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Price:
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Weight: 1706 grammes (size
43)
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Features: Cordura/Suede upper,
Scarpa / Vibram M3 sole unit, 'comfort technology'
anatomical construction, mini-speed lacing, Gore-Tex lining,
Performance Flex mid-sole, cambrelle lining. Crampon grade:
B1 Men's and Women's versions
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Fit: classic Scarpa, medium broad,
medium high volume.
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You'll have to cut us some rope on this one, with gaily coloured
red-and-white ribbons festooning footpaths everywhere, we've only had
a very limited opportunity to use the Scarpa Super Treks in the real
world. Or perhaps the steep slope leading down to Glossop Tesco is
the real world?
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Same sole, different upper. I can
feel a weird
religious joke coming on...
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At any rate, this is one of the more interesting boots we've met
recently. Effectively it's a fabric - Cordura - and suede version of
Scarpa's classic SL mountain walking boot. Stand them side by side and
you can see the resemblance in basic shape and, below the upper,
they're pretty much identical with the ruffty tuffty M3 sole unit and
stiffish Performance Flex mid-sole, which enables both boots to take
a flexible crampon - yep, that's right, a crampon-compatible fabric
boot. Remember the old Karrimor KSB5?
It felt instantly at home on the editorial foot and you can feel
the greater give in the uppers as slightly more flex in the sole, we
also reckon they'll break in slightly quicker than their leather
brothers. Otherwise the generous internal padding feels good and
there's an overall air of quality to the boot.
The most obvious advantage though, is simply the reduced weight of
around 120 g per foot. That might not sound much, but it all counts
in the course of a day on the hill. So what else do you lose? The
weird and slightly gimmicky elasticated E.last hooks have gone, but
Scarpa have fitted a big, stiff rubber toe bumper to reinforce the
front of the boot, a traditional high trash zone for fabric boots.
Beyond that, there's the slightly increased flex due to the softer
uppers, but that's about it really.
They're available for both lads and lasses, but not in the extra
wide option which the SL offers in addition to the standard fit.
The Bottom Line (so far)
If you're after a fabric boot for UK mountain use that'll take an
occasional crampon session as well, then these look like being the
boyos. Without real mountain use we can't say how they'll compare to
the SLs, but the omens look good and we're looking forward to
emmigrating soon so we can find out. Watch this space.
