Scarpa Summit GTX Mountaineering Boot - Men's - 2008 BCS

I completely agree with Zoso. This boot is meant to be abused, and "go up"! Don't expect it to be super comfy as a trail boot. However, when used in any mountaineering setting, the boot shines. It's been the most comfortable for me whenever climbing snow/rock fields, scrambling and kicking steps on steep ascents. Might take some different or strategic lacing practices to dial in the perfect fit. I've had a couple of issues with heel lift, even though I have the perfect size. But, lacing and socks makes a big difference, at least for me. Quality is incredible. I treat with tube nikwax (which smooths the leather and changes the appearance somewhat). The boot dries quickly and is very warm. The Mont Blanc is a bigger volume boot and will fit a wider variety of feet. I really like the fit of the Summit.

I've had these boots for 6 weeks now and have been breaking them in at work where I do 12HR shifts in an E.R.

I would guess that I have about 20 to 25 miles on them (City miles). I am quite impressed with the comfort and feel of them. The padding around the ankle and tongue really support the ankle very well.

The insulation is very thick too (Compared to my old LS Glacier EVO).

The boot does flex, although it does have a full shank. However, the shank is made of nylon composite which I believe gives it its' limited flexibility. These boots flex enough that I plan on using them for hiking and backpacking, as well as snowshoeing/snow-camping with a sled.

Side note: While wearing these at work and getting funny looks from co-workers, I found out that one of the E.R. doc's I work with is an accomplished climber/mountaineer with over a dozen summits from around the world!

I bought these boots on a whim, since I got a deal on them. My inital impressions were very good. They were warm, comfortable, and certainly stiff enough for the indended purpose of ice climbing. Some people have expressed concern over the durability of the suede upper, but I've had no problems. Granted, my boots haven't spent a lot of time on the rocks just yet.

As time went on I began to notice that I got some pretty serious heel lift in the boots. The first couple climbs of the day were painful when my calves would pump out from trying to compensate for the heel lift. This is, of course, concerning as having calf pump on pitch 3 of 6 is pretty darn miserable. I'm going to try and find a spacer that could fit under the tongue of the boot to push my foot deeper into the heel pocket, but barring that I may have to try a different boot.

However this is no fault of the boot. It's not Scarpa's fault my foot is shaped more like a La Sportiva last. Therefore I still give the boot 4 stars since it's warm, comfortable, and climbs very well. The sole is fairly asymmetrical, so be careful when buying crampons. Some will have trouble fitting on the front toe welt if they are not curved enough to match the boot.

I'm more than pleased with the performance of the boot, especially the waterproofing. If I can nail down the fit then I'm sure the Scarpa Summits will be part of my arsenal for years to come. If you've got a wide-ish foot I would highly reccommend them for all your mountain activities.

Firstly, these seem to have been discontinued, but seem to be very similar to the new Mont Blanc.

These boots have turned into my go-to cold-weather adventure boots, but they prefer to go UP. Do not expect these to fill a long approach or too-warm-weather hiking role. Needed an expected amount of break-in. Rubber rand almost makes for decent scrambling, but the shank is just too stiff to be practical for any non-tool scrambling. Durability and craftsmanship could not be better after ~50 days of use this winter.

With all that said, this is a top-notch Lower-48 mountaineering boot. Dries wicked fast; breathes a little; haven't found any compatibility issues with crampons, gaiters. Perfectly waterproof (I regularly treat the suede to prevent soak-in) even while hiking streams and icefalls, or standing around on drill rigs for 12 hours.

Because of my ridiculously wide feet, I always have a hard time finding boots, but these fit me perfectly. The folded up leather over the tongue opens up after a few hours wearing them, making it a lot wider than when you first try it on. The leather upper makes these great for walking compared to plastic boots, so they're much more comfortable for approaches. I tried these out on Mt. Hood, and they worked great. I started getting a blister on my heel, but then added a liner sock and the problem vanished. I was in about 20 degree weather with a mid weight and light weight sock, and my feet didn't even think about being cold. I think they could handle a good deal colder weather. I wear size 10 shoes, and the 43.5's fit me perfectly. The rigid sole is great, and the build quality is absolutely stellar. They're actually made in ITALY! Not China like the details say. Get these boots while they're still here. They're an absolutely solid all purpose mountaineering boot.

These boots are sturdy and warm -- solid for three-season mountaineering (or in winter when plastic boots are not appropriate).

Purchased these boots a while ago and love them. Very good for climbs below 14K or where you don't need uber-warmth. If you are thinking of climbing something over 6,000 meters, you may want to consider plastic. Don't wear these puppies into the back country strait out of the box, give them some real break-in time clunking around the house or taking the dog for a walk. I wear a 10.5 shoe and the 44s fit fine with a pair of silk liners and thick wool socks. My Sabertooth crampons fit like they were made for this boot but, I would not do any serious ice climbing with these guys. Mixed terrain, good neve, or short ice climbs are what this boot thrives on.

I have always figured that people who have enough time to write a review aren't getting out, but its raining here today, so what the hell. I have wide duck feet and scarpas fit me perfectly and they have been my footwear of choice for over 20 years. These new summit gtx's are amazingly light and nimble. I actually climbed a short 5.8 with them and they are great on ice.
My buddies have always had trouble keeping up, but now they will only be watching my ass high above them.

Bought these to supplement my old Alphas' (9/10 shell) and I'm not disappointed.
Size is fairly accurate. I wear a size 9M steel toe workboot and 8.5 Vasque hiker. I tried a 9, 9.5 and 10, staying with the 9.5 with 1 heavy sock. The 9 was a vise. The 10 needed to much filler (2 socks and an SF insole) to snug it, taking away the precise feeling I want.
I expect minimal leather stretch but more compression of the insulation as it's very soft inside. I have good movement of my toes, no toebox slam, or heel lift both walking or front pointing so they're great out of the box.
They fit my Sabertooths like they were made for each other. Kicking is different though as now I feel everything and have wonder if my points are set, the Alphas dulled that sensation. They handled scrambling well, holding tight while jamming and edging.
I've been out in near zero temperatures and they seem fine with one heavy sock, but I was standing for short periods in moderate New England snow pack.
I did replace the laces, they were thin and dug into my fingers when tightening down.
They fit my foot type better then Nepals, and the price is right so I'm satisfied.

Despite breaking these boots in on several hikes in the adirondacks, when I went on the "real trip" (Berg Lake Trail B.C.) and had a heavy load these boots gave me severe blisters on my heels (this despite prophylactic moleskin and two layers of socks.) They also developed a nagging pressure point under my left big toe that got worse over time. The boots are actually way too soft in the ankle. Contrary to the company blurb, while the ankles are flexible support is compromised. They are really useless for front-pointing.