BOOT TECHNOLOGY
The manufacture of a modern hill or mountain boot represents a unique blend of traditional boot making skills and modern technology.
Sole
A whole variety of different underfoot situations have to be considered when designing a sole unit. SCARPA® has worked exclusively with the world's leading sole manufacturers (Vibram® and Skywalk®) to develop soles that will meet these different requirements and performance characteristics.
Our Soles
A whole variety of different underfoot situations have to be considered when designing a sole unit. SCARPA® has worked exclusively with the world's leading sole manufacturers (Vibram® and Skywalk®) to develop soles that will meet these different requirements and performance characteristics.
Boot Lasting and Sizing
All quality boots are built around a carefully crafted foot shaped model - known as a "last". It is the last which gives a boot its fit characteristics. The quality of the lasting, and the time that each upper spends on the last, is crucial in giving Scarpa boots their renowned shape and fit. Scarpa develop a last to specifically suit the end use of each boot. As a result, when you step into a SCARPA boot, you can be sure it has been carefully designed to suit you and your activity. Additionally, SCARPA were the first company to develop a purpose made last for women's boots. Today every ladies specific model has a dedicated female last. These lasts are slimmer in the mid foot and heel areas (Note: This female last may also be appropriate for a slim, low volume male foot and conversely a high volume, broad female foot may be better suited to the standard last).
We recommend that you follow these guidelines to get the most out of your boots.
- After each use rinse off mud and dirt with clean water. Remove any stubborn dirt with a sponge, damp cloth or brush. If your boots are particularly dirty you can use a cleaning product such as Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel.
- Dry your boots naturally over time in a cool, dry place with good air circulation (Never force dry your boots using heat, as this will damage the leather uppers)
- Regularly treat them with a suitable waterproofing treatment applicable to the type of boots you have (See below). We would recommend re-proofing the boots whenever they get particularly dirty or when water stops beading (turning to droplets) on the surface of the boots.
- Take care to apply treatments to tongues, D. rings and hooks. Do not over treat them as this can soften the leather and damage stitching.
Tanning Process
The origin of the hide, the age, rearing and care of the beast and the tanning process are all critical elements which effect the finished performance and look of the boot. SCARPA have over 50 years experience of dealing and negotiating with tanneries to secure the finest leathers and meticulously select the hides they use in their leather walking and mountain boots. The tanning process is a critical factor in the production of quality leathers and is what makes the leather water resistant. Some leathers use traditional tanning processes and ingredients. More expensive leathers like Scarpa's HS12 use a tanning treatment which forces a silicone based ingredient deep into the leather. This gives improved and more durable water resistance to the leather and also allows the leather to dry out faster, even when it does become wet. Leather is still regarded as the finest material for quality walking boots. It does however require care and protection to maintain its performance.
More about Leather...
Last
Scarpa develop a last to specifically suit the end use of each boot. As a result, when you step into a SCARPA boot, you can be sure it has been carefully designed to suit you and your activity. Additionally, SCARPA were the first company to develop a purpose made last for women's boots. Today every ladies specific model has a dedicated female last. These lasts are slimmer in the mid foot and heel areas (Note: This female last may also be appropriate for a slim, low volume male foot and conversely a high volume, broad female foot may be better suited to the standard last).
Explode the myths!!
Our Lasts
Scarpa develop a last to specifically suit the end use of each boot. As a result, when you step into a SCARPA boot, you can be sure it has been carefully designed to suit you and your activity. Additionally, SCARPA were the first company to develop a purpose made last for women's boots. Today every ladies specific model has a dedicated female last. These lasts are slimmer in the mid foot and heel areas (Note: This female last may also be appropriate for a slim, low volume male foot and conversely a high volume, broad female foot may be better suited to the standard last).
Midsole
The midsole, sandwiched between the sole and the upper, is the hidden component in boot manufacture. In many ways it is the “engine room” of a boot and one of the most important components.
Hi-Flex. A midsole with generous flex down its length but offering good lateral support. Featured in the walking boot range it not only provides good support for walking, but is also instantly comfortable and requires virtually no breaking in. Can be Poly propelene, Nylon or Texon material dependent on model.
Comfort Flex. Using nylon for its permanent performance qualities, the comfort flex midsole is moulded so it has minimum flex in the heel section but gives comfortable flex in the forefoot area. It is used for walking and hillwalking footwear.
Performance Flex. This is a more robust, nylon midsole giving superb support to the whole foot. Its graded design provides a perfect balance between longitudinal flex and total lateral support for walking on rough ground or steep hillsides. Performance flex is used in the top performance hill and mountain walking boots. It requires a short
Proflex. Used in serious mountain walking and scrambling boots, this unit is stiffer than Performance flex. Whilst it retains some longitudinal flex for walking comfort,
Pro-Fibre. Used for serious mountaineering, scrambling and climbing. This midsole retains a small degree of longitudinal flex for comfort during walk-in's and serious mountain walks.
Pro-Flex XT. Used in fully stiffened boots, with sustained front pointing in mind, this heavy duty nylon midsole is further supported with an integral shank for maximum underfoot support.
Carbon Fibre. Used in the Rebel Ultra GTX and the Rebel Carbon GTX, provides a fully rigid, torsionally stiff, lightweight yet immensely strong mid sole.
Technologies
The manufacture of a modern hill or mountain boot represents a unique blend of traditional boot making skills and modern technology.
Whilst technology continues to provide a variety of new materials which aid the development of modern footwear, it is the boot maker's skills that differentiate quality boots from cheaper boots.
It is these skills, in the selection of leathers, the lasting and make up of the boot and the harnessing of the most appropriate technology, which provide the magic ingredients in good footwear.
SCARPA® has had over 50 years experience of making the worlds finest mountain boots. Todays SCARPA® footwear represents the ideal marriage of craftsmanship and technology.