Customer Reviews Scarpa Zen

First off I ordered this shoe because I liked the style and now that I have it, I love the style. I normally wear a size 10.5 (44) and that is what I ordered. I should have heeded the advice of other reviewers, as I did return it and exchange for a size 11 (44.5) and it fits fantastic. Like other reviewers, the shoe insert is rather minimal. I have now tried on the shoe with various commercial inserts, but ended up liking a "just above minimal" insert that I took out of a pair of my running shoes...and voila...perfect. Also of note. I called Zappos about the fit problem and they ordered the larger size and set up the exchange process. I had the new size two days later. It worked very slick and I was most impressed with the Zappos response (hence the company name maybe?). All in all I really like the shoe and dealing with Zappos.

I own several pairs of non-climbing Scarpa. These are great cold-weather urban and rural walking/hiking shoes. I hope this won't be my only pair because they really last and take punishment.

I got these to hike Mt. Monadnock and the White mountains in NH. As expected, the Vibram sole is very grippy; I've only slipped once in these and that was on a greasy, steep piece of granite that was nearly polished from foot traffic. The sole is also thin but stiff, a combination of feel and protection from what's underfoot. I have low volume, flat feet and the width is perfect. My one complaint is that the base of the tongue presses down on top of my foot just beyond the toes. It's not uncomfortable, but mildly annoying. I'm hoping it will get compacted with more use. These shoes do take a little while to break in. For what I got these for, these shoes are nearly perfect.

Love these shoes. They fit true to size for me (size 12) and I love the styling as well as the fit. I bought these to wear hiking and biking, but first wore them around town to break them in. They're not super stiff, but need a bit of time to conform to your feet. The construction is top notch. This is a well made shoe.

I love this shoe! Walked in the house for an afternoon and committed to it. I hiked three miles and up about 2000 ft up to a local trail. The shoes started great and already started feeling like gloves by the time I was back. I wish all of my shoes were so well matched. Note: I have "no arch support" below, but I have really high arches and always get orthodics.

Great shoe, a little stiff to start but gets comfortable pretty quickly. Very high quality construction. Insole is terrible, replace it immediately!

Love this shoe. Very comfortable and fits me well. Would defiantly try another shoe from this brand again. Great looking shoe that could be worn casually or on the trail.

Great shoe and support. I actually use them for work as a home builder so in the field all day often on lots of different terrain. Also pretty rough on shoes and so far these show no signs of adverse wear. Also using them for hiking and everyday wear. The soles are very grippy on all surfaces which is a plus for me. I originally ordered the Euro43 equating to the US10 and it was just a little small. The 43.5 - US10.5 was perfect.

Don't expect the comfort of a Nike Air. To really unlock potential of these shoes you should be moving up or down a slope/path. The grip is excellent and while coming down steep slopes, they give you a very comfortable sense of security and stability. They're light, stylish, and provide ample air space for the toes. When hiking up a slope, they provide great support, fantastic comfort, and the tough soles and rigid toe guards protect you from rough terrain and rocky areas. I highly recommend pairing these with some nice cushioned outdoor socks (smart wool is what I went with) and you won't regret it. After an all day hike, my feet felt like they were ready for another hike the next day.

Best shoe I've ever had. Slipped it on and it felt like a very supportive slipper. Very tough and comfy and it goes...Wow!

Great shoes. I am a surveyor, so I venture off the beaten path often. The shoes have a nice stiff sole and toe yet are remarkably comfy. I usually go with Vasque but am very happy I made the change.

Great shoe! I purchased these for a month long trip through India. Though most of the travel was on city streets, there were more than a few dirt roads, potholes, debris, and other non-pristine surfaces to navigate. The shoes are extremely comfortable and have great grip. The toe protection is great for the occasional misstep. I returned my original order and purchased a half size larger than normal which worked out perfectly.

