Scarpa Rush TRK GTX Review 2022

We take the new lightweight hiking boot from Scarpa out for a test 

Scarpa has made excellent lightweight boots for some time now. I remember owning several pairs which all performed well.

For 2022 the offering is the new Rush range. We tested the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX which are the trekking offering. They are rugged, comfortable and easy to wear straight out of the box. Indeed on the first outing, I wore them for a favourite Yorkshire circuit of Simon’s Seat, a ten-mile hike of a gentle river valley, rugged moorland and a short gritstone scramble to the summit. Straight out the box it was like wearing trainers – no sore spots or rubbing anywhere and at no point did I feel like I needed to take them off or readjust them. They are very light and on the trusty CGR scales one boot weighed in at 587g, the stated weight is 555g for the UK8.

The second outing they got was a full-on mountain day on the Cuillin Ridge on Skye in Scotland. This range contains some of Britain’s toughest hiking challenges and the Rush TRK didn’t disappoint. Super comfortable all day except for having to empty my boots of grit at the bottom of the An Stac screes. 

The Scrapa Rush TRK GTX are a fully-featured hiking boot and is suitable for any sort of trekking you are planning to do, except for an expedition that involves glacier crossings. The  1.6mm thick nubuck leather uppers give them endurance and some breathability and they are finished with a full toe rand together with a reinforced heel and supporting side stiffeners. As I stated earlier I recently wore them descending the long An Stac screes which involve very unstable descending through rolling scree. The boots had very little damage at the bottom, just some minor scuffing to the outer edge of the nubuck uppers. 

The boots have padded and flexible ankle supports which are cut down at the Achilles. It is stiff enough to offer reasonable support but keeps comfort at a premium. It’s finished off with a heel pull that is big enough to fit a carabiner through if you need to attach them to a harness or rucksack. 

The fit has been comfortable. Scarpa can be a little on the narrower side sometimes and my feet tend to the narrow side. My usual test size is a size UK 8 (EU 42 or US 9) and the fit has been good for my foot shape my feet have felt comfortable and well supported throughout the test period with just enough room for movement without excessive rubbing.

At the toe end, the box is stiff enough to protect toes from stubbing when legs become tired and the full rand offered more than enough friction for technical ascents such as the Inaccessible Pinnacle in the Cuillin. They were perfect for that sort of technical rock offering just enough stiffness and plenty of friction with the Presa sole unit.

Scarpa has been improving the sole unit of their trekking boots since they have been developing trail running shoes.  The sole Presa sole unit has been designed in house to give a great ‘running shoe’ feel to the boot. They have been super comfortable on all the various types of ground I have been testing them from boggy moorland walks, and technical scrambling to long rocky descents. The various lug thicknesses have offered perfect grip when needed and security when necessary. 

Another point of note about the sole unit is the addition of a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) to help stabilise the heel and arch and keep the heel in place on the tough ground such as loose scree. There is also a medium-density EVA midsole which gives great cushioning – which my failing knees are always grateful for. 

Importantly the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX boots can be resoled, improving their lifespan. The best way to do this is by contacting Scarpa direct where they will advise on your best options. They can be sent back to Scarpa or you can use a recommended third party resole specialist. One tip from me is to try not to leave your resole too late – you often need to resolve boots before you think they need it!

Other details on the Rush TRK GTX are the Gore-Tex lining. If you look through my hiking boot review archive you will find a common theme and these boots are no different. The Gore-Tex lining does its job – on no hike have my feet been wet but they run hot. On dry days my feet got very hot in my boots so my choice of socks becomes more important. The whole range of Rush boots and shoes is GTX so I guess that is where the market is. On hot days I’m more inclined to wear trail running shoes as I’m packing lighter. The fabric tongue is great and I was able to tighten the boots without creating hotspots over the front of my foot the lacing system means that I have been able to adjust the boots quickly and the flexible lace material has helped keep the laces secure without undoing at awkward times.

In conclusion, the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX are excellent trekking boots that I would not hesitate to use for any trekking expedition including long, technical scrambling. They are superbly comfortable with a host of nice features to help keep comfort levels high straight from the box. 

The Rush range includes a trainer style shoe, a Mid style super light boot, a more rugged Trail shoe and the Trekking TRK boot (tested) so there will be something for everyone. Mercifully they come in one colour option and sizes EU 41-48 in whole sizes.

There is also a female-specific version in sizes EU 36 to 42.

The Scarpa Rush TRK GTX retails at £185 and can be bought directly from Scarpa and specialist retailers.

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