Scarpa's Pebax Rnew = lower impact + higher performance

Scarpa Introduces their new boot material called Pebax Rnew, something that mother earth will love and who's time has come - great to see some progressive thinking backcountry gear manufacturers out there. Something to think about before you buy that new pair of AT boots:

Skiers are persnickety. We claim to be for the environment, but sometimes our quest for glory comes with a price. We want high performance tools of the trade, which are oftentimes at odds with environmental responsibility. Not to worry… in the case with some SCARPA ski boots, choosing high performance gear may also be the right call for the environment.

In 2009, SCARPA introduced its Planet Friendly program, which marked our most comprehensive effort at building footwear while minimizing our environmental impact.

From reducing carbon footprint, energy consumption,  or after-life impact, we are working with our suppliers to use materials and technologies to help us make footwear that really is lower-impact product.

Part of that initiative puts Pebax Rnew® in a growing number of our ski boots, delivering the same performance characteristics of traditional Pebax, but constructed with Castor plant oil instead of petroleum.

SCARPA customers want the best performance possible. While Polyurethane (PU) has been a standard among Alpine boot manufacturers, many boot makers, including SCARPA, have specifically chosen the superior performance characteristics of Pebax plastic. It’s lighter and stronger than PU—ideal for touring purposes, a virtue among backcountry skiers. And its performance also isn’t as affected by temperature swings, meaning your boots don’t get softer or stiffer as temps rise or fall. In other words, it’s consistent. And it’s the best material to build ski boots out of if you want light, stiff boots that retain a consistent feel of a wide range of temperatures.

Progressive design technologies are allowing SCARPA to put Rnew throughout its various collections. Rnew is used in the new Mobe, a hard-charging freeride boot that also tours, as well as the Maestrale and Gea, the market’s new lightweight four-buckle AT boot leaders. In the telemark world, the upgraded and T1 and T1 women, the T2 Eco, as well as the redesigned TJ Kid’s tele boot all use Rnew – 12 ski boots in total, more than 50% of our 2010 collection.

Because Rnew is made with 90% Castor plant oil, it requires 29 percent less fossil fuel and puts out 32% fewer emissions in the process of bringing Rnew from raw to useable material. SCARPA has tested Rnew on prototypes for a year and a half to verify its performance. Lab and field-testing shows Rnew performs on par with regular Pebax, and, additionally, it retains its stiffness over a slightly wider temperature range.

SCARPA customers now get the best possible boot for their intended goals and cut down on carbon emissions. Making the right call has never been easier.