Excellent trail shoe with a firm foot bed making it excellent for short hikes and then transitioning back to every day city streets. True to size and nice wide toe box. Quickly became my favorite sport shoe for everything but running!

Solid, stable, yet agile. In a (hyphenated) word—goat-footed. These are not your trail running tennies, and they are certainly not barefoot shoes. They are substantial. But they handle approaches over rough terrain and 13 plus hour flights to Dubai with equal aplomb. Wear 'em a little loose for all day comfort, then just give the easy lacing system a tug and cinch 'em down when it's time to go to work. Brilliant.

Excellent support. I've owned Scarpa hiking boots in the past and I was immediately reminded of them upon lacing up the Zen for the first time. They feel a lot like a low-cut version of the same footwear; a solid, stable sole and an upper that not only envelopes the foot but also provides a semi-rigid shell for the foot. The antithesis of the minimalist running shoes. The fit was snug initially, and the footbed felt flat and firm, but over a couple weeks of wear, the shoe conformed to my feet beautifully and now feels like the molded ski boots or ice skates. Wear over the first few months of heavy use is negligible. While the look isn't flashy or stylish, the exterior cleans easily and still looks new after many miles on trails this spring. Laces are substantial and strong. Fit and Finish" is very good. My only complaint is the small hollow shapes used in the sole in lieu of lugs. They collect and retain sand, gravel, small stones and mud, which are then released over time, often indoors. I doubt they really provide better traction than the traditional lugs of the Vibram sole and certainly aren't going to last as long. Everything else about the shoe is well thought out and shows the experience of this footwear company.

Overall an excellent shoe. I just bought this to replace some trail walking shoes that had disintegrated. I was looking for something a bit tougher and more stable. This seems to be the shoe fill that need. Very stable, flexible and comfortable. It' Scarpa so they are built very well. The rubber rand around the toe is an especially nice and looks like it will be adding life to the shoe's total service. I read the other reviews and saw that many commented that it runs slightly small so I ordered a 42.5 instead of my normal 42. The fit was perfect so I would say they are about one half size smaller than the indicated size. Other than that I am extremely happy with them and as always I am happy with Zappos.

Shoes are super comfortable to wear for everyday use although that is not the intended use for them. They fit true to size. Only dislike is that the toe looks more pointed than the shoes in the pictures. Again, not an issue with comfort just being picky about the look.

I try other brands, then return to Scarpa time and again. They have super support. They last. They are tough. And they fit me well. "D" widths have been too tight with some brands, but Scarpas have fit me every time.

I love these shoes. I have hiked in them twice since purchasing them and they are extremely comfortable. They are a bit hot for Summer hiking but here in the PNW, summer only lasts about a week so these will be right at home as it gets colder around here.

Excellent quality, durability, and they look good. For several years I was buying 5.10 Camp or Guide Tennies, and was often disappointed by how fast the heel wore down. With due difference to 5.10, their softer rubber is VERY grippy on rock and maybe preferable if I was just bumming around on class 4 slab. However, I wanted an approach shoe that I could also wear on a day hike, and so far I've been really impressed with the comfort and durability of the Scarpas. FYI, I have narrow feet and they fit great, so I suppose that means they run narrow. Also, I ordered up a half size and found the fit to be snug (which is what I want in an approach shoe).

A solid, very comfortable, good-looking, well-made light hiker. I was looking for a high-quality and decent-looking walking shoe and this was a bit more of a hiking shoe than I needed. If it has Gore-Tex waterproofing, I might have kept it. If Gore-Tex-type waterproofing is not needed, this could be a very good light hiking shoe.

Very nice looking shoe but very stiff

How many ways can you say uncomfortable? Nice looking. Put a pair of super feet inserts which only helped a little.

Seems like a nice shoe that will would be stiff and provide good protection on rough terrain. But had to return them no room for orthotics and very narrow toe box.

Great looking shoe. The sizing feels very narrow and would be a better fit if a wide were available. Hopefully they will loosen up after I break them in a bit.