As a boot specifically designed for trekking in both summer and winter, the Mescalito TRK Pro GTX have proved to be warm and waterproof, offering comfort on longer days if the correct boot size is available. Graham was able to get a pair pretty much in his size, but unfortunately due to a lack of half sizes Sharon had to go for a UK 8, which meant they didn't fit her well at all. Graham enjoyed the B1 capability of the men's version, using them most recently on the rolling hills of Glenshee in a mix of heather, grass, hard snow and on icy paths. But the women's version is less suited to winter since it isn't crampon compatible, and Sharon could only test hers in summer conditions or on lowland trails. We have to ask: why the difference?

What are they for?

Based on the design of Scarpa's popular Mescalito TRK boot, but with the addition of a nubuck leather upper and a more supportive midsole, the Mescalito TRK Pro GTX is a capable lightweight walking boot that's designed for trekking and long day-hikes in both summer and winter conditions. The emphasis is on comfort, allowing you to cover bigger distances. Being designed for year-round use suggests they might be a bit warm in hot summer weather yet perhaps a bit under-spec for more serious winter stuff. No single model is going to be ideal throughout every season, but in the UK with its comparatively ill-defined and rarely-extreme seasonality there is a lot to be said for a jack-of-all-trades like this.

However we find it perplexing that the men's version is B1 rated, while the women's/lower volume boot is not. Scarpa, women want to explore the hills in winter too! Some women might be able to get by using a men's boot, but should they have to? That said, even the men's version is quite bendy for a B1-rated boot, and while Graham was happy Munro bagging on the reasonably gentle Cairnwell hills in patchy hard snow, the boots wouldn't allow any kind of front-pointing on steeper ascents. They most definitely suit walking only, not winter mountaineering.

Weight and Build Quality

At 1.3kg for a pair of size EU 42 the Mescalitos are a nice lightweight boot. The oiled nubuck leather upper ought to be pretty resilient, the all-round rand provides extra protection and durability, and the boot is designed to be easily resoled should the rubber wear faster than the upper. Build quality seems generally good for what has been a short test, but Graham's are already showing signs of wear on the uppers at the toe joint. To be fair, Graham's feet have very high arches, and most of his boots fail on the uppers at this point long before any resoling becomes a possibility. 

Fit and Comfort

This is a thorny issue. For a pair of boots to be comfortable they need to fit properly. Both Graham and Sharon had to go for a bigger boot than their normal sizes as the Mescalito TRK Pro GTX don't come in EU half sizes. Graham would usually take a UK size 10 in boots, so he can get away with an EU 45 as that is just a little bigger than that, whereas Sharon is a UK 7½, so she would usually get an EU 41.5. She had to go for the EU 42, which is just over a UK 8. Graham's are a reasonable fit, but Sharon has to wear two thick pairs of socks in order to be able to walk in them without excessive movement.

Sizing aside, Sharon has found the boots fit her slim heels well, and the toe box on both pairs is wider then they both expected, making for a comfortable walk even as the feet spread over the course of a long day. Both the men's and women's versions have the same leather lining in the collar area, which makes for a comfortable feel, and both are waterproof using a BlueSign-approved and PFC-free Gore-Tex membrane, helping to keep your feet dry as a backup to the already water-shedding oiled nubuck. They each find them to offer good waterproofing, both in snowy conditions and during heavy rain, which has been great in the recent weather.

The lacing on these boots is smooth and straightforward, and keeps the tension down the length of the boot throughout long walks without having to be rejigged.

Upper

The upper in the Mescalito TRK Pro GTX is a luxurious-feeling water-resistant nubuck leather, while the bellows and collar are made of soft full-grain leather. Around the collar, comfort, support and flex are well-balanced, so you don't feel too clumpy. The tongue is gusseted and is connected on both sides which as the Scarpa website states, does help to keep detritus out of the boot, and keeps the tongue centralised. Sharon wore hers on a long moorland day in driving rain, and although you would hope that a new boot would keep you dry, she was pleasantly surprised by just how waterproof they were.

Sole

The Vibram sole has a decent level of support and stability underfoot, which is good for walking on rough ground or when carrying a heavy pack. There's also plenty of impact-absorption in the PU midsole, making for a more forgiving feel over longer walks. Grip is good - both Graham and Sharon feel confident walking on slippery surfaces such as wet rock and wet grass in their boots.

Returning to the matter of crampon-compatibility: the men's boot is B1 rated, so it will take a C1 strap-on walking crampon but lacks the heel ledge that would fit a semi-automatic C2. Given its comparative lack of rigidity this is a good boot for less-demanding snowy hill days but would not be our first choice for regular winter use, or anything steep. Perhaps it's better regarded as an all-season boot with some modest winter crossover. Again, and making no apologies for repeating ourselves, we've got to question why the women's/lower volume version lacks even the relative stiffness of the men's, and is not officially crampon-compatible.

Summary

The Mescalito TRK Pro GTX feels like a nice three-season hillwalking boot that Scarpa have tried to winterise, but without actually making it properly crampon compatible.

Before heading to the Cairngorms at the start of the winter we managed a few days out locally in 'summer' conditions. The boots were great on frosty mornings on the Haweswater Fells, and they coped remarkably well during a named storm with amber warnings of heavy rain in the Orton Fells.

However, once we hit winter proper, it was a real shame that Sharon could only sensibly use hers for moorland walks. Graham's do cope with snowy Munro-bagging, as long as the gradients aren't too steep, but even his boots feel a little too bendy for him to be his usual confident self in crampons on steeper paths. This excessive bendiness for what claims to be a crampon compatible boot possibly derives from the sizing issues mentioned above.

For largely non-snowy use, if you happen to be a nice rounded EU foot size, the Mescalito TRK Pro GTX could well be the perfect boot for you. Graham will continue to use his for easier ascents in winter, and if they prove to be as durable as they initially seem then they should see him through the busy summer months ahead too.

About Sharon and Graham

Graham Uney and Sharon Kennedy are not short of opportunities to test boots, as the team behind Graham Uney Mountaineering, one of the UK's busiest providers of outdoor qualification courses, from walking to climbing. They're out most days in the hills of the Lake District where they live, and also work regularly in Scotland, Wales, and further afield.