Scarpa Mescalito Planet - Women's Review

Well-constructed and highly durable materials make the Mescalito Planet a great shoe for mountain missions when your gear simply cannot fail. The single-piece Pespair upper is indestructible, and the ActivFit system is specifically designed for women's feet. However, this shoe has a wider toe box and might not fit everyone.

Performance Comparison

Climbing Ability

To test climbing ability, we scrambled over low 5th-class terrain, weaved our way through talus, and climbed slabs, cracks, and face holds – all of which one may encounter when traveling in technical terrain. To confidently move through the mountains, a shoe needs to make us feel secure so we can just focus on the task at hand. The Mescalito Planet strikes a nice balance between comfort and climbing ability, providing that feeling of security on the rock.

This shoe is designed for moving through technical alpine terrain where you must have the utmost confidence scrambling on rock and talus. It has a rugged construction, sticky rubber outsole, and full rand protection. The sole has a medium stiffness, allowing us to stand on edges while at the same time being flexible enough for smearing.

We took these shoes out of the box and immediately hiked into the Incredible Hulk in the Sierra to put them to the test. They were surprisingly comfortable and transitioned from the trail to talus with ease. The Vibram Megagrip sticky rubber instilled confidence when jumping between rocks and smearing on slabs. The toe box of the Mescalito Planet was a bit too wide for our feet, and we had to really cinch them down tight to prevent our feet from sliding around inside the shoe. Due to the wide fit and rounded toe box, our testers found that these approach shoes lacked full precision when edging in low fifth class terrain. That being said, if the wide profile better fits the profile of your foot, the shoe will likely offer better performance.

Hiking Comfort

The Mescalito Planet is a really comfortable approach shoe, thanks to the combination of a medium-density EVA midsole and high-density EVA heel insert for added support. The inner fabric lining is soft, and the single-piece multi-density upper is breathable. A main component that adds to the comfort of these shoes (and may detract a bit from the climbing ability for some) is the wide toe box. This allows ample room for the toes to move around while also preventing your toes from jamming into the front of the shoe during long descents with a heavy pack. And while some of the approach shoes that provide a more narrow fit required our testing team to size up, these spacious and wide-fitting shoes required that we size down 1/2 size for the best fit. That being said, perhaps trying on the shoe in person will ensure the most precise fit for your foot.

For our testers, the Mescalito Planet was a dream to hike in and didn't cause any discomfort. We probably wouldn't want to wear these on more technical mountain scrambling as they were a bit too roomy (at least for our feet). But for hiking, big walling, or simply approaching the base of a climb, they perform great. Our feet stayed pleasantly cool while hiking in hot temperatures, and even after 40 miles of approaching, we didn't have any hot spots or blisters.

Weight and Packability

Some approach shoes just need to get us from point A to the base of point B, and weight is not necessarily of huge concern. Many of the approach shoes we tested are all within a few ounces of each other, and if you're not going to be carrying them while climbing, a few ounces won't make that much of a difference. That said, if you're looking for a super lightweight approach shoe, there are better options than the Mescalito Planet

This shoe lands squarely in the middle of the bunch when it comes to weight and packability. A size 38 weighs 21.4 ounces and a size 39.5 weighs 23.68 pounds, which is slightly heavier than other models that score similarly. It is a bit too bulky for clipping on a harness and takes up quite a bit of space in a pack – there are definitely better options if you're looking for a lightweight approach shoe to carry up and over on a climb. But if you need an approach shoe just for approaching, then the Mescalito Planet is still a great option.

Support

A stiffer sole provides the support needed to keep your feet from getting too sore, versus a more flexible shoe that tends to strain the arches of your feet, intensifying fatigue and tiring them out faster. When choosing an approach shoe for rocky terrain and cross-country travel, it is also important to have a durable upper that will protect your feet from sharp rocks and extra toe protection for scrambling easy cracks.

The Mescalito Planet features a medium-stiff midsole that strikes a great balance between the two extremes, providing your feet the necessary support for long hikes into the mountains. The tread is slightly more low profile than heftier alternatives, but it still provided enough traction through the occasional mud puddle.

Construction Quality

When it comes to approach shoes – especially pricey ones – we want to invest in a reliable pair that will last a long time. It's a horrible feeling to be way out in the mountains only to discover a delaminating sole, a blown-out eyelet, or a tear in the sidewall. If a shoe is well-designed and constructed with care, it should be able to withstand normal wear and tear for many years.

Out of all the approach shoes we tested, the Mescalito Planet is one of the most well-constructed. It's obvious that these shoes were made with great attention to detail due to their nearly flawless design. The Prespair upper is incredibly durable yet breathable, which is often a hard combo to come by. There is full rand protection, metal eyelets to prevent laces from blowing out, and a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole. Even after 40 miles on the trail and scrambling over rock, we barely noticed a scratch in the upper. The Mescalito Planet are definitely built to last and we have no trouble recommending them for technical scrambles and off-trail terrain.

Should You Buy the Scarpa Mescalito Planet?

The Scarpa Mescalito Planet is the epitome of bomber construction, making it a reliable option for technical alpine objectives. However, these high-end approach shoes are the most expensive pair we tested, and they might not be a necessary purchase for someone looking to casually approach rock climbs. Even though they offer top-notch performance, their wide toe box may not be the right fit for your foot. But if you have the cash and they fit you well, the Mescalito Planet provides the support, comfort, and technical prowess necessary to move through the mountains.

What Other Approach Shoes Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a less-expensive approach shoe with similar all-around performance, the La Sportiva TX4 Evo is a great option. It climbs well, is comfortable for long-distance hikes, and features a bomber construction nearly on par with the Mescalito Planet. The La Sportiva TX Guide is also an excellent alternative and slightly better than the other two for climbing thanks to a slimmer, more narrow toe box. If the wide toe box of the Mescalito Planet doesn't work well for your foot, the narrow toe box of the TX Guide might offer a better fit.