Scarpa Ribelle HD Mountaineering Boots

Here’s a little product video from Scarpa that’ll give you a good 360 spin of the boot and all the
features. Read on to learn how they performed in the field.

Here they are from the back. Note the semi-automatic crampon compatible heel. I haven't used them with crampons (and may never). If you are interested, they work with spikes like the Petzyl Irvis Hybrid Crampon. 

See the low friction lacing system. Eyelets on the forefoot and hooks from the ankle up. The hell cup in the Ribelles is quite pronounced so at first they seem like they'd be hard to get in and out of. Not with this lacing program. The boots loosen and tighten fast and easy. 

The Ribelles don't have the Gore-tex sock that are found in other Scarpa boots we have tried; rather, they feature a direct laminated membrane. I have yet to experience the boots in sustained wet but have noticed that my feet stay cooler in high temps than with the Gore-tex program. 

I am a big fan of rands and the Ribelle's full rand delivers protection and grip when needed. It doesn't mean you should do a lot of kick stepping... let's say they may be more durable than boots without the rand.  

Here's a shot of the toe rand from above. Note the climbing-shoe-style lacing—this allows for a precise fit. High-quality stitching as is always the case with Scarpa products. 

These two snaps below show the inside and outside of the boot. The flashy design may come from the climbing world. If that's not your thing, let them get dirty. If it is your thing, keep them clean (and good luck with that). The midsole offers a good cushion between your foot and a stiff sole. You can see the pronounced rocker here as well. These things practically walk themselves. Oh.. and just in case you forget who made your boots, just look down.

The footbed feels a little flimsy. Maybe this is the case with most mountaineering-style boots. I may swap them out with something a little more shaped and supportive. We'll see what I feel like after they break in a bit more. 

Here is the Vibram Precision Tech Roll sole with accentuated rocker profile. So far so good with the tread pattern. No probs in light mud, dusty hardpack and more.

Primary material: Leather
Lining:  HDry® direct lamination +37.5
Upper: 2.6mm Suede Perwanger & Microtech

• Pro fiber roll insole
• Full rand
• ARG last
• Vibram Precision Tech Roll / Mont outsole
• 2D PU + TPU midsole
• Semi-automatic crampon compatibility

I have weird big toes such that my joints don't flex the way other people's do when I take steps. The answer to this challenge, especially for longer hikes, is stiff-soled boots. Hello Ribelle HDs! These boots have borrowed from the running shoe and mountaineering world in their design. Scarpa positions them as part fast and light mountaineering boot and part heavy-duty backpacking boot. Bingo, I say.

When I first put them on for a quick local hike, I threw another pair of shoes into my backpack because I didn't want to be forced to hike barefoot if the Ribelle's gave me blisters the first day out. Well, they didn't.. the first day (and many subsequent days) was without any kind of foot pain or break-in bummer. They are stiff so they work with my feet. The forefoot and toe box are also wide and tall enough that my feet are always happy. The to-the-toe lacing means that you have a lot of flexibility in terms of fine-tuning your fit.

There is still snow in the alpine so I haven't been able to test these on long, overnight backpacking trips but that will come soon. On the longer day hikes I've done with ten lbs on my back, the Ribelle HDs have been great. The 140g drop from the Kinesis pros make a big difference and makes me feel more nimble. The soles have held up really well in muddy conditions as well as scrambling on rock. I am a big fan of rands and I think this is my first pair of boots with a full one. The rands make the boots feel more bomber and are great for gripping on rock. 

On the slight downside, I feel like the insole lacks a little support—but that is easily addressed if it becomes an issue. In general, the Ribelle's deliver on their promise of being something between a mountaineering boot and a running shoe. It's unlikely that I'll get into anything too technical—the Ribelles will likely replace my Kinises GTX Pros as my backpacking boot. They are lighter, cooler, and a little stiffer. Just what I was looking for.