Scarpa Nangpala XCR

Highly supportive, strong boots, great for heavy-duty use. Stands up well to rough country. Fit is narrow. Waterproof, at least for the first 3 years!

These boots are mostly bombproof  I've completely worn out the soles on my first pair, but found a place on the Scarpa website to get them resoled. I hike daily about 3-5 miles over rocky backwoods terrain, so the three years I got out of the first set represents perhaps 3,000 miles of wear. 

My feet run narrow, and so is the last on these boots. For me, they required relatively little break-in, although they do have a strong and rigid mid-sole, so they provide a lot of support.  That will require maybe 30 miles or more to fully break in.  The uppers were quite comfortable for me right from the start. 

Lacing system is strong, and did not show any wear. I was concerned about durability of laces where they go through nylon fabric loops, but those have worked well. 

These boots stay dry in snow hiking (with gaiters) and in wet, muddy conditions. As with all Goretex XCR, they are impossibly warm in summertime. In my third season of use, I started to get cracks along the seam where the sole joins, and those began to show leakage in the boot. 

I like them so well that I bought a second pair, which I'm wearing now while my first ones are off in Oregon getting re-soled. I do notice that the lacing system has changed slightly, and the new lace material doesn't hold knots as well as my 4-year-old boots did. 

Recommended highly, if they fit your feet. Be sure not to buy them too short, as they will punish your toes -- there is no flex or break-in there. As you pack on the miles, your feet will thank you.

afterthoughts:

The latest model has the shoelace guides riveted in place rather than using loops made from the suede fabric from the side of the boot.  I had problems with losing a couple rivets on a pair of Dunhams years ago, but these look pretty sturdy. 

The new model also has a bit less fabric showing lower in the side of the boot, which is probably good from a wear standpoint but maybe less good from a breathing standpoint.  Time will tell.

This shoe is narrow, so get at least a half size bigger. I went up a full size to allow my foot some room and to wear thick trekking socks. If you have WIDE feet, I wouldn't recommend this shoe, unless you must have them, then pick up 1.5 size bigger or something.

It took about 40 miles/15 hrs of hiking to break in the shoe. I got good protection from rocks while hiking even though there is no shank. The out sole is solid and ankle support is good. The ankle support structure requires the breakin. The waterproofing is brilliant. Walked through water instead of jumping across it and the shoes were DRY.

Even after cleaning, the shoe dries very quickly. I would give it a five, if the insole was softer and if the shoe was wider.

The shoe is not easy to break in...it takes a few hikes or at least 20 miles. I have hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim and Rim to River, and they are great, but going downhill my toes hit the inside of the shoe causing some major discomfort.

The local store has them 60% off and I think I am going to buy another pair and go up a size or size and a half. The toe bed is very narrow and I have fat toes! 

Otherwise it is a great shoe, and like I said, I am buying another only a larger size.