Any experience with Scarpa boots?

[Coach]

I'm a little particular when it comes to boots. Being well equipped from optics to packs, to the right gun/load - it seems never ending. But boots, that's literally where the rubber hits the dirt and you can't do much without taking care of your feet and ankles. I usually wear Cabela's boots because they have always been great for me. My current boots are the Meindl Perfekt Hunter. Great boots, but they are wearing faster than my old Mountain Hunters, also from Cabelas.

 

So, I'm looking for my next pair of boots and trying to look for the very best ones. I'm looking at Asolo, Kenetrek and now Scarpa. For the record, I bought a pair of scarpa Mojito "approach" shoes, and these are definitely some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. The other thing Scarpa offers that Kenetrek and all the rest don't is they are in European sizes. For me that's a big deal because I'm actually a 12 1/2. 12s are usually too short, 13's a little loose. And nobody in America seems to think that 1/2 sizes should go beyond 11.

 

So I'm looking at these:

http://www.amazon.com/Scarpa-Mens-Kinesis-Hiking-Ebony/dp/B005LCOZDK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417741267&sr=8-2&keywords=scarpa+boots

 

And they've got great reviews. Anyone out there tried them yet?

[creed_az_88]

I'm in the same boat as you coach. I'm wearing the meindl air evolutions right now and I absolutely love the boot I just want a year or two more out of them like I got out of my old meindl ibexes. I'm leaning towards the perfekt hunters or the Debalis. How many years did you get out of your perfekt hunters? The only thing that concerns me with those scarpas is the height of the boot. I'm not sure it would be enough support for my style I hunting. My redwing work boots(which I love), are 8" boots and I've worn them in the hills and the ankle support is just not there. If you do end up buying a pair of the scarpas, or any other boot for that matter i'd love to hear how you like them.

[creed_az_88]

Denalis not Debalis

[Coach]

My perfekt hunters are on about their 5th year, and probably will last another 5+ years. And while I'm a little hard on boots, I use Obenauf's to keep them in good shape. The majority of wear is along the bottom third of the boot. The reinforced rubber/kevlar along the bottom has been beaten through by miles of hard hiking and now the leather is exposed and stretching out a bit.

[Coues Sniper]

Scarpa makes great boots. My current go to pair is their Kailash GTX's which are going on their 3rd year. They do run narrow, which is why I tried them in the first place: I have very narrow feet. So if your feet are wide, you may want to look elsewhere. But my experience has been good, very comfortable and held up very well.

[lonne]

Scarpas are awesome. I had a lightweight pair last 5 years, don't remember the "type". I've hiked through 4 miles of knee deep water with them and they held up like water never touched them. Probably could have done that same hike several more times. (Friend of mine took me on a water hike and didn't tell me there was water in advance, nice huh?) I bought a heavyweight Scarpa boot, Scarpa Liskamm GTX, for winter and I've been extremely impressed with it. Took me a long time to break in that boot though, it was a little rough first few hikes out, but after I broke it in, it's been GNARLY! Had that for 5 years now. I've hiked in heavy snow with it. It doesn't breath at all though, but it climbs mountains like a beast. I only use it in December - February in AZ. I couldn't find the same light Scarpa boot, and everyone was talking about Asolos, so I bought a pair of those. I was very disappointed, had numerous problems. Had to replace the sole once because the front tore out (had to mail it in, took weeks), the metal lace holders bent, and now retiring the boot already, after just 2 years. I switched back to Scarpa Kailash. We'll see how it performs but I have high expectations. Scarpa is a great boot. I put my boots through some heavy off trail hiking. Before I owned Scarpa I always had trouble with boots lasting more than a year and it was getting expensive for my hikin/hunting habit. They were hard to justify the cost after wearing out so many pairs of boots but now they've easily paid for themselves for the kind of suffering I put them through, and my feet were always comfortable except for the Liskamm break-in. The European sizes are kind of a pain, and you might read some people recommending larger sizes, etc. By pain I mean you might see a pair that looks close in size for sale with little inventory left. Don't be tempted to buy the wrong size b/c it is on sale. I recommend just finding the exact European size for your US size, nothing larger, and you should be fine. Only buy larger if that is what you usually do with other boots.

[coues32]

I have ran Scarpa Liskamns built great like most European boots, but they all run too narrow for my feet. After trying about every mountaineering boot except kenetrek, nothing has fit me better then Crispis and are the most comfy boots ever worn. I put 4 years on the Kanada between working and hunting, still have another year or so left in them.

 

I have the Nevada, and Gran pardiso. spelling? Great boots, all I will now. I ran 2 different cabelas mendl and prefer Crispis hands down.

 

Great boots and packs are a must