I should probably hike more. I mean, I do hike — but more often than not I find myself thinking, why walk when I could run? Still, there are plenty of situations where running isn’t the move. Family outings. Recovery days. Or those scenic trail days where you want to be outside without turning it into a quad-shredding effort.
The problem is my footwear lineup usually lives at two extremes: trail running shoes or full-on hiking boots. Both are great in their own lanes. But the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 kind of fills a middle space I didn’t realize I was missing.
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At its core, this is a fast hiking shoe. Lightweight. Secure. Built for moving well on trails without feeling overbuilt. On foot, it honestly feels a lot like a trail runner — snug and agile — but with the added structure and protection of a hiking shoe. I wouldn’t plan to run real miles in it (though it could probably handle short stretches if needed), but that’s not really the point. This is for moving efficiently without going full send.
The mesh upper is breathable and light, and the overlays lock things down nicely when the terrain gets uneven. For pure running, those overlays might feel like a bit much — but for hiking, especially when side-hilling or navigating loose rock, they make sense. A full rand wraps the lower portion of the shoe, which is something you’ll appreciate if you’re brushing through rocks or roots.
Underfoot, the EVA cushioning feels familiar — not plush like a max trail shoe, but protective enough for longer days out. It strikes a good balance between comfort and ground feel. The SuperGum outsole has been grippy on dirt and rock so far, giving that confident footing you want when the trail gets uneven.
We don’t dive deep into hiking footwear all that often here at Run Oregon (though our Take a Hike feature has covered a few), but we’ve had consistently positive experiences with Scarpa on the running side. The Ribelle Cross 2 continues that trend.
If you’re a runner who doesn’t always want to grab boots — but also doesn’t want to under-shoe a hike — the Scarpa Ribelle Cross 2 seems like a really smart middle-ground option.
And honestly, it might be the thing that gets me hiking more this spring and summer.
