Scarpa SL Hiking Boots : Italian Craftsmanship at its Best

When my last pair of full-grain leather hiking boots turned fifteen this summer, I had to admit that, while the boots where still up to some hikes, my feet had changed. I needed new boots. That's when I discovered the Scarpa SL hiking boot. I was familiar with the brand, of course, but hadn't tried them before.

My Scarpas are beautiful, well-made, and ready for any alpine adventure. The SL’s tongue and collar are made with comfortable anatomical padding that makes my foot feel secure and my weak ankles feel safe. The Cambrelle lining offers just the right amount of texture so I don’t experience any heel slip, which means no blisters on my dogs. The jewel on this crown though, has to be the beautiful HS12 Sherpa leather upper, so smoother and rich in color. When I wear these boots I feel like the ever-suave Ricardo Montalbon in a Chrysler Cordoba television ad, except my ad is the mountain version. And my footwear is more than fancy, it's hard-core durable. I like the lightweight Vibram M3 outsole because its comfortable, stable, and provides great traction and shock absorption.

Now, before I could head to the hills, the boots did require a break-in period. I wore them around the house, mowing the lawn, and to the grocery store. The biggest challenge I found in this process was getting the gusset, the added material that attaches the two sides of the tongue to the main part of the boot, to sit correctly so that it didn’t bunch up on the instep of my foot. Initially this caused some pain and discomfort, but after the fourth or fifth wearing, and finding the correct weight sock, I finally got it right and got the fit I wanted. (The lesson here: wear the right socks for the job and make sure you know the correct way to lace up your boots. Sometimes these two factors make all the difference. Click here to read fit instructions.)

I've been wearing my Scarpa SL boots on day hikes and weekend camping trips this summer with no complaints. In fact, they're begging to be taken on an extended trek on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Bottom Line: The SL is available in larger widths for people with extra wide or larger volume feet and in women's sizes. If these boots are cared for and treated with a suitable waterproofing treatment, they can be used year-round. This is a classic boot that will last for many, many miles.--M.P. (Sept '05)

Price: $240

Manufacturer's Site: www.scarpa-us.com

Buy Online: , , Altrec.com Outdoor Gear & Clothing,

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