SCARPA INSTINCT SLIPPER

The asymmetric, downturned Instinct grabs holds on the steeps better than any shoe in this review. The substantial and semi-stiff midsole also enables precise edging—a quality you don’t normally find in a slipper. Generous rubber atop the toe box provides excellent toe hooking, jamming, and scumming. Fit them tight and you’ll also get superior heel hooking—another quality normally reserved for lace-ups or Velcros. Made with 3mm Vibram XS Grip2 rubber and a Lorica upper, the Instinct is Scarpa’s most sensitive shoe. They hold their shape over time, so expect them to stretch half a size at most. One seasoned tester summed up the Instinct when he called them the “best, most versatile slippers I’ve ever climbed in, hands down.”