facebook page www.facebook.com/nutr2016 Easter-Island2