Customer Reviews Scarpa Zanskar GTX

I have been hiking and backpacking around the world for many years. I started out with the original Vasque Sundowner. Those boots went downhill later. From there, I found an equally great fitting choice in both the Asolo Power Matic 200 GV and TPS 520 GV. I owned both of these and stopped using them after one pair (actually returned the 520s shortly after finding they suffered the same issue as the 200 GV, which I had for many years) because in certain wet and damp conditions, you simply cannot stay upright wearing them. You can actually feel the slick property of the sole material when evaluating them in the store. I landed on my tail more than once and that's completely unacceptable as I am always carrying a couple of pro camera setups when I am hiking in such boots. In 98 percent of my hiking these Asolos were simply wonderful but the areas where I had traction issues, no one else with me was having trouble aside from me and anyone wearing the Asolo GVs. Onto Zamberlan. I really like the Zamberlan Voiz line of hiking/backpacking boots. Same comfort and build quality of the original Vasques and Asolos but with great all-weather traction. I have almost bought the Voiz a couple of times but since leaving Asolo behind one brand has won me over repeatedly Scarpa. The Scarpa Zanskar GTX is Gore-Tex lined, made by this legendary company and has an awesome Vibram sole which has great downhill braking and excellent wet weather performance where the Asolos I had failed on many occasions. One of the things I like most outside of the Zanskar just being fantastic hiking and backpacking boots is one feature of the lacing system which I will now forever be addicted to: The Zanskar and many other Scarpa hiking boots feature a lace brake for the lacing that rests atop your foot. This is in the form of what looks like normal lacing hooks but these last two atop your foot lock the tightness you set when you pull the laces into them. You could have a beer or rest your hand, do whatever and then come back to lacing the cuff without losing your adjustment across the top of your feet. This is best appreciated because most other boots will simply let the bottom lacing loosen if you do not get the top cuff lacing as tight as the bottom; normal lacing systems simply equalize. Simple and highly effective. Bravo. What did not work for me right out of the box was the boot volume. I have low volume feet and ended up swapping in Superfeet Coppers to get these dialed in. Before that, with the original insoles, I had a little bit of heel slip but again, my feet are low volume and the Copper insoles are made to take up volume.

Great boot. There are certainly other quality options but a proper fit is always my issue. I'm an 11.5 with a high instep so I generally need to order a wide width. In search of a heavier duty hiker/backpacker, I tried Vasque Bitterroot, St Elias, Breeze and Taku. Also tried Asolo Flame, Zamberlin Vioz, Lowa Renegade. My light hiker has for years been Keen Targhee II mid and they are very lightweight and comfortable (Salomon X Ultra was too narrow even in wide width). My old Vasques and Asolos started feeling tight -- I suppose due to getting older and foot is changing. All the boots I said I tried I ordered from Zappos and where they came in wide widths I ordered a wide. Every pair seemed to taper the toe box causing a pressure point on small toe. Then I'd try a size 12 and they would swim on me. These Scarpas actually come in an 11 2/3 size and fit perfect. Not listed as a wide but definitely felt wider than other brands who actually make wides. Lacing system is phenomenal allowing custom lower and upper tensions . Climbed Glen Onoko falls in Jim Thorpe PA and ten miles on AT and they handled rocks, water etc. really well. Awesome mid weight boot! Zappos hassle free return policy allowed me to try on every boot I liked until I found the perfect fit!

The locking d-ring on this boot is genius. I have different sized feet and really could have made the size I went with or a half size up work for me, because the locking D-ring allows you to lace this boot to perfection. This boot has a nice stiff "backpacking" style sole to protect your feet, which is exactly what I was looking for, but they are agile enough, that I'd rock climb easier stuff in them. In regards to my foot shape, I am female, but have a large frame and usually do better with men's shoes for hiking/climbing/skiing/biking. For a guy, I would have a heel on the narrower side, but I often need more width in the toe box, even in men's shoes. My last asolo boots had to be laced "just so" to keep from compressing nerves towards the front of my foot, so if you've had a similar experience, these boots might be a better fit for you too. These are proportioned more generously in the front and do not create that problem, even when laced tight. As I mentioned before, the locking D ring is a great assist in getting them laced exactly the way you need them. I haven't had to buy boots in a while, so I wasn't thrilled about paying a "mountaineering boot" price for them, but I have to say, I haven't had a boot in a long time that I was this happy with either, so we'll call it money well spent. FWIW, I wear a polypro liner sock and medium cushion smartwool hikers. I kept the 42.5's, but I my Asolo's were 43s, my SIDI cycling shoes are 43s, my Alpina BC boots are size 9 men's and my women's shoe size is consistently size 11, but I mostly wear cowboy boots and flip flops because women's shoes are usually narrow and miserable for me.

Wonderful and light, secure, comfortable and beautifully made. I have gone through 3 other boots before staying with this one (thanks, Zappos!) and it's entirely worth the money. I tend towards a slightly wide fit and these are not pinching at the instep like so many others.

I would like everyone to know that I love my new Scarpa boots -- after I received them I put on my heaviest pair of insulated socks and slipped my feet in the boots and thought that these boots were made from a mold to fit my (big wide Fred Flintstone feet). After a week's worth of wearing them around the house my wife and I traveled to New York City by train and I had those thick socks on too (three hours on the train) when we got to NYC we took to walking everywhere and at no time did these boots sweat or get wet and my feet at the end of the day felt like they had never had these boots on (through a twelve hour day). Fit is very true to size but I recommend one half size larger for those big heavy socks. Also those locking d rings that this boot has means you only have lace up the last three top lacing rings, this makes it much easier especially if you have a bad back like I do. The support that these boots give your feet is amazing. One thing I can tell you is that these boots are worth every penny you spend on them and you will not want to send them back.

Great Boot. I tried on at least a dozen different boots to replace my vasque sundowners and these won. I have a narrow heal and wide forefoot and these did the trick! It is a shame zappos only rates the whole shoe as wide or narrow when it really misses the fact that heals and forefoots are totally different beasts.