Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro Review

The Mont Blanc Pro is Scarpa's take on the classic single leather mountaineering boot. This type of boot is typically pretty durable and pretty good at most things without being brilliant at anything. The Mont Blanc Pro meets those criteria.

Performance Comparison

Climbing

Each boot's climbing performance was evaluated in three media: ice, mixed/dry tooling, and rock climbing without crampons. Single leather boots often shine on steep ice but feel somewhat clunky on mixed ground or when rock climbing. The Mont Blanc Pro performed well on mixed terrain and rock climbing. The cuff of the boot is slightly lower and slightly more flexible than other single leather boots, and we felt this gave it a slight advantage in these scenarios. We also like it for French technique or for finding the occasional flat-footed rest on a long pitch of ice.

When it came to calf support on steep ice, the Mont Blanc was about average. The supportive cuff and rigid sole do a good job keeping flaming calves at bay. The rocker of the boot strikes a balance between rock climbing and ice climbing performance - less rocker than some boots in our review but more than others.

Weight

The Mont Blanc Pro weighs in at 2lb 1.7oz (955g), essentially the same weight as the previous model. The boot sports ample leather in the upper and a nice thick outsole.

Both of these material choices usually contribute to durability but come at a cost: weight. It is amongst the heaviest boots in our review. Remember that these weights are for one boot (1/2 of a pair).

Weather Resistance

Like all the other boots in our review, the Mont Blanc Pro is fully waterproof up to its "waterline". In this case, that spot is the bellows of fabric that attaches the tongue to the boot. This is about 7.5 inches (19 cm) off the ground, an inch higher than the previous iteration. While this point is higher than the bottom of the gaiter, liquid water can slosh up behind the gaiter and down behind the tongue.

This waterline is pretty standard and should be fine for most practical mountaineering applications. We did not find that snow was forced up into this space. For the most part, the gaiter did a great job keeping the snow out.

Warmth

Our testing team found this boot to be one of the less warm boots in our test, though it's warmer than the lightweight single boots. It's only natural that a single leather boot would be less warm than the supergaiter boots, which are the warmest in the test.

Hiking

The Mont Blanc Pro is a just-above-average performer when it comes to hiking. The same cuff flexibility that helped when dry tooling or rock climbing helped us have a more natural stride on approaches. This was enhanced (though not overly so) by the sole rocker. Some of our testers didn't use the top lace hook for better hiking comfort.

Lacing

Our testing team favors boot closures that are simple to understand, easy to use, and secure. The Mont Blanc Pro ticked those boxes.

Above the lace hook, the first lace attachment point is a pre-threaded webbing loop. It took most of our testers an extra second or two each time to figure out which strand of the shoelace to grab. Not the end of the world, but it was noticeable. We found this system simpler and preferable to the older Mont Blanc Pro's funky gaiter.

Should You Buy the Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro?

The Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro is a classic single leather boot that gets the job done. Newer boot designs are warmer, lighter, and faster to lace up. If this boot is a great fit for your foot, you may like its climbing performance better than we did. We found this boot to fit lower volume feet better than other single leather boots. While it's not outstanding in any department, we think its all-around performance is good.

What Other Mountaineering Boots Should You Consider?