Scarpa Kailash GTX SKU #7396956(View on Zappos.com Classic)

Best boot you will ever buy, but make sure you get a 1/2 size larger or try it on before you go. Also Zappos has a great return policy if it does not fit.

Boots needed very little break-in; felt great from the day they came. Excellent support and shed water like a duck. Would definitely recommend.

I originally purchased these in my normal loafer size, which was about one size too small. I would suggest going one size larger than your shoe size as they run small.\r\n\r\nI took these up to Banff, AB after wearing them just for a few days. They required virtually no break-in period and were extremely comfortable for my trip and hikes. The Scarpa\'s kept my feet dry and comfortable and provided superb grip even on the Columbia Icefields. They are probably the best day hiking shoe for people who need smaller sizes.\r\n\r\nI have to compliment Zappos on their customer service. They were able to exchange these for the larger size after I bought the smaller first pair within 3 days, so I had them in plenty of time before my trip.

I'm getting ready for a Colorado backpack trip and needed some new hiking boots/shoes. I've found Backpacker magazine reviews are always helpful and I took 3 of their recommended shoes to the test: Hi-Tec V-Lite Mach 2, Scarpa Kailash GTX, and Kayland Zephyr. The Hi-Tec shoes were noticeably of lesser quality construction, however, they are cheaper in price than the Scarpa and Kayland. I didn't really like the lacing system. It was hard to make good adjustments on the upper and lower part of the boot independently. My foot is somewhat narrow to medium volume and I found it too big for my foot. I think the boot is better for medium to higher volume feet. The shoe insole/insert is nothing to speak of as it is somewhat thin. I would recommend an aftermarket. I also don't think the boot would be good for carrying more than a 35 pound pack. The soles were also not as sturdy or grippy as the other two boots. It was a much harder choice between the Scarpa and Kayland. I liked the color of the Scarpa as well as the actual shoe lace construction. The insoles are about the same as the Hi-Tec so I would recommend an aftermarket replacement. You can wear these boots comfortably right out of the box due to their partial suede construction. The soles will support comfortably a 40 pound pack, however, they aren't as grippy as the Kayland, not to say the Scarpa traction is not good. It just was slightly lesser than the Kayland. The lower eye-let construction was somewhat of a concern for me. I'm not sure if over time, the ends of the eyelets could break off as they have a pivot to them. Both the Kayland and Scarpa weigh pretty much the same when I weighed them on my scale...1 pound 6 oz per boot. What I liked about the Kayland is the stiffer sole, including its gripping power. It has more gripping points than the Scarpa. The polyurethane skeleton gives the shoe more durability and stability, though it's noticeably a little tighter around the mid-foot than the Scarpa (due to the its suede construction). I feel confident to say the Kayland can support a 50 pound pack weight. The lacing system and eyelets are great as they are linked to the exoskeleton and allow you to easily suck in or loosen the fore foot area to expand its width. I also thought the ankle support is better than the Scarpa. The Scarpa ankle support area flexes easily due to the suede construction. The insoles are a higher quality than the Scarpa. I wouldn't recommend changing them out until you have enough mileage to justify the cost of a replacement. Right now, it's hard to find the Kayland or the Scarpa on the internet. These two boots are definitely of great quality and construction. You decide. Order them both and wear them around your house. I tried them on each evening for about a week before I finally made enough mental notes to reach a final decision.

Surprise! Lost among a sea of choices and reviews, I didn't know where to turn as I looked for a new pair of hiking shoes. Too many shoes that I took off the shelf felt like cement blocks. I was wearing out a pair of Rockports. A pair of Vasque Sundowners, they were handsome shoes, but heavy and stiff and I just couldn't seem to break them in and reach a degree of real comfort. Then an acquaintance, just getting into hiking, recommended Scarpa's which he had happened upon at random. Not certain whether I needed a size 8 or an 8.5, I ordered both sizes from Zappos. The 8 was too tight-fitting, but the 8.5 was as close to perfect as I could imagine in a hiking shoe. Snug, but not tight; stable, but not stiff; light-weight, but rugged at the same time. I like the lacing - no crimping behind the toes. The appearance? The color is okay and well, after all, these are hiking shoes and not fancy loafers. Hear me for Scarpas! The style I have is the Kailash (named for a sacred and therefore unscaled mountain in the Himalayas).

