Very solid boots

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

43.5

Height

6` 0"

Weight

155 lbs

I used these boots on a full semester NOLS course. They took me deep into the wind river range in Wyoming, and through vast desert canyons in Utah. Not sure how many miles I’ve put on these things, but definitely in the hundreds. The boots are very sturdy and stiff, excellent for off-trail travel because you can dig the edge of the shoe in the dirt without much lateral flex in the sole. They’re stiff enough to take a serious beating from talus and scree, yet nimble and grippy enough to tiptoe up slabs, easy climbs, and through slot canyons. However, these shoes definitely lack the sensitivity and flex that make approach shoes so valuable, and they wouldn’t be my first choice for canyoneering or really scrambley ridges and peaks. The grip is quite good though, the climbing zone works well and the beefy lugs can really bite into mud and dirt. Im not blown away by the comfort. The sole feels very rigid and flat under your foot, and it feels weird because of how little it flexes when you’re standing sideways on a slope. I replaced the insole with a green superfeet insole and it helped, but the insole makes my heel feel a little too high in the shoe and it’s not perfect. Despite the raw feel of these boots, I was still happy to have them over any traditional backpacking boots because they are much more confidence inspiring for climbing and off-trail. So far they’ve held up well, some wear on the outsole but no damage to the lugs like others have experienced. The EVA midsole thing does seem to have weakened but it’s not noticable. No other damage so far, and they are still waterproof after traveling through lots of water and snow. I’ll continue to use these boots for long 14er hikes and whenever I need the waterproofing. Solid purchase overall. For reference I typically wear 10-10.5 US, 27.5 cm feet, and bought these in a 43.5 for a perfect, toes almost touch the front fit, and it was never a problem if laced well and allowed for really precise edging while climbing. I wear sportiva TX3s in 43 (also performance fit) and 10.5 Salomon running shoes.

Blake H.

History of sole failure - AVOID

Through my research I saw numerous reviews and images of sole failure, ie- cracking, huge missing chunks, peeling, etc. I thought surely those people must be beating the heck out of these off trail is some obscure manner, be much heavier than I, or abusing them in some way. Yesterday I took them on a 13 mile on-trail day hike with a 12 pound pack (I weigh just 165 lbs) and found today when putting them away that the sole had cracked (see photo)!!! I've been climbing, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, etc. for over 20 years and never had a sole fail before. The bad reviews are legit, DON'T BUY THESE BOOTS. Going back to La Sportiva for my footwear needs, this many Scarpa sole failures is definitely a product defect, not merely coincidence. Unfortunately I didn't by these from BC, so I'm stuck with a pair of ugly doorstops.

c2summit

Insanely comfortable

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

44

Height

6` 0"

Weight

177 lbs

This boot was one of a few I decided to try out for this year. Right off the bat I loved the look and the style. I love the lacing all the way to the toe. The fit was money. The euro sizing really helps hit that in between half sizes for a better fitting boot. My uses are, back packing, boon docking, back pack hunting, and every day around town wear. Im not easy on my stuff and I put hundreds of miles on off trail yearly. The reason for the 4 stars is simply due to the outsole. I believe the idea was to save weight for a lighter boot, however the tread depth is real shallow and I worry the longevity won't be there for me. The stiffness is perfect for my style. At first they do feel stiff but after a day you won't even notice. They are very supportive and even though the outsoles are thin, they do grip very well. I feel that of the different boots I bought, my foot really fit the mold for these. I wish the rand went all the way around the boot vs just the toe area but once again I believe that's due to weight savings. I typically wear a size 10.5 in running shoes and I went to a size 44 in these and they're just right. Enough room in the toe box, one finger behind the heel. If youre an avid backpacker or hiker and do a lot of hiking on rock, shale, or pavement, you may consider a different route as you might wear these out before a season. Just something to keep in mind.

