Scarpa

Zodiac Tech GTX Mountaineering Boot

Rock solid post break in

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Excellent materials and craftsmanship, highly supportive laterally but flexible fore/aft and relatively light for easy striding. I require additional ankle support on the trail due to a permanent injury and these have been a total game changer, it is almost impossible to roll an ankle in these. I did have the same issue as many with heel lift initially but it resolved after some break in hikes and mid/high volume aftermarket inner soles. There seems to be less of a defined heel pocket out of the box but it did form with repeated use. I think the fit out of the box should be slightly tighter than normal as they will form around your feet over time. The soles are stiff and harder underfoot compared to general use hiking boots, but for mixed summer routes and rough terrain these are tough to beat and will last a whole lot longer. The lower lace retainers would benefit from a locking mechanism to keep the lower laces from slipping but that's the only small detail I feel was a miss.

Some preliminary thoughts on fit

Familiarity:

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

This isn't really a review, as I have only used the boots on a few easy hikes (maybe 15 miles in total) and some scrambling. I have not yet had the opportunity to use these boots with crampons or for any real climbing. I just wanted to comment on the fit of these boots. I've seen some comments (both here and other places on the internet) that say that these boots run small. That was also my first impression, but after some use, I don't think this is the case. I have feet that are both wide and high volume. I've worn a number of Scarpa boots because Scarpa lasts seem to be made for a wider, bigger foot (compared with Sportiva at least.) Trying these on in my normal Scarpa sizing, my initial reaction was that these boots were too small. They felt very tight on my feet. After a while wearing them, however, I realized that the snugness was not uncomfortable. I still have room in the toes, and my feet had plenty of circulation. Hiking in them felt fine, and even on the steep downhill sections, I didn't have issues with my toes banging into the front of the boot. Scrambling on boulders and scree felt good, as the snug fit of the boots made them feel very precise. My advice to anyone who is trying these boots out would be to get your normal size. If it feels a bit tight at first, wear them around the house for a while, (I like to wear them while working out on an elliptical or stair stepper when I'm trying to decide if they fit.) I think you may find that these boots feel a bit more snug than a traditional boot, but that snug fit is a good thing, not bad.

Comfortable, if they fit you

As everyone knows, Scarpa are for wide feet. These boots are no exception. These would have been ideal in the PNW for summer climbing, but they?re just too wide for me. Back to La Sportiva.

Disgusting heel lift

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

46

Height:

6' 2"

Weight:

190

Crazy heel lift. Too narrow build.