Professional guide and lover of the outdoors, Flynn, puts the Scarpa Delta GORE-TEX boots to the test in the rugged Tasmanian wilderness on a hiking and camping trip. Below, he takes us through the technical features of this impressive boot, and shares his reflections about how they perform on the trail.

You can judge a person by their shoes, and there are numerous studies to prove it. Foot fashion can represent gender, age, income, and even social status. In the world of outdoor footwear, it’s easy to get a sense of both an individual’s experience and agenda simply from their choice of shoes. Some suggest weekend walks on well maintained trails, others represent multi-day adventuring, while some tell the tale of many years of walking on and off the beaten track. In this sense, their wealth isn’t determined by their income, it’s reflected by their sense of adventure; the places they’ve been and the places they want to go.

Men's Hiking Boot Review. Scarpa Delta Gore-Text=

Strictly business with Scarpa hiking boots

If you see somebody wearing a pair of Scarpa Delta GORE-TEX Boots you know they mean business. Even if you don’t know the particulars of them, they just look badass. If you have scoped out the Deltas at any stage in your outdoor journey, you’re likely to have boot envy at this stage. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. These boots are mighty fine, and in this outdoor gear review I hope to shed some light on why you should consider them as your next big purchase of essential outdoor gear.

An incredibly cushioned ride

To start off, I’ll talk about how these boots feel. Sometimes you put on big leather boots and you feel like you need to break them in for a couple of weeks before you can give them a good run in the form of a multi-day hike. I certainly suggest breaking these in, as with any boot. However, with the Scarpa Deltas the Activ Medium insole, along with the Biometric sole, makes for a surprisingly cushioned ride. The grip and anatomical design of the Vibram sole also promotes foot rolling as you step, rather than feeling like a heavy clunky boot. I can tell you now that after 5 days of walking with a heavy pack on uneven terrain, features like this are absolutely priceless.

The upper of this boot makes for adequate shelter from the outside world, while looking rather neat. The 2.4-2.6mm full grain leather gives it the wonderful natural look of a traditional boot. The rubber rand over the toe is equivalent to a four wheel drive having a lift kit with massive wheels; you know it’s made to go where others can’t. The lacing system is made up of a pulley-like speed lacing system, allowing you to get maximum tension on the laces. This is great when the boots are caked in mud, frozen over, or soaked through, and you need to tighten them up for the extra teeth-gritting adventures.

Scarpa Delta Gore-Tex Boot being worn in snowy Tasmanian wilderness

Scarpa Delta GTX Hiking Boot Positives

The best things about this particular pair of Scarpa hiking shoes

  • Comfortable out of the box (which can only get better)
  • Great insole and sole combination for comfort, grip, and stability
  • Attractive full grain leather upper
  • Rubber toe rand for protection of leather
  • Pulley like lacing system for optimal tension
  • Attractive traditional looking boot

Scarpa Delta GTX Hiking Boot Negatives

The potential downsides:

  • Potentially too wide for people with narrower feet – definitely try before you buy
  • Can be very heavy when wet (this is not Delta specific, just leather boots in general)
  • Cut of boot not as high as some others (for ankle comfort and support)

Final Thoughts

As a hiking guide, I can appreciate the durability of these boots, the comfort they offer, the practical features, and the natural protection of leather. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable pair of hiking boots for any type and duration of adventure. Head into your local Paddy Pallin today and try on the Delta GTX boot with the help of our expert staff.

Scarpa Delta GTX Hiking Boot Review
Comfort 95%
Foot Protection100%
Support95%
Durability 90%
Appearance100%
96%Overall Score

About The Author

Flynn

When Flynn isn't working in the Hobart Paddy Pallin store he works as a guide on some of Tasmania's most iconic and wild walks. As well as multi-day hiking he's also an avid rock climber and mountaineer. When he's not outdoors playing or in the store, he's probably thinking about gear and what he can get his hands on next!

One Response

  1. Steve

    Just completed 18 days doing the Everest High Passes trek in my Scarpa Delta GTX Gore Tex version boots. Great piece of robust kit overall. Only criticism is that the supplied thin inner soles do not provide much comfort to the metatarsal heads or arch of the foot. Caused metatarsal pain after some 2 hours of trekking on hard ground. Replaced mine with a pair of Superfeet Orange inner soles for better support and cushioning. Anyone else experience similar issues?

    Reply

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