Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD Boots - thoughts after 2 years
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- A couple of years ago, I bought a pair of Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD boots.
These are marketed as being suitable for year round use and can take semi automatic crampons.
Scarpa say typical applications are tough trekking, winter mountain walking, summer alpinism, scrambling and Via Ferrata.
Having now given them use in a variety of conditions, this video outlines my thoughts on them after 2 years.
Link to my initial thoughts and tech specs video:
• Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD...
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Enjoyed the review. Since used these in the Cairngorms in January. This is of course personal feel, but I had no issues feeling the cold. It’s the weight I am most happy with.
Glad you enjoyed the review Iain, and glad you had a good trip to the Cairngorms. I really like my boots, and like you, I think the weight is fantastic.
Wow they’re bright! 😂
So many many missed innuendo opportunities 🤣😂🤣
Very thorough review lovely, they’re not for me but I’m glad you’re happy with them! 🥰
They certainly are bright, Karen. I am surprised that they are too loud for a shy, retiring little soul like you 🤣.
I have rewatched my video to see the missed innuendo opportunities 😊.
Hope you enjoy what remains of the weekend 👍
Excellent review Jon 👏. As you say, they're excellent all rounders if they fit your feet.
I'd love to try a pair on, just to see.
I reckon they'd make great footwear for clambering my way through Primark, and with those crampons on I'd give a Saturday shop in there a go 😂... no-one would push in front of me with those spikes on 🤭👌
🤣 you have put quite an image in Mt head of you battling through the crowds at Primark. My local Primark is very big and I always end up loosing my bearings in there and can't work out where the exit is.
@@thecampingastronomer8554 😁...Those SAS types training on the Brecon Beacons know nothing do they Jon?
One Saturday afternoon in Primark trying to navigate their way to the exit will definitely test their metal 😳🥵
@@h.bsfaithfulservant4136 🤣🤣
Excellent and informative review. I'm a Scarpa man and they look like great boots. One downside that you didn't mention, though this is a matter of taste. They're a bit flash for paths and trails aren't they? Don't think they'd go down too well with my local walking group. You're thought bit uppity if you wear anything much different from Regatta boots there
@MalWhite-mh5td this is a good point. I wear mine in a mountain environment and use my leather scarpas when I am here in the South for this reason.
Scarpa do make a more subdued colourway for the Ribelle boots, but they are probably a little too stiff for using on the South Downs etc.
Thanks, your review is so helpful and complete
Thank you Mohammad, I am glad you found the video useful.
Thanks Jon, a very good and honest appraisal. I've had my HD Lites for about a month now, and hiked around 50 miles in that time, between 3 -18 miles a time. I had the Volumental 3D scan at Cotswold Outdoor and the Scarpa was the preferred fit. I junked the OE insole for an upgrade high instep insole.
I think they're an excellent all round boot, but I do have a few more hotspots than in my old Salomon Quest 4 GTX. Trying out different lacing methods with soldier knots, and different layering with the Bridgedales and ZO tape to control the hotspots. They will be good enough for EBC + 4 passes next year hopefully.
Thank you Karl, I hope you enjoy your boots as much as I do mine. They should be ideal for the Everest route via the passes. I have watched several videos of this trip and it looks awesome. I hope it goes really well for you, and should give you memories to last a lifetime 👍
I have a similar strategy John my Asolo leather boots are great but heavy so I have some Solomon Quest 4 boots which are not as robust but much lighter. Good to have some options.
The Quest 4 is a great boot Ollie. A friend of mine has used them for years and every time he tries to change to something else, he ends up returning to the Quest.
Hope you enjoy what remains of the weekend 👍
If you a prefer written format, here are the Key Takeaways:
Versatility: Positioned as an all-around boot for mountain and hill walking, as well as British winter and summer alpine conditions.
Weight & Comfort: Lighter than the Scarpa SL Active but sturdier than the Scarpa Terra, striking a balance between durability and comfort.
Performance Across Seasons:
Winter: Compatible with semi-automatic crampons (Grivel AirTech recommended) and microspikes. Warm enough for around -7°C, but possibly insufficient for extreme cold.
Spring & Autumn: Great for rough terrain due to stiffness, reducing foot fatigue, and providing strong ankle support.
