Scarpa

Scarpa – Italian mountain footwear craftsmanship since 1938

Scarpa was established in 1938 in Asolo in the Veneto region of northern Italy, at the foot of the Dolomites, by the Anglo-Irish businessman Rupert Edward Cecil Lee Guinness, 2nd Earl of Iveagh. The name is an acronym for Società Calzaturiera Asolana Riunita Pedemontana Anonima – the association of shoemakers from the Asolo area. In 1956 the three Parisotto brothers (Francesco, Luigi and Antonio) purchased the company, and Scarpa remains family-owned and run by the third generation of Parisottos: Sandro, Piero, Davide and Cristina.

Innovation and groundbreaking models

Scarpa has been a pioneer in the mountain footwear industry for several decades. In the 1970s the brand developed one of the world's first high-altitude plastic boots – initially called Grinta, later Inverno (or Vega internationally) – which were used on expeditions in the Himalayas and Antarctica, and adopted by Italian, American, French and Spanish military forces. Scarpa was also the first manufacturer of a Gore-Tex boot and the first to produce a plastic telemark boot.

A wide range for all mountain sports

Scarpa is the only brand in the world that makes footwear for the full spectrum of mountain sports – from skiing and mountaineering to climbing, hiking and trail running. Models include Phantom, Mont Blanc Pro, Ribelle, Maestrale and Gea for randonnée, F1 XT with Pebax Rnew bio-based plastic for ski touring, and Mojito for everyday use. The head office and factory remain in Asolo, and in 2005 the company opened its North American head office in Boulder, Colorado. An excellent choice if you want mountain footwear from a brand with a deep Italian craft tradition.