Scarpa Ignite review
Summary:
The ignite is a nice all-around traditional trail shoe with solid traction control, a moderate drop and superior durability. Great for training and racing.
Pros:
- Great construction
- Fits true to size
- Awesome traction
- Rock plate doesn’t detract from responsiveness
Cons:
- Heel slipped around a little bit on the trails
- Not light
First Thoughts:
My only familiarity with Scarpa is they make some seriously awesome and expensive ski and mountaineering boots. Didn’t realize they made trail shoes, but it makes sense, right?
At first glance, the Ignite fits in the “traditional trail shoe” category. It’s not maximalist, it’s not minimalist, it’s got decent traction for hybrid trail running. Smells like a new shoe and seems to be well made. I like the laces.
Build:
EVA foam creates a pretty soft ride for a trail shoe, and a forefoot plate gives enough protection to feel safe on rocky trails, but the shoe is still pretty responsive. Mid-weight build on the upper (fake leather and poly), with ample padding on the collar and tongue. Above average protection on the upper and toe, though the shoe fully drained within a few minutes after being fully submerged. Nice!
Ride:
Because of the loose heel, I slipped around a bit on twisty trails. Though I didn’t feel the looseness, I had some rubs after the run that showed the contact points. The forefoot is nice and secure, with webbed overlays and lacing that keeps it all tight.
On the positive side, I was really surprised at the traction control of this show. Bounding down slippery trails and up rocky ravines, I had no issue at all with losing grip on the ground.
I ran both tempo trail workouts and long slow decomposed granite jogs in the shoe and had positive experience on both surfaces. The Ignite has a pretty firm ride, which adds to the quickness, but detracts from the cushy comfort many expect.
Stats:
- $125
- 9mm drop
- 13 oz for a size 12
Final Thoughts:
I’m wearing this shoe quite a bit now–including my run tomorrow on the Dipsea Trail. Turns out I don’t mind the weight at all, and the protection and build are better than expected. I’ve got a narrow foot, which may add to the heel slippage, but if that were remedied, I’d highly recommend this shoe for both quick trail workouts and longer ultra slogs.
Find out more on the Scarpa website.
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