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Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Scarpa ZG 65 GTX > Coy Starnes > Long Term ReportScarpa
ZG 65 GTX
(trail boot) Long Term Report October/3/2005  No, I didn't fotget to take my boots off ...testing waterproofness!
Tester Bio I live outside a small town in northeast Alabama. I enjoy hunting, fishing, canoeing and most other outdoor activities. Backpacking is my favorite pastime. I enjoy hiking with my friends and family or solo. I hike throughout the year and actually hike the least in the hot humid months of summer. My style is slow and steady and my gear is light. However, I will sacrifice weight for comfort and durability. A typical 3-season load for me is around 20 lb (9 kg) not counting food or water. I usually sleep in a hammock and cook with an alcohol stove. My backpacking trips are usually 2, 3 or 4 days in length. Product Information
Product Description I found the Scarpa ZG 65 GTX listed under Hiking and Trekking on the US web site. They are what a lot of manufacturers call "approach" shoes, meaning they are suited for trail work with a pack but are not full blown mountaineering boots. To my discerning eye the boots are rather handsome but my wife says they are ugly. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Here is what Scarpa has to say about the boots. "The ZG 65 is the lightest and most breathable boot in the new collection. With a highly breathable Gore XCR liner, this boot provides ample protection from the elements, while allowing moisture to escape and the foot to remain dry. In fact, the ZG 65 is one of the first mid-height trekking boots that’s breathable enough to incorporate Gore XCR. Leather and fabric uppers are paired with an ultra-light exclusive Vibram trekking sole to keep things as light as possible. A trim, trainer-like design provides out-of-the-box comfort, while a speed lacing system allows for quick and easy in-field lace ups and adjustments. Hikers and backpackers who are concerned with breathability will want to get their feet in the new ZG 65." Field Test Locations and Conditions I have worn the Scarpas on numerous day hikes and camping trips since the Field Report. While hiking in the Scarpas a temperature of 97 F (36 C) was observed on 2 occasions. Several more hikes were nearly as hot when it was in the mid 90s F (35 C). I even wore them once while hauling hay when it was a sweltering 98 (37 C) but the heat index was 110 F (43 C). While hiking 26 m (42 k) on the Appalachian Trail the temperatures were a lot milder with a high of only 77 F (25 C) and lows around 60 F (16 C). The highest elevation on this hike was at the summit of Standing Indian at 5499 ft (1676 m). The roughest trail encountered was probably the scramble up Albert Mountain on this same hike. The boots have seen wet trails and numerous creek crossings, hard rock and loose gravel, tree roots and horse poop, and don't forget the snow from my earlier report. Long Term Field Test Results I have found the Scarpas lived up to my every expectation and have performed exceptionally well for the entire test period. I never developed any blisters and had only minor foot issues with the boots. The boots are still in great shape with good tread and only slight discoloration of the leather. For all practical purposes, I will say they have remained waterproof. First, let's look at the waterproofness of the boots. I tested the Gore XCR liners to the limit. On my hikes to a creek behind my house I made it a habit to wade around and even sit and rest for several minutes with the Scarpas in several inches of water. When I stayed in water for over 20 minutes the boots did leak a little but not enough for me to pinpoint the leak. The area over my toes was where the dampness could be felt and my socks verified the same. On the other hand, if I only splashed through a water crossing or waded around for a few minutes, I never got any water in the boots. In fact I checked this several times by hiking to the creek and wading around a few minutes before checking my boots. I would find my feet and socks completely dry. While on the subject of the Gore XCR liners, I made another observation. My feet did not become excessively wet from sweat even when I hiked back up the side of the mountain in 97 F (36 C) heat. After finding my feet and socks dry after the downhill hike to the creek I checked them back at the house. I found my socks and the inside of the boot were slightly damp. In fairness to the boots, I did a similar test in some light trail runners (without a waterproof membrane) when it was only 90 F (32 C) and had very similar results. I mentioned a 26-mile (42 k) hike earlier. On the first day I hiked 6 miles (10 k), mostly uphill, using my extra thick Thorlo Level 3 Thorlon Hikers. The next day was my longest hike in a single day at 11 miles (18 k). This does not count some side trail excursions including a fairly long hike to the end of the Standing Indian overlook well past the marker, or several other short excursions off the main trail. I wore a less thick pair of boot socks and my feet felt a little tired by the time I turned in for the night. The last day on this hike was 9 miles (14 k), and mostly downhill. It did include a tough climb up Albert Mountain at the start though. I wore the same Thorlos I had worn on the first day. My feet did feel a little warm after the long downhill section. However, I could detect no blisters or even a hint of one starting. While on this hike it rained several times on the second day and from start to finish the trail crossed many small streams as well as a few larger ones. My feet remained dry the entire trip. Even when climbing the steeper sections my feet did not get wet from sweat. I switched packs in the middle of testing the Scarpa boots. The heavy pack I wore on my trip to the Walls of Jericho was replaced with a much smaller and lighter pack and as a results, my total pack weights have been less. The boots did well with the 45 lb (20 kg) load early on and with the 23 lb (10 kg) pack on the Standing Indian hike. Ankle support was never an issue even though I hiked on some serious side hills. My toes never jammed the front of the boots even on days when I hiked downhill for several miles. The activated carbon insert did a fine job of keeping the boots fresh. I use the term fresh loosely because the boots do have some odor now, but not as bad as my other boots, shoes and sneakers with similar mileage in them. This was especially noticeable after my three-day hike. I came home and finally took them off to discover I could sniff them without getting all sick and woozy. Of course I aired them out after this and other hikes. Once, a surprise shower wet them when I left them on the deck overnight. The overall appearance of the boots has changed very little during the test. They are now a little grungy looking and have a few scratch marks here and there. The stitching at the seams is still very tight. I credit the generous toecap for helping the boots remain in great shape. The shoelace hooks are still firmly attached and not bent. The soles have also held up very well. There is no hint of separation from the uppers. I made it a point not the wear the boots when I was going to be spending a lot of time on pavement or cement. While I did wear them for light yard work and once while hauling hay, I wore them for the most part as intended. I can only say that as this test closes it will be hard to put these boots away, and unless I am involved in another boot/shoe test, I intend to continue wearing them this winter in all but the coldest conditions when I may be inactive for long stretches of time. Conclusion I highly recommend the Scarpa ZG 65 GTX boots even if the name is hard to remember. They absolutely shined while hiking long distances over wet and rugged trails. They are light enough that I felt nimble in them. While not 100% waterproof they kept my feet dry during most hiking conditions. I either had to stand in water for a long time or hike in very hot weather to get them wet inside. In short, these boots are ready for serious hiking. Read more reviews of Scarpa gear Read more gear reviews by Coy Ray Starnes Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Scarpa ZG 65 GTX > Coy Starnes > Long Term Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||