Scarpa Men's Zodiac GTX High Rise Hiking Boots

Product Information

For tougher applications or when it’s a priority to isolate your feet from rough impacts, manufactures will use a PU or polyurethane midsole. This durable foam is far less cushy than midsoles with only EVA but will last longer and better handle a heavier load. In addition, they’ll keep their shape longer and won’t be prone to compressing like EVA. Boots like the Asolo TPS 520 Evo use a polyurethane insole, but the material’s popularity is expanding to mid-range options—despite the extra cost—with the Scarpa Zodiac Plus being a recent example. The Scarpa Zodiac Plus has a hybrid EVA and PU midsole design Outsoles and Traction 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.

When we think of Asolo, the first thing that comes to mind is a classic, leather hiking boot like their TPS 520 GV Evo. The sleeker and more modern Falcon GV, however, represents where hiking footwear clearly is headed: a little less weight and support than a traditional hiking boot, but with serious technical chops. We took the Falcon on and off trail over the course of a rugged trek in Patagonia and came away impressed. It's well built, extremely comfortable right out of the box, and can handle just about anything you can throw at it. 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. Additional information about how data is collected and processed by third-party analytics vendors is found at: 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. Excellent combination of comfort, stability, and protection for high-mileage days and technical terrain.Gore-Tex build breathes decently well, but expect it to run warm in true summer conditions and at lower elevations.

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. 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. A printed version of these Terms and of any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in any mediation or arbitration proceeding based upon or relating to these Terms to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. All headings in these Terms are for convenience or reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Terms. For those looking for maximum underfoot support and comfort without the height of a full boot, the Zodiac is a perfect choice (provided it fits). The majority of light and midweight hiking boots use EVA foam in the midsole. The cushy, soft material takes some of the sting out of your heel or midfoot impacts and is also extremely lightweight. Not all EVA should be treated equally, and the proprietary versions can vary from super soft to mildly stiff. For logging serious miles on tougher terrain, we prefer a firm and supportive midsole as opposed to too much cushioning. Those overly-soft midsoles also have a tendency to break down over time, much like a running shoe. In general, you pay more for an improved midsole design and a higher-quality EVA compound. La Sportiva's TX Hike combines a soft EVA midsole with a TPU insert for added stabilityStand 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. After extensive testing, I’m confident in saying that the Zodiac Plus GTX will keep going mile after mile. As mentioned above, the uppers are constructed with durable Perwanger suede and reinforced with a rubber rand and rigid rubber heel box. In addition, given that the midsole is made with three layers of EVA and the longer-lasting PU, this boot is built to stand the test of time and maintain its support, protection, and comfort even after hundreds of miles on the trail. 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. You may log on to scarpa.com as a registered user, access your account, and change or update your information and manage newsletter preferences. We put the men’s Zodiac Tech GTX through its paces for this review, and Scarpa also offers a dedicated women’s design for the same price. The features and construction are nearly identical between the two boots, including a Gore-Tex liner, leather upper, EVA and PU midsole, semi-automatic crampon compatibility, and Vibram outsole (the women’s utilizes their Mulaz S compound). The women’s Zodiac Tech GTX is a little lighter at 2 pounds 5.4 ounces per pair and comes in a greenish blue colorway compared to the men’s orange design, but you can expect similar all-around performance between the two.