SCARPA unveils cross-category footwear innovation for fall '20 in ski touring, climbing, trail, mountaineering

F1 LT ski boot represents the pinnacle of light, powerful design for touring, Drago LV climbing shoe offers performance used at World Cup level.

BOULDER, Colo. (Jan. 23, 2020)  – From ski touring to rock climbing, and trail sports to mountaineering, SCARPA, the leader in high-performance footwear for more than 80 years, will introduce cutting-edge new products across the range of performance mountain sports for Fall 2020.  

In skiing, after introducing a powerful freeride boot - the Maestrale XT - for the current season, Fall 2020 is defined by the F1 LT, a super-lightweight touring boot with the power to drive modern skis.

As the first Olympics to include climbing approaches this summer, SCARPA unveils a low-volume interpretation of the Drago, the premier shoe used by athletes at the World Cup Bouldering level. On the more comfort-driven end of the spectrum, the new Reflex V uses a unique zonally knit stretch fabric to increase performance. 

In the trail category, SCARPA’s new Rush Mid GTX features a new sole technology for 2020, which simultaneously increases shock absorption and traction. The wet-weather version of the SCARPA’s award-winning Spin Ultra, the Spin Ultra GTX incorporates GORE-TEX Invisible Fit, a new, more comfortable and form-fitting way to integrate a waterproof/breathable GORE-TEX membrane into a running shoe. 

At the forefront of the mountaineering category is the versatile new Manta Tech GTX, an all-season, do-anything mountain boot. SCARPA continues to lead the way forward in specialized performance with the updated Ribelle Tech 2.0, a unique, category defying product -  designed to feel like a trail shoe but perform like a mountain boot, enabling high-end, high-output alpine objectives. 

An overview of what’s new from SCARPA for Fall 2020 includes: 

LIGHTWEIGHT BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOURING – At 990 grams and 100 flex, the F1 LT is a ski-touring boot that  punches above its weight in power and skiability. Optimized for ambitious traverses, technical ski-mountaineering descents, or long days maximizing powder laps, the F1 LT combines ultralight features of the Alien ski-mountaineering race boots with a more versatile, backcountry-oriented design. Power in such a light package comes from both innovative materials and thoughtful design. The boot is built with Carbon Grilamid LFT, a Grilamid material infused with long carbon fibers which improves power and stiffness while retaining the progressive flex desired for the descent. A new upper cuff uses SCARPA’s 3D Lambda Torsion Frame, a design that employs a reinforced I-beam construction with raised ribs of Carbon Grilamid LFT to create lateral stability and downhill performance without having to add thickness and weight to the entire cuff. $799. 

WORLD-CUP LEVEL CLIMBING – Created for ticking steep, technical boulders and difficult overhanging routes, the Drago LV pairs minimalist upper construction with power, support, and maximum sensitivity when climbing. A lower-volume version of the legendary Drago, the Drago LV offers a lower volume fit for climbers wanting to access the features that have made the Drago the premier shoe used by athletes at the World Cup Bouldering level. The entire front of the Drago is wrapped in high-friction rubber, which provides a glove-like fit in an aggressively downturned and highly asymmetric design. The Drago is extremely precise in shallow pockets and on rounded edges, as well as for technical hooking. $189.

COMFORT-DRIVEN CLIMBING – A zonally knit stretch fabric that offers the ability to create support where it’s essential and stretch where it’s desired for comfort – all within the same fabric. This sets the Reflex V completely apart in the category of climbing shoes with soft, comfortable, washable fabric uppers. That means a construction that is tailored to the different needs of different parts of the feet while climbing. Moreover, unlike other climbing shoes with stretch fabric uppers, the Reflex doesn’t use a second backer fabric on the uppers, meaning the Reflex is much more breathable, one of the key benefits of this kind of knit construction. $89.

DO-IT-ALL HIKING – The Rush Mid GTX is a do-it-all trail shoe that combines an innovative trail-running inspired design with all the support and protection of a light, waterproof hiker. Thoughtful and intuitive features set this boot apart in the emerging field of quiver-of-one hiking boots. One prominent new technology is called the SCARPA Interactive Kinetic System, a sole design that simultaneously increases traction and allows for more shock absorption on the trail. The IKS sole features five concave impact zones that compress and absorb energy as they touch down on the ground, allowing secondary lugs to then come in contact with the trail, further increasing traction. $179. 

WINTER TRAIL RUNNING – The  Spin Ultra GTX is the latest addition to SCARPA’s  multi-award winning Spin Ultra family, and it features GORE-TEX Invisible Fit, a new, more comfortable and form-fitting way to integrate a waterproof/breathable GORE-TEX membrane into a running shoe. The perfect choice for moderate to longer-distance runs, the Spin Ultra offers a stable, highly cushioned design.  $169. 

MOUNTAINEERING – Warm, waterproof and tough as nails, the Manta Tech GTX is a versatile mountain workhorse – equally at home on an off-trail bushwhack, a snowy ridge, a glacier or a rugged approach with a loaded pack. Uppers made with 3mm Perwanger Suede and a full-perimeter PU/rubber rand mean outstanding durability and support, while a GORE-TEX Insulated Comfort lining ensures warmth, waterproofness and breathability. In the midsole, SCARPA uses dual-density PU for support, cushioning and longevity. $349. 

FAST AND LIGHT – Heralded as the future of light-and-fast alpinism when it was introduced in 2018, the Ribelle Tech gets updated for Fall 2020 with a new knit-fabric construction and other upgrades that help improve support, durability and fit. A unique, category defying product, the 630-gram Ribelle is designed to feel like a hiking boot or even a trail runner but perform like a mountain boot, enabling high-end, high-output alpine objectives. $549. 

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America 

Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.