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Scarpa Neon XCR - First
Look
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Price:
£95.00
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Weight: 1110 grammes (pair size
43)
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Features: High cut
suede and fabric uppers, Gore-Tex XCR waterproof and
breathable liner, Vibram Dynamic sole unit with Megabyte
sticky rubber, PU-cushioned mid-sole, toe bumper, asymmetric
boot last. Available in men's and women's
versions.
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Stable, light comfortable.
Gore-Tex liner can get sweaty in hot conditions.
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The Concept The new Neon is a higher cut version of Scarpa's
Helium trail-walking shoe. Scarpa says it's 'ultra modern' and it's
certainly cosmetically quite different from traditional Scarpa boots.
It's intended as a functional walking boot however and, like the
Helium uses a boot-style, asymmetric last to give a feel on the foot
that's more boot than shoe. We're thinking lightweight summer walking
footwear for those who are a bit wary of a low-cut shoe, but don't
feel the need for a heavier, full-on walking boot.
Features The clever stuff starts with the sole. It's a new
Vibram Bascula unit and uses sticky, Megabyte rubber for enhanced
grip. That's not all, you get a PU midsole for improved cushioning
compared to last year's version and a wide, flared heel unit that
promises excellent stability.
Up top there's a sturdy suede / fabric combo upper complete with a
Gore-Tex XCR liner. The XCR designation can be a bit confusing, but
it means that Gore-Tex has minimised any insulation in the lining
material to keep the liner as cool as possible and making it more
suitable for warm weather use.
In Action When we tested the Heliium a year or so back, we
characterised it as a shoe that thought it was a boot. It was much
more stable underfoot than most trail or approach shoes, thanks to a
well-engineered and stiffened sole unit and, in particular, the
combination of a good, stiff heel cup and the flared heel unit that
gave a good, wide base.
It wasn't perfect though - we found the sole unit lacked
cushioning making for a hard ride on rocky ground and pavements and
and while the Megabyte rubber was nice and grippy, the shoe didn't
edge particularly well on scrambles.
The Neons felt comfy and familiar straight away with thte higher
cut to the uppers giving a more supportive feel, even though some of
this is probably just the psychological security of having something
wrapped around your ankles. Deep, rockboot-type lacing lets you get a
close secure fit and the medium / high volume Scarpa shape should
suit many UK feet.
Like the Helium, it's a very stable feeling shoe and we were quite
happy wearing them on rocky, loose ground without that nagging
'ankle-turning' feel that you sometimes get with shoes. The improved
cushioning in the mid-sole unit seems to have worked too and the ride
on hard surfaces is noticably softer, something that should also be
true of this year's Helium shoe.
They're not really a scrambling shoe but we did think that the
edging capabilities were a little improved over the Helium, probably
down to more ankle support and grip was good on dry surfaces. The
sole lugs are quite shallow though, so we'd steer clear of slippy,
muddy terrain in these. We'd also avoid really hot weather. Our
previous experiences are that even the XCR version of the Gore-Tex
liner tends towards hot and sweaty when the going gets warm.
Like the lower cut Helium, the Neon punches well above its weight in
terms of comfort and stability and makes a great summer trail and
travel shoe. This year's sole unit is grippy and gives a feel that's
more boot-like than shoe-ish, plus the sticky rubber sole provides
great traction on hard, dry terrain.
The Gore-Tex XCR lining comes in handy when puddle hopping, but
can get sweaty in really warm conditions, so not a great choice for
the tropics.
Overall though, it's a neat halfway house between a boot and a
trail shoe that while expensive, performs really well.
Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check
out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If
you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
