SCARPA Ribelle Cross 2 GTX – Reviewed & Tested

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I’m no stranger to hiking. In fact, I’ve made it a personal goal to tick off one Australian multi-day hike every year and have kept the streak running for a few years now. With over a decade in the hiking game, I have a bunch first-hand experience with a variety of gear and know the difference the right shoe can make when you head out.

Ticking the Great Ocean Walk in the Ribelle Cross 2 GTX

Quick Specifications

Weight: 445g (US10.5 M)
Midsole: 2D EVA-CM (dual-density compression-moulded EVA foam)
Stack height: 33/27mm
Drop: 10mm
Colours: Fog Beige and Black Olive
RRP: $339.95

Buy Now

Pretty schnazzy!

Design

The Ribelle Cross 2 GTX looks sleek straight out of the box, with clean and angular lines highlighting the design and material choices at a quick glance. It presents as an athletic low-cut trail runner, but as soon as you hold the shoe, its solid and chunky sole lets you know that it’s built for performance on tricky terrain, just like you’d expect from SCARPA.

I got sent a pair in the Black and Olive colourway. Personally, I think the pop of olive really complements the shoe in all the right places, and is more than appropriate for an Italian brand. It looks so good, I think you can even pop it into your streetwear rotation, particularly if you’re a Gorpcore lord.

So fresh, so clean, before the trail

Performance

Durability

Firstly, the TPU Mudguard wrapped around the entire base of the shoe really impressed me and worked effectively as a rubber-like shield against sharp rock impacts and abrasion. I’ve taken this pair out in a variety of weather and trail conditions and you can actually see all the scuffs on the mudguard after a hike, proving the protection works in real scenarios.

Full-wrap TPU mudguard taking the brunt of the trail with no issues

The 2D EVA-CM midsole is formed using compression moulding under high heat and pressure, and the resulting dense foamy structure provides sturdy underfoot protection that maintains its original stack height over time, even under the weight of a heavy pack.

SCARPA also rounds out the platform with their Presa HIK-06 outsole, a long-lasting rubber compound developed in-house to keep these shoes on the trail for longer.

I have started to notice some wear and tear on the collars of the shoe, but as they appear on the same spot on each shoe, I wonder how much my flat feet and the rubbing of the bulb of my ankle (medial malleolus for you anatomy nerds) on them has contributed to this.

The only weakness on this armoured shoe is the synthetic fabric on the collar

Traction

Relying on their proprietary Presa HIK-06 outsole made from SuperGum rubber, the tread on these bad boys have been fine-tuned for performance.

The 4.5mm bi-directional lugs sees the sole divided into two sections, with the lugs on the forefoot facing forwards to act like small shovels pulling you uphill, whereas the heel lugs are oriented in the opposite direction, to help you brake on downhill descents. These lugs are also designed to actively shed mud and debris on the move. Widely spaced open channels and active flexion on the outsole keeps the traction performing at all times.

Lug report: 3 months in

Though these oversized lugs and rigid sole structure excel at biting into mostly soft and loose terrain, one downside is that they do sacrifice surface contact. This means that they can be prone to slipping on flat, wet rocks, which I found out first-hand on my approach to a waterfall just outside of Chiang Mai. However, to be fair, I think this was the first and only slip I had in the shoes.

Smile so no one knows you just slipped on these rocks

Comfort

The Midsole Trade-off

Compared to the pillowy plush foams used in some modern trail running shoes, the 2D EVA-CM midsole architecture used by SCARPA feels completely foreign.

Instead of injecting pressurised gas into a plastic until it becomes a bouncy foam, two distinct blocks of compression foam are used, with the density tailored for function in different parts of the sole. A higher density EVA is used for the forefoot, providing extra protection while helping with propulsion, while a low density EVA is used in the heel to create a cradle which reduces joint shock.

They’re not soft, but that doesn’t mean they’re uncomfortable

All of this results in a relatively rigid underfoot feel which puts emphasis on shoe longevity and structural support over comfort and cushioning. To counteract this, they’ve shaped in a forefoot rocker which did help keep my momentum when walking and reduce lower leg fatigue over my longer hikes.

Does the shoe fit?

This shoe runs narrow and suits a lower foot volume. Having a tighter fitting toe box, you should size it up to allow for natural toe splay. As I have a wider foot, I found that a few adjustments in my lacing structure to free up more space in my midfoot area and utilising a heel lock ultimately felt best on the trail.

To reduce friction hotspots, SCARPA utilizes a heat-bonding technique in place of stitching, to essentially fuse the layers of their fabrics, mimicking one seamless piece of fabric against the foot. As I’ve had an up and down relationship with blisters over my last few multi-day hikes, I’m happy to report that I returned back to Melbourne without any blisters over the 109km Great Ocean Walk, so that was a definite win.

Sustainability

SCARPA is actively pursuing B Corp status and has taken many steps to ensure their production process is in line with their Green Manifesto. One of their core philosophies is to produce durability-first footwear that is designed to be resoled and can survive long enough to stay out of landfills.

By localising 90% of their manufacturing and material sourcing inside Europe and using solar to power their factories and facilities in Italy, they’re able to make a sizable dent in their manufacturing footprint.

PFAS has also been phased out and a PFAS-free DWR coating, as well as newer GORE-TEX ePE membrane, has been used for these shoes, so you can feel good about going for a walk and not introducing forever chemicals into the wild. 

This waterproofing paid off at multiple river crossings on the Great Ocean Walk, when timing my crossings for low tide at the beach meant that I didn’t need to keep removing my shoes to keep my socks dry, time that’s precious on a multi-day hike when you’re trying to hit the daily check points. 

Price

With a $339.95 price tag, the Ribelle Cross 2 GTX sits at the top end of the price spectrum for this type of shoe. This specialised shoe likely won’t be one that’s put on heavy rotation unless you frequently take on trails of medium to longer lengths on technical terrain in varying weather conditions.

However, the shoe has a well thought out design, durability and performs well in a variety of hiking scenarios. If you pick these up on sale, I think they represent good value for the right hiker.

Final Thoughts

The SCARPA Ribelle Cross 2 GTX is a specialised hybrid shoe, finely tuned for hikers who put durability and uncompromising stability first in the backcountry. Think of it as an agile mountain boot rather than a lightweight trail runner. If you live for hiking technical terrain and enjoy the convenience of eco-friendly weather-proofing, they are a great long-term investment that are built to go the distance.