Great medium weight backpacking boots - I read a review in Backpacker magazine that the Scarpa Kailash boots were the best and they were right. I was a great fan of Vasque Sundowners, but they no longer make a narrow boot, what a shame. I have done Scouting for years and cannot tell you how many endorsements I have made for Sundowners, but no more. The Scarpa Kailish's were comfortable right out of the box and very stable. They have become my go to boot and I am going to be happy to promote these boots to the hundreds of Scouts and Scouters I make hiking/backpacking presentations to. Zappos is the best for ordering shoes, if you have already tried them on before and know what you are looking for, avoids sending the shoes/boots back if they don't fit. I have ordered a number of shoes from Zappos and have always been satisfied with their customer service.

Quality boot. After two weeks I think this is a great boot. A couple of days to break in but are getting more comfortable by the day. They are light weight but provide good support with my 40# pack. Quality is top notch and fit is true to size. My only complaint is I would like more arch support but I plan to try some superfeet insoles. All in all a great boot.

My first pair of Uggs and the most expensive boot I’ve ever purchased. LOVE shoes, but really know how to bargain shop to get what I want inexpensively. Boots fit great, no breaking in needed. Warm and cozy. First pair of boots I’ve ever owned that didn’t need a couple wears to feel comfortable.

Great mid-weight hiker. I ordered these boots from magazine recommendations and am very happy with my purchase. I did replace the manufactures insole with a green REI insole cut to size which seemed to give my instep a little better support. Break in consisted of wearing them two days at work and two short day hikes close to home. They worked extremely well while carrying a 40 pound pack on a 18 mile loop hike in the Wind River Mountain range in both wet and dry conditions. There was no heel slip, no hot spots, and no blisters. The sole seemed to slip a bit on very wet granite, but otherwise this is a solid and lightweight boot I would recommend for someone carrying a medium weight load.

A good choice! I almost always look for product reviews before making purchase decisions, so here is my two cents worth. I hope this will help someone like me. Recently, I decided to get back into hiking and backpacking after a long hiatus. My first priority was to get new boots to replace my old traditional hiking boots made by Pacific Mountain Sports. I headed to REI near my house and tried virtually every mid-weight boot they had. (You know how it goes: some were a little wide, some pinched across the top, some didn't have good cushion, etc.) A pair of Vasque Wasatch GTX boots fit very well, but I wanted to do a little more research before plunking down the bucks only to find a better boot later. I poked around the internet and found Backpacker magazine's review of the Scarpa Kailash. I figured that if this boot was their Editor's Choice, it was worth a look. Originally, I could not find them in my size (US 11) anywhere and purchased its sibling boot, the Mustang GTX instead. Upon their arrival, I immediately tried them on with my thick military boot socks and Coolmax liners both made by "Techspun." Before even lacing the boots up, I knew I needed an 11 1/2 (US). After processing my return, I found the Kailash GTX (size 11 1/2) in stock and quickly ordered them. I received them following day thanks to Zappos.com upgrading me to overnight delivery via FEDEX. I tried them on and found the 11 1/2 fit perfectly. I wore them around the house for a few hours to get a good feel for them and was truly amazed at how much cushion they had. The Kailash GTX's were literally light years away from my old all leather hiking boots with Vibram Kletterlift soles. (I've had two knee operations, so cushioning is now a priority for me.) My first hike was around two miles on decent dirt trails (I had my 4 year old with me) in the local foothills. The boots were very comfortable and secure/supportive in all the right places. Great forefoot flex. No blisters, heel slippage, or hot spots. My second hike was 4 miles on decomposed granite as well as crushed/broken stone in the area of Mt. Lowe, Angeles National Forest. Going up, I noticed a hot spot on my right heel and dreaded my decision to wear one of my Techspun boot socks that was worn thin in the heel. (After my first hike without any problems, I figured I could get away with it.) I laced the boots a little tighter which helped lock my heel in better, but the very small blister had already started to form. On the way down, I hit some loose rock and rolled my ankle. The boots provided great support and were stiff enough across the ankle to prevent injury. I am very happy with the boots and would highly recommend them. Backpacker magazine obviously did their research and picked a fine boot that needs little or no break-in period. I don't think you will be disappointed by these boots. I would only caution buyers to choose a half size larger if they happen to wear thick wool socks. After this positive experience, I think I'm a Scarpa customer for life. Thank you to Zappos for great customer service and a great selection of boots.