2006 Scarpa SL M3 - First Look

Scarpa SL X 2006 - First Look

Price: £155.00

Weight: 1656 grammes (pair size 43)

Features 3/4 season boot with full grain Sherpa HS12 uppers, Performance Flex mid-sole, Vibram M3 outsole, Cambrelle lining, new 360-degree ankle flex cuff, available in standard and wide fit, B1 graded for crampon compatibility.

Great build quality, laterally stiff sole, ankle cuff works well. Expensive and relatively heavy.

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What's It For? The new 2006 version of the SL is an evolution of a classic mountain walking boot aimed at users who want a stiff sole for use in rocky terrain and with heavy packs. It's been brought into the 21st century with the addition of the 360-degree flex ankle cuff originally specced on Scarpa's technical mountaineering boots but also used on last year's updated Manta M3.

Thankfully Scarpa has resisted the urge to add a Gore-Tex liner, sticking with traditional leather uppers lined with high-wicking Cambrelle fabric.

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The Techy Bits The most significant change from last year's SL M3 is the 360-degree flex ankle cuff which you can see in the pics - it's the oval-shaped bit at around ankle bone cuff. It's there to make the ankle area more flexible, particularly laterally - that's good with crampons, but also more comfortable.

You also get the mini-speed lacing system used on the Manta which saves some weight and a Performance Flex mid-sole unit for lateral stability. Nowt else particularly radical.

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How It Works The footwear industry's been moving in a lightweight direction recently and initially the heavier SL was a bit of a shock to the foot. It's a 21st Century take on a traditional, full-on mountain boot. That means you get tough leather uppers and a sole which gives reasonable lengthways flex combined with great lateral stability and enough thickness to cushion your feet from rough ground.

It all makes no sense whatsoever on typical moorland trails, but hit rocky mountain terrain like the Lakes, Snowdonia or Scotland, particularly with a heavy pack, and the SL starts to work. You can stand on pointy bits of rock without feeling them and without the sole folding or flexing and throwing you off balance.

The pay-off is increased weight compared to a lighter weight boot and a certain clumsiness. To put that in perspective, the new boots are around 300 grammes a pair lighter than their predecessors, but still significantly heavier than the lightweight end of the market.

Comfort's instantly good though and the flex ankle cuff gubbinses genuinely work making for good comfort without losing support around the ankle despite the high ankle cuff. Thankfully Scarpa has steered clear of waterproof linings and the Cambrelle inner and leather outer give enough water resistance and wicking comfort for genuine all-year use.

The proven M3 Vibram sole works well on both rock and softer ground and the lacing system is slick and easy to use though a locking cleat at ankle level might have been nice.

What else? Fit is classic Scarpa, which means medium volume well suited to the UK foot, but there's also a wider version available for those who need it. And come winter you can strap on C1-graded crampons with the sole feeling stiff enough to cope with a proper winter mountain walking day, though not technical climbing or front-pointing.

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Verdict So Far

The Scarpa SL's been dragged into the 21st Century with the addition of the nifty 360-degree flex ankle cuff. Bear in mind though, that while it's significantly lighter than its predecessor, it's still appreciably heavier and clumsier on the foot than the latest lightweight boots.

We reckon it's ideal for those walkers looking for a traditional stiff supportive sole unit for rocky mountain trails and backpacking but without sacrificing comfort thanks largely to the cuff. Build quality is classic Scarpa and the Lorica - artificial leather - cuff on the Manta has been replaced with soft leather, we think.

We're also pleased to see that Scarpa has stuck with its proven leather / Cambrelle combination giving good water resistance and decent breathability and wicking for hot weather conditions.

All in all, it's a very successful update of a classic mountain boot, very comfortable for the level of support it offers and a great buy if that's what you're looking for and, of course, you have Scarpa-shaped feet.

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Scarpa web site

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