The Scott Kinabalu Ultra: A shoe that leaves a few wishes unfulfilled
24.3.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Siri Schubert
The Kinabalu Ultra from Scott should fulfil what I want for an extra long run. But I'm still not completely satisfied.
If you like running, you'll recognise it - the motivational boost that new shoes conjure up. When I hold the new trail running shoes from Scott in my hand, I feel the same way.
«Kinabalu Ultra» is written on the shoes - so they are made for long distances. Fittingly, a long-distance run of 33 kilometres is on my training schedule. If that's not a match! So lace up your shoes and off you go.
My first impression
I received the women's version of the shoe from the manufacturer Scott. At first glance, I really like it. I like the lightweight Matryx upper, which is thin and a little translucent. I also like the pink-apricot colour scheme. But the shoe is also available in blue.
Scott also offers a men's version with a different fit, also in different colours.
Matryx fabric is now used in many running shoes in different ways and is considered robust and abrasion-resistant. In the «Kinabalu Ultra», it is woven in such a way that it is somewhat stretchy and relatively soft. This sets it apart from other shoes, where Matryx appears more rigid and is sometimes reminiscent of knitted dental floss.
Compared to the men's version, the women's model offers a little more room for a high instep. This works for me: the shoe hugs the foot but is not too tight when you first slip it on.
The low weight is another plus. 240 grammes for the women's shoe in size 40 with a thick sole is a good value. The sole height is 39 millimetres at the heel and 33 millimetres at the forefoot. At six millimetres, the drop is within the usual range for a trail shoe.
Although I'm not necessarily a fan of thick soles, I like to use more cushioning for long runs. The prerequisite is that I don't completely lose my feel for the ground and that the shoe maintains the right balance between stability and bounce. In other words, it neither feels spongy like a marshmallow nor hard like a car tyre.
The outsole of the «Kinabalu Ultras» with its four-millimetre profile makes a solid impression. The lugs are far enough apart so that mud does not immediately accumulate between them.
In practice: not all requirements met
My first run takes me over field and forest paths, peppered with leaves and slippery patches, over gravel paths and tarmac. The route has an elevation gain of around 550 metres and is not technically demanding
Little stability in the heel
What I notice after just a few steps: At the heel, the shoe offers little support for my foot shape. I slide up and down, which makes the whole walking experience unstable. To remedy this, I also use the top hole for the shoe laces and tie them in the so-called marathon lacing. This doesn't bring much improvement. Instead, there is a disadvantage: the lacing now presses a little on the area between the instep and ankle. Not bad, but noticeable.
One reason for the loose feel is the fit. Runners with a narrow heel will not have a perfect fit in this shoe. Secondly, the midsole is not recessed at the heel. Some newer trail shoes have this feature, which provides additional stability. Especially with the generous heel height of the «Kinabalu Ultra», I would have liked this to minimise the risk of twisting my ankle.
A knitted collar to prevent small stones, tree needles and other debris from getting in would also have been welcome.
High-strength midsole
In order to withstand the strain of a run lasting several hours or even several days, ultra shoes generally have a firmer sole compared to trail shoes. This is also the case with the «Kinabalu Ultra». However, compared to other shoes such as the Norda 005 (with test-report), the Nnormal Kjerag (with test-report) or the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro (with test report) a lot harder. It offers less rebound and the ground feel is literally left behind. Due to its firmness, the shoe is less bouncy and playful than other models. However, it also promises to be more durable because it deforms less with every step.
The firm foam puts a different and greater strain on my foot than the shoes I usually run in. After the first 33-kilometre test, I also wore the «Kinabalu Ultra» on a 27-kilometre run with around 700 metres of elevation gain and an eight-kilometre tempo run. Each time, I felt a pulling sensation in my heel and Achilles tendon after training that I don't know from other running shoes.
For me, this means that I won't have the «Kinabalu Ultra» from Scott on my feet for the 50-kilometre run that I have planned for mid-April. The combination of height and strength doesn't work for me.
Sole height, balance and rocker
The boot looks quite slim. I like the look of it. But it also has a disadvantage: a high, hard and comparatively narrow midsole is not particularly stable. I would therefore not recommend the shoe for technical terrain with roots and rocks, where good balance is important.
The high torsional rigidity is also a bit too much of a good thing for my taste. As the foot sits high on the midsole, the torsional stiffness prevents it from adapting to the terrain by flexing in the midfoot. As a result, balance suffers.
The bending of the shoe, the so-called rocker, ensures pleasant propulsion on forest paths and flow trails. For technical terrain, there is a little too much guidance for me.
Outsole offers plenty of grip
The outsole of the «Kinabalu Ultra» is the star of the show. Just like the outsole of the Scott Supertrac RC 3 (here the test-review), this sole from Scott also offers very good grip - even on wet trails. At four millimetres, the lugs are not particularly high, but they provided enough grip during my test runs in the rainy spring. They only didn't stand a chance in the combination of fallen leaves and mud - but most shoes would fail here.
In a nutshell
A solid ultra shoe with a few weak points
The "Kinabalu Ultra" is well made, lightweight and equipped with a comfortable upper material. The rocker geometry with a bend at the forefoot ensures pleasant propulsion on easy to moderately difficult trails. The grip of the outsole is also impressive. Nevertheless, due to the high and relatively firm midsole, I would not use the shoe for runs beyond the marathon distance - or at least not without a period of familiarisation. However, it remains an option for training runs over shorter distances.
The loose fit at the heel and the lack of a knitted collar to prevent annoying stones from getting in are further reasons why I am not completely convinced by the shoe.
Pro
- comfortable, breathable upper material
- Low weight
- good grip of the outsole
- Rocker geometry for propulsion
- Durable midsole
Contra
- dense, firm midsole with low springback
- Loose fit at the heel
- missing knitted collar
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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