SCARPA Mountaineering Footwear at Outdoor Retailer Online Summer Market

My father grew up in NYC.  He use to tell me stories about all the different emigrant groups who came to NYC many years ago during the great migration periods.  He told me that the Italians were the shoe makers. As I grew up and started my hiking and mountaineering adventures, I became aware of how very good Italian mountaineering boots were. I have never owned a pair but have known a friends that vouched for that.  

The 2020 Outdoor Retailer Online Summer Market was held in July. But the access to all the exhibitors is open to all who registered until the end of August. As I cruised all the online booths I found the SCARPA booth. SCARPA stands for the Association of Footwear Manufacturers From the Mountain Area of Asolo.  SCARPA is n ow run by an Italian family who have been in the mountaineering and ski boot business since 1956. Click HERE for the SCARPA history on their UK website.  

I seems like my mountaineering days are long over but I still love to visit the mountains any chance I get. I now live in central Florida. But now and again I do get to visit the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia visiting my son's family. When I travel I like to wear footwear designed for the mountain and surf lifestyles.  I have a closet full of these kind of shoes. 

After visiting the SCARPA USA website, I came across two different mountain lifestyle designs that caught my fancy. one was the Mojito for men and the other was the Margarita. I use to have a pair of Rockport sailing shoes that look very similar to the Mojito. I flat wore them out until the soles separated from the shoes.  It is a shame I do not have a local store where I can try on a pair Mojitos. Remember when selecting a SCARPA boot or shoe this is an Italian company where all the sizes are European.  

That is why it is important to try them on before your purchase them.  It will save some agony if the shoe or boot does not fit and you have to return them.  

The SCARPA Margarita has a rubber rand that goes all around the shoe. The rand is that part of a rock climbing shoe where the rock climber gets extra friction when wedging the shoe in a crack.  Not sure that is necessary wearing a pair around town but having a rubber rand on a mountain lifestyle shoe will keep it from being scuffed up or damaged on rough surfaces. So if you have a specialty outdoor outfitter near you that carries the SCARPA brand of boots and shoes, check them out.

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. Be sure to wear a mask and social distance until COVID-19 pandemic is over.