By Greg Chapman
Over the last few years Scarpa have done little wrong in the rock shoe market, consistently going toe-to-toe with all the major players. Swept along by the momentum created by their signature Instinct series, many of the recent additions have quickly found a strong following, particularly at the technical end of the category.
The latest high-end offering to roll off the Scarpa rock shoe conveyor belt is the Furia Air, a funky new shoe which builds on the popularity of recent S-Line (Soft Line) models: the Drago and Furia S. Next-level design combined with cutting edge components mean that this shoe is perhaps THE lightest fully featured rock shoe ever made. Superficially this may just seem a case of minimalist construction, but probe a little deeper and you'll soon find that the incredibly light design is merely a fortunate consequence of the intricate design process. This aims to create a super soft, sensitive and manoeuvrable shoe, yet one which can still support precise front-on and inside edging on longer, more sustained routes or boulder problems.
A highly stretchy, two-ply microfibre upper combines with a new Dual Tension randing system (DTS) and a larger (surface area), yet thinner, 3D midsole, to provide the fundamental structure for this elegantly constructed shoe. Beyond this, the popular SRT toe construction is brought in from the Furia S, along with the M50 toe-upper rubber and gusseted Z-strap closure.
The DTS randing is probably the single biggest difference from that of previous models. In contrast to the Drago and Furia S, which use a single tension strip running from the rear of the heel to just behind the ball of the foot, this complex new tech starts at the very tip of the toe, encompassing the whole underside of the toe box - between bootie and outsole - before contouring the arch and forking to wrap around each side of the shoe. Here the straps converge at the rear of the heel to complete a tension system and a slingshot heel in one. This rear portion of this system, known as PAF (Power Absorbing Fit), is designed to further secure the fit, while allowing for more adaptability when tensioning the shoe during construction. This refinement makes the Furia Air a little less aggressive on the achilles than technical models without this technology. The DTS, incorporating the PAF heel, is the bedrock of the shoe's entire structure; allowing for impressive levels of support and hold, in spite of the seemingly minimalist construction. Expect to see more of this construction method in forthcoming models.
Finally, this is the first vegan compatible rock shoe produced by the brand. The elements which previously fell short in this regard were the adhesives and leather footbeds used. These have been updated to entirely synthetic versions, making the Furia Air now fully vegan friendly. As with the DTS construction, expect to see this rolled out in future additions to the rock shoe range.
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Summary
The Furia Air is a great option for those who love soft shoes, require high levels of feel and sensitivity, but are still looking for some support, particularly under the big toe and inside edge. Unless you only climb indoors, I would not advise this as a primary (only) shoe, but definitely something to have in your arsenal - a quality option for specific projects and style appropriate climbs. Due to the soft construction, for a comparable fit, this shoe can be downsized by one full size over other Scarpa rock shoes: for example if you're a 42 in the Instinct VS, you'll be a 41 in the Furia Air.
Key Features & Specifications
- UPPER: Eight piece, dual layer upper allows for contouring fit and technically appropriate fabrics for varying sections of the shoe. The overall upper thickness is 1.6mm - perforated outer layer is 1mm and inner layer is 0.6mm - 0.4mm thinner than that of the Furia S. This gives more stretch and a contouring fit. The outer laminate is also drilled in key areas, to further improve contouring and fit.
- NEW ALCANTARA: This synthetic internal toe panel, provides a luxurious feel which grips the skin like nothing else and features a two-way stretch memory, which holds its shape throughout the lifespan of the shoe.
- MIDSOLE: The Flexan 0.9mm midsole is thinner but with a larger surface area than than that of the Furia S and Drago. It is also positioned under the big toe’s inside edge, supporting the Flexor hallucis brevis muscle for increased precision and support. Fractionally stiffer than Drago and Furia S under the big toe, whilst being overall softer and more sensitive throughout the rest of the shoe.
- ACTIVE RANDING: New Dual Tension System’s (DTS) unique design provides varying tension on each side of the shoe - less tension on the inside edge and higher tension on the outside edge. This creates a tension system and a slingshot heel in one. Further zonal tensioning is achieved through different diameter holes, drilled at varying ratios across the rand. The DTS rand stretches to the tip of the shoe between the upper and outsole to provide impressive levels of hold and support.
- HEEL: Strip of injection-moulded plastic follows the back of the heel for improved protection and stability. This combines with the innovative tension absorbing PAF (Power Absorbing Fit) heel construction, which provides a secure fit, while also making the slingshot heel less aggressive on the achilles.
- TOE BOX SRT RAND: Extended M50 rubber rand features more tension contouring holes and gives a morphic fit and unprecedented levels of stretch and grip, making it incredible for toe/foot hooking. This improved performance does mean durability is slightly compromised over standard (less responsive/sticky) rand rubbers.
- CLOSURE: The Wave Closure System uses a Z-shaped Velcro strap to keep the upper firmly on the foot while in motion, while a stretch gusset allows easy entry and exit.
- OUTSOLE: One third length, 3mm Vibram XS Grip 2 outsole - half a millimetre less than the Furia S and Drago. Features a few more zonal tensioning holes, for improved contouring to foot shape.
- Vegan Friendly.
