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Fresh in and straight off the back of a blistering review of the Rapid XT is the new Scarpa Rapid LT. We’ve been trialling these lightweight hiking shoes throughout the spring and into summer, and they’ve proven to be the perfect solution to the hot conditions we’ve been experiencing here in the UK. Perfect traction, the lightest shoe in the popular Rapid hiking shoe range, together with well-thought-out features, has proved a winning combination for hiking and scrambling.
Perfect for speed hiking: lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable, these great trail shoes allow you to wear them confidently. I’ve been developing speed hiking as an alternative to trail running as my aging knees have finally given up the ghost, and I have finally listened to and acted on the advice of my medical practitioners! And they have been great for this activity; that doesn’t mean to say they haven’t performed on more general hikes – they have been great. I could wear trail running shoes for mountain hikes, but these are stiffer, so I can tackle more technical terrain when the opportunity presents itself.
The premium construction offers a jacquard woven upper for best-in-class breathable hiking footwear, a highly durable TPU rand, and a comfortable tongue, which is exactly what you would expect from Scarpa. The extra length on the lacing means you can tweak the fit to perfection, and the ARSA X last gives ultimate confidence when moving fast on uneven terrain. The rand has offered decent protection from shallow puddles and wet ground, although you should note that they do not have a Gore-Tex lining, so do keep that in mind.
Scarpa has been making huge strides in their trail running range, and the Rapid range has benefited from this, as the Agility midsole offers outstanding cushioning. The Agility XT midsole has proved a real advantage when descending steep ground. I’ve been having some annoying knee trouble this year, and the Rapid LT have been great. I tested myself in early summer and managed a long descent with virtually no knee pain.
Of course, that could be that my knees are starting to heal, but I think that the cushioning on the LTs has been a factor and helped my psyche when descending for longer periods. As I said earlier, they are not running shoes; they have been a little stiff out of the box and have taken a couple of months to feel worn in. The cushioning around the Achilles and ankle has helped on the comfort side, though. The well-designed heel tabs have been great, ergonomically placed for ease of use and perfect for attaching to a climbing harness.
Combine that midsole with the tried and tested Vibram Megagrip (climbing shoe rubber) sole and you can be sure that those tricky scrambling moves can be tackled with security. A full approach-style sole with a climbing zone and deep lugs mean that you can tackle any steep and rocky terrain with confidence. They make an ideal high mountain approach shoe as Kev has testified in his review of the Rapid XT. The Rapid LT has all the same features but is lighter and more breathable. You do compromise on the durability with the LT, but so far they have proved pretty bombproof. They have a similar woven texture to the Mescalito Planet I reviewed a few years back, and they were totally bombproof. The burly toe rand has helped with durability as well as providing important cushioning for the toes.
I forgot to mention the LT bit: super light at 335g per half shoe (for size UK 8, which is the size I have tested, which the trusty CGR scaled weighed in at 340).
Finishing touches include a well-padded tongue with wide lacing for a precise fit. Flat lacing to ensure the shoe stays tight and embossed logos. These fast hiking shoes have been great in all activities I have put them through this summer and have quickly become my go-to hiking shoes – will they become yours?
The Scarpa Rapid LT comes in sizes Eur 41-48 and two colour options. There is also a women’s version, the Scarpa LT WMN, which comes in sizes EU 37-42 and two colours. The SRP is £155, and they can be bought directly from Scarpa UK.
Disclosure – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers who accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.
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