I’ve been testing these hiking boots, and they’re the answer for staying comfortable on casual walks

Not every pair of hiking boots has to be able to take you up the tallest mountain. For the last year, I’ve been looking for the best hiking boots for casual hikes and weekend wanders through the woods. And after a lot of searching, I think I’ve found them.

The Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX boots don’t claim to be the most heavy-duty boots out there, but they are totally waterproof, have great traction and a durable build. What’s more, these boots are comfortable straight out of the box — no break-in period.

The minimal insole cushioning may put off those with sensitive soles, and the fit is pretty snug, but even with that, I’ve been loving my walks with these boots. To find out more, keep reading this full Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Specs

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Price & availability

You can purchase the Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX boots for $240 from third-party retailers such as the Sports boots online store, since unfortunately Scarpa does not sell this specific boot directly in the U.S. But if you’re in the U.K., you can buy the boots for £195 directly from the Scarpa online store.

I tested the women’s version of the boots, and they also come in a low-cut version. The women’s version of the mid boot is available in U.S. Sizes 6 to 10 with half sizes and U.K. Sizes 4 to 8 with half sizes. I’m usually a U.K. size 5, but I had to size up to a 5 and a half. You can also buy a men’s version, which is slightly different as they have a much wider fit, but unfortunately, I couldn’t see any availability for the men’s shoe in the U.S.

In looks, these boots remind me of the Keen Targhee IV, which are my go-to for taking on the outdoors. The Keens cost $169 / £155 and are a better choice if you have wider feet and require a roomy toe box.

If you want a boot with a lot more traction, I’d recommend looking at the Keen Targhee Apex Mid hiking boots. These boots cost $190 / £150 but are better if you need a lot of traction and secure ankle support for a tricky trail.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Design & build

The Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX are a good-looking boot. They’re exactly what comes to mind when I think of a hiking boot, and I felt ready for the elements when I wore them. The brown color is very pretty and actually does a good job of disguising any mud that gets onto the boot.

Each boot weighs 12.7 ounces, and they’re very easy to walk in, not making me feel like I’m lugging extra weight on my feet. I could feel they were lighter than the Keen Targhee IV that I usually hike in, and I could walk a lot further before my legs started to ache.

Upper

The upper of the Cyrus 2 Mid GTX is made from Nubuck leather, which feels strong, but still moves with the contours and bend of my foot and ankle. It looks similar to the leather variant of the Merrell Moab Speed 2. The Cyrus has a GORE-TEX membrane, making the boots completely waterproof — and hiking where I’m from, I was very grateful for this.

There’s a lot of padding around the ankle, which is great for me. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m very clumsy, so having a bit of extra support to avoid rolled ankles is always good.

Insole

The insole of the Scarpa boots doesn’t have a whole lot of cushioning. However, I don’t think this made me like the boots any less. It made the fit of the boots feel more relaxed, suiting them to casual walks and hikes, rather than for challenging mountaineering.

Outsole

The boots use a Scarpa Presa outsole, which is made of a rubber compound designed to deal with a range of outdoor terrain. It works well for all terrain I tested on, which I’ll talk about more later. They have lugs that gave me stability on both wet and dry ground. These boots have great traction, and the sole isn’t too thick, so there’s a good amount of flex.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Break-in & comfort

The Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX hiking boots are perfect if you don’t have time to break in your boots before a big adventure — they’re good to go straight out of the box. The first walk I took in these boots was a 5km round trail with varying terrain and incline, and because the boots felt so stable, I didn’t have any issues with rubbing, meaning no hot spots that can cause blisters.

Comfort

The boots are extremely comfortable to wear, particularly due to the flex of the outsole that makes each step feel completely natural. The padding on the inside of the upper of the boots made my feet feel secure and supported me whenever there was a bend in my foot.

Thankfully, these boots are very breathable and everything still felt comfortable when I worked up a sweat. There was enough room in the toe box for me, even when wearing thick socks. I do, however, have narrow feet, so if you usually need a wide fit, I’d recommend the Keen Targhee IV instead for their spacious toe box.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s not a lot of cushioning in these boots. When I was making my way across rough terrain like rocks embedded in clay, my foot was wrapping around the uneven ground, but I enjoyed this sensation — it made me feel more connected to the landscape and helped me find my footing a lot quicker. I’m pretty sure that if I were blindfolded and you gave me a piece of paper and a pen, I could draw you a picture of the rock from what I felt beneath the soles.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Performance

I like these boots. I like them a lot. They’re comfy, solid, and reliable — what more could you want? They’re best for short hikes with varied terrain, as I found them great across clay, mud, gravel and uneven rocks. Because of the minimal cushioning, I wouldn’t recommend them for weekend-long hikes — but not every boot has to take you through an entire expedition.

Grip

The boots have great grip! Despite my clumsy disposition, I didn’t fall over once. I made my way through mud, sand and over rocks and felt very stable. The legs dug into the ground very well but didn’t hold on to any debris. I tested these boots during fall, and as the weather got wetter where I live, I didn’t have any issues on the slippery ground.

Support

Despite the lack of cushioning I mentioned, my feet felt supported. I have high arches and didn’t experience any aches, and I felt my posture was well supported too. Your posture while walking is directly impacted by your footwear, so I’m happy with the results I got.

The ankle support was impressive, and even when I felt my balance wavering on uneven ground, I knew I had all the support I needed to keep me upright.

Flex

Since this is a thinner sole, there’s plenty of flex. The boots were bending with the movement of my feet, and I enjoyed how this made my strides feel natural and unrestricted.

Flex isn’t always a great thing in walking boots, and some stiffness can offer stability. However, since these boots are designed for shorter hikes and casual walks, it’s good to have some natural movement in your feet.

Waterproofing

Boy, was I thankful for the waterproofing on the Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX boots. Whilst on a long walk, I found myself at the beach once I emerged from the trees. What a lovely sight, but to get down onto the sand I had to cross a small inlet. That was no big deal for these boots. I was in water just up to the laces, and my feet stayed completely dry.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Maintenance

The Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX hiking boots are easy to maintain, just like any pair of hiking boots. Since the upper is made from Nubuck leather, you should ensure they’re completely dry before storing them away. I brushed the dirt off my boots once dry, and they looked as good as new.

Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX review: Verdict

The Scarpas have good waterproofing, keep my feet dry even in the sea, have a durable build with a Nubuck leather upper, and are comfortable straight out of the box. The boots are lightweight and very flexible, making walking feel very natural. The traction and support also made the journey in these boots very relaxing, knowing I was stable with every step.

That said, they’re not totally perfect. The cushioning of the insole is minimal, and while this didn’t impact my experience, those with sensitive soles may find them a little uncomfortable. The fit is also a little snug. Sizing up should solve this, but those with wider feet may want to look elsewhere.

Nevertheless, the Scarpa Cyrus 2 Mid GTX hiking boots are now a firm favorite of mine. I’ve always wanted a pair of boots that I can rely on when the walk requires more than a regular sneaker but doesn’t need mountaineering boots — and now I have them.