Tests & reviews

Scarpa - Mescalito TRK GTX - Walking boots tested

Praise vs. Criticism

Shane

28.01.2023

Great boot but..

It's narrower and pointier in the toebox compared to the Zodiac, Vortex, Kailash and the ZG family of boots. So if those are your introduction to the Scarpa family of boots then this might not fit.
It's has the low volume of the ARG last boots (Ribelles). It's a bit less wide than the BN lasts (Zodiac).

If you like the Ribelle, this should be fine. If that's too snug then this is unlikely to fit. Unfortunately the Mescalito isn't quite wide enough or high enough volume for me, which is why I'm probably going to return these (as opposed to shaving a few mm off my little toes). It's a shame because this is a superbly built boot which appeared otherwise comfortable. Oh well!
Scarpa should really give customers a chart which shows their boot sizes as otherwise it's hit & miss when ordering.

EDIT: I see some people don't like this review. Before writing it I checked with 2 other friends who wear Scarpa boots and they concurred. I also checked with the Scarpa distributor to understand my subjective view of the toe box and width of the shoe matched their measurements of the "last". I think Scarpa make great shoes but these didn't work for me. I guess I should have just cut my pinkie toes off and given it 5 stars instead of 4 :-)

Advantages
Good grip
Robust
VS

Pat

03.06.2025

Very disappointed, just not comfortable

I have been a long term fan of Scarpa boots (I'm talking decades), but these are a great disappointment. In over forty years of hiking and mountaineering, these are the first pair of boots I have just about given up on. I bought these for a trip to the alps one year ago, but I have never been able to use them on anything longer than a couple of hours without getting a blister on my left heel. Maybe they just don't suit me, but a pal who bought the Planet version of the boots had exactly the same problem with his left heel. I'm wondering if I just got unlucky, or if Scarpa's QC has got lost somewhere. It's a pity, because if the heel did not rub I would have loved these boots. The sole has just the right level of stiffness for carrying heavy loads, they would be great on via ferrata and rough terrain, and much lighter than the leather Lowa winter boots I have continued using instead.

Advantages
Lightweight
Stabilizes the foot
Robust
Disadvantages
Causes blisters

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This is what other customers say:

Shane
28.01.2023

60% have found the reviews
by Shane helpful

The thread was edited on 11.11.23

Great boot but..

It's narrower and pointier in the toebox compared to the Zodiac, Vortex, Kailash and the ZG family of boots. So if those are your introduction to the Scarpa family of boots then this might not fit.
It's has the low volume of the ARG last boots (Ribelles). It's a bit less wide than the BN lasts (Zodiac).

If you like the Ribelle, this should be fine. If that's too snug then this is unlikely to fit. Unfortunately the Mescalito isn't quite wide enough or high enough volume for me, which is why I'm probably going to return these (as opposed to shaving a few mm off my little toes). It's a shame because this is a superbly built boot which appeared otherwise comfortable. Oh well!
Scarpa should really give customers a chart which shows their boot sizes as otherwise it's hit & miss when ordering.

EDIT: I see some people don't like this review. Before writing it I checked with 2 other friends who wear Scarpa boots and they concurred. I also checked with the Scarpa distributor to understand my subjective view of the toe box and width of the shoe matched their measurements of the "last". I think Scarpa make great shoes but these didn't work for me. I guess I should have just cut my pinkie toes off and given it 5 stars instead of 4 :-)

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Robust

Oops! You forgot about your comment

Dario
09.03.2023 12:41

Would you recommend to buy true fit as street size shoes, or to go half number up?

Shane
09.03.2023 13:05

Also, I am wary about sizing up even a full EU size for a boot that I plan to wear for 3-4 seasons as without thick socks I find precision and heel fixation can suffer.

Oops! You forgot about your comment

Shane
09.03.2023 12:52

Hi Goran, length-wise it is true to size. Where I would size a half EU size up with Mammut, I can buy my regular size with Scarpa. I also found the Bergfreunde size recommender works well for predicting shoe length.

My issue was width. My feet are approximately 11cm wide without socks (which isn't that wide) but my toes don't taper as much as envisaged by the designers of these boots. The boot was tight vertically and horizontally against my pinkie toes and it was never going to be become comfortable due to the thick rubber rand. I contacted Scarpa and they were very helpful in explaining their sizing but unfortunately they couldn't tell me where I could get some of their wider fit boots. When you buy Lowa for instance, you know if the boot is "wide fit" as it's labelled as such by Bergfreunde and also on the boot itself.

You'll only know if you fit these boots by trying them but they had much to recommend in terms of design, quality. Heel fixation was also very good.
I bought Lowa Cadin II's instead in the exact same size and they are snug but cause no pain to my pinkies. I hope this helps.

