The Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX excels in mountain terrain where excellent traction and stability are essential to keep you safe and secure. Less than an actual mountain boot, this mid-weight hiking boot will handle trail miles with ease, whether on day hikes or extended distance backpacking trips. The Sierra High Route. The Haute Route. The Bailey Range Traverse. Mount Whitney's Mountaineer's Route. These iconic and popular treks involve lots of on-trail travel and off-trail boulder hopping, scree slogging, snow walking, and rock scrambling. These types of terrain are where the Zodiac Plus shines brighter than any other boot in our review. If you need the stability and traction of a mountain boot, with the weight of a mid-weight hiking shoe, then this model is for you.
Editor's Note: This boot review was updated on February 23, 2022, to include more product comparison info.Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX Review

Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Best choice for rock and snow travel, durable, breathes well
Cons: Wider fit, not the best lace locking system, price
Manufacturer: Scarpa
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Price | $299.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $167.29 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $104.99 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $209 List |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Best choice for rock and snow travel, durable, breathes well | Top-level hiking boot performance, excels in all metrics | Incredibly lightweight, comfortable | Well-cushioned, waterproof, durable | Excellent waterproofing, deep lugs for solid traction, heel brake in outsole |
Cons | Wider fit, not the best lace locking system, price | Expensive, not as great for hot and dry climates | Less durable than heavier models, thin sole | Heavy for their height, feet get especially sweaty | Average stability, difficult to lace up |
Bottom Line | For rocky alpine approaches and moderate snow travel, this model is a lightweight mountain boot disguised as a hiking boot | The gold standard of what a great hiking boot should be, and we heartily recommend it for those seeking the best possible performance on and off the trail | This mid-top hiking boot is ridiculously lightweight, though it offers excellent stability and traction for fast and light objectives | This affordable boot is super comfortable right out of the box and has the durability to go the distance | These high-ankle hiking boots are a great option for excellent waterproof protection in a relatively lightweight package |
Rating Categories | Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX | Salomon Quest 4 Gor... | Salomon X Ultra Mid... | Merrell Moab 2 Mid... | La Sportiva Nucleo... |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Stability (20%) | |||||
Traction (15%) | |||||
Weight (15%) | |||||
Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX | Salomon Quest 4 Gor... | Salomon X Ultra Mid... | Merrell Moab 2 Mid... | La Sportiva Nucleo... |
Weight (per pair) | 2.65 lbs (size 11) | 2.90 lbs (size 11) | 1.85 lbs (size 11) | 2.48 lbs (size 10.5) | 2.41 lbs (size 43.5 EU) |
Boot Type | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot | Midweight hiker/backpacking boot |
Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular and wide | Regular and wide |
Waterproof Lining | Gore-Tex | Gore-Tex | Gore-Tex | M Select DRY | GORE-TEX Surround |
Upper | 1.8mm suede perwanger | Leather and nylon | PU coated leather | Suede leather, mesh | Nubuck leather |
Last Board/Shank | BZ last | 4D Chassis | Molded shank | Nylon arch shank | Tempo |
Midsole | PU + 3D EVA-MP | EnergyCell | SensiFit | EVA | Compression molded EVA |
Sole | Vibram Drumlin / Mont | Contagrip | Contagrip | Vibram TC5+ rubber | Vibram Nano XS-Trek rubber compound |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We took the Zodiac Plus GTX out on some serious adventures, hiking and climbing in such iconic mountain ranges as the Sierra Nevada and the North Cascades. Scarpa developed this boot for precise footwork in mountain terrain, where stability and traction are paramount. We give it our hearty recommendation for scrambling across boulders and talus due to its outmatched performance in 3rd and 4th terrain travel.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The Zodiac Plus GTX is a purpose-driven boot built around the needs of serious hikers and mountain climbers. It has a rockered sole and hikes reasonably well on trails, though it does not perform to the same standards as some of the luxuriously cushioned models we feature in our boot review. Comfortable enough, the Zodiac places a higher value on stability and traction, and we are fine with that trade-off in this niche model.
We docked this model a few points, coming in behind incredibly comfortable models like our favorite overall boot, the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex, or the equally comfortable Hoka Kaha. This lower score was a result of its stiffness in general hiking terrain, leaving our feet rather sore at the end of a long day on the trail. We feel that you pay a reasonable price to get the performance where it counts.
