Scarpa Mistral GTX review

The Mistral GTX is a solid hiking boot to consider if you are on the market for:

• a highly durable boot for medium-distance day hikes on mixed terrain
• a boot with premium Gore-Tex waterproofing for the cold and wet season
• a sturdy boot that doesn't require a break-in period and feels comfortable from the box
• a very stable boot with strong ankle support

The Mistral GTX excels in every essential quality of a hiking boot but it does so with a few extra ounces. Several equally strong boots can provide the same experience with a much lower weight (and price!) including the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX and the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX.

We also think that people with wider feet will appreciate a more relaxed toebox space of the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid or the Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX.

We found the Scarpa Mistral GTX to be perfect for winter and cold months in general. Its well-padded interiors, high-cut collar, and waterproof membrane wrap the foot in a warm, almost airtight hug.

How airtight? You can see it in our breathability lab test above. As we filled the boot's upper with smoke, the upper had no pores to let the smoke pass through! Not a single streak.

The boot's toebox is made of solid suede that doesn't have any perforations either.

Thus, we confidently gave this Scarpa boot the lowest breathability score - 1 out of 5.

Two components are responsible for the Mistral's waterproofing capacity - water-resistant suede on the outside and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane on the inside.

Having thoroughly inspected this Scarpa boot, we can confirm it is ready for some seriously wet conditions. Deep puddles, creeks, bogs, slush, snow, and downpours - the Mistral GTX is the right tool for the job.

Because of Scarpa's stellar reputation in the durability department, our expectations were set high for the Mistral GTX. And they were met!

We ruthlessly drilled the boot's suede toebox with sandpaper for 12 seconds. The speed of the Dremel was set to 5K RPM and the pressure remained consistent at 3.2N. It is also important to note that we perform this test on the same spot on all hiking boots for consistency. And Scarpa chose to reinforce this area with an extra layer of suede in the Mistral GTX for a good reason.

In the comparison photo above, it seems like we barely even touched the Scarpa boot! Its suede material is immensely wear-resistant. We gave it the highest toebox durability score in a heartbeat!

With a toe rand so large and sturdy, the Mistral GTX is surely not afraid of wading through sharp bushes or slashing against rocky ridges.

However, the inner lining of this Scarpa boot proved to be less ready or the wear-and-tear.

Only 4 seconds of sandpaper drilling were enough to blow through the collar mesh. Considering that hiking boots on average get a higher score for heel padding durability (4 out of 5), the Mistral GTX could do better with only 2 out of 5.

On the other hand, the boot's Vibram outsole proved to be highly robust.

Using a Shore C durometer, we recorded the boot's rubber hardness at 88.0 HC which is on par with the industry average.

But hardness is not always a guarantee of durability and that's why each durometer test is followed by a demanding Dremel drill.

Considering that rubber is much tougher than the upper materials, we raise the bar by upping the speed to 10K RPM and extending the drilling time to 22 seconds.

But stricter conditions didn't change the fact that the Mistral's rubber outsole is ready for use and abuse! Our tread gauge showed that the dent created by the Dremel was only 0.8 mm deep. That's a solid result for a hiking boot!

The Scarpa Mistral GTX doesn't skimp on outsole thickness either. Our calliper measurement showed 3.0 mm which is standard for hiking boots.

To sum it up, all three tests confirmed that this Scarpa boot's rubber outsole lives up to the industry standards in its hardness, abrasion resistance, and thickness. Thus, we expect it to last just as long as the average boot.

At first glance, you could probably guess that the Scarpa Mistral GTX is a heavier boot. It is just as sturdy and heavy-set as its counterparts from the same brand.

Tipping the scale at 21.0 oz (594g) in a men's US size 9, it is notably heavier than the average hiking boot (by a good 2.5 oz!).

But compared to similarly-built Scarpa boots, it is only slightly heavier than the Rush TRK GTX (20 oz/567g), the Terra GTX (20.3 oz/575g), and the Boreas GTX (20.6 oz/583g).

We found that the Mistral GTX has adequate cushioning for a day hiking boot — nothing to write home about and nothing to complain about.

Measuring its heel stack (insole and outsole included), our calliper showed 34.6 mm. That is an average platform thickness for a hiking boot but it's enough to offer impact protection and isolate the foot from the trail debris.

We also found the boot's forefoot stack slightly thinner than average at 18.8 mm.

In our wear tests, we felt that this kind of sole thickness strikes a fine balance between protection and flexibility.

There is a pretty tangible heel-to-toe drop in the Scarpa Mistral GTX. The difference in our stack height measurements showed 15.8 mm which is on the taller side of the hiking boot spectrum.

Unless you are a proponent of low-drop or barefoot hiking footwear, we don't think you will have any trouble with this Scarpa boot. The elevated heel helps to take the pressure off the Achilles, especially when you are carrying a backpack.

The Mistral GTX is far from the plush type. But its midsole cushioning has a touch of softness to provide essential comfort and cushioning.

Pressing a Shore A durometer against the boot's primary foam, we got a reading of 24.8 HA. Compared to other hiking boots, this is a middle-of-the-road type of softness.

But please note that the boot feels notably firmer than this static number suggests because of the full-length TPU shank and the firm rubber outsole.

Gladly, the Mistral GTX doesn't get much firmer in low temperatures.