Summer: Comfortable up to 20°C, but feet can get sweaty in hotter temperatures.
Fit & Comfort: Narrow heel prevents slipping, roomy toe box, decent stock insole but could benefit from an upgrade for better arch support.
Scrambling & Via Ferrata: Reportedly well-suited, though not personally tested.
Waterproofing: No issues after multiple tests, including standing in streams.
Downsides:
Expensive (£280-£320).
Not ideal for extreme cold.
Less comfortable for long road walking.
Final Verdict:
Highly recommended as a do-it-all boot for varied conditions, though pairing them with a lighter summer boot may be ideal. Fit is personal, but for those whose feet suit Scarpa, these boots are excellent.
Thank you for the accurate summary 😊
Hi great review I’ll be purchasing a pair can I ask which brand of micro spikes you use
Hi Ricky, the boots are fantastic, I think you will be very pleased with yours. My micro spikes are Kahtoola ones. They are brilliant on slippery footpaths. I also use mine around town when it snows and the pavements turn into ice rinks.
Nice boots.
They are really comfortable, I am very pleased with them.
Hope you enjoy what is left of the weekend 👍
Thank you very much for your thorough feedback: very precious as I'm researching a pair of trekking/mountaineering boots. I've been long undecided between the Scarpa Ribelle and the La Sportiva Aequilibrium GTX, and I've finally tilted towards the Scarpa: having tried them over and over in various physical shops, the Scarpa simply better fit my feet and ankles.
When you purchased yours, did you also consider the "non Lite" Ribelle? I am now a little undecided between the two. I understand the only difference is the suede upper, whereas the sole is exactly the same. Do you have any thought? Thanks again!
@fabiofranch91 Thank you for your nice comment Fabio 😊. I think that if Scarpa boots suit the shape of your feet they are fantastic. I did look at the "non lite" version of the boot, and as you say, I think they are pretty well identical. In fact, I slightly preferred the suede look of the "non lite" version. In the end, I opted for the lite version because it was the one available in my local shops. I quite like the orange colour now I have got used to how bright it is 🤣. All in all, I am very pleased with these boots and they are now my favourites.
@@thecampingastronomer8554 Thank you very much for your nice reply! Take care and happy trails!
Thanks for this video and explaination. As someone who is trying to get into a bit of alpine stuff, going on snow and ice, would you recommend this boot?
I already have a salmon quest 4 gtx and also some trail runner that I usually use for just normal hikes or maybe even multiday hikes. For the mountaineering boot I'm looking for something that can do both hiking and is crampon compatible. Would you sa these would be the boots to get?
Thanks for taking the time to watch and make a comment 🙂.
These boots are very good as a do it all boot and are surprisingly comfortable to use as a normal walking boot. I think the slight flex in the sole, coupled with the roll profile at the toes contribute to this. This is where they win over the Manta boot, which is not ideal as a general boot as it is too stiff and heavy.
I have found my Ribelle boots to be warm enough in temperatures between about -7 deg up to +18 deg, with an appropriate choice of sock. At the lower temperatures I think you need to be moving or only have short stops. I reckon that if you were standing still for more than half an hour you might get cold feet.
The boots work really well with the Grivel Air Tech crampons, which are C2 but with a slightly flexible bar. I think Petzl make a similar model. Standard C2 crampons like the Grivel G12 might be a little stiff for this boot.
Any C1 crampon is fine with the boot.
Scarpa suggest that the Ribelle Lite is great for summer alpine use. I think that for a beginner doing easier routes in summer, with a bit of glacier crossing and easier snow slopes, they would be perfect. I reckon they would not be warm enough for 4000m peaks and not quite stiff enough for technical routes.
It sounds as if you are interested in dipping your toe into snow and ice, and as long as you are not going too high into very cold temperatures, I reckon these boots would be great. The boots are pretty expensive, but the fact that you can use them across all seasons, and pretty much all terrain means their versatility warrants the cost. I like mine so much that they get used for all of my walking apart from on the South Downs where they would look a bit silly 🙂.
If you end up buying off the Internet, then it is best to go by the Scarpa quoted Euro sizing rather than the UK sizes. I reckon that since you get on with Salomon boots, the width of the Scarpa's should be OK.
Hope this helps, and thanks again for watching.
굿!!!