Daniel

Perfect right out of the box

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

Runs small

Size Bought

46 1/2

Height

5` 9"

Weight

175 lbs

Had to return the first pair because they really do run small. Received the replacement pair in less than 48 hours, just in time to do a 5300' vertical hike/ climb in the North Cascades the very next day. I did use my custom foot bed and a medium/thick pair of Darn Tough socks. After reading all the reviews on long break-in times, I was ready for an unhappy foot day. That certainly was not my experience. They were very comfortable right out of the box. Dropping down 5300' on steep rock and scree and then a long trail back to the truck is usually a toe jam guarantee. Not in these. I know the "wide toe box" is a new hype now. Anybody who does serious off trail scrambling on steep terrain knows the boot needs to hold the whole foot in place. These were great. Also, a narrower toe profile makes kicking steps in snow easier.

pct4340063

Needed editing

The first 100 miles were torture and then I removed the foot bed and cut one of the green super feet insoles to size and then I went out today for another 20 miles and the boots were perfect. I got these specifically because the Scarpa list for their winter boots fits me perfectly whereas the last 40 bucks and other manufacturers have a narrower last. these have a nice wide toebox which is what I was looking for I don’t like my toes squishy even when I have on my summer weight hiking socks. Hopefully someday the BOA lacing system will come to the backpackers’ boot market and make it easier to dial in the exact tension you need. Between these and my Salmon 4 GTX are a tossup right now I’ll report back later in the year.

Richard Bryan

Great fit

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Height

6` 1"

Weight

168 lbs

Very comfortable boots and are holding great so far.

Charles Denney

Soles falling apart very quickly.

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

44.5

I was very eager to love these boots. They look great and have a very high level of precise construction. It also seemed like I had finally found a true do-it-all boot that would work great for a mixed bag of tasks when trekking through the alpine backcoutry.. After a few weeks of use, I am not so sure Scarpa delivered on some important aspects of what this boot could have been. Also, while I have not "put it through the wringer" literally in terms of a full season of use, I have enough miles on them in mixed terrain to know how they perform. I've used them more than several times, that is for sure. Losing rubber and lugs: At first I noticed that the soles of the boots were loosing rubber at a very rapid rate, even within the first 6 mile easy hike on level trails. The toe area was already shaving down quick and foaming up. This didn't appear to get too much worse as I did easy break-in hikes on dirt trails. Once I started to hit some more rocky trails with some rock scrambles, the rubber just shredded away like it was made of cheese. I think if I lived in an area with only soft soil and no sharp rock, I would have never noticed this problem and the boots would have lasted a long time. But they are designed as an alpine trekking and light-duty mountaineering boot, not a day-hiker for the local dog park. Bipolar traction: On one hand, the traction with these boots is amazing in loose dirt, snow, scree, sand, etc. They even grip pretty good on dry rock that has a rough surface. But once they hit any wet, smooth rock, they don't have any grip at all and become rather dangerous to use anywhere with exposure. Incredibly waterproof: One thing is for certain, these boots are perfectly waterproof. They shed off water and the gore-tex extends very high up the ankle. But, when they get saturated from sweat inside, they can take a very long time to fully dry out. Much more so than any other GTX boot I have owned before. Lightweight: For such a solid and stiff boot, they are really impressive for how light they are. My size 44.5 boots weigh 2.7lbs with the stock insoles. Stiff sole: The stiff sole is highly resistant to bending and provides excellent isolation from standing on sharp rocks. While this seemed like a great feature at first, I find that the lack of support in the ankle, along with the rigid heel cup, can put too much pressure and friction onto the back of my heels. If you have boney heels like me, then these boots might cause some serious pain on the back of the heel and on the tendon. Even just scrambling up short, steep sections, my heels are on fire with these boots, no matter how I lace them up. There just isn't enough leverage in the ankle collar to overcome such a stiff sole. If you have meaty heels and thick ankles, then you might have much better luck than myself. Tight instep: When these boots are actually put on, they have a decent amount of room for a high instep. But getting them on in the first place can be difficult for my moderately high insteps. The sock-fit system might reduce bulk, but the tongue just does not open up much for sliding the boots on. I also notice that the tongue itself is not quite wide enough to stay folded under the ankle collar at the top. Mine constantly pull out from under the collar overlap and bunch up under the top laces. This causes the ankle lacing to become loose and makes it a bit uncomfortable.

