If you come from the more XC side of things, but still want a shoe that performs in the big mountains, the Shr-Alp is probably for you.
The shoe is a much more streamlined affair than most, and feels light on the feet. The sole isn’t XC stiff, but nor is it going to flop over unsupporting pedals. Walking on rough terrain is aided by the aggressive rubberised tread and rolled up toe area, while if you walk in soft ground a lot, studs can be screwed in the front.
While it might feel light, Scott hasn’t shirked on protection, with a sturdy toe box, heel box, sides and ankle protection. The rest of the upper keeps things cool though, while the Boa closure system makes for easy adjustment.
With only one cross of the wires there’s no pinching, while the Velcro strap at the end is just for fine-tuning. The tongue is again light, but at the top there’s a softer cloth padded section that doesn’t dig into the front of the ankle, for added comfort.
Inside there’s a comfy insole which meant we were happy wearing the shoe all day. There’s plenty of arch support, and this can be adjusted in depth.
Our early sample had durability issues at the sole, but warranty was quick and we had no further issues.