Scarpa has resurrected its classic lightweight Charmoz alpine boot for autumn 2016, but with some crucial improvements to make an iconic winter weapon just a little bit better.
The most obvious change is the use of an OutDry waterproof membrane to add serious levels of water resistance. OutDry is an impressive technology where the waterproof layer is applied directly to the inside of the boot using combination of heat and pressure.
Because there’s no floating sock liner, there’s also no void to fill with water in wet condition use, so the boot stays lighter and more comfortable. The only other Scarpa boot to use OutDry is, we think, the impressive Marmolada trekking boot and it works really well.
In particular, although the Charmoz is being touted as an ‘alpine boot’, we reckon that OutDry liner should be spot on for dark, dank, Scottish winter conditions where soggy feet are a near certainty.
Otherwise the Charmoz, available in both men’s and women’s versions, looks every inch a classic modern lightweight alpine boot with the uppers using a mix of Microtech synthetic leather and L-Tech fabric for a mix of durability and lightness.