Scarpa Men's Zodiac GTX High Rise Hiking Boots

Product Information

The type of material used in a shoe’s upper, which is the fabric that connects to the rubber outsole, correlates directly with its durability, water resistance and ability to breathe. Most often, a boot or shoe will be made with a mix of synthetic (typically nylon), mesh, and leather. There are exceptions, particularly at the high-end with one-piece leather constructions. Below we spell out the pros and cons for the most common materials used for hiking footwear. The Zodiac is the ideal choice for someone wanting a boot feel on the lower half without the ankle support of a full boot, or for someone demanding a stiff and dependable approach shoe that'll last years of use and abuse. You hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) any objection that you may now or hereafter have to such jurisdiction and venue and (b) any claim that any such arbitration proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Note that the preceding provision regarding venue may not apply if you are a consumer based in the European Union, however, in all cases, the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply in any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms; Please note that certain state laws do not allow limitations on implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If you are a resident of such a state and these laws apply to you, some or all of the above disclaimers, exclusions, or limitations may not apply to you, and you may have additional rights.

For those venturing into more technical terrain, Scarpa hiking boots are the ultimate companion. These boots are specifically designed to withstand the rigors of demanding hikes, offering enhanced ankle support, rugged outsoles, and advanced waterproofing technologies. When it comes to performance-driven hiking boots, Scarpa is a brand that stands out. The Terra GTX combines rugged construction with the innovative Gore-Tex technology, ensuring your feet stay dry and comfortable even in wet conditions. But let’s not dwell on what you don’t have, instead we shall teach you how to ascertain your size using some common household objects.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes.

If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small. Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper. In our Hereford shop we offer a professional boot fitting service where we assess your feet, find a selection of boots that match you foot shape and most importantly we make sure that they are comfortable.This iseasy to do in the shop, where we have access tothe right tools, the option of letting you try on as many styles as you like and a knowledgeable member of staff that cancommunicate directly with you regarding your needs. SCARPA’s failure to enforce all or any part of these Terms or respond to a breach thereof by you or any other party shall not in any way be construed as a waiver or a relinquishment of any right granted SCARPA hereunder of the future performance of all or any part of these Terms, and your obligations set forth in these Terms shall continue in full force and effect. Our take on waterproofing is that it’s best for most folks, and particularly those that venture out in mountainous regions where water on the trail or a rainstorm always are possibilities. The designs aren’t perfect, but a quality waterproof lining will keep you reasonably dry in all but the worst weather. And if you hike in the shoulder seasons, the extra layer adds some insulation from the cold. But hikers in uniquely hot and dry places like Arizona and Utah may be best served with a non-waterproof model, no matter how few options there are on the market. A few that we like are the Merrell Moab 3 Mid (a sibling of the Moab Mid WP on this list), Arc'teryx Aerios Aura, and Altra Lone Peak Hiker 2. For a deeper dive on the topic, see our article on waterproof hiking footwear. We've seen consistent performance out of boots with Gore-Tex liners BreathabilityNow that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you.

If any provision in these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the invalid or unenforceable provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary and deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision and the remaining provisions of these Terms will continue in full force and effect. CLASS ACTION WAIVER: Any arbitration or proceeding shall be limited to the dispute between us and you individually. To the full extent permitted by law, (a) no arbitration or proceeding shall be joined with any other; (b) there shall be no right or authority for any dispute to be arbitrated or resolved on a class action-basis or to utilize class action procedures; and (c) there shall be no right or authority for any dispute to be brought in a purported representative capacity on behalf of the general public or any other persons. YOU AGREE THAT YOU MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST US ONLY IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. NOTE: The above table is only a guide. Manufactures don’t like tomake it easy as every single oneof them strays from the measurements above. In general, a hiking boot is designed to be stable, which typically involves a piece of hard plastic inserted between the midsole and outsole, known as a shank. The length of the plastic can vary from just under the arch to the full-length of the boot, depending on intended use. The benefit of a stiff boot is that the heel will not drop on an ascent, which helps reduce calf fatigue. This is why the stiffness of a boot will increase along with its technical abilities, culminating in extremely unyielding mountaineering boots that can better handle long summit pushes. On the other end of the spectrum, some lightweight boots do not have this additional structure, instead resembling a tall, flexible hiking shoe. Crossing a stream in Nepal with the Salomon Quest 4 bootsIn the end, I was able to comfortably wear the Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX for 8 to 10 hours of ascending and descending technical terrain without thinking about them, which truly is high praise. And I definitely appreciated the tough, burly build when clambering down steep shale and sliding into boulders. That said, if you don’t anticipate needing the mountaineering boot-like protection or semi-automatic crampon compatibility, you can shave considerable heft with a lighter-weight hiking boot like the Zodiac Plus or an even nimbler option like Salomon's running-inspired X Ultra 4 Mid GTX (1 lb. 14 oz.) What we don’t: Runs narrow (although wide sizes are available) and only moderate levels of support and protection.