SCARPA unveils Alien Ultra, Alien Sky: Next generation of pinnacle trail-running shoes
BOULDER, Colo. (Aug. 20, 2026) — SCARPA, global manufacturer of high-performance mountain footwear, this week unveiled the new Alien Sky and Alien Ultra trail-running shoes, two limited-edition designs offering a new technical platform focused on high-performance alpine running. Designed with input from SCARPA’s elite-level trail-running athletes, the limited edition Alien shoes preview a broader release as part of the Spring/Summer 2027 product collection.
Available starting today in limited quantities and with an exclusive launch colorway, both models share the same design philosophy and core technologies but are tailored to different needs. The Alien Ultra is designed for long alpine distances, with a construction developed to provide support, consistency and efficiency even after many hours on the move. The Alien Sky is built for vertical racing in the most technical alpine terrain, where lightness and precision make all the difference.
Not From This Planet
The Alien Ultra and Alien Sky were created with one clear objective: to give athletes a tool capable of making running on the most technical terrain feel more natural, more fluid and more efficient than ever before.
Precision on foot placements, propulsion, ground connection and stability combine in a unique platform designed to support runners in the most demanding mountain environments. Every element of the construction works in harmony to promote a smooth, responsive stride while maintaining control on rock, mud and steep gradients.
Alien Sky (left), Alien Ultra (right)
Collaborative development with SCARPA athletes
The Alien Ultra and Alien Sky are the result of an extensive research and development program carried out together with SCARPA’s elite athletes.
The Alien Ultra was developed with direct contributions fromPeter Frano, who worked alongside the SCARPA team to fine-tune the shoe’s performance over long alpine distances, along with input from other SCARPA running athletes. The Alien Sky was developed in close collaboration with Luca Del Pero and Marcos Villamuera, who were involved from the earliest stages of the design process and began testing prototypes in spring 2025.
The continuous exchange between designers and athletes made it possible to refine every aspect of the construction, turning real-world experience into tangible technical solutions.
Two interpretations, same philosophy
Designed for vertical races and the most technical alpine terrain, the Alien Sky prioritizes lightness, precision and fast response.
Weighing just 235g (½ pair, size 42) with a 26–20 mm stack height, the Alien Sky delivers direct ground contact and progressive impact absorption, enabling rapid pace changes and exceptionally precise movement, even on the most demanding sections.
Completing the construction is an Adaptive Propulsion Plate in the forefoot made from nylon reinforced with 20 percent glass fiber, designed to deliver more effective propulsion on steep climbs while protecting the foot from sharp rocks. Its distinctive central cut-out design also enables controlled torsional flex, enhancing adaptability, stability and ground contact even on the most uneven terrain.
The Alien Ultra shares the same technical DNA, reinterpreted in a shoe built for long-distance racing and alpine endurance events.
Its more protective construction, combined with a weight of 295g (½ pair, size 42) and a 38–32 mm stack height, provides greater impact absorption and continuous forward progression while maintaining outstanding stability and control over extended efforts.
The full-length Propulsion Plate, made from Pebax® reinforced with 30 percent carbon fiber, works in synergy with the A-TPU midsole to optimize stability, guide the gait cycle and enhance energy return. Its branched forefoot design and swallowtail-shaped heel structure improve terrain adaptability, maintaining control and traction even across the most technical alpine terrain.
Both models share a common technical platform that combines solutions developed by SCARPA with high-performance components specifically engineered for Alpine Running.
At the core of the construction is a dual-layer midsole made from Super Critical Foam 100 percent Aliphatic-TPU (A-TPU), expanded through a supercritical nitrogen infusion process. This formulation helps convert impact energy into propulsion, delivering exceptional lightweight performance, high energy return and consistent performance even during the most demanding efforts.
For fit and protection, the Second-Skin Precision Upper wraps the foot with precision, ensuring a direct connection to the terrain, while the integrated gaiter prevents rocks and debris from entering the shoe during the run.
Completing the platform, the Flow Arch geometry in the forefoot promotes a smooth transition and faster toe-off, while the Vibram® Megagrip outsole provides reliable traction on rock, mud and highly technical alpine terrain.
SCARPA opens a new chapter in alpine running
With the Alien Ultra and Alien Sky, SCARPA introduces a new technical platform developed for elite athletes and the most demanding trail runners. The two complementary models are united by the same pursuit of precision, efficiency and control, engineered to meet different performance needs: from the explosive responsiveness required in vertical racing to the sustained support and consistency needed for alpine ultra-distance events. It is the start of a new product family set to expand over the coming seasons.
The Alien Sky ($279) and Alien Ultra ($249) are available in limited numbers in North America starting today through the SCARPA North America web site.
About SCARPA and SCARPA North America
Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.
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