Scarpa F1 GT Review
Scarpa was kind enough to send a pair of their new F1 GT Alpine Touring boots, so I put together a video review comparing the GT to the original F1, which I own.
Both of these boots fall into what I'm going to call the "Light" A/T category. If you tilt more toward Freeride gear, that probably means you're not quite ready to drop down to this weight class, as it does involve compromises.
That said, when you put a pair on and climb in them, it's hard to argue with the results. I became interested in the GT as soon as I saw it had buckles. I've long thought that an F1 with buckles would be brilliant.
The GT looks a lot like the original, but it's really not just an F1 with buckles. The GT borrows tech from Scarpa's Alien (SkiMo) series boots, including some key shell cutaways, making it lighter and also noticeably better on the uphill than the base F1.
Does that make the original F1 obsolete? Not quite—in a head-to-head matchup, the original F1 seemed quite a bit more comfortable to me, and I also preferred the feel of it on the downhill.
So, pick your priority: outstanding climbing and pretty good downhill performance (F1 GT), or pretty good climbing and outstanding (for a light touring boot) downhill chops (F1).
Either way, if the shoe fits, wear it. I think you'll be happy.
— December 10, 2022
Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents