The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro GTX is the nubuck leather version of Scarpa's lightest hiking boot, the Rush. I've hiked hundreds of miles in the orginal Scarpa Rush hiking boot and hundreds more in the low-cut Scarpa 2 hiking shoe, so I was stoked to test the new Pro version as soon as it dropped in 2025. My test hikes ran the gamut of trails in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains: sandy desert washes, rough ravines, sub-alpine snow, canyons choked with granite boulders to scramble, and steep trails with slick gravel and scree. My Scarpa Rush 2 Pro review shares what I've learned after weeks of wearing this new hiking boot.
Men's Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX
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Women's Scarpa Rush 2 Mid GTX
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Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX Review
The Pro version of the Scarpa Rush 2 hiking boot is made with soft nubuck leather—not synthetic fabric like the regular Rush 2—and incorporates more recycled materials and PFAS-free GORE-TEX waterproofing. Over the past few weeks, I've tested the new Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX on several trails outside of Albuquerque, including the Domingo Baca trail, Bear Canyon Arroyo, Emdudito Canyon, Tres Pisoles (3 Guns) Springs, and Sandia Crest Trail. My Scarpa Rush 2 Pro review is based on these test hikes—plus 700 miles of personal hiking experience with the rest of the lightweight Scarpa Rush line. I also drew upon my professional experience as a former Backcountry Gearhead and footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors to evaluate these boots' support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value.
Testing the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro on 3 Guns Springs Trail
Support
The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro balances support with weight savings for versatile performance in the field. On the plus side, a TPU frame gives this boot some backbone and adds some lateral stability. Testing this boot while recovering from a sprained ankle, I took on some tough, rocky trails in the Rush 2 Pro without tweaking my ankle injury. The boot feels stiff through the midfoot with moderate flex at my foot's natural flexpoint. A protective toe cap, heel stabilizer, and durable leather uppers round out good foot protection.
Overall, the ankle support is only moderate. The comfortable ankle collars aren't stiff enough to put up serious resistance. Plus, they're not that tall with only one lace hook above the ankle joint. There's a little more ankle support than the low-cut shoe—but not heaps more.
If you care most about ankle support, you probably want a beefier hiking boot. This boot's build is better for day hikers who want to balance support and stability with weight savings and agility.
Weight
The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro weighs a few ounces less than the traditional hiking boot. Typical men's hiking boots weigh between 2.5 and 3 pounds. My pair (men's size 13) weighs 2 lbs 6 ounces—about 3 ounces more than the regular Rush 2 Mid. This boot doesn't make my cutoff for a lightweight hiking boot, but it's much lighter, and more athletic, than my other leather hiking boots, such as the Oboz Bridger (2lb 12 oz) or LOWA Renegade (3lb). Weight-wise, this is a versatile hiking boot—one with a nice balance between support and weight savings.
Fit
The Scarpa Rush series runs small by US standards but not as narrow as most Italian hiking boots. If you've got standard-width feet, I'd size up approximately one full size from your everyday shoe size. My feet are wide, and I get an okay fit by sizing up 1.5 sizes. (My everyday shoe size is a 11.5: I find the Scarpa Rush a little snug in a size 12.5 and a little too long—but a better width— in a 13.) If you have narrow feet, you might be okay sizing up a 1/2 size. Overall, the Rush 2 Pro is a better fit for standard-sized feet as long as you size up.
No comfort complaints with the leather version of the Rush 2
Comfort
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, your hiking style, and your personal preferences. The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro has a lot to offer, comfort-wise, since it balances support and weight savings so well. Personally, I've found it supportive enough for moderate to difficult hikes while flexible enough for faster hikes on well-maintained trails. I like how this relatively athetic boot blends stability and agility. My feet have liked this boot across my 5-10 mile test hikes in 10,000 ft mountains.
These boots have moderate cushioning with dual density midsoles that concentrate the cushioning where you need it most without weighing down the boot. The nubuck leather is soft yet protective, which is a plus in the harsh desert mountains that I hike most of the time. If you're looking for something lighter or sturdier, check out my picks for the best lightweight hiking boots or best hiking boots for ankle support. However, if you want versatility, the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro should be a comfortable hiking boot.
GORE-TEX ePE is a waterproofing plus
Weather Protection
So far, my test hikes have only included shallow snow and trickles of snowmelt, so I can't provide too many first-hand pointers on the Rush 2 Pro's weather protection. However, I've had no problems so far and have no concerns about this boot's waterproofing. The leather uppers are naturally water-resistant and backed up by GORE-TEX ePE—GORE's new PFAS-free waterproof and breathable membrane. Over thousands of miles in other boots, I've found that combination of leather + GORE-TEX to be as reliable as it gets in the field. I'll update this post as I document specific pros or cons in my field testing. For now, though, consider this boot's weather protection a plus.
The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro has great grip on rock
Traction
At this point, I have approximately 800 miles of personal experience hiking on this boot's Presa rubber outsoles. I really like them, especially on rock. I've scrambled up and down smooth boulders in Embudito Canyon, shuffled down steep trails of scree and weathered granite, and ventured off trail in some rough boulder fields—these soles have held their own on every surface I've hiked.
They balance decent braking and moderately deep grooves with softer rubber. That adds up to solid, all-terrain traction. I trust the tread on the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro more than the popular Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid on solid rock. You might want more aggressive lugs if you regularly hike muddy trails. However, I've found this boot's tread very reliable in the mountains of Pennsylvania and New Mexico.
Women's Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX
Value
With a MSRP of $189, the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro is surprisingly less expensive than the regular Rush 2 ($219). That price is in line with the best lightweight hiking boots and less expensive than my favorite midweight leather hiking boots, the Oboz Bridger ($200) and LOWA Renegade ($255). Scarpas are typically very expensive, due to their quality builds and US trade policies, but this is a really good price. If you're looking for versatile and agile leather hiking boots, the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro is a better value than I expected.
Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX: Pros and Cons
Based on my personal hiking experience, here are the pros and cons of the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro:
Should you buy the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro?
The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX is a versatile, high-performace hiking boot that should appeal to dedicated day hikers. It's a few ounces heavier than my favorite lightweight hiking boots, but it still boasts a good balance between support and weight savings. This boot's sturdy enough for tough trails yet athletic enough to move quickly over mixed mountain terrain. Plus, it's GORE-TEX waterproofing and Presa rubber outsoles score points for weather protection and traction. If you prefer something lighter or heavier, please browse my full list of the best hiking boots. If you're looking for a versatile hiking boot that can handle day hikes of almost any difficulty level, this is an athletic, leather hiking boot you should definitely consider. I've added it to my list of the best leather hiking boots and plan to continue wearing my test pair for harder mountain day hikes.
Testing the Scarpa Rush 2 Pro in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains
