Scarpa Men's SL Active Hiking Boot

Love these boots straight out of the box. Quality is A+++ fit is great and comfortable, somewhat stiff but should break in perfectly. Bought these for wildland fire fighting as they are 8" leather lace up lugged sole boots. I work on a type 3 engine and these are exactly what I was looking for and Scarpa knows how to make quality boots and they're still made in Italy! I don't think you can find a better boot for the money. Scarpa also makes a Wildfire specific boot but almost twice the price, and I felt that I didn't need that much boot since I'm not on a Hotshot crew which would demand a little more performance in a boot. I Highly recommend this boot for anyone looking for a sturdy, comfortable, reliable pair of boots that are actually very affordable compared to anything else with this level of quality. Scarpa A++ good job

I am giving the boots a 5 star rating based on the following: 1. Superb quality, I have Moncler and the Scarpa's does not stay behind. 2. Attention to details, the locking shoelace hook make is easier to keep them tight. 3. Construction, having flexible ankle collar facilitates climbing boulders or downed trees. 4. Heavy duty protection all around your foot. For this price you cant go wrong, I got this boots after I returned a par of Lowa's that were to stiff to walk. Update I cannot be happier with the boots. the quality is outstanding, The Scarpa leather all the rest are discount equipment. One thing, the leather needs to cared for, mink oils or high end boot care cream required. I will keep updating the review,

Now I haven't used the new SL in the bush yet, so I can't vouch for the grip, but so far the fit and finish seems pretty good. Compared to the old model SLs however, they have much thinner leather. Somewhere closer to a trekking boot than a hiking boot. They still seem stiffer than most of the suede/gortex offerings out there though. It'll take a long hike in the Tasmanian wilderness to really test their mettle. The tannin and the acid in the water there sorts out the pretenders from the real deal in terms of boots. If it's not top grade leather and glue you end up with a dried out husk of a boot (from over tanning of the leather) with no sole (the acid eats the glue). The old SLs handled this no worries, so I expect the new should be OK, but will update after a decent test. I do like the new high rubber rand, hopefully it should remove the gape that boots always get at the front where the sole slightly comes away from the leather. The lacing system also seems a bit more durable, the hooks at the top are better than the old ones which corroded and sometimes broke at the pin. We shall see I guess. If I have one recommendation for Scarpas, it would be to only ever use Nikwax Aqueous Wax on them. As a former tester for Scarpa I got to test different treatments back to back on new boots. Snow Seal was the worst. It didn't prevent over tanning because it was only really a surface treatment, even when warmed up and the boot needs to be dry first. Drying is when the cracking starts. Nikwax was the best, because it is applied when the boot is wet, so the wax emulsion penetrates deep and is there to prevent cracking as the boot dries.It still won't stop your feet from getting wet eventually (that's what rubber boots are for) but at least you will have great boots until the sole wears out.

Initial review- I mainly bought these as heavy duty all around trekking boots, suitable for trails or a long day at a zoo. I debated between these, and a work boot style, and due to versatility I chose these and I'm glad I did! I took a chance, and they fit my foot very well. I wear a size 12 shoe normally, but the 11.6 size fits me perfectly. Construction is terrific. These certainly require break in though. I wore them around the house and yard a few days and they loosened up a bit and got more comfortable. The lining is great- in humid ~80 deg weather my feet stayed comfortable amazingly whether I used thin or thick socks. Also, with all of the support my knee pain was greatly reduced. Though I didn't walk through a stream or anything, we were caught in a steady rain a few times, and my feet stayed nice and dry. Update 10/3/16- I found my problem, I either laced the top loops too tight, or they needed more break in time, or a combination. The Activefit soles are not removable unfortunately, but once I realized my achilles area was getting too much pressure and I loosened the tops of the boots up, my feet were happy again. They could use some more cushioning, but these aren't exactly made for comfort. I raised the review to 5 stars as the construction, fit and finish are absolutely top notch, and am looking forward to a long time with these.

nice boot but too small

These boots are beyond bomb proof and comfortable! I used them for 4 days on a 20 mile backpacking trip with a 48lb pack. I only hiked 5 miles ahead of time to break them in. It rained and snowed a ton on this trip (welcome to July in the High Uintas! above 10,500 ft). My feet were 100% dry and comfortable the entire time. They were very breathable. The active fit and memory foam foot beds are legit! I tried on a ton of boots before settling on these.

Bought these boots as a replacement of the same model of 2000. These boots still fit my feet the same, but the tongue is no longer full leather. While this boot has a full rand, which the older model did not, I am sure the laces will rub on the tongue where the softer black material is placed - but we will see. Still a very good boot with great support and grip.