For 2 months, I educated continuously within the new Scarpa Golden Gate ATR ($149) after which most lately, for practically per week working the Tour du Mont Blanc path from Chamonix, France. It was my third time working this path and unusually sufficient, every time has been in Scarpa footwear. 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 plenty of their trainers, when the precise Scarpa hits, it hits all the precise notes.
In truth, 2022 truly performs out this situation fairly effectively; I’ve actually 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 effectively and discover them fairly uninspiring and with an altogether completely 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 toes. As a result of Scarpa and related manufacturers like La Sportiva have tended to run slightly tight, after some trial and error, dimension 13 ended up being the right alternative. The footwear 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 gentle neoprene that wraps across the ankle collar, and it is rather snug and so streamlined that I virtually by no means wind up with particles inside. And oddly sufficient, the consolation of this higher materials is such that you would be able to truly forgo socks — one thing I did throughout very hot days in testing this summer time.
Among the finest options of the sock match is within the consolation and assist over your instep. I’ve large toes 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 inner assist matrix, which provides it its Golden Gate title. This mesh truly seems like — and is impressed by — the structural parts of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
The shoe makes use of welded polyurethane reinforcements on the higher to assist abrasion resistance. And whereas I’ve put about 150 miles into the footwear with none actual points with blowouts to the higher, there are actually a number of small nicks within the mesh, which may simply become greater holes. That mentioned, the mesh used over the higher could be very sturdy however gentle and translucent, with the intention to truly see by 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 facet of Scarpa, the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR ratchets up the consolation not like some other Scarpa up to now. It actually 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 line with new advertising and marketing supplies — which is a mix of two densities of EVA: one for power return, one for cushion.
Scarpa has at all times succeeded in its foam building and composition over the past decade of my use, however the Golden Gate ATR is the very best. It has all the consolation and sturdiness of higher-profile foams like Nike’s React, which I’ve very favorably reviewed prior to now. 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 power return within the toe off, whereas there may be decrease density EVA within the heel, which produces an especially snug touchdown, particularly compared to the 2 different footwear 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 footwear, whereas a lot sooner and extra exact than the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR, depart my toes and significantly my heels ragged and actually in ache for the times following. For that reason, I typically 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 simple working, restoration days, or as within the multiple-day Tour du Mont Blanc path journey, for lengthy days out on comparatively simple trails.
By way of stability, the Golden Gate ATR has a average stack peak with 4-millimeter drop (28 millimeters within the heel and 24 millimeters within the toe), making it really feel reasonably linked to the bottom on technical terrain. However as Scarpa will admit, this shoe is basically meant as a road-to-trail answer, 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 an area lake path the place I’m going from roads to gravel and again in a five-mile loop.
In contrast to 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 completely different surfaces I’ve run and I discover it completely ample 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 expertise, which is a reasonably dynamic outsole configuration utilizing seven inner affect 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 mountain climbing makes it an skilled in rubber compounds which might be the correct quantity of sticky and exact. In response to Scarpa, their unique Tremendous Gum rubber compound “was developed to supply equal or higher slip resistance as in comparison with different high-friction rubbers however with vastly superior abrasion resistance,” and reportedly presents thrice the abrasion resistance in moist and dry circumstances in comparison with related transitional footwear.
The outsole of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.
Scarpa Golden Gate ATR General Impressions
The Scarpa Golden Gate ATR is my favourite Scarpa within the decade-plus I’ve been working within the model’s footwear. 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 plenty 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 yr for restoration working or lengthy, sluggish rambles within the mountains and even on the town.
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A prime view of the Scarpa Golden Gate ATR.
