Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

$Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men\'s$

SMOKE/FOG

Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's

$135.00

(9)

Item # 782091

REI Members get back an estimated $ 13.50 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Offering comfort from the driveway to the trailhead and on up through the approach, Scarpa Zen shoes blend climbing shoe functionality with the all-day comfort of an everyday shoe.

Suede leather uppers are crisscrossed with reinforcing stitching to give reliable support and dependable performance on the approach and higher
Burly rubber rands protect feet and uppers from bumps and abrasion and make for more nimble scrambling
Lacing extends all the way down to the toes to give a more precise fit; heel loops aid entry
Nylon linings wick moisture away from your feet and dry quickly
Compression-molded, dual-density EVA midsoles deliver cushioning and comfort
Molded Vibram® Spyder rubber outsoles provide the sticky traction and excellent durability needed for approach versatility

Imported.

Item 782091

View all Scarpa products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's

4.0

(based on 9 reviews)

78%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable (7)
Great traction (6)
Durable (5)
Arch support (4)
Stable (4)

Cons

Best Uses

Rocky/unstable terrain (8)
Mixed terrain (5)
Everyday (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 9 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-9

May

2010

(10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

My second of probably many pairs

By khel

from Sacramento, CA

About Me Competitive Athlete

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Good Arch Support

Cons

Best Uses

Everyday
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

My current pair is 20 months old and shows very little wear, including the seams. The rubber rands have not separated anywhere. I rock climb once or twice a week for at least 9 months of the year, approaching with up to 70 lbs, much of it on extremely rugged terrain, often off trails, for many hours at a time. CONS: Stiff at first, had to tape my ankles to avoid blisters. My feet are narrow, so the narrow fit is a plus for me but might be a con for you. Durable sole rubber usually means fairly hard (and thus not super sticky) rubber, and this applies here. Pretty slippery on wet rock. Don't expect great ankle protection with the low top. PROS: Incredibly comfortable when broken in (fine when new with a bit of tape), more so than anything but my most cushy boots. Good support even with heavy pack. GREAT for loose, rocky, steep, brushy terrain. Can climb a move or two of 5.9, but that's not what these are for. Low tops allow ankle movement when climbing, rubber rands good for additional friction in cracks and corners. Unbelievably durable, I mean I ABUSE these things and they still look and feel so good that I just wore them on the plane to and from Hawaii. I'm ordering another pair right now just because I want to break them in and have them ready to roll. SIZING: I usually wear 10 in all other shoes, but these fit best in a 10 and a half. Fit is fairly narrow. One of the best approach shoes I've tried in 33 yrs of climbing.

Aug

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Durable, comfortable

By fairlight

from Illinois

About Me Recreational Walker/Hiker

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Great Traction
Stabilizes Foot

Cons

Best Uses

Mixed Terrain
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

In August I hiked to the summit of Mt. Elbert and Quandary Peak in the Zen and they were great. My boots never left the truck. Great stability and the shoe is very durable. Stood up to rain, mud and hours of rock stepping and scrambling. I like the perforated foot bed, but they could offer a bit more padding-perhaps a higher quality insole is worth a look. I had to buy a half size bigger than I would normally due to the narrow build. Try on in store before purchase. As an approach shoe the Zen is a great choice.

Mar

2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great rugged use show

By Stuck inside at the moment

from Oak Land, CA

About Me Climber

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Great Traction

Cons

Best Uses

Rocky/Unstable Terrain
Scrambling

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

The Scarpa Zen is what you would get if you started with a 5.10 Tennie and added support, durability, and a real sole. The result is a great shoe that is only a tad heavier. (According to their respective websites the Zen adds about 60g or 2oz per pair at size 9/42 to the Tennie.)

I don't think you can go wrong with either the Zen or the Tennie, and the fit is about the same for both. That said my take is that for all-day climbing/scrambling, give me the Zen. For an approach shoe to clip to your harness when the rock shoes come out, the Tennie is probably the way to go.

Apr

2010

(2 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Small Italian Shoes

By Mt Goat

from Mission Viejo

About Me Recreational Walker/Hiker

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Arch Support
Great Traction

Cons

Narrow tight
Uncomfortable

Best Uses

Everyday
Paved Trails
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

Well I was a bit bumbed out when I finally got a hold of my own pair of Scarpa Zens to only find out that they are built on the narrow side. The shoe does look great and has great traction. However if you have a normal to wide foot I would recommend staying away from these shoes. I have never worn a shoe in Wides but I think that if Scarpa made wides that what I would have to buy to be happy.

Apr

2010

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Durable low-top with a hiker's sole

By Mr Samsonite

from Raleigh, NC

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Great Traction

Cons

Hot
Prone to toe stumpage

Best Uses

Mixed Terrain
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

I love the fit and durability of this shoe. It feels like a solid boot without the extra height. The shoe can get hot in the summer but it's worth it for the extra durability. The only real drawback with this shoe is that I continually stump my toes on the trail. And yes, I have the correct size. It seems the last isn't curved upwards enough in the front to help your toes clear rocks and roots while walking. This doesn't happen just walking around, though. Maybe the clearance is lower due to this being a semi-approach shoe.

Dec

2010

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Lean and Mean

By SamSamtheWalkinMan

from Texas

About Me Gym Rat, Recreational Walker/Hiker

See all my reviews

Pros

Attractive
Comfortable
Form fitting
Good Arch Support
Great Traction
Lightweight
Sculpted
Stabilizes Foot

Cons

Best Uses

Adventure travel
Everyday
Mixed Terrain
Paved Trails
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

I needed a new pair of low top hikers so I clicked around on REI and spied the Zens. The reviews led me to believe my fat feet would require another brand, so I went to the store looking for the Lowa model the website said was in stock. But secretly I longed for the Zens, and all the store had in stock between the two shoes I was looking at were the Scarpas. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I slid my dogs into the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I'm 6'3", 235 lbs with widish feet. My Zamberlan Civettas are 14 wides (which are also great, btw), as well as any running shoes I buy. I wear a size 13D in dress shoe with thin socks. The hiking socks I wear with the Scarpa Zen are light hiking socks by Thorlo, Rei, and mostly Smartwool. The shoes hug my feet closely, but there is plenty of wiggle room in the toe box and zero heel slippage, with a nice comfortable hug around the arches. There is no slop or wasted space with these shoes. Maybe I'm just lucky, but these shoes feel like they used my foot as the last. I may have to stock up on these before Scarpa changes them.

Jul

2011

5.0

Amazing! The perfect hybrid.

By sdkarman

from Seattle, WA

About Me Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Ankle Support
Comfortable
Durable
Good Arch Support
Good Cushioning
Great Traction
Lightweight
Pronation Control
Stabilizes Foot
Versatility

Cons

Best Uses

Mixed Terrain
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

I needed a shoe for the mountain terrain of Corsica. Bottom line, you never know what to expect, but it is going to involve rugged terrain, scrambling, vertical climbing, and risk-taking in very remote areas. Skins aren't versatile enough, boots are to heavy and can't handle technical rock climbing, trainers get ripped to shreds. These shoes gave me an advantage where I had failed before and opened up new lines where I wouldn't have the confidence previously. Word of advice, buy them as tight as you can. You don't want room in the toe if you want to ascend cracks where you would normally use skins. Two straight weeks of treacherous climbing and not a dent. Go feral.

Jun

2011

3.0

Great shoe - only if it fits

By Naitch

from VA

About Me Climber

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Great quality
Stabilizes Foot

Cons

Uncomfortable

Best Uses

Mixed Terrain
Rocky/Unstable Terrain

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

Really well made - the best I've seen in an approach shoe. Good traction for approaches, scrambling and easy-moderate roped climbing. Approximately 1/4 - 1/2 size large. Forefoot area is narrow while the heel is a bit wide. (typical of some European shoes in my experience). The narrow forefoot is good for climbing but not as comfortable for hiking. My heel kept slipping unless I tied them uncomfortably tight. Nice square edges of the sole near the toe is good for edging compared to other that flare out too much. Decent friction on rock. Not as much cushioning in the sole as the Five-Ten Guide Tennie, but it is more stable. If the shoe fits your feet, it's a great shoe. If not look elsewhere.

Sep

2010

2.0

Not exactly an approach shoe

By ts44

from new england

About Me Gumby climber

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable

Cons

Not sticky
Too wide

Best Uses

Hiking around

Comments about Scarpa Zen Shoes - Men's:

I was pretty psyched when I got these, despite the high price tag. They seemed to smear really well and hiked a lot better than the Scarpa Quests. However, if you actually climb in these rather than hiking in them (considering they are a superb dayhiker) you will soon find flaws. The more flexible last/rocker means that the shoe hikes well but makes edging on anything small a battle. The rubber is pretty sticky (not as much as the Quest, mind you) and works well on low-angle slabs, but the Zens are definitely not a shoe to climb terrain harder than 5.6 in. It can be done but it just means a lot more cranking on the arms. I expect approach shoes to climb trad up to 5.8 with no problems, mostly chimneys, slabs, and cracks. The Zens just cannot climb cracks. They are wider than the Quests (which makes them more comfortable for hiking) but means that they swivel a lot in hand-sized cracks. I'll buy the Five Ten Camp 4's next time I need a pair of approach shoes.