Kate Agathon

When you live in a mountain community, there are certain pieces of technical clothing that you wear on a regular basis, such as a down jacket or a toque.

Included in the list of quintessential mountain living clothing are hiking shoes. Because chances are you’ll find yourself walking on a path or trail several times throughout the week, walking the dog or just enjoying the beauty of nature at your doorstep.

Scarpa Moraine WP Hiking Shoe Review

Launched in spring 2024, the  Scarpa Moraine WP hiking shoe is the hiking shoe I am favoring this summer for its comfort, support, and especially its RECCO (rescue) technology.

 

First of all, over the years, I’ve had a number of injuries due to skiing. I prefer hiking shoes over the increasingly popular trail runners for their stability, durability, and good all-around traction. Hiking boots are fine for extended hikes on mountains with more technical terrain, but for every day I prefer hiking shoes.

While I’m familiar with Scarpa (the Scarpa Zodiak Plus GTX was a favorite backpacking boot of mine for years), this was the first time I’ve tried out their hiking shoes.

 

APPEARANCE

The Scarpa Moraine WP shoe is an attractive shoe. It looks like a functional hiking shoe, not some chunky trendy-looking monstrosity like the On Cloudhorizon.

 

Also, they have just enough color to make the shoe look interesting and not dull.

 

The recycled fabric is breathable and the subtle aqua color is accentuated by a darker aqua which is a nice detail.

The shoe ties in yet another shade of aqua tie the look (pun intended) together.

 

Overall, it’s a nice use of color and design. I feel like some other hiking shoes force elaborate color schemes that are more appropriate for a track meet than nature.

 

These looked nice and paired well with everything I wear, both in town and on the trail.

 

TECHNOLOGY

Incorporated into ski clothing for years, rescue technology is now finding its way into hiking shoes.

The most notable feature of the Scarpa Moraine WP shoe is the incorporation of RECCO technology. Should the unthinkable happen and Search and Rescue need to be called in, RECCO makes the wearer searchable and easier to find.

STABILITY

I am a moderate paced hiker, so therefore I have no use for lightweight trail running shoes to maintain a brisk pace. However, I do require hiking shoes that offer good stability.

 

I wore these on a variety of terrain- large rock gardens, dirt trails, scree, and sandy, loose hill sides. They performed well on all terrain, although they did need a break in period.

CONSTRUCTION

The Scarpa Moraine WP shoe is a well constructed shoe.

 

Key features include:

• TPU injected heel counter with external molded heel provides rearfoot stability.

• PFAS-free waterproof membrane.

• Midsole medium density for cushioning and stability.

• Constructed from premium water-shedding oiled nubuck leather.

• Rubber outsole with supergum rubber compound for high grip and durability.

 

Surprisingly light, the features are practical and useful. The round toe is firm and I was glad to not have stubbed toes!

 

The 2D EVA midsole absorbed shock nicely (even on the bumpier, more technical sections of hiking paths).

 

Overall, the shoe provides fantastic support and, after a brief break-in period, is comfortable to wear.

 

I recommend the innovative Scarpa Moraine WP shoe because it hits all the marks for style, construction, durability, and use of RECCO technology.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.