John

Weatherproof and great for long hikes

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

43.0

Height

5` 11"

Weight

160 lbs

I got these as a gift for my brother and he had the following feedback to share: "Scarpa did well with the Gore-tex on these guys. They are weather proof through the mud and the snow and during the hot days they are still breathable enough that it takes a very long time before my feet start to sweat. I used them in hiking multi-day sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail and they had amazing support for carrying a heavier pack. I have a slightly wider foot and there is plenty of room in the toe box to accommodate that. The flex is perfect too - it didn't take much to get them broken in. I'm hoping they hold up a long time; they don't show any signs of wear yet. I always love Scarpa's color schemes and these somewhat match my climbing shoes (since that is important ;) .

Matt Lancaster

Happy feet happy guy

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

44

Height

6` 1"

Weight

210 lbs

I have been a huge fan of scarpa for years. Originally I skied scapra boots and slowly ventured into their summer footwear. As I have gotten older my fore feet have spread. This boot uses a new last that fits my fat feet perfectly. They are light enough to wear using for work as an arborist but still keep my feet warm and DRY hiking around in snow and slope. I did put a pair of insoles with a bit more arch support. The soles have the right amount of flex to them and I would say are right in the middle of too stiff and too soft. I will say that after being in scarpa footwear for many years that I had to size down with the new last because of the extra width. I used to be a 45 (11.5) in all other scarpa footwear but went with a 44 (10.5) for the zodiac. 5

Weston D

Light and strong / no heel dampening

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

13

Since I have had so many good Scarpa shoes and boots in the past, I took a risk and bought these here online without trying them at a store. Expensive mistake. They are very light and made of high quality materials all around, very strong leather and synthetics. I mainly chose them because of how far down the laces go, and that makes them very adjustable for my wide feet. Also they are surprisingly un-bulky, which makes them agile and in some ways comfortable. But to achieve this, the sole is thin and fairly stiff. Cushioning is clearly sacrificed for weight and bulk savings. When the heel touches down there is an uncomfortable lack of shock absorption, almost like hitting rigid plastic, and after a while I really start to feel the effects of this heel impact affect the knees. I also have Scarpa approach shoes with a relatively thin sole but they are fine because of the angle/ (slope?) of the sole translates to a more barefoot-style of walking, and a more flexible sole leads to more of a heel-roll. With these Zodiac Plus boots, the sole design seems to lead to a hard-heel landing every time. After using these for day-hikes thru spring and summer and experimenting with different insoles and cushioning socks, I've found them to be very fatiguing and the lack of heel absorption is very disappointing. They are fine on technical climbs and scrambles, but extended walking on firm surfaces is just bad. ps. Shout-out to Chasen at Backcountry for answering emails on his day off and locating my size! Excellent service.

Magnus

Zodiac Plus Elevation Outdoors !

Nice little pug on the Zodiac plus one of my favorites !

Kirk Haskell

Really comfortable and waterproof

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

Runs small

Size Bought

11.5

I used them in a 35 miles hike around Yosemite in late May. The boots where really comfortable from the first day and they stayed dry during snow walks and small creek crossings. The size runs small. I usually wear an 11 but in this case I went .5 bigger. My backcountry's gear advisor was really helpful helping me to return the small boots I first bought.

Fernando G.

Amazing feel, issues w/ sole (updated)

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

12

Height

6` 4"

