Scarpa Neon XCR - First Look

Scarpa Neon XCR - First Look

Price: £95.00

Weight: 1110 grammes (pair size 43)

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Verdict

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.

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Scarpa UK web site

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