Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD review

Who should buy the Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD

The Ribelle Lite HD is an Italian-made mountaineering boot compatible with hybrid (semi-automatic) crampons. Purchase it if:

• You need a highly randed boot that provides smooth transitions on flat terrain.
• Your hilly adventures are often met with humid and chilly weather.
• You require great ankle support without sacrificing flexibility, particularly on descents.

Who should not buy it

With no negative feedback on the length of its laces, the Salewa Rapace GTX is a great alternative to the Ribelle Lite HD. There's also the Scarpa Manta Tech GTX—a B2 boot that has no reported issues concerning its gusseted tongue.

Exemplary surface traction

Reviewers, including vloggers, adore the 10-out-of-10 grip of the Ribelle Lite HD. The following are their hot takes:

• The side of the boot and its outsole "slice into snow with aplomb."
• "They’ve got quite a beefy grip on the sole."
• "Agile as a chamois on grassy slopes and scree."

The plush and cozy Scarpa Ribelle Lite HD

With remarks such as "they’re extremely comfortable; I can’t believe it" and "they feel pretty damn good," the Ribelle Lite HD can be considered a real treat for the feet. Contributing to its comfort level, particularly in chilly temperatures, is its cozy construction. "I have never been cold" in this boot, says a climber. It has "surprising thermal insulation," says another.

No wetness in its vocabulary

According to gear bloggers, the Ribelle Lite HD is a dependable ally where wetness is present. "Very waterproof," is how one of them describes it. "They have always remained waterproof," says a non-professional reviewer.

Longer shoestrings needed

There are those who are unimpressed with the Ribelle Lite HD's short laces. Replacing it with longer shoestrings, preferably semi-flat ones, is a great idea.

Lightness that deserves admiration

Many mountaineers are floored by the featured Scarpa boot's lightness. "They feel impressively light both in the hand and on the foot," says an experienced hillwalker. Another reviewer describes the Ribelle Lite HD as "fast as a hare on the hiking trail due to its lightness."

Unwobbly mountain walks in the Ribelle Lite HD

"They prove to be very supportive"—this is how an expert finds the mighty stable Ribelle Lite HD. A non-professional reviewer is more specific about it, saying that the boot has "excellent ankle support."

Not just for ascents

A decent number of owners find the Ribelle Lite HD quite versatile. Their comments about it are as follows:

• "The Swiss army knife of summer alpine footwear."
• "Excellent summer hiking and mountaineering shoes."
• "The best all-rounder at the moment."

This versatility can be linked to the boot's rockered sole unit. With it, a vlogger was able to traverse flat terrain quite well. The shoe's bow-shaped forefoot and high toe rocker also made every step of a mountaineer feel guided and fluid.

The Ribelle Lite HD's moving tongue

Among the boot's few misfires is its alleged unruly tongue. A mountaineer says that "the tongue has trouble staying in place on the foot."