Scarpa Hurricane Pro

I’ve spent entire seasons patrolling on the Pro’s predecessor, the Hurricane. And I’ve not found a better boot to work and ski around the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort until now. Scarpa tweaked a few things, namely heightening the upper cuff, and changing the design to mirror the popular Mobe upper cuff, which increases the flex index from 120 to 125, according to Scarpa. After skiing the new Hurricane, I agree. They’ve also lengthened the problematic forefoot buckles, which were a pain in the ass to free up from the tongue in the first Hurricane iteration. They are better, but still not optimal.

They’ve also switched the overlap Intuition liner to a tongue liner. Overlap liners never feel as good right out of the box, even though they ski better in my opinion. That said, the tongue liner cooks with the best and serves the boot’s needs with aplomb.

The lateral stiffness was all there for me. The Pro had immediate power transfer to the ski. Testing hard pack-designed skis on groomers, I rolled edge to edge with ease, laying into turns with confidence. The fore flex was plenty stiff and all the while consistent, but what I really enjoyed was that the liner/shell interface gave me all the power and control I wanted without having to reef down on the buckles, cutting off much needed circulation.

As an onhill worker, I like walk modes. Scarpa’s Powerbock Tour gave me the necessary mobility for bootpacks and ski-less work chores. Bear in mind, this isn’t an AT boot. This particular fore and aft range is relatively minimal compared to established AT range expectations. There is no rockered sole, no tech fittings. If you want that from Scarpa, try the Mobe. Interchangeable AFD and lug soles are available nonetheless. I have always preferred the lug soles, and I’ve had no problem using them in alpine bindings. Matched with weight saving Intuition liners, the Pro is nimble, and for long dragging days on the hill, lightness of foot is a virtue.