Scott Kinabalu Trail Review: A Complete Turnaround for the Kinabalu Line

Introduction

The Scott Kinabalu line has had a rocky history. The earlier Supertrac RC earned plenty of praise, but the Kinabalu 3 was a real low point: too stiff, too heavy, an uncomfortable midsole and an upper that caused constant irritation. That history made the new Kinabalu Trail a shoes-meet-skepticism release, but after around 50 miles of testing, it turns out Scott has rebuilt the shoe from the ground up, and the result is a genuinely pleasant surprise.

Who the Scott Kinabalu Trail Is For

Scott positions the Kinabalu Trail as the lightweight, agile and fun shoe in your trail running lineup, aimed at distances from 5 and 10K up to half marathon or even marathon distance on the trail. It tips the scales at 250g in a men’s UK 8.5, with a stack height of 33mm at the heel and 27mm under the forefoot for a 6mm heel offset. It is expected to retail for around £140 in the UK when it releases in January 2026, with four men’s colorways and three women’s options planned.

Upper Design and Fit

The upper is a lightweight, breathable engineered mesh with structural overlays wrapping the heel, midfoot and toe box. A substantial toe bumper offers decent upfront protection, while a solid heel cradle supports the back end of the shoe. Ankle collar and heel cup padding sit at a moderate level: not too much, not too little.

The tongue is thin but gusseted inside the upper, which is the right call for a trail shoe, and Scott added zonal padding down its center for comfort across the top of the foot when laces are pulled tight. Two locking loops on the lace system, one either side, help deliver a secure midfoot lockdown when pushing the pace.

Fit is true to size with a roomy toe box. Testing in a usual UK 9.5 delivered just-right length and comfortable width and depth, with plenty of wiggle room up front. A second tester who normally struggles with narrow, pinchy trail shoe uppers also found the fit very comfortable.

Midsole and Outsole Performance

This is where the biggest changes live. Scott’s new Kinetic Fusion foam blends EVA and PEBA to balance lightness, comfort, responsiveness and durability. The blend creates a slightly softer heel section to soak up downhill impact and a slightly firmer forefoot for ground connection and stability.

The midsole also carries ER2 rocker geometry, designed to reduce heel striking and improve running efficiency. Flip the shoe over and you get a traction rubber outsole with a 4mm lug design in blown rubber, split into three sections with sculpting and flex grooves worked in. The result is a notably flexible shoe, the complete opposite of the rigid Kinabalu 3 midsole.

Comfort, Fit and Ride Feel

On the run, the first thing that stands out is the weight. Overall shoe weight is down by roughly 50 to 60g compared to the previous model, and the days of a bottom-heavy brick of a trail shoe are gone. The EVA and PEBA blend feels comfortable, light and responsive while still offering decent stability on more technical trail sections.

More importantly, the shoe has been great fun to run in straight out of the box. Zero rubbing, no hot spots and no blisters over 50 miles, a very different story from a blister on the instep after just 6 miles in the Kinabalu 3. The outsole rubber has felt sticky on rocky trails, and the 4mm lugs delivered good traction on the loose, dusty trails of the Chamonix valley. Very deep mud is likely a struggle given the shallow lug depth, but on everything else it copes well.

Durability After 50 Miles

Fifty miles is early days for a durability verdict, but the shoe is holding up well. No early wear on the upper fabric or at the flex point, no overlay peel, and only slight creasing in the midsole foam that has no effect on cushioning or comfort.

The outsole shows a slight bit of wear on the outside edge of the heel lugs, but given that many of those miles came on the rocky mountain trails around Chamonix, which are tough on any shoe, that is a good result.

Buying Advice

At around £140 in the UK, the Kinabalu Trail lands at a competitive price point in a market where running shoe prices keep climbing. If you want a lightweight, responsive but comfortable trail shoe with decent grip, the Saucony Peregrine or Merrell Long Sky 2 sit in a similar fit and performance territory and are worth cross-shopping.

Conclusion

Scott Running has turned the Kinabalu franchise around. The new Kinabalu Trail is lighter, softer, more flexible and far more comfortable than its predecessor, and it scores an impressive 24 out of 30 across price, comfort and performance, and durability in our testing. Expect big things from the brand’s 2026 range, including the upcoming Kinabalu Ultra.