One of the things I really like about the Scarpa Mescalito TRK Planet GTX is the effort that Scarpa has made to reduce the environmental impact one of the reasons that it features in our guide to the best hiking boots. The Perspair fabric uppers contain recycled yarns, and the Gore-Tex Flux 3L waterproof membrane is 98% recycled. Even the Vibram sole contains 30% recycled materials.
Price: $299 / £240 | Weight: 2.94 lb. / 1336g | Materials: Perspair fabric upper, Gore-Tex Flux 3L membrane, Vibram Eco Evostep sole. | Features: full-length lacing system, padded ankle cuff, 1/3 rubber rand including toe | Sizes: UK 2.5-9.5 / Eu 36-42 | Men’s version: yes
That sole is good too – it grips well on loose, rocky ground, with aggressive lugs for traction and a clean zone at the toe for scrambling on rock edges. The midsole is fairly stiff, providing good stability that fits with Scarpa’s stated aim of providing a trekking boot that is good for heavier load carrying. The toe area is well protected by a slick of rubber
to prevent abrasion damage and give additional defence against water ingress.
I didn’t get on so well with the uppers, which I found stiff; and the super skinny laces (which look good – I love the contrasting colour) are hard to tighten, which left me with quite a bit of movement in the boot unfortunately (and sore hands), especially in descent. This would be a consideration for anyone with narrow feet looking for a secure fit. Apart from this one issue, I found the boots to be very comfortable.
The boots are the most expensive I tested, but thanks to the build quality and their versatility they should more than pay for themselves, with a lower price for the planet to pay too. They are recommended as a good all-round mountain walking and trekking boot; just check the fit works for you.
