SPEEDLAND SD LPX: TECHNOLOGY APLIED TO TRAILRUNNING. Our TRAIL RUNNING SHOES section celebrates a new brand born in Oregon (USA) that bets on a different solution for carbon fibre shoes.
Insole with carbon plate, BOA closure with Dyneema, Michelin sole 6mm cut-out lugs and more advances. Weight 305gr, with 23-28mm height and drop 5mm. In return, yes, very high price of € 375. Analysis of Mayayo, from the Swiss Alps.
SPEEDLAND SD LPX: TECHNOLOGY APLIED TO TRAILRUNNING
SPEEDLAND, NEW BRAND RUNNING SHOES
Speedland is a start-up, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, a mecca for so many companies in the digital age. It is driven by two industry veterans Such as Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon, with more than two decades of experience.
As is obvious from Mayayo’s analysis, the philosophy in creating this shoe was simple: First, gather the best materials for each component. Second, assemble them in an innovative and sustainable way, assuming the high costs derived.
Thus, a shoe is created that is a true showcase of the latest technical advances in running, now applied to mountain races.
SPEEDLAND SL PDX: DATA SHEET.
- Price 375€. Such a high price may be a reverse marketing strategy: Gain notoriety as “The most expensive trail shoe in the world”
- Weight 305 grams (281 without carbon plate) High weight to compete in the elite, but valid for running long at the popular level.
- Detachable carbon plate: Perhaps the most curious innovation, easy and comfortable to put /remove.
- Drop: 5mm. Intermediate-low drop that you will take advantage of more to better technique.
- Height to the ground: 23mm front – 28mm rear. Larger than usual, but dependent on 6mm of tacos
- Upper reinforced with Dyneema. Matryx’s already did it and it works. Lightweight and breathable mesh reinforced with Dyneema threads, a very thin fabric with extraordinary tensile and abrasion resistance.
- Lugs 6mm cut to 3mm. An idea to adapt according to our usual terrain, whether soft (6mm) or hard (3mm)
- Michelin sole: The rubber is from the French, with extensive experience in this fitting to various brands. But in no way do they have the best rubber on the market, it is still far from Inov Grip, Laspo, Salomon contagrip, Vibram Megagrip Litebase or even the new Asics Trac.
- BoA fit system: Tried and tested millimeter adjustment system. It works better than the cable by spreading the tension better throughout the instep, but it weighs a little more.
SPEEDLAND SD PDX: CONCLUSION.
Welcome to this “Masserati” of trail shoes, so it brings novelties that, we trust, will soon pass the general market. It already happened when in 2011 we presented that first SALOMON SENSE OF KILIAN. The veterans of mountain running surely still remember well the debate that was generated by its 200 grams of weight at a price of € 200 Right?
Years have passed and today half a platoon benefits from those Sense technologies born at the price of gold. We can even find shoes from the now very large Sense family at prices below € 100.
So, that it comes out at a crazy price should not be the only factor, rather one more to see to what extent it is worth what it costs, I think.
PROS
They have sought to create an exquisitely comfortable and very functional trail shoe. We get it. But it has also resulted in a staggering price. And it is true that prices like this we see every day for cycling shoes or ski boots.
CONS
That model, unfortunately, does not hold when we compare the useful life of cycling or ski shoes, valid for several seasons, versus the 800-1,000km that we can expect from this shoe, at most.
Therefore, it is obvious that for the time being will be a very specific niche shoe. Logical then that it is manufactured made in small batches with each pair of the first 1200 hand-numbered models.
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