“Hold on a sec, you’re telling me SCARPA makes trail running shoes?!” I’ve heard this a lot lately, and perhaps you as well are more familiar with SCARPA as a climbing, hiking, or skiing company. However SCARPA has been making running shoes for many years—in fact I even wore a pair for my first 100-mile race back in 2012! Indeed there have been many changes and innovative new models since then, and my goal here is to help you sort out all the new and exciting SCARPA trail running shoes in 2022 so you can find the ones that best fit your needs. There are a few things that all SCARPA trail running shoes do have in common, so I’ll lay that out for you first:

1. Secure fit. I’ve found every model of SCARPA shoe to have exceptional foot hold even on the steepest of descents. There is ample width in the forefoot for my toes to wiggle, but not overly roomy and sloppy. The mid foot and heal are generally low volume and snug so my feet do not slip around at all.

2. Trustworthy Grip. Some models use Presa SuperGum and others use Vibram Megagrip, but either way you get durable sticky rubber that you can trust to keep you safe in the mountains.

3. Durability. I am able to get twice as many miles from SCARPA shoes as I have in the past compared with other trail running shoes—the upper, cushioning, and rubber all hold up well to hundreds of miles of running on sharp limestone, granite filled trails, and old dirt roads.

4. Low Drop. All SCARPA trail running shoes have either a 4 or 6mm heal to toe offset. For me this lower drop is perfect—it lends itself to efficient running and ankle stability without feeling flat and harsh in the long run.

Golden Gate Family

Golden Gate Kima RT

A carbon fiber trail shoe done right—the midsole undoubtedly provides some extra pop when you want to move fast through the mountains! But there is more to the Kima than just a fancy midsole as the foothold, low to the ground feel, and stable cushioning make the Kima ideal for covering technical trails and full speed.

Golden Gate ATR

These are the dirt road and smooth single track crushers of the Scarpa line up. The generous rocker paired with thick and responsive cushioning make the ATR ideal for running far and fast. I enjoy them for both speed work days and recovery runs—they are just so comfortable and just feel good to run in.

Spin Family

Spin 2.0

Light weight and low to the ground, the Spin 2.0 is my shoe of choice when my goal is to fly up and down trails as fast as possible. The precision fit, excellent ground feel, and flexibility make this a great tool for very technical terrain as well. Best for training and racing up to about 50k.

Spin Ultra

An all around excellent mountain running shoe, the Spin Ultra has moderate cushion, lots of underfoot protection, but still maintains a lightweight feel. A great choice for when you don’t know what to expect.

Spin Infinity

Never have I worn such a cushioned shoe that still inspires so much confidence on technical terrain! The Spin Infinity has plush cushioning for any ultra distance event, but still manages to have the ground feel and stability for the most rocky and mountainous trails.

Ribelle Family

Ribelle Run

This shoe holds a special place in my heart—it is primed for the most technical and demanding mountain running, but still is plenty capable of running a flat and fast 50k. The Ribelle Run is moderately cushioned, stable, and shines best on the big done-in-a-day mountain adventures, or daily rocky runs.