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Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money

by Bergen Tjossem November 27, 2024
written by Bergen Tjossem

 

several models of backcountry ski boots lined up in the snow

Just $50 at a garage sale with only two broken buckles, my first backcountry ski boots (Garmont Radiums) were transformative compared to the two-mondo-sizes-too-big tele boots I had been using. I sometimes couldn’t tell the difference between walk mode and ski mode, but that hardly mattered.

Man, have things changed. Ski touring boots are comparatively incredible nowadays, yet future us will surely look back at that statement and pity my naiveté. 

Wildsnow testers have been stuffing our feet into every ski touring boot that we can get our dogs in over the past few years to put together a backcountry ski boot guide, which you’ll find below along with our favorites from all that testing.

Why Backcountry Ski Boots Matter

Is there a more important component of a ski touring kit than a good pair of backcountry ski boots? Or a piece of the kit puzzle that can ruin your day before it even starts? I say nay. Go too heavy duty and you’ll miss out on extra laps and be slower than your friends. Go too light and sun crusts and big skis will eat you. Wrong fit? Your feet might explode or they could be swimming. Bottom line, backcountry ski boots matter and it’s not the place to skimp.

How We Selected the Backcountry Ski Boots We Tested

There are a ton of backcountry ski boots on the market these days. Many good, some bad. But let me narrow it down because this is a human-powered skiing website. Wildsnow readers know that just because a ski boot has a walk mode and tech binding-compatible soles, doesn’t mean it’s a worthy ski touring boot. For that reason, we’ve excluded hybrid/crossover-style backcountry ski boots from this guide and focused on boots that were actually designed to go uphill for most of the day.  

Of course, there’s the other end of the spectrum, which wears Lycra and drops us on the skin track. We didn’t include race boots in here for now, but we’ve raced [poorly] in the lightest boots on this list.  The weights of the boots discussed here range from sub-1000 grams to almost 1600. Much more than that high end and you’re looking at some unserious contenders. Much less than the low end and you’re veering into specialized race territory.

Let me save you the suspicion – none of the companies in this guide paid to get on this list. Wildsnow may earn a small commission from link clicks. And I do mean small. The authors are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any of these brands, though boots are typically provided free of charge for testing purposes. 

The 1,429-gram Fischer Transalp Carbon Pros aren’t a chore to lug uphill.

What To Look For in Backcountry Ski Boots

Already know what you’re looking for? Skip this section and scroll down to check out the specific backcountry ski boots below.

Ask ten grizzled backcountry skiers what to look for in ski touring boots and you’ll probably get five different answers. Some of the key considerations when looking for a ski touring boot are: compatibility with the ski it will need to drive, fit, and range of motion.

Pairing Backcountry Ski Boots with Skis

The first question you need to ask yourself when shopping around for ski touring boots is which skis will this boot need to drive? Then ask yourself, how good of a skier am I, really? 

If you’re driving big, heavy, full-length powder skis (2,000g+/ski) with a frame-style binding, let me stop you right there. You sure that’s what you want to haul up the skin track? If we can’t convince you otherwise, you’re going to need a beefy backcountry ski boot to drive it – something in the 1,500g+ realm with 3-4 buckles. But even if you’re pushing a big ski with a light binding, you’ll still need a boot with some muscle. Consider something like the Scarpa Maestrale RS or the Tecnica Zero G Pro (below).

Skis in the 95mm – 105mm underfoot are considered by many to be the sweet spot for touring rigs and it gives you options for boot pairings. The narrower and shorter the ski, the lighter the boot you can typically get away with. Or mix and match – go a little shorter than normal to get away with a wider ski and lighter boot pairing. Boots in the 1,200g – 1,500g range can work for most skiers in this group. Check out the light-but-powerful La Sportiva Skorpius CR II and the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro (below).

Skinny skis (<95mm underfoot) can be blissfully light, and so too are the backcountry ski boots built to drive them. Maximize high range of motion and lightness in your boot pick, both of which you’ll find in the La Sportiva Kilo and the Scarpa F1 XT (Below).

Got multiple backcountry ski setups? A 2-boot quiver is the way to go. But if you need one boot to do it all, make sure it has enough heft and support to drive the bigger ski, knowing you’ll probably need to sacrifice something in the weight and/or range of motion departments. Again, the La Sportiva Skorpius CR II or the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro could fit the bill.

Looping back to the comment, “How good of a skier am I, really?”, this matters because ultralight backcountry ski boots can be more difficult to ski for beginners and some intermediates. They’re not as supportive as beefier boots, can demand better technique, and don’t provide as much room for error as heavier-duty boots with more predictable flex patterns. 

Sam pictured here with her masterpieces: handcrafted footbeds, heat molded liners, and her big [behind the mask] smile.

Bootfitter pictured here with her masterpieces: handcrafted footbeds, heat molded liners, and her big [behind the mask] smile.

Fit for Backcountry Ski Boots

Your foot will decide if a backcountry ski boot will work for you whether you like it or not. It’s why one of our testers stares longingly at his Fischer Transalp Carbon pros but barely skis them. Check the boot’s last width, which is one indicator of how they might fit. 100mm is the unofficial middle of the road in terms of width. The 103.5 width Scott Cosmo Pro’s (below) are on the wider side of the spectrum.

All backcountry ski boots, like alpine boots, use Mondo sizing, an (ideally) objective measure of a boot’s inner length. Each shell size covers two sizes, depending on how the manufacturer breaks shells. Scarpas break on the full size, where a 27.5 and a 28 are in the same shell. Dynafit and La Sportiva (and most others) break on the half size, where a 27 and 27.5 are in the same shell. A dirty little industry secret? There’s usually no difference between liners in the same shell (i.e. 27 and 27.5 in a La Sportiva Skorpius CR II are the same). 

Fitting boots can be complicated. If you’re not a seasoned bootfitter, we can’t recommend enough going to your local bootfitter, like Cