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With the autumn and winter weather bringing wetter ground underfoot it was time to give the new Scarpa Rapid XT GTX hiking shoes a go out. Having used them on a mixture of terrain on my local walks for a few weeks now, from slightly boggy sheep fields to good but uneven paths they have performed very well. As with most new leather shoes they were initially quite unforgiving but have now bedded into my foot shape and have become my go-to walking shoe especially in wet conditions. I have subsequently taken them on a recent trip to Glen Etive with a walk through the Glen. This was again on quite wet, muddy and slippery ground as well as gravel tracks however the Rapid’s performed admirably, taking it all in their stride. With the thick Vibram MegaGrip sole being fairly stiff it offers plenty of support on rocky or uneven terrain and I didn’t feel any of the larger rocks through the sole. The MegaGrip sole also has a climbing zone at the front so I feel as a summer scrambling shoe they offer enough control to work confidently on rocky ground. I look forward to giving them a go on some easy scrambles in the summer. It is also worth noting that these can be resolved if required which can potentially add longer life to the shoe.

The upper is made from a water-resistant suede and combined with a Gore-Tex membrane offers a solid waterproof shoe. As with most of the Scarpa hiking shoes, the Rapid has a large rubber TPU rand which offers great protection if out scrambling or on more rocky terrain. Despite the chunky sole, the shoes are reasonably lightweight and definitely offer a lighter option than boots whilst not compromising on the support on the sole. These will work well if out on a fast hike or backpacking trip where you need the support to be on your feet for 6-8 hours but don’t want the bulk and weight of a full walking boot.

The XT is part of Scarpa’s Rapid range which were initially offered as a crossover trail running/approach shoe option but have, with the XT, become a more supportive hiking shoe whilst keeping the weight down. The fit is fairly standard, with a slightly wider toe box to allow some movement and expansion if wearing them all day. However, I did find them a little neater fitting than my previous pair of Mescalito’s so would consider going a half size up.

Being a long time wearer of Scarpa shoes and boots, I found the Rapid’s a great addition to the Scarpa range. They have maintained the quality, sturdy build quality that you come to expect from a leather Scarpa shoe whilst making them lighter, coming in at 390g per shoe (UK8), than the Mescalito and Zodiac models without much compromise.