Kit & Gear

REVIEW: Scarpa Rush Trek GTX

The Scarpa Rush Trek GORE-TEX Walking Boot is the new benchmark for all-day hiking.

Made in the name of comfort with technologies that reduce foot fatigue during the hike, it represents a culmination of soft comfort and cushioning, solid stability and a lightweight feel.

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For comfort and stability on all-day mountain hikes

When it comes to choosing the right pair of boots for your adventures it can be quite daunting as the choice in the market is ridiculously large. So, what do you go for? I’ll be honest, there is no one correct answer. It all comes down to personal preference and what you are looking for. Each hiking pair varies from their model’s and brands. Some might be more lightweight; some will provide you with more support. Some will be built for short easy hikes and others will be created to support your all day and multi-day adventures. I was super excited to finally try a pair from Scarpa to see if they’re as good as people say and if the GTX on these keeps you dry!

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First Impressions

When the Scarpa Rush Trek GORE-TEX Walking Boots arrived at my doorstep, I couldn’t wait to get them out on the hills. Firstly, I love the colour and minimal design. I’m someone who would usually opt for a black pair over any other colour, as the choice is often black or really bright colours. However, these are very well balanced with just a touch of bright blue on the outsole and upper. 

I was a little nervous when trying them on for the first time as you never really know what size you might need. I’m a UK 6 in my regular day-to-day trainers and city boots. However, for running I tend to go half a size or a full size up. And for some walking boots I’ve even have had to go up to a UK 8! Which does seem extreme!

These Scarpa Rush Trek boots, however, were a UK6.5 and they fit perfectly! Finally, a boot that actually is true to size! 

Once they were on my feet, I could feel the support around the ankles and I was impressed by how lightweight they were. 

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Putting the Scarpa Rush Trek GORE-TEX to the Test

I've been wearing these boots for the last 3 months and when I say that I've tested them, I really mean it. They have travelled with me to the Lakes, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, and even Iceland. 

My first outing with these was all the way in Switzerland on a short walk up to Chrummhorn summit. I found these to be super comfortable and supportive on uneven terrain. Although this was only a short hike, I was very happy with their performance. They are perfect for both short, fast hikes and for longer days on the trail.

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Testing these out didn’t stop just there, a few more shorter hikes were done before heading on an all-day hike to really put them to the test. This time, the chosen destination was Scotland and we chose a 20-mile hike for this in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Starting in the dark and finishing in the dark, the hike took over 11 hours and the boots, overall, performed fantastically well. Even after getting stuck in mud in a few places, crossing rivers and scaling up and down mountains without paths, the GORE-TEX lining held up and my feet were dry! Wet and muddy on the outside, but completely dry on the inside! The high ankle support with corded lacing system kept my feet secure and comfortable which helped me to stay focused on the terrain and the miles we still had to cover in the dark. 

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VISIT KOMOOT FOR A ROUTE MAP AND MORE INFORMATION

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Next I headed to the dramatic Welsh countryside to really put these GORE-TEX boots to the test. If you’ve ever been to Snowdonia National Park then you will most likely know how wet it can get! The day was quite overcast with rain clouds and sunshine dancing in the sky. It was raining one minute and sunshine the next. The GORE-TEX material on this hike held up well and I was very impressed. I hadn’t packed my waterproof overtrousers with me and I was worried that the rain would just drip down into the boots. However, that was not the case and I managed to stay dry throughout the walk. Even after I managed to dip my foot, accidentally, in a river whilst trying to cross. 

Another feature I was impressed with is the PRESA sole. Even though it was raining outside and we were heading up just behind Tryfan, I remained in control on the technical rocky terrain as the grippy rubber on these boots allowed me to easily walk across wet rocks without losing traction. This is something I was completely shocked by as no boot ever has given me this much grip, support and stability on a wet and rocky trail. 

*Please do keep in mind that just because of my experience of walking across the wet rock and technical terrain, it does not mean that you should be careless or over-confident in similar situations. You should always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. 

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Final Thoughts

After a few months of testing the Scarpa Rush Trek GTX Walking boots, I can confidently say that they are the most waterproof pair of boots that I have ever owned. When paired with gaiters I felt unstoppable and ready to tackle the elements no matter the weather. 

The only issue I ever had with this pair was a little rubbing at the back of the heel very early on. But this, I must admit, was due to my own fault. I had chosen some very thin bamboo socks for my hike, rather than proper walking socks and the seam at the back of the heel caused some damage. See, even experienced hikers still, sometimes, make mistakes! So, the advice here is for you to learn from mine and wear actual hiking socks with this pair, especially if on a longer hike. 

Since getting these boots they have been on every single outing I’ve been on and with appropriate walking socks I’ve had no issues. They’re super lightweight, but stable at the same time. Perfect for covering ground fast on shorter hikes and fantastic on longer all-day hikes as well. 

In my personal opinion this pair is not to be missed with its exceptional performance and design features it really has been created for the outdoor playground.

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SHOP SCARPA RUSH TREK GORE-TEX WALKING BOOTS HERE  

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