Weight

250 lbs

I was in the same boat as one of the other reviewers here... not a lot of info or reviews online on these boots, so thought I'd drop some feedback here in hopes that I can make someone else's decision a little easier... I'll start by saying I'm extremely picky when it comes to boots. I've always been a fan of Asolo and Salomon, but found the Fugitive and Quest 4d 2 GTX to be too bulky and heavy. After a couple weeks of extensive research, I landed on the Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX boot and could not be happier. I have a relatively average foot (maybe a touch on the wide side) and these boots fit like a glove right out of the box and are true to size. It's worth noting that (so far) there has been zero break in period. The fit and finish remind me of my favorite old Asolos: masterfully crafted with great attention to detail. However, these boots are much lighter than any other boot in its class, without sacrificing support. I'm a rather large human (6' 4", 250 lbs) so a boot with great support is super important to me. The mid-sole was surprisingly more stiff than previous reviews had lead me to believe. It's relatively stiff in the heel and forefoot, while offering great flexibility in the toes for scrambling and good trail feel. Laterally, pretty stiff and great support for edging... Overall, very similar midsole flex and feel to my old Asolo Fugitives. If you have high arches, it might be worth throwing some insoles in there, as they have relatively little arch support out of the box. I threw a set of Superfeet Greens in there and took them out yesterday evening for a few miles of light hiking and scrambling. Not surprisingly, the vibram sole was grippy as always, and the low profile fit gave these a pretty dexterous feel while scrambling. These climb like an approach shoe, but feel like a backpacking boot on the trail. The only thing I wish these had was a little bit more ankle support. The top of the boot hits me right above my ankle bone, which make these feel more like a day hiker than an actual backpacking boot -- but make no mistake, these are definitely burly enough to land them confidently in the backpacking or even light mountaineering category. (Note: if you need crampon compatibility, go for the Zodiach Tech). Planning on taking these out on a handful of Fourteeners later this month, and can't wait. Hope this helps! *UPDATES* 6/19/17 - I've reduced my five star review to three stars because after 12 miles over the weekend on fairly moderate terrain (all dirt trail) several of the lugs have ripped off the boot (in the same place on both boots!). The boots only have 15 total miles on them!! As much as I love the way these boots feel and look, I'm extremely disappointed with the quality of the sole. Maybe a bad batch of rubber? Not sure, but they definitely shouldn't do this. Will be contacting Scarpa. 6/28/17: Scarpa's warranty team was great to deal with. They invited me to their warehouse where they replaced the boots, no questions asked. They said it was, in fact, a bad batch of rubber on a few boots and they have since fixed the problem.

Jace J.

Yes Please

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

May 2017 I was given these boots to test on a mid-may backpacking trip in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument of Utah. I took them down Harris Wash to the confluence with the Escalante River and back. These boots are both lightweight and comfortable. They were given to me at the trailhead with no prior chance to wear around or break in. I wore them for a few days on the trail with a pack and had no issues. Very comfortable. I have wide feet and sometimes struggle finding shoes and boots to fit. Although not super wide, these worked well for me. We walked on sand, rocks and in a creek for much of the trip. They stayed dry from outside moisture but I was definitely sweating in them (I do not believe gore-tex can make a truly breathable footwear. Waterproof yes, but not breathable.). I doubt these boots were made for sand and the southwest environment, but they certainly did the trick. I am excited to try them in the North Cascades. I have no doubt they will prove great as a backpacking boot. The sole is more flexible than many comparable boots. This should be great on longer/flatter trips. I am a little nervous about how this boot will handle on trips with more vertical objectives because of its flexible sole. I plan to take this up a North Cascade mountain soon. I have a pair of flexible Kahtoola k10 crampons I will use with them. I'll let everyone know how it handles. --update-- June 2017 I used them early June to hike a 7000' peak in the North Cascades. We hiked on flat, steep, rocks, water, snow and glacier. They stayed dry and were comfortable the entire day. The flexible Kahtoola k10 crampons fit just fine.

zachary lundgren

Initial Impressions

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

9.5

Height

5` 9"

Weight

160 lbs

Just got these and wanted to post something since I had a tough time finding anything on them. In terms of background, I've put a lot of miles on different types of boots, and have always felt in general hiking/backpacking boots were too heavy/bulky. These piqued my interest given their look, brand, and weight. Initial impressions are very good (just from walking around the house). Probably the lightest backpacking boots I've put on, and maybe the most comfortable out-of-box boots to boot (see what i did there). Great amount of room in the toe box. Excited to get them dusty!

Ryan F.

Can these accept a crampon? Would the heel work with a universal crampon?

Zac Boss

Does anyone know the heel height/heel drop in these (mm)?

Ben Krahn