The Zodiac Plus GTX has a trim, performance fit that likely will fit those with slightly wider feet better, especially if you are looking to fit on the snugger side, which is what we would recommend for a boot of this type. The ankle collar is built with soft foamy material that hugs the ankle tightly without biting in. The outer is made from 1.8mm thick suede Perwanger leather, which is more supple than the full-grain leather outer used on the models that most closely resemble classic backpacking boots, but it was difficult to draw the material tightly around the forefoot for those with narrower feet or those preferring a thinner sock system.
Stability
The Zodiac is a top performer when it comes to stability, and we award it high scores in this important metric.
This boot has a narrow width, which fit our medium volume feet quite well, and when laced up, felt snug and secure, leaving little room for rolling ankles. This snug fit gives more control of the boot's edges, which improves their climbing prowess when all you get for a grip is the toe edge. The soft suede leather conforms to the foot, making these reasonably comfortable to walk in, though the stiff midsole and shank keep these from having a smooth and natural gait. Rather, these traits aid in their abilities to tackle uneven slopes.
This model has the highest torsional stability for its weight, a quality often only found in heavier mountaineering boots. Thus, the torsional stability is a result of using a polyurethane and 3D EVA midsole that provides a similar amount of stiffness as a shank design but without the weight. The only place we found the Zodiac Plus to falter was in extended travel through terrain requiring smearing, as the stiff sole felt clunky for slabby moves. For this type of terrain, we favored a boot that offered a bit more rocker shape to the sole as this will allow for more forefoot flex.
Traction
This boot is one of the best performers in the traction metric, and it expresses a strong preference towards being in steep mountain climbing situations. That doesn't make it less useful when taken out on less serious or demanding hikes, however. Even on the local trails, we find this boot to be exceptional in holding a secure grip in all conditions.
The Scarpa Zodiac Plus has more versatile usefulness in a variety of conditions that require high traction capabilities, so whether you need to get good footing in loose or dry conditions, mud, snow, or high-angle rock, you can be sure that you won't slip.
This model features a Vibram Drumlin sole, a rubber compound that is firmer and thus will be better at biting into soft surfaces and also will be more resistant to wear over the long term. Scarpa does make boots with a softer rubber compound, which would be more useful if you plan on smearing and doing higher-level rock or mountain climbing with your boots, though most users will find the Drumlin to be a perfect balance of traction and durability.
Weight
Weighing in at 2.66 pounds in size 11 US, the Scarpa Zodiac is not the lightest in this review, as our favorite lightweight model comes in at nearly a pound less per pair, though we are comparing apples to oranges in pitting these two types of boots against each other.
The Zodiac is a lot more boot, capable of holding its own in much more diverse terrain than lightweight models, and will last for far longer thanks to the heavier-duty materials used. This is a great example of how the score reflects the weight alone, but not necessarily how the weight translates into overall utility.
Water Resistance
On this boot, Scarpa has used a 1.8mm thick suede Perwanger full leather outer, along with a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort footwear lining.
Right out of the box, the boots shed water like a duck while walking through fast-moving snowmelt streams. The Gore-Tex lining performed effectively and allowed our feet to breathe well despite wearing medium thickness socks in above-average temperatures.
Users will note that without aftermarket treatment, however, the suede leather will begin to wear and will wick water, rendering the Gore-Tex liner less useful.
Durability
The Zodiac Plus GTX is made with suede leather. With proper treatment, this award winner should last for years of use.
Lots of exposure to rough granite rock, getting jammed into cracks, and kicking steps into firm dirt will reduce longevity, but, like most tools, when used correctly, they will last a long time. High-quality Italian craftsmanship is evident in this boot, and we experienced no abnormal wear, lace breakage, or sole/rand delamination.
Should You Buy the Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX?
This is a perfect boot for those who do a lot of hiking with a heavy backpack or plan to get into rough and rocky terrain. If that sounds like you, these boots are second to none. They're pricy, sure, but we feel that their cost is worth it for the high performance and durability you will get in return.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
If you still want a super rugged boot with great stability but a bit more comfort, the Salomon Quest 4 GTX is a great bet. For a more affordable boot that's also great in technical terrain, check out the La Sportiva TXS GTX.
— Ryan Huetter
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