The Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 may be a solid hiking shoe for the average day hiker. Over the past two months, I've hiked more than 30 miles on a range of trails to test its support, weight, comfort, fit, weather protection, and traction. My Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 review shares who might be happy with this new hiking shoe—and who might be better of browsing my list of the best hiking shoes for an alternative.
Testing the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 in Embudito Canyon
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Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 Review
For this review, I personally tested the new Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 hiking shoe on several moderate trails outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, including La Luz, Piedra Lisa, the Pino Trail, and Embudito Canyon. As always, this review is 100% independent (not sponsored) and based on my personal experience testing this shoe. My review also draws upon my experience as a Gearhead® Expert at Backcountry and footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors.
The Ribelle Cross 2 mixes torsional rididity with flexibility
Support
Compared to other hiking shoes I've tested and reviewed, the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 is moderately supportive. The shoe's torsional rigidity provides some resistance against rolling an ankle on rocks, roots, and sidehills. I appreciated that bit of support on rockier sections of the Pino and Embudito trails.
At the same time, there's moderate flex in the soles for more mobility. And, of course, this is a low-cut—not a mid-cut—which limits its foot and ankle support. Overall, I'd call the support average for a hiking shoe.
The Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 is not as light as it may look
Weight
In spite of Scarpa marketing the Ribelle Cross 2 as a "lightweight fastpacking shoe," I found its weight to be average. My pair (men's size 13) weights 2 lbs 3 ounces per pair. For comparison, most of the hiking shoes I test weigh between 2 pounds and 2 pounds 4 ounces—with several lightweight hiking shoes weighing less than 2 pounds in size. It's way lighter than a Scarpa trekking boot, but I'm not comfortable calling the Ribelle Cross 2 a lightweight hiking shoe.
My feelt didn't slide forward on descents thanks to the snug fit
Fit
The Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 is a better fit for hikers with more standard-width feet. Most hikers should size up 1 full size from their everyday shoe size.
As with other Scarpas, I sized up extra to get my moderately wide feet into the Ribelle Cross 2. My everyday shoe size is a men's 11.5, and I sized up to a men's 13 to get some more width in the forefoot and toes. I still prefer a wider fit, but I got enough width by sizing up 1.5 sizes.
The Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 looks and feels like an athletic shoe
Comfort
On my feet, the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 felt like my old football cleats. They may be heavier than expected, but they feel a little more athletic than a traditional hiking shoe. Even so, I didn't feel as fleet of foot in these as I do in my favorite lightweight hiking shoes, such as the Oboz Katabatic Wind or adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 SL.
Compared to other hiking shoes I've tested in the last year, the Ribelle Cross 2 doesn't stand out in a good way or bad way. There's moderate support, moderate weight, moderate cushion. If it fits you, you'll probably find the Ribelle Cross 2 moderately comfortable.
This shoe is available in non-waterproof for desert hikers
Weather Protection
Scarpa offers the Ribelle Cross 2 in a waterproof GTX or non-waterproof version. Since I live in arid New Mexico, I tested the non-waterproof version because it doesn't wear as warm. If you hike in the desert like me—or don't hike when it's rainy or muddy—this is one of the few hiking shoes available in a non-waterproof version.
If you do want a waterproof hiking shoe, it's a plus that the Ribelle Cross 2 uses GORE-TEX. Guaranteed for life, Gore is reliable and breathable. I have thousands of miles of experience in GORE-TEX hiking shoes and trust them more than the proprietary waterproofing in other brands.
The Ribelle Cross 2 has good sand and gravel traction
Traction
I test hiking shoe traction by hiking a wide range of trails—from desert crust to gravel, mud, snow (if possible), and solid rock. With deep, angular, widely spaced lugs, the tread on the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 is better on mud and gravel than on solid rock. When I hiked steep, gravelly switchbacks, I had good footing in this shoe. I had a few slips on weathered granite boulders at the bottom of Embudito canyon and slipped noticeably on wet rock.
When I found soft and muddy ground, this shoe's lugs dug in nicely to provide good traction.
If you hike mixed terrain—including steep trails with loose sediment—you can trust the tread on the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2. If you regularly hike on smooth, solid rock, this shoe's not bad, but you should expect some slips.
Women's Ribelle Cross 2
Value
In 2026, pretty much every hiking shoe is expensive. The Ribelle Cross 2 is in the upper half of the new normal range with the non-waterproof listed at $159 and the GTX waterproof at $189. Scarpas can run much higher
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Men's Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 Low
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Women's Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 Low
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Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2: Pros & Cons
Should you buy the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 hiking shoe?
If you're an average day hiker who mostly hikes on dirt, mud, and gravel, the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 could be a good hiking shoe for you. It's traction is good for those surfaces, and it's GORE-TEX waterproofing is another plus for mud and snow. I agree that the Ribelle Cross 2 is athletic for hiking shoe, but it's a stretch to call it a "lightweight fast-hiking shoe." Compared with other hiking shoes I've tested recently, its weight, support, and comfort are just average. Personally, I prefer the Scarpa Rush 2 hiking shoe (which is being phased out) to the Ribelle Cross 2, but it's a decent hiking shoe for the average day hiker.
If you like this shoe's vibes, please consider purchasing your pair from the links below. That's free for you, but the retailer may share a small percentage of the sale with hiking feet. That's what keeps this site going.
Thanks for your support. I hope you found this review helpful—whether you're ready to pull the trigger on the Ribelle or ready to browe my other hiking shoe reviews and hiking shoe recommendations.
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