While today’s approach-shoe landscape is full of reinterpretations from brands as far-flung as Prada and New Balance, North Italian footwear label Scarpa was one of the earliest pioneers of the category. As someone who admittedly doesn’t spend weekends hanging off rock faces, I can still appreciate the utility and the style of approach shoes. That’s exactly why I wanted to try two of Scarpa’s signature models: the Mojito and its more casual successor, the Mojito Wrap.
Originally launched in 2008, the Mojito feels rooted in Scarpa’s climbing heritage. It features a suede upper, a protective rubber toe cap, and a Vibram Spyder outsole that delivers considerable traction. The Mojito Wrap, introduced in 2023, feels more like the lifestyle-minded evolution of the formula. It’s aimed less at scaling cliffs and more at navigating hiking trails, city sidewalks, and everything in between.
Approach shoes don’t seem to be losing momentum anytime soon. So, I put together three outfits featuring both of Scarpa’s most recognizable models. Whether you’re considering taking up rock climbing or tend to forge a path on the tamest of hiking trails.
Outfit 1: Scrambling Mulch
Omar Atwan
Omar Atwan
While my terrain isn’t steep or rocky, my version of scrambling is mostly over mulch while chasing my son around the playground. This fit can handle snack stains, spilled water bottles, and the full range of motion required to keep up with a kid who pretends to do parkour through every slide. I may be the latest victim of the cropped-tee-and-baggy-pants wave (and certainly not the last), but damn, it looks good. These pants from Earth\Studies are billowy, breathable, and packed with some wild pleats—on nylon, no less—which is a combination I’ve rarely seen executed this well.