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Scarpa Kailash Plus GTX Women's Boots
We have reviewed many, many Scarpa products over the last ten or so years. In fact, the Kailash Plus GTX Women’s Backpacking Boot comes in at #12 for the brand. Though we’ve reviewed a couple women’s AT boots (like the Scarpa Freedom 100 and the Gea RS) the Kailash is the first women’s specific backpacker boot from Scarpa we’ve tested—and we hope it’s not the last.
The Kailash performs as advertised; it’s a capable backpacking boot that’ll take you over varied and steep terrain, carrying big weights over multiple days.
Here they are in all their glory. To get into the nitty gritty of the review, click on the arrow below and at right within the orange bar below the image.
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Here’s a little product video from Scarpa that’ll give you a good 360 spin of the boot and all the
features. Read the review below to learn about the boots' features and how they performed in the field.Solid lacing system with flex point designed for natural angle variation.
The GORE-TEX "performance comfort footwear" liner means dry as well as comfy.
Here are the toe rands that will fight off scuffs and provide a little grip if things get scrambly.
Heel pocket are very comfortable. Midsoles are made of lightweight polyurethane with EVA heel inserts for shock absorbing powers.
Once you've run a GORE-TEX liner, you never go back—especially if you hike in a moist climate. Look below at the footbed and liner combo.
Here are the soles, Vibram® Biometric Trek with "ACTIV Impact technology", to be exact. In plain English? Let's just say grippy in all conditions.
The Kailashes out on a local hike here in Nelson. If it starts to rain heavily, every hiker should know not to leave their pant cuffs tucked into their boots. The tester learned her lesson the hard way.
Materials:
Primary material: Leather
Lining: GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear
Upper: 1.8mm Nubuck LeatherFeatures:
- Comfort-flex liners
- Partial rand
- TML last
- Vibram® Biometric / XS Trek outsole
- Light PU midsole
Verdict:
This summer, these backpacking boots took me along the entire length of the West Coast Trail, on several ambitious day hikes through the East and West Kootenay and a few more days in Vermont's Green Mountains. Though I have been hiking for decades (did I just say that?), the Scarpa Kailashes are the first pair of real backpacking boots I've ever owned. Some people who have been in high-quality hikers before might take some of the features for granted—but def. not me.
Having a stiff shank meant I could travel further with less fatigue, the GORE-TEX liner helped keep my feet dry even over a full day hike in the rain, the nubuck leather meant the boots formed to my feet and the sole made me feel like super-woman, able to walk or climb up just about anything. I backpacked comfortably over sand, mud, creeks, dry dirt, ladders, rocks, boulders and a whole lot more.
I also paired the Kailash Plus GTX boots with a set of hefty (and retro!) Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters. If this is an option for you, I highly recommend it. Good gaiters will increase the life of your boots—and their waterproofness. They are also essential in keeping everything dry and happy if you are walking through thwack either during or after rain.
Though I have only had the Kailash boots for one season, I know that if I pamper them at home, and beat on them in the field, they'll last me for years to come. I'm sure of this because they're parked next to a pair of Scarpa Men's Kinesis Pro GTXes Pros on our home boot rack, and the Kinesis' are happily hiking into their sixth season.
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PROS:
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CONS:
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SPECS:
Price: $339CAN / $279USD
Sizes: 37-42 (with half sizes)
Weight: 507g; 1lb 2oz (1/2 pair size 38)
Colour: Dark brown
RATING: 9.5/10
| Innovation 2/2 Function 2/2 Aesthetics/Fit 2/2 Features 2/2 Quality/Price 1.5/2 |
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