In an attempt to recreate cold weather, we kept the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes.

Repeating the durometer measurement after that, we found that the foam got only 11.6% firmer.

A well-padded insole creates a fine buffer between the boot's stiff platform and the foot.

Our calliper measurement showed 5.3 mm of thickness in the heel which is standard for a hiking boot.

Stability and side-to-side containment are some of the primary reasons to get the Scarpa Mistral GTX. The boot vanished all of our concerns on hilly terrain!

From the ground up, it is built with surefootedness in mind - the cradle-shaped midsole, the full-length TPU shank, the stiff suede upper, and the over-the-ankle collar - all work together to prevent undue foot shifting and wobbling.

High torsional rigidity is one of the primary characteristics of a stable hiking boot. That's why we twist each model with our hands to assess the stiffness of its construction - the harder it is to twist the boot, the less likely your foot is to buckle in it.

Looking at the video above, you can see why we rated the Mistral's rigidity with the highest score for torsional rigidity.

A stiff heel counter is another important contributor to the boot's stability and the Scarpa Mistral GTX nails it!

Our heels and ankles clicked with the rear part of the boot and remained securely locked ever since.

Giving the boot's heel counter a push and squeeze in our manual test, we rated its stiffness with a high score of 4 out of 5. We believe that this level of stiffness is just right for a less technical day hiking boot.

To our surprise, this Scarpa boot provides a very stable experience without a particularly wide platform.

Measuring its widest area with a calliper, we recorded 105.4 mm which is 6 mm narrower than the average! And yet, that didn't seem to affect our solid footing at all.

In the widest part of the heel, the Mistral GTX also returned a few millimetres less than the average but it's not enough to be critical. At 84.0 mm, it is about 3.5 mm narrower than most boots.

Considering the boot's already hefty weight, it makes sense to shave off the bulk wherever possible.

With a rigid TPU shank running through the boot's entire midsole and a stiff suede upper on top, we didn't expect the Scarpa Mistral GTX to bend so easily.

In fact, it turned out to be even stiffer than the average hiking boot in our flexibility test.

We used a gauge to measure how much force it would take to bend this Scarpa boot to a 90-degree angle. At 48.5N, the Mistral GTX required 10% more force than the average boot.

Whether this is good or bad depends on your personal preference. Sure, it lacks the cosiness of Hoka boots but it does feel nice and structured.

If you are getting the Mistral GTX for low temperatures, do take into account that there is going to be a slight increase in stiffness.

After 20 minutes in the freezer, the boot needed 11.7% more force to bend to a 90-degree angle.

Boots from Scarpa never disappoint when it comes to grippy lugs. The company is a true expert in climbing and mountaineering footwear after all!

Checking the lug depth on the Mistral GTX, our calliper showed 5.0 mm. This is deeper than the average and makes the boot suitable for more technical terrain.

But it's not just the tread depth that makes the bite of this Scarpa boot so aggressive, their strategic positioning and shape also play an important role.

The frontmost area features sharp razor-blade lugs for maximum grip on the ascent propulsion. Similar lugs are found in the heel to help with braking on the descent. The spaced out treads in the forefoot help to trudge through soft terrain more effectively too.

The boot's hee brake also helps to maximise stopping power when hiking downhill.

We are confident that the Scarpa Mistral GTX can handle a wide variety of terrain without hesitation. Boulders, rooty trails, mossy logs, creeks, and bog-like patches - you name it!

Wear testing the Scarpa Mistral GTX, we felt a bit more wiggle room in front of the toes than we are used to in our regular men's US size 9.

Grabbing our calliper confirmed that the boot's internal length indeed exceeded the average at 276.6 mm. For reference, we got 270.2 mm in the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX and 271.0 mm in the Scarpa Boreas GTX.

You may want to consider getting a half size smaller in the Mistral GTX.

As for the boot's fit, we found that the Mistral GTX offers a reasonable amount of toebox space for a D medium width.

Our calliper recorded 103.1 mm in the widest part of the boot's forefoot which is a standard measurement for our lab-tested hiking boots.

The Mistral GTX tapers slightly towards the toes showing 75.6 mm on our calliper. A couple of millimetres below the average but nothing to be alarmed about.

The Mistral GTX maximises its waterproofing capacity with the help of a fully integrated tongue. The gussets extend up nearly matching the entire height of the boot's collar.

This feature allows you to worry less about deep puddles and creeks on your way. Just make sure that the water doesn't reach the non-gusseted part. Because if it seeps inside the boot, the interiors will remain damp for the rest of the hike.

The Mistral GTX uses strong round laces that are of adequate length and stay tied throughout the hike.

The collar features three pairs of lace hoops for a quicker and easier on-and-of action.

One of the best things about this Scarpa boot is that it feels very comfortable straight from the box and doesn't require a considerable break-in period.

Going on a long walk the first time we wore the Mistral GTX, we got no blisters or hot spots whatsoever.

The boot's well-padded tongue contributed to the comfort we experienced in the Mistral GTX.

With a thickness of 13.4 mm, it is even slightly foamier than average.

Even without finger loops and pull tabs, we found it easy to get this Scarpa boot on and off. Its collar opened up wide enough and the lace hoops helped to deal with laces faster.

You have the option to replace the boot's insole with an aftermarket one if you need more arch support or cushioning.

There are no reflective elements on this Scarpa boot.