The Scarpa Rush TRK GTX is a new hiking boot from one of the world's best mountain brands. It's the sturdiest hiking boot in Scarpa's lightweight "Rush" series—a line of hiking footwear that's faster and lighter than traditional Scarpas. Within Scarpa's line up, the Rush TRK is heavier and more supportive than the (regular) Rush Mid— and 4-5 ounces lighter than the best-selling Kailash Trek Plus GTX. That means it profiles best as a backpacking boot or a burly day hiking boot for treks in the Alps, 4000-footers in the White Mountains, or 14ers in Colorado. Learn more in this Scarpa Rush TRK GTX review.
Backpacking Pennsylvania's West Rim Trail in the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX
Scarpa Rush TRK GTX Review
For my Scarpa Rush TRK GTX review, I subjected my pair to three of Pennyslvania's signature backpacking trails—the Allegheny Front Trail, West Rim Trail, and Loyalsock Trail. That's almost 150 miles of backpacking, plus a few day hikes to break them in. Based on those test hikes, here are my thoughts on the Rush TRK's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value.
Support
ABOVE AVERAGE
The Rush TRK may be lightweight by Scarpa standards, but it's still a sturdy hiking boot. The soles are stiff from heel to toe with limited flex. That provides excellent foot support and ankle stability. In spite of some 18-22 mile backpacking days, my feet stayed fresh, thanks to the Rush TRK's support.
Made with soft suede leather, the ankle collars aren't as sturdy, offering moderate ankle support for a mid-to-high cut. Even so, I haven't had any ankle issues in them, even though I inherited bad ankles from my dad. The Rush TRK's support has impressed me on tough, rocky trails—and when I've been carrying a moderately heavy backpack.
Overall, the Rush TRK GTX is more supportive than the lighter Rush 2 Mid. It profiles best for backpacking or for tough, all-day hikes in mountainous terrain.
Weight
LIGHT FOR A BACKPACKING BOOT
The Scarpa Rush TRK GTX is relatively light and agile—given its recommended use. However, it's technically a midweight hiking boot, not a lightweight. My men's size 12.5 weighs 2lb 15oz. For comparison, that's 10 ounces more than the lightweight Scarpa Rush Mid and a few ounces less than the Salomon Quest and Lowa Renegade—two best-selling backpacking boots. It's light and athletic in comparsion to hardcore trekking or backpacking boots, but not compared to the average hiking boot.
Fit
TRUE TO SIZE
The Scarpa Rush TRK has a standard fit—not narrow like other Italian brands. In fact, it actually has a relatively roomy toe box. Hikers with wide feet (like me) may (or may not) be able to get a good enough fit by sizing up a full size from their everyday shoe size. (Most of my hiking boots are 12 wide, and my feet had plenty of width in Scarpa's 12.5.) Most hikers will probably want to order the Scarpa Rush TRK in their regular hiking size.
Women's Scarpa Rush TRK GTX
Comfort
DEPENDS ON YOUR PREFERENCE
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, people's hiking styles, and their personal preferences. The Scarpa Rush TRK GTX has soft suede uppers and moderate cushionioning in targeted areas to soften impact. Still, it's stiffer than the average hiking boot. That may be a tough sell for beginners and fans of super-cushioned footwear. However, many experienced hikers know that stiffer hiking boots—such as the Rush TRK—often feel better on your feet on longer, tougher hikes.
That's been my experience so far. My feet felt much fresher in my last backpacking trip in the Rush TRK than they did two weeks ago when I backpacked in a trail running shoe. That was also true earlier this summer when I hiked the same 12-mile route on back to back weeks—once in the max cushion Hoka Speedgoat trail runner and once in the Scarpa Rush TRK. As much as I like Hoka's cushion, my feet were less fatigued after 12 miles in the Rush TRK. Ultimately, comfort boils down to your hiking style and personal preferences. But I like how this boot reduces foot fatigue on tough hikes.
Weather Protection
ABOVE AVERAGE
The Scarpa Rush TRK is ready for rain, mud, and snow, thanks to its high ankle collars, protective leather uppers, and GORE-TEX waterproof membrane. My feet have stayed dry through some boggy miles on the Allegheny Front Trail, muddy miles on the West Rim Trail, and easy water crossings in Pine Creek Canyon. GORE-TEX remains the most reliable waterproofing on the market.
Traction
PLUS
Pennsylvania's mountains aren't big. But their footing often sucks, thanks to those ancient rock piles called the Appalachians. So far, I haven't slipped in the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX. The outsoles cover all the bases with deep, widely spaced lugs for mud, a deep heel brake for steep descents, and moderarely wide lugs with enough surface area to grip rocks effectively. Those Presa outsoles with Supergum rubber have impressed on some tough terrain that requires serious traction. For me, this is one this boot's clear strengths.
Value
EXPENSIVE
Scarpas would probably be more popular with hikers if they weren't so expensive. The Rush TRK GTX retails for $249 (MSRP). That's expensive but fair for a premium, Italian-made hiking boot. For comparison, the Rush TRK GTX retails for $20 more than the Salomon Quest GTX, $5 less than the Lowa Renegade, and $40 less than the Salewa Mountain Trainer GTX. If you're a Scarpa fan, the new Rush TRK costs $80 less than the classic Kailash Plus GTX and $100 less than the Zodiac Plus GTX. Overall, its more accessible than most Scarpa trekking boots.
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Scarpa Rush TRK GTX: Pros vs. Cons
According to this Scarpa Rush TRK GTX review, the pros outweigh the cons:
Overall Recommendation:
The Scarpa Rush TRK GTX may be a good hiking boot for you if it fits your feet and matches your hiking style. With a standard size and relatively roomy toe box, the Rush TRK should fit a wide range of hikers. However, its sturdy build is best suited for serious hikers who mostly backpack in the mountains or tackle tough, all-day hikes. The average hiker or weekend warrier would probably be happier with a less supportive, less expensive hiking boot for their day hikes—like these recommended hiking boots. For hard trails, however, it's hard to beat this boot's blend of stability, support, and agility.
best fit
standard feet
best match
tough mountain trails,
backpacking, off-trail hikes
Do you want the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX?
There's a lot to like about the new Scarpa Rush TRK GTX—particularly if you mostly hike tough mountain trails. It's stiff and sturdy while staying relatively light and agile for an alpine trekking boot or backpacking boot. I can see this new boot being popular with serious hikers and with Scarpa fans who like the thought of saving a little weight and money.
If my Scarpa Rush TRK GTX review has sold you on this sturdy but agile hiking boot, please consider purchasing your pair through the affiliate links above. That's free for you—and sends a few dollars my way to cover my costs and give me a little basomething back for all the unpaid hours I've spent writing free and independent content to help men and women find hiking boots that fit their feet and match their hikes. If this site hooked you up, I'd appreciate if you hook me up, too.
Happy hiking!
