Scarpa  Ribelle HD Mountaineering Boots - Men's

Recently I summited Mt St Helens with the boots after snow levels reached 6-8”. The moment I put them on they were comfortable extremely comfortable. They have a stiff sole that provides stability and comfort through the toughest terrain. They were slightly heavier than I expected but still light enough where I felt like my nimble self. We went over boulder fields of porous and sharp edges packed with snow. These boots protected my feet from the edges with the stiff soles and ankle support when I slipped out. The snow had an ice layer but the boot worked great with crampons. Over all I was very satisfied with the first use and they weren’t even broken in yet. The only negative part is the boot doesn’t have a taller ankle so if you were to use them in deeper snow. You will want to add gaiters. My feet did get a wet from snow in the boots and that was kind of a bummer. That is why I gave them a 4/5 but I would say more like 4.5/5 because they are really comfortable and support the feet though some brutal and technical terrain.

I'm sure all the major brands make a great boot in this summer mountaineering category. So it really comes down to fit. And when I needed something that would take crampons, I started with Scarpa, since their trail shoes have always fit me well. I have a slightly wide forefoot, medium high instep, but a narrow heel. And these boots fit perfectly in my normal size. I'm glad I didn't have to keep looking, and hope they last a long, long time.

I am still in the break-in period for these boots, but I've been impressed with the walking efficiency and comfort compared to other boots in this class. I've always appreciated the wider fit of scarpa when compared to la sportiva, but even with this pair I had to go up half a size.