Scarpa To Launch New Trekking Boot Range

Top footwear brand Scarpa has a whole new range of lightweight trekking boots headed in our direction for 2004.

Rejoicing in the name 'Zero Gravity', the boots were launched at the recent Friedrichshafen outdoors trade show - see our report here - and looked like an interesting new departure. No pics yet as we're saving them for the UK's Go Outdoors Show report next month.

The boots came about when Scarpa looked at their range and realised that they didn't have a Gore-Tex-lined leather option out there. They also incorporate a completely new upper design based on the 360-degree ankle rotation first seen on the ground-breaking Cumbre technical mountaineering boot and also featured on this year's new Freney models.

The innovation doesn't stop there though - the boots all use a newly developed lightweight sole unit which is the result of close cooperation between Scarpa and Vibram which is claimed to provide 'superb cushioning as well as excellent grip'.

Finally the range incorporates Gore's footwear-specific XCR membrane, which gives improved breathability over the standard Gore bootie for better performance in hot conditions.

Should be interesting. Pics after the Harrogate show. Prices range from £99 through to £129, so if you've always wanted a lightweight leather Scarpa with a Gore-tex lining, looks like your numbers have come up...

More Scarpa info at their web site.