Customer Reviews Scarpa Zen Pro

I have spent my life professionally outdoors, in the wilderness, the military, etc. etc. These are the most comfortable, sturdy, well built shoes I've put on my feet. They hug the foot perfectly. My mind is blown when I read reviews claiming the exact opposite. You can lace these dozens of different ways to conform to your unique foot shape/volume, and in my experience 80% of consumers are clueless on proper lacing techniques (there are a ton of different techniques...) The sole is sturdy and grips phenomenally. Best low shoe made.... These along with one other brand/model are the only shoes I've felt are worth the cost because they are built like tanks and last a lot longer than other shoes in arduous conditions...but don't take my advice, I'm a nobody just writing a review. I'm generally anywhere from 10.5 to 11.5, and I was able to wear these in both 11 and 11.5 comfortably. I can't offer you any arch support opinions because I have an extremely low arch foot, on the border of being flat footed, but the Marine Corps accepted me, so I'm not totally flat footed. Oboz shoes (more so their insoles) have superior arch support if that's what you're looking for, however their soles can be hazardous on wet smooth surfaces..again what do I know? Just try them out yourself..

I have worn many hiking and trail shoes. I was looking forward to these as they look awesome and I spent a ton of time researching for my next purchase. After trying them on and walking around the block, these were the most uncomfortable, unforgiving shoes I have ever worn. I had hot spots before I got to the end of the block. I get it - they're supposed to be an approach shoe, etc...but I boxed them up and sent them back the minute I got back in the door. I'll re-order the Vasque JUXT and call it a day.

So these are my first "real" hiking/approach shoe. By "real", I am referring to >$100. I have done the Moab Ventillators, and other similar sub-$100 hiking shoes. I decided to give these a try to see how they worked for general outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, light mountain biking and general use. I've only had them for a couple weeks, so these are my initial impressions after a couple hikes and a couple bike rides - no backpacking or camping with them yet. They are definitely good quality shoes. No question about it. I can tell that the QA on them is great. That was a relief as I hadn't been exposed to the brand before my research on which shoes to get. Though I was expecting them to be of good quality from the research I had done. This particular pair had obviously been purchased before and was sent back (I assume) as one of the two shoes had been tried on and didn't have the paper stuffed in it. Not a problem, but immediately made me curious that someone would try one on and decided to send them back. Oh well. The fit was snug, width-wise. I got them in a standard 12.5. Length was perfect, as expected. I'm 6'2" about 210lbs and would have preferred them to be a tad wider, but nothing that was uncomfortable - just preference. The shoe is certainly heavy and it's rigid. I wasn't expecting them to be as heavy, but if that translates into durability, I'll take it. The sole was certainly "grippy" - a good thing for a shoe of this nature. The laces seem OK; basically feel like 550 paracord without the core strands in them. Walking around in them is decently comfortable. Nothing plush. The removable insole is fairly thin. Not much of a review, but would I buy them again? If the price was right, yes. I think I'd like to get a comparable shoe to give me a bigger base for comparison - Solomon XA PRO 3D or something to see how they compare.

This is a really well made hiking shoe with stiffness in the sole that is comparable to my regular hiking boots which is exactly what I was looking for. My last pair or hiking shoes was a bit too soft and you feel every little rock on the trail so I was basically looking for a low cut hiking boot. My issue was that I just couldn't get the right fit. The sizing on Scarpas are great in that you can dial in the size much closer to your actual foot but my issue was with the width on these. Most shoes fit a bit wide on me but after trying 3 different sizes (43, 43.5, 44) I still felt like my pinky toe was getting a bit crunched. I really wanted these to work out but unfortunately the hunt continues.

Fit perfect just a tad narrow

great fit and comfort. would buy again

great shoe for hiking and general walking. tread is long lasting

I'm on my second pair of Zens, one the older model & now this one. These are just awesome shoes for me. The fit can be infinitely adjusted throughout the entire length to get it just right for whatever activity you're doing (unless you have wide feet; then this may not be true for you), and they are bullet proof. The sole/mid-soles are firm and STIFF. This is not a walk around in the mall shoe. I even prefer to add a thin Spenco layer to soften them up a little without changing their amazing fit. They do take a little breaking in to conform to your feet, but it's well worth it.

I’m on my second pair of these boots after taking a gamble on Scarpa, a relatively unknown brand to me. It was a great call. The first pair is one of the only pairs of boots I’ve loved enough to have genuinely worn out, as in worn the soles flat. It took several years and hundreds of miles of desert trails. I have a high arch and somewhat narrow foot. I find the fit to be perfect for me. These are very high quality boots with materials that will last a good long time. I’ll probably buy a third pair because you never know when your favorite pair will be discontinued. There’s a reason why these get so many 5 star reviews.

fit is very consistent over the years. with a left foot that was severely broken 5 years ago, this style/brand has consistently provided a reliable comfort & fit that I had been unable to find (after Sarpa discontinued the previous model I had been wearing)

fit was excellent. the shoe was sturdy for lots of hiking/walks

The Zen Pro has excellent quality of design, material, and manufacture, with great fit that required no break in time. I have worn their Mojito for years with ease and thought to try the Zen Pro - not disappointed! These shoes will provide years of service.

Great shoes.

the best hiking and walking shoes I ever had, look like custom made shoes

The fit for me was great because my feet are long, narrow and flat. I have also had multiple orthopedic surgeries so I needed something sturdy. I am sold on the Scarpa Zen. So much so that I bought a second pair. I have orthopedic inserts so I have some ready made arch support but these shoes provide additional support that most shoes don't.

I don't know what these shoes are for but I'd be very comfortable doing whatever it is. Super comfortable right out the box. Love them.

I have a wide foot with a high arch. In a running shoe I purchase 4e when possible. Finding an approach shoe to fit was a challenge and I am thankful that Zappos provides such a wide array of offerings. Of the dozen or so shoes I tried on these and the other Scarpa shoes were the most comfortable. My eventual purchase was the Scarpa Zen Pro. I ordered a half size larger than normal.

The most durable shoes I’ve ever had. It’s over 7 years that I wear these pretty much everywhere: from grocery shop trips to heavy duty hiking. The structural integrity is just unmatched. No single crack or tear. They just never die! These are not sleepers, mind you. They can get a bit tiring if warn the whole day. But you can be sure they’ll never let you down. I want another pair but simply can’t justify given the old ones are still perfectly functional.

This is my second pair of Zen Pros. I've put hundreds of miles on the first pair, but ordered them in my usual size and they have been a little snug in the toe box. This time around I ordered a half-size larger shoe. Big difference-- more room in the toe area and a better fit overall. I used them on a 10-mile hike yesterday and they were great right out of the box, no trouble spots. I've been hiking and climbing for 40 years and this is the best approach/hiking shoe out there, I've tried many.

I purchased this low version of the Zen Pro due to the Zen Pro Mid GTX being unavailable. They fit perfectly like the seats of an Italian sports car fits your backside. I dropped a star for style as the colors aren't my first choice but I buy SCARPA's for the fitment & durability. Excellent materials and function. I wish I had bought 10 pairs of the mid GTX version, which I absolutely adore - please SCARPA - keep making the mid gtx's

This is my fourth pair of Scarpa Zen shoes though I think the "pro" part is new because these do feel a bit heavier and sturdier than the others I've worn. This is the only shoe I will wear for work for the rest of my life. I LOVE THESE SHOES! I've never had a shoe this comfortable and this rugged. Ever. Scarpa makes a top quality shoe. I know not everyone feels the same about the fit. I'm just lucky that these are the shoes for my feet. But I don't think anyone can argue about the quality of their work. It is a well made and rugged shoe. I also own two other models of Scarpa shoes.

Have owned two pair of the original Scarpa Zen over the years and decided to upgrade to the Zen Pro mostly due to the new 'sticky' outsole. The Zen Pro is a heavier tougher version than the Zen. I've worn the Pro daily for a couple of weeks on variable mountain terrain and I'm very happy with comfort and construction. The new liner and beefy uppers offer better comfort and support. They breath well. The sole is much improved for tackiness, though not quite as good as the Five-Ten stealth material. My only negative is the $170 pricetag...but Scarpa has been a very reliable brand for me so I paid the premium.

These are awesome hiking shoes. I consider them a hiking boot replacement. I wore them fishing off the shore of a reservoir and they were great for that, even stepped in the water a bit and my feet stayed dry. I'll also wear them on trail hikes, but not bushwacking because of the low cut. I purchased them as street shoes but I will not be using them for that purpose. It would be total overkill to wear these in the street and it would wear out the vibram too fast. The sole is pretty stiff so that is also why I consider them a high quality hiking shoe.

I ordered and tried on a lot of shoes (15+) in the approach and hiking categories. I ended up going with the zen. These are replacing my old 5.10 guide tennies. The target use is multi purpose outings involving carrying moderate loads and scrambling; think climbing the Grand Teton or a week long backpacking trip in the Sierra, not dayhiking nor climbing 5.9 at the crag. My foot is medium width, with a low arch. The shape of my toes requires a wider toe box that doesn't start to taper immediately, otherwise my third and fourth toes (counting from the big toe) will rub. I wear a 12 in dress shoes and a 12.5 in most athletic shoes. The Zen in size 12 was too small with toes touching right off the bat. The size 12.5 (46.5) felt great when I first tried them on, man I was sold. But after walking around and my foot spread out, I found my middle toes just touching the toe cap. I contemplated getting the toe box punched out by a cobbler, but ultimately went with a 13 (47) which fit great. I suggest starting with your athletic shoe size and adjusting from there. You can read lots of reviews out there about the Zen. I'll reiterate that these are kind of an approach / hiking hybrid. They're not light at 21 oz per foot for my size 13s. For reference, my second choice Salewa Wildfires weigh 17 oz, and Salomon X Ultras are 16 oz. Hey, a Mercedes Benz weighs a little more too. They also cost a little more and are made in Europe (Zens are made in Romania). I appreciate the lateral stability these give. The sole has a slightly concave design which should help prevent ankle rolls when going over angled, unstable terrain. I also like the semi-rigid toe cap. We all kick random rocks or roots from time to time. Overall, a big thumbs up for initial impressions.

Just back from a day hiking along Long Beach. Very comfortable. Long day on my feet in a relatively new shoes... no ill effects