Verdict from 4 experts and 27 user reviews
8 reasons to buy
- The Scarpa Charmoz has earned heaps of praises from quite a number of mountaineers for its astonishing lightness.
- Considering its stiff build, many owners give the Charmoz aces for its surprising comfort.
- A good number of users commend the boot’s excellent climbing performance. They especially liked it for performing well while step-kicking into the snow.
- With the Scarpa Charmoz on, some wearers attest that their foot did not get wet.
- There’s a satisfying amount of flex in this mountaineering boot, according to a couple of users.
- This footwear gives enough warmth in below-zero temperatures, based on a couple of reviews.
- The Charmoz is surprisingly cheaper than most 4-season mountaineering boots, and a few owners, which include an expert, couldn’t help but rave about it.
- Professional gear testers couldn’t deny the tough-as-nails quality of this Scarpa footwear.
2 reasons not to buy
- One owner was also reprehensive of its ill-fitting heel zone.
- Its break-in period could be less demanding, according to an expert blogger.
Bottom line
With its excellent climbing performance, excessive amounts of comfort, and a cheaper-than-most price tag, hardcore mountaineers have a lot to love in the Scarpa Charmoz. This durable yet lightweight, Scarpa mountaineering boot is also highly esteemed for its amazing warmth, satisfying flexibility, and terrific waterproofing. A few people, however, were left sulking over this footwear’s ill-fitting heel zone, forcing them to purchase or reorder a half size larger.
Expert reviews:
- 96/100 by Live for the Outdoors
- 100/100 by Colorado Mountain School
- 90/100 by Everest Million
- 90/100 by Switch Back Travel
Good to know
- The Scarpa Charmoz is a piece of mountaineering gear specifically crafted to aid mountain adventurers with its wealth of capabilities and features. Its upper is made of layers of textiles which make the boot lightweight and durable.
- This revamp is now lined with OutDry, a waterproofing technology that keeps the wearer’s feet nice and dry. This technology replaces the previous incarnation’s Gore-Tex membrane.
- Part of the boot’s closure system is a pair of D-rings riveted to the upper’s synthetic overlay. These lace rings are slightly offset to allow for a custom fit around the ankle area.
- There’s a rubber rand covering the entirety of the upper’s base. This protective band is extra wide and offers 360-degree protection from bumps and abrasions.
- The boot’s midsole, a multi-density PU and EVA, provides cushioning, flexibility, and stability, especially in freezing conditions. Providing grip on rocky and icy terrain, on the other hand, is a rubber outsole engineered by Vibram.
Scarpa’s Charmoz is a high-cut, technical mountaineering footwear for both men and women. Constructed using the NAG last, this boot has contours that aid the wearer’s feet in challenging climbs. This specific last also gives the forefoot zone climbing power and precision. The Charmoz allows for a personalized fit all the way up to the ankle cuff, thanks to the lacing system’s extra pair of speed hooks.
The Mulaz S by Vibram is the outsole that grants the Charmoz traction on mountainous terrain. This resoleable outer layer is built to last and can withstand freezing temperatures as it is made of Vibram’s rubber compound called Mont—a blend of elastomers characterized by durability and resilience in cold conditions.
This rubber outsole is also engineered with high-profile lugs—protrusions that bite into soft and grainy surfaces such as snow and scree. The strategic placement and spacing of these lugs make the outsole self-cleaning. The lugs in the forefoot zone are made especially grippy to aid mountaineers in their climbs, particularly during ascents where step-kicking is required.
Cushioning, protection, and stability over rocky and icy surfaces are made possible by the boot’s multi-density midsole. A combination of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyurethane (PU) materials, this midsole is both lightweight and durable. It is a one-piece rubber platform which runs extra thick at the base of the heel but tapers toward the forefoot zone. This kind of construction gives climbers shock absorption as well as the ability to traverse flatter grounds with relative ease. There’s a lip-like groove at the base of the heel, serving as a crampon point. The Charmoz also comes with a Pro-Fiber XT 20 insole which provides additional support and underfoot comfort.
The Scarpa Charmoz is a supportive mountaineering footgear, thanks to its high-cut design. Its layered upper is chiefly made of fast-drying, synthetic fabrics from which the boot owes its breathability, lightness, and durability.
The OutDry waterproof liner walls off unwanted wet elements. This waterproofing technology also has a breathable design which wicks out moisture and dispels heat from the inside, leaving the wearer’s feet feeling clean and dry.
To give climbers extra comfort, the designers lined the collar’s interior with a cushy mesh fabric. The same breathable fabric is also found on the interior lining of the boot’s tongue.
Secure lockdown is virtually the sole effort of the Charmoz’s speed lacing system which doubles down on fit customization with its set of D-rings and hook eyelets. The synthetic overlay along the sides of the tongue also acts as loops through which the shoelaces pass. Both the tongue and the back of the heel have pull tabs for a quick on and off.
Reinforcing the durability and wear resistance of the boot is a rubber rand which completely covers the base of the upper. This defensive coverage also works in tandem with the footwear’s toe cap in protecting users from toe bumps and injuries.
-The NAG last was co-developed by the late Ueli Steck, a world-renowned alpinist. This specific last was first used in the construction of a few Scarpa Rebel boots—Rebel Lite, Rebel Carbon, and Rebel Ultra.
-This mountaineering boot is compatible with hybrid (semi-automatic) crampons.
How Charmoz compares