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Pat
03.06.2025

40% have found the reviews
by Pat helpful

Very disappointed, just not comfortable

I have been a long term fan of Scarpa boots (I'm talking decades), but these are a great disappointment. In over forty years of hiking and mountaineering, these are the first pair of boots I have just about given up on. I bought these for a trip to the alps one year ago, but I have never been able to use them on anything longer than a couple of hours without getting a blister on my left heel. Maybe they just don't suit me, but a pal who bought the Planet version of the boots had exactly the same problem with his left heel. I'm wondering if I just got unlucky, or if Scarpa's QC has got lost somewhere. It's a pity, because if the heel did not rub I would have loved these boots. The sole has just the right level of stiffness for carrying heavy loads, they would be great on via ferrata and rough terrain, and much lighter than the leather Lowa winter boots I have continued using instead.

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Stabilizes the foot
    Robust
  • Disadvantages
    Causes blisters

Oops! You forgot about your comment

Question from NISHA
06.12.2024
Why does price increases when I log in my account?

The price for Mescalito TRK GTX is €194 when I don´t log in to my account. As soon as I log in, it shows €231. Why does it do that?

Oops! You forgot about your answer

Adrian (Community) | Customer Service
06.12.2024 11:31

Hi Nisha,

I would suspect that it's due to an IP address being outside of the EU which removes VAT. Once you log in and the system knows your delivery address / country then the VAT must be added.

Question from NISHA
06.12.2024
My last scarpa shoes was rush trek pro gtx.

And the salomon XA PRO 3D. Both shoes in mens size.

Oops! You forgot about your answer

Adrian (Community) | Customer Service
06.12.2024 10:49

Hi Nisha,

Using the XA Pro 3D as a guide, it will have been size 43 1/3 and UK 9. In that case, the size EU 43.5 in the Mescalito TRK could well be worth a try.

NISHA
06.12.2024 10:53

What do you think about 42.5?

Oops! You forgot about your comment

Adrian (Community) | Customer Service
06.12.2024 10:58

An EU 42.5 equates to a UK 8.5 and based on your Salomon boots , and EU 42.5 will be too short

Oops! You forgot about your answer

Question from NISHA
06.12.2024
I wear 41 in sneakers and 43.5 in salomon hiking boots.

Last time ordered 41.5 Scarpa shoes from here but didn´t fit well with the wide. Should I order 43.5?

Oops! You forgot about your answer

Adrian (Community) | Customer Service
06.12.2024 10:42

Hi NISHA,

That's a very large difference between EU 41 and EU 43.5! It would be interesting to know exactly the model of you Salomon boot as well as the Scarpa boot which you had previously ordered and to know if they are both men's or women's.

The Scarpa - Mescalito TRK GTX are a men's boot and they do have a fairly generous toebox for Scarpa.

This is what customers from around the world say:
Roy
05.11.2022

70% have found the reviews
by Roy helpful

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Finish
    Stabilizes the foot
    Good grip
    Price / performance
    Comfortable
    Waterproof
    Breathable
    Durable
    Robust
Boris
26.03.2025

71% have found the reviews
by Boris helpful

  • Advantages
    Waterproof
    Stabilizes the foot
    Durable
    Good grip
    Robust
    Finish
    Comfortable
    Breathable
    Price / performance
Patrick
19.12.2023

  • Advantages
    Breathable
    Finish
    Waterproof
    Lightweight
    Good grip
    Robust
Fokko
13.12.2022

60% have found the reviews
by Fokko helpful

Eric
04.02.2023

  • Advantages
    Stabilizes the foot
    Good grip
    Robust
    Price / performance
    Comfortable
Andreas
01.09.2023

25% have found the reviews
by Andreas helpful

Andrew
27.01.2023

36% have found the reviews
by Andrew helpful

Poor ankle fit for size 48 boots

Boots were returned due to a size issue. While length etc was good, the ankle area allowed movement. Not a snug fit - hence the return.

Ulrike
30.08.2023

16% have found the reviews
by Ulrike helpful

  • Disadvantages
    Too stiff
Craig
22.08.2023

14% have found the reviews
by Craig helpful

Appear decent but terrible heel movement

Bought these on sale.

I've worn Scarpa for years, I currently have the Manta pros, and several of their climbing shoes. I always liked them as they are one of the few brands that account for a slightly wider foot.

These however, have a really wider, poor fitting heel cup. I've tried lacing them in so many different ways, with different sock combinations and they just wont stop rubbing me raw. I've had to give up and sell mine as they just dont fit right. They are long enough, and there is enough space for the forefoot but the heel is so volumous that there's no chance of locking my foot in properly. The more I went out and walked in them, the worse it got. If you have a high-volume, wide foot you may be better off, but mine are quite low volume so they would lift.

The quality of the boot is decent, good construction and the lacing system is pretty reasonable. The insole is not great, very thin, it relies heavily on the sole to do the work regarding cushioning.

  • Advantages
    Waterproof
    Durable
  • Disadvantages
    Causes blisters
Jimmy
16.03.2025

  • Advantages
    Breathable
    Robust
    Good grip
michel
30.11.2023

  • Advantages
    Price / performance
    Stabilizes the foot
    Robust
    Comfortable
    Lightweight
    Finish
    Good grip
giovanni
16.08.2023

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Stabilizes the foot
    Good grip
    Waterproof

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