Scarpa Instinct S
Scarpa
The Instinct S is a medium-soft, moderately downturned slipper shoe from Scarpa for bouldering and sport climbing. Typically sized 1.5 EU sizes below street size. Of 8 user reports, 4 find the toes tight and 5 find the heel loose. In stock at 17 shops from 110.90 EUR.
Stripped-down slipper with partial midsole, the S emphasizes raw feel and minimal weight while retaining the Instinct's wide-fit philosophy and moderate downturn. XS Grip 2 and M50 rubber combination balances grip and smearing, making it versatile for intermediate boulderers and gym rats seeking daily-driver performance.
Best For
Best for bouldering and sport climbing on vertical and overhang terrain. Aimed at intermediate to advanced climbers.
Among the 469 adult climbing shoes we track, the Instinct S ranks in the top 16% for sensitivity, the top 21% for smearing and the top 36% for hooking.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Instinct S strengths
- Direct ground feedback
- Lightweight design
- Medium rubber for edge bite
- Wide-fit accessibility
- Shape is tuned for typical gym and crag angles
Instinct S trade-offs
- Partial midsole limits support on long routes
- Slipper closure limits adjustment
- Not durable for outdoor abuse
How the Instinct S fits
Typically sized 1.5 EU sizes below street size.
Standard volume, medium width. Minimal stretch. Slipper fit is forgiving. Size snug from day one.
Fit profile: medium width, standard forefoot volume, narrow heel, suits greek toe shapes.
Minimal stretch expected; minimal break-in.
How it fit climbers with your foot shape: fit reports from feet like yours.
Instinct S fit reports
Based on fit feedback from 8 owners who measured their feet with the climbing-gear.com foot scanner and rated this shoe at the toes, forefoot and heel (tight, perfect or loose).
Typical downsize: -1.5 EU from street size (n=8).
- Fits best for: medium forefoot width
- Runs tight for: greek toe shape, long toes, no hallux valgus
- Runs loose for: medium heel depth
- Toes: 38% perfect (n=8) - 3 perfect, 4 tight, 1 loose. Mixed signals across foot types.
- Forefoot: 63% perfect (n=8) - 5 perfect, 2 tight, 1 loose. Fits well for medium forefoot width
- Heel: 38% perfect (n=8) - 3 perfect, 0 tight, 5 loose. Mixed signals across foot types.
Stiffness
Measured stiffness: 0.38 on our 0-1 scale (0 = softest). Among moderately downturned shoes it sits between the Evolv Zenist (0.30, softer) and the Evolv Shaman 2S (0.43, stiffer).
Instinct S specifications
| Brand | Scarpa |
| Model | Instinct S |
| Closure | Slipper |
| Downturn | Moderate |
| Asymmetry | Moderate |
| Toe Patch | Medium |
| Heel Rubber | Full |
| Ankle Protection | None |
| Midsole | Forefoot |
| Midsole Stiffness | Medium soft |
| Rand | Tensioned |
| Upper Material | Synthetic |
| Weight (pair) | 480 g (16.9 oz) |
| Break-in | Minimal |
| Rubber | Vibram XS Grip2 / M50 (heel & rand) |
| Rubber Thickness | 3.5mm |
| Rubber Hardness | Soft |
| Durability | Moderate |
| Vegan | No |
| Resoleable | Yes |
| Kids | No |
What the Instinct S costs
Prices checked 15 Oct 2026 across 17 shops that currently stock it (110.90 to 160.00 EUR). Cheapest current offer: 110.90 EUR at hardloop.de, 31% below the 159.95 EUR list price.
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| hardloop.de | 110.90 EUR |
| alpinstore.com | 111.30 EUR |
| barrabes.com | 111.30 EUR |
| funktionelles.de | 115.03 EUR |
| bergfreunde.de | 119.96 EUR |
| oliunid.de | 127.90 EUR |
| 8a.de | 133.99 EUR |
| scape-shop.com | 134.00 EUR |
| snowleader.com | 134.90 EUR |
| verticalextreme.de | 135.90 EUR |
| + 7 more shops | |
Prices by size
Cheapest in-stock price per EU size and how many shops list that size, from the EU pool. Updated daily.
| EU size | From | Shops |
|---|---|---|
| 34.5 | 127.90 EUR | 1 |
| 35 | 119.96 EUR | 3 |
| 35.5 | 119.96 EUR | 4 |
| 36 | 111.30 EUR | 7 |
| 36.5 | 111.30 EUR | 6 |
| 37 | 111.30 EUR | 8 |
| 37.5 | 110.90 EUR | 10 |
| 38 | 111.30 EUR | 12 |
| 38.5 | 111.30 EUR | 12 |
| 39 | 111.30 EUR | 13 |
| 39.5 | 111.30 EUR | 14 |
| 40 | 111.30 EUR | 16 |
| 40.5 | 111.30 EUR | 14 |
| 41 | 111.30 EUR | 14 |
| 41.5 | 111.30 EUR | 12 |
| 42 | 111.30 EUR | 13 |
| 42.5 | 111.30 EUR | 14 |
| 43 | 111.30 EUR | 15 |
| 43.5 | 110.90 EUR | 16 |
| 44 | 110.90 EUR | 16 |
| 44.5 | 111.30 EUR | 11 |
| 45 | 127.90 EUR | 6 |
Similar Climbing Shoes
Prices, stock and owner fit data on this page update daily. You are welcome to cite these figures if you name climbing-gear.com and link to this page - see our data terms.