RIBELLE® ICE

I've been wearing successive models of these for something like 15 years now, and each one gets better. Climbs like a rock shoe, warmer than the last version, Boa is great! I've won comps in these and sent some hard mixed routes, they just climb so well!

Few tricks for best performance:

-The sock fit is nice, but if you have a high arch it's almost impossible to get your foot in. Wear a slippery sock (the boot locks down well so that doesn't matter, just makes entry easier). If that's not enough to get into the boots then a lot of people are cutting the "sock" liner on the front, from the cuff down about 8cms or so. All the holding power on your foot is from the Boa so this doesn't effect the stability at all. Some people are covering this cut with Velcro to make it snow-resistant, but I don't really use these in deep snow normally and it seems to work fine . With the overboot it's a non-issue obviously.

-Consider going up a half to full metric size over the last round, the new ones fit smaller for most people.

-The overboot is great for cold temps, but hard to take on and off (have to take the crampons off...) I'm probably going to mod this too by cutting out the frontpoint area and putting some elastic in so it slips on and off, worth it for the variable conditions I climb in.

-Not all crampons fit the holes perfectly with the bolts. Not a big deal, but be ready to do a little work, don't do what I did and try to fit it all together on the car ride to…

My 3rd incarnation of the Rebel Ice the Ribelle represents a sea change from the prior generations constituting a complete redesign. The salient feature of the Ribelle is a removable neoprene over-boot with apertures in the sole so crampon plates can be mounted through the over-boot to the sole providing a warmer configuration for frigid temperatures at the crag or for multi pitch endeavors. The Rebel series has always been a warm comp style boot but this takes comfort to another tier. Used sans overboot the Ribelle has been notably streamlined the Boa closure having less superfluous cable this combined with the sock-like fit permits a competition fit without impeding circulation. Caveats being I had to size up a full size from a 45 to a 46 and remove the insole initially to get my foot in and a heel plate of some kind is necessary when using the overboot to keep the heel portion in place. On a recent send up Le Fang wearing the overboot and Sport Steinle plates I could pretty much “rock climb” on ice features using the Ribelle, technological innovation always driving advancement in technique. I really can’t wait to pull the overboot and set to work on my next mixed project I’m not really a Plywood Hero my craft being practiced in the mountains where actions have actual consequences and risk must be constantly managed the Ribelle is shaping up to be a fine companion for upcoming adventures where stone and frozen water coalesce.

This is the boot I have been dry tooling and competing in for the last 3 years and it has only gotten better. The foot bed feels more comfortable and to me the arch feels less aggressive or it just hits my foot perfect. The neoprene sleeve does provide insulation and my feet felt nice and warm while in Finland and in the French alps. The boot fits tighter in the ankle giving me more support and less wiggle room. Scarpa has taken a great boot and made it better with the improvements they have made in the last year..