Scarpa Golden Gate ATR Evaluation – iRunFar

For 2 months, I educated steadily within the new Scarpa Golden Gate ATR ($149) after which most lately, for almost every week working the Tour du Mont Blanc path from Chamonix, France. It was my third time working this path and surprisingly sufficient, every time has been in Scarpa sneakers. This was not a acutely aware alternative — purely incidental.

In 2013, I wore the Scarpa Spark — right here’s our Scarpa Spark evaluation — and in 2018 I wore the Scarpa Spin Extremely —  you may also learn our Scarpa Spin Extremely evaluation. What this illustrates for me most is that whereas within the final decade I haven’t beloved a number of their trainers, when the fitting Scarpa hits, it hits all the fitting notes.

Actually, 2022 really performs out this state of affairs fairly properly; I’ve really beloved working within the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR, as you’ll learn on this evaluation. I haven’t loved the co-released Scarpa Golden Gate Kima fairly as a lot. I’ve a pair of those as properly and discover them fairly uninspiring and with an altogether totally different form. The promise of the Scarpa Golden Gate Kima — significantly the carbon plate, a primary for Scarpa — was pace and cushion however for quick working, which I’m most eager to do, I by no means attain for them.

Relying on the model, I discover a males’s dimension 12.5 U.S. to be the sweetest of all sizes for my ft. As a result of Scarpa and related manufacturers like La Sportiva have tended to run a bit tight, after some trial and error, dimension 13 ended up being the right alternative. The sneakers have an precise weight of 10.9 ounces (310 grams) for a males’s dimension 9.

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The Scarpa Golden Gate ATR. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR Higher

Many manufacturers will tout their higher’s “sock-like match” and this certainly applies to the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR. There’s a mild neoprene that wraps across the ankle collar, and it is extremely snug and so streamlined that I nearly by no means wind up with particles inside. And oddly sufficient, the consolation of this higher materials is such you could really forgo socks — one thing I did throughout very hot days in testing this summer season.

Among the best options of the sock match is within the consolation and help over your instep. I’ve huge ft and bunions and the width on the forefoot is nice for me whereas nonetheless being supportive. The breathable higher mesh is backed with Scarpa’s EXO inside help matrix, which provides it its Golden Gate identify. This mesh really seems to be like — and is impressed by — the structural components of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

The shoe makes use of welded polyurethane reinforcements on the higher to help abrasion resistance. And whereas I’ve put about 150 miles into the sneakers with none actual points with blowouts to the higher, there are actually a number of small nicks within the mesh, which might simply turn into larger holes. That stated, the mesh used over the higher may be very strong however mild and translucent, in an effort to really see via it to your socks or, if barefoot, your toes.

A lateral view of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR Midsole

Although the 2018 Scarpa Spin Extremely represented the cushier aspect of Scarpa, the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR ratchets up the consolation in contrast to another Scarpa up to now. It really lands simply as softly as any Hoka or Brooks mannequin.

The midsole consists of Scarpa’s proprietary Adaptive Cushioning System— now evidently renamed the iRespond Midsole System in accordance with new advertising and marketing supplies — which is a mix of two densities of EVA: one for vitality return, one for cushion.

Scarpa has all the time succeeded in its foam building and composition over the past decade of my use, however the Golden Gate ATR is the best possible. It has all the consolation and sturdiness of higher-profile foams like Nike’s React, which I’ve very favorably reviewed previously. Although clearly a lot smaller and extra area of interest an organization than Nike, it’s an actual testomony to Scarpa’s product designers for sourcing this extremely good foam.

The twin-density foam is firmer within the toe to assist with vitality return within the toe off, whereas there’s decrease density EVA within the heel, which produces an especially snug touchdown, particularly compared to the 2 different sneakers I take advantage of most frequently in rotation: the Arc’teryx Norvan SL 2 — learn our Arc’teryx Norvan SL 2 evaluation — and the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar — and right here’s our Salomon S/Lab Pulsar evaluation, too.

These sneakers, whereas a lot quicker and extra exact than the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR, go away my ft and significantly my heels ragged and actually in ache for the times following. Because of this, I usually make the most of the Golden Gate ATR for cruiser runs. They aren’t my alternative for intervals or time trials; they’re the go-to for straightforward working, restoration days, or as within the multiple-day Tour du Mont Blanc path journey, for lengthy days out on comparatively straightforward trails.

By way of stability, the Golden Gate ATR has a reasonable stack peak with 4-millimeter drop (28 millimeters within the heel and 24 millimeters within the toe), making it really feel reasonably related to the bottom on technical terrain. However as Scarpa will admit, this shoe is admittedly meant as a road-to-trail resolution, bridging the transition from city to singletrack. As such, the midsole has a terrific and really snug really feel on pavement, and I generally use this shoe for working round a neighborhood lake path the place I’m going from roads to gravel and again in a five-mile loop.

Not like its cousin the Golden Gate Kima, the Golden Gate ATR has no carbon plate or rock plate. However the midsole EVA has been very protecting over all of the totally different surfaces I’ve run and I discover it completely satisfactory with out both of these applied sciences.

A medial view of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR Outsole

The Scarpa Golden Gate ATR makes use of Scarpa’s proprietary new Presa know-how, which is a reasonably dynamic outsole configuration utilizing seven inside impression absorption domes, which act like shock absorbers within the outsole and midsole. The 4-millimeter lug design of the outsole was very predictable and helpful on the number of terrain I wore it on, and in circumstances from very dry to muddy and moist — cheers, Chamonix! And in street conditions, the lugs aren’t noticeable in any respect.

Scarpa’s historical past in mountaineering makes it an professional in rubber compounds which might be the correct quantity of sticky and exact. In line with Scarpa, their unique Tremendous Gum rubber compound “was developed to offer equal or higher slip resistance as in comparison with different high-friction rubbers however with vastly superior abrasion resistance,” and reportedly gives thrice the abrasion resistance in moist and dry circumstances in comparison with related transitional sneakers.

The outsole of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.

Scarpa Golden Gate ATR Total Impressions

The Scarpa Golden Gate ATR is my favourite Scarpa within the decade-plus I’ve been working within the model’s sneakers. Although there have been some actual highlights, significantly of late with the Scarpa Spin Extremely line, that is probably the most runnable for folk like me who do a number of street and mixed-surface working to get to the paths. And whereas there are higher choices for quick working, there isn’t any higher shoe I’ve used this 12 months for restoration working or lengthy, gradual rambles within the mountains and even on the town.

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A high view of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.