Customer Reviews Scarpa Kailash GTX®

Outstanding boots! Feels broken-in out of the box. This shoe is true to the size no need to readjust for people who wear 1/2 sizes.

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.

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 have a predecessor to this model, the ZG40 series 3yrs ago. Same last and fit. Scarpa knew they were on to something b/c they've stayed with it. The older ZG40 is not GORE-TEX and almost all leather. This boot is more supportive than it looks. Excellent ankle support (high ankle). Durable, can easily haul med loads. Have covered many miles from west TX desert to CO 14ers. To me it behaves like a med-weight boot but feels like a lightweight. If the sole on my current pair would wear out, I'm getting another pair. I'm a pretty standard size 11 running shoe, I wear med-thick socks and have a medium volume foot, I use a 44 in both pair of Scarpa (the other is an mt/heavy boot) I have.

This is a very comfortable boot. The soles should hold up for a long time and grip well on the trail. Color is a little light and shows dirt, more than I like. The fifth tie is material and results in more ankle pressure than I like if you lace the boot up tight. If it was a normal tie it would allow more options as for pressure at that point. I used them for over two days straight on the Colorado trail and they held up well.

Second pair of Scarpas. They are a little stiff at first but what a rugged boot. Did some 10-12 mile days in Yellowstone without much of a break-in period and I was surprised how well my feet felt.

Nice boot. I had to return them because I needed a half size larger. My foot is size 12 and I needed a 12.5 in this boot. If you are buying hiking boots, they must fit well. It will hurt if your toes hit the front of the boot. (We all know that.)