Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Scarpa Kailash GTX > Test Report by Kathleen Waters

SCARPA KAILASH GTX BOOTS
TEST SERIES BY KATHLEEN WATERS
INITIAL REPORT
May 26, 2008

TESTER INFORMATION

I started hiking in 1998 after an eye-opening climb up Hahn's Peak in Colorado. Hooked, I return to Colorado often. I've hiked/snowshoed glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in domestic and exotic locations, including Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley. At home, I plan for 2-3 hikes of 6-8 mi (10-13 km) weekly and one weekend hike monthly. Weekday hikes take place in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a mixture of heavily-wooded moderate hills and flat terrain. Weekend hike locations vary. My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) including food and water

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: SCARPA Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.scarpa.com MSRP: US$ N/A Listed Weight: Men's 49 oz (1390 g) (42); Women's 40 oz (1124 g) (38) Measured Weight: 37 oz (1049 g) Sizes: Men's 38-48 (half sizes); Women's 36-43 (half sizes) Size Tested: 39.5 women's Color: Men's Pepper/Stone; Women's Light Gray/Ginkgo Color Tested: Light Gray/Ginkgo Other details: (from SCARPA Website) Upper: Suede Lining: Gore-Tex® Midsole: Comfort-Flex Sole: Vibram® Hi-Trail Lite Last: men's BX/women's BXD "Ideal for trail hiking, rugged day hikes, and regular abuse; a medium-weight boot with maximum comfort."

SCARPA Kailash Women's Boots

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

SCARPA Kailash Boot Heel

The SCARPA website features a great graphic of the Kailash GTX boot, so I wasn't at all surprised by the look of the boots. The green accents on the women's version of the Kailash are just as striking in reality as they are on the website! I was additionally prepared for the color combo as it is pretty much the same as the SCARPA Mustang GTX boots I tested last year; only the Mustangs' color is called "Ice/Green" and the Kailash is labeled "Light Gray/Ginko". The SCARPA Kailash boots are good-looking boots. They are predominately gray suede through the mid-foot, changing over to gray woven material above the ankle supported by green suede bands which also wrap around the sole. A nice touch is the matching green suede band on the tongue of the boot which lines up to complete the outside bands. A black suede strip of material forms a support over the heel of the boot with "arms" that wrap around the sides to cradle the heel of the boot. A gray hard rubber-like "SCARPA" is imbedded on the outer ankle band of each boot. A tiny "GORE-TEX" tag is the only other advertising on the body of the Kailash and is positioned just near the top of the outside boot. A generous black suede toe rand completes the style.

The interior of the Kailash boots is lined with a smooth woven material in a dark pattern. The gusseted tongue has an ink stamped size, model number and "Made in Italy" on the interior. (There is a fabric "SCARPA" tag on the exterior of the tongue.) An additional glued-in label on the tongue carries size conversion for EU, UK, USm and USw. The stock inner soles are smooth and thin. The tread on the SCARPA Kailash's sole is quite different from my 2007 SCARPA Mustang boots. The tread is thicker with larger spaces between the "grips". There is a very interesting graduated heel grip which I'm hoping will add grace to my slippin' and sliddin' style. The soles sport the familiar yellow "Vibram" logo. A close examination of the SCARPA Kailash boots found no obvious defects, loose threads, excess glue or any other irregularities.

SCARPA Kailash Sole

Since my test reports of last year, SCARPA has added a shoe size conversion chart which is handy when ordering the proper size. However, having tested SCARPA boots before, I knew to request a 39.5 which customer service suggested previously as the size equivalent to my US size 8-8.5 Women's. SCARPA's suggested 39.5 is slightly smaller than my other boots which range from 40.5 to 40.66. However, it was right on as far as my foot length is concerned. The boots fit me perfectly.

I had no trouble slipping my feet right into the Kailash boots without having to undo the lower laces. The laces traverse through metal eyelets for the first four holes. They then loop off a bit to the side of the boot through a fabric loop before finishing up crossed over and fastened by two sets of "quick lace" eyelets. This lacing system allows me to don the boots, lace them up as tightly as needed high around my ankles quickly and efficiently. Removing them is just as easily accomplished by just pulling out the gusseted tongue after only the top two eyelets are loosened.

The laces are round and just long enough to form a bow. No need to double-bow or worry about overly long laces.

After wearing the Kailash boots indoors for several hours, I am pleased with the fit and feel of the boots. I don't think I will need any break-in period with them and am anxious to get out on the trails as soon as possible.

TESTING STRATEGY

Hiking will take place in terrain that will include the alpine forests of Colorado in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the high desert areas in the Cooper Mountain range, and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range including the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Elevation will range from 5,000' up to 14,000' (1,524 m to 4,268 m) and temperatures over the rest of spring and summer will vary from 38 F to 88 F (3 C to 31 C). I'm sure to experience mild to very warm temperatures, wind and rain and still some snow in Rocky Mountain National Park and in the Sangres.

Hiking in Michigan will take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western Lower Michigan and the rockier lakeshore of Beaver Island in Lake Michigan over the Fourth of July weekend.

Additionally, in Michigan, I day hike 2 to 3 times on weekdays in local parks and recreation areas near my home near Pontiac, Michigan. Elevation ranges from 700 to 1000 ft (213 to 305 m) with some grades as steep as 50%. July temperatures to be expected in Michigan will range from an average low of 54 F (12 C) to 84 F (29 C) with 28 in (71 mm) of precipitation.

SUMMARY

I love testing boots! A gal can never have enough footwear, IMHO, and that includes boots. So, I'm definitely ready to test these babies out.

In Colorado, boots are the footwear of choice and since I will be Colorado for most of the testing period, I will be wearing boots almost all the time. This means I will be vigorously checking out all aspects of the boots, including fit, comfort, performance and durability. Rocky Mountains, here I come!

This concludes my Initial Report on the SCARPA Kailash GTX Boots. Please come back in late July for the results of my first two months of testing.

Thank you to BackpackGearTest.org and SCARPA for the opportunity to test these boots.

Kathleen Waters

Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Scarpa Kailash GTX > Test Report by Kathleen Waters