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RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: 160 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: 160KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO. Our TRAIL RUNNING section brings us today the in-depth analysis of these Raidlight Responsiv Ultra 2.0.
Let’s remember that these Raidlight Responsiv Ultra 2.0. they arrived with a price of € 140, a weight of 280gr and a drop of 6mm, with a height to the ground of 19mm in front, 25mm behind and the midsole as the soul of this shoe: injected foam for high durability, with excellent compressibility and outstanding energy recovery. Let’s go with the in-depth test of our #patroncarrerasdemontana Hector Rubio.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0:
160 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO
140€| 6MM DROP| 280GR
Available from October 2021 on the Raidlight website, we have been working on them this winter from the forests of the Black Forest to the Swabian Jura Mountains in southeastern Germany and this second version of the Raidlight ultrera shoe has pleasantly surprised us just as the first version that our colleague Abel de Frutos could verify in 2019 when he participated in several races around the world with they.
At the moment I have not competed with them, but both in the dry and in the wet they have been very comfortable, in long and short distance and I attest that as the brand announces, the midsole is the soul of these Responsiv 2.0. But before we get into details, let’s go with the technical sheet.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: DATA SHEET.
- Price: 140 euros.
- Weight: 280 gr, increasing by 10 grams the previous version.
- Stack High: 19mm/25mm
- Drop: 6 mm, retains drop.
- Midsole: High cushion midsole (Injected EVA) with durable rebound
- Upper: new lighter and breathable polyester cover with new longer tongue.
- RL Relax technology, wide throughout its perimeter and especially in the area of the fingers to allow the feet to expand and minimize discomfort in long days of trail.
- Asymmetric Heel Support: Asymmetrical heel evolved for heel support and greater stability, improved and smoothed to avoid chafing.
- M-Lock Band: ideal maintenance of the foot by means of an elastic band without losing the touch with the shoe, but avoiding unnecessary pressures typical of the long distance.
- Sole: Ultra D+ Grip with 4mm lugs, of high grip in all terrains.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: HIGHLIGHTS
It is a training and competition shoes for long distances, and starting from this base, one of its main characteristics apart from the aforementioned midsole is the amplitude of the forefoot area, which for people with wide standing and use in ultra distance is great.
In this second version, the brand maintains the “RL Relax” technology that gives us comfort, especially in these long days in the mountains. With a wide last that offers enough space in the part of the fingers, but that EYE perhaps for some can be too much (as I think is my case).
As for the size, the number 43 that I usually wear, together with the space of the forefoot has made that in some descents a more closed adjustment is missed, but I insist, it has to do with the shapes of the foot of each one.
In addition, and since in the ultra distance almost always at the end tends to pronation, Raidlight has designed the Responsiv Ultra 2.0 with a reinforced asymmetric heel (Asymmetric Heel Support), an adaptable midsole and a tongue and string that aims to help relax feet and joints.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: UPPER
As we have already mentioned, the last is wide and wide, due to the RL Relax technology. With a cover made of polyester, which is helped by TPU reinforcements to give greater support and fixation.
The design of the tongue has been considerably modified (with the M-Lock Band technology), improving the tongue with a longer and thinner design and that adapts better to the area that corresponds to it to avoid any additional pressure at a particularly sensitive point due to the passage of tendons and fascias.
Cover or upper of high breathability, which is needed in long days of trail and stage tests.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: MIDSOLE
According to the French brand and how they promoted last October these Raidlight Responsiv 2.0. the midsole is the soul of this shoe. And I have to say, that in a first impression, this foam injected to achieve high durability, with excellent compressibility and outstanding energy recovery closely resembles the comfort and return of energy of shoes such as the Hoka Speedgoat, or the New Balance More perhaps not with such a soft touch, but at the same time it is appreciated in certain more technical areas.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: SOLE
The sole Sole D + Grip Ultra, with a 4 mm ratchet, and high grip on all terrains. In my case I have been able to verify and enjoy that the brand information was true: maximum grip on any type of terrain, from the dry forests of the Black Forest to the wettest terrain or even with snow.
Obviously, the wet behavior is different but it is very close to more specific soles in wet such as Vibram Contragrip or the graphene of the inov8 Trailfly.
RAIDLIGHT RESPONSIV ULTRA 2.0: CONLUSIONS
These are shoes for long distance that can give a lot of play to those of us who like oversized shoes, which prioritize comfort, but also offer great durability. They are robust enough to tackle alpine terrain in almost any state, as well as push them to the limit and descend fast like a lighter trail shoe, and the 4 mm lugs offers sufficient safety in almost all conditions, except for very muddy or snowy terrain, but of course, not all are worth everything.
To highlight, apart from the grip of the sole, which as you can see in the different images has behaved really well in all kinds of circumstances, has been the durability, not appreciating almost the wear after these 160 kilometers. Obviously, it does not offer the same feeling as Vibram Contagrip soles, for example, of the Hoka Speedgoat, but it is very close.
This winter, in the south of Germany, has been very rainy and not very snowy, so whether I wanted to or not I rode with these Raidlight with mud and rain. The first impressions in the wet were good, I would even say that the somewhat humerus terrain could become ideal for her, although, at the moment that the mud increases, the adhesion decreases, although without becoming dancers who accumulate all the earth that they are in their path.
In short, they are being shoes that I am liking a lot, although, the issue of space in the forefoot that in principle would be a benefit, just like me it would be better a little less, since in some technical descents the foot has danced, since, as I said before the size for me is a little big. Ideal for running long with it and with which you can run even at high rates. Well protected both in the rear and front area.
Offering, support, comfort and durability for almost any route in almost all conditions, obviously with snow a membrane that keeps us dry is missed, but of course we do not always run for snow. The comfort it brings with the passage of kilometers, hours, is appreciated in the same way as the protection of the foot and the lightness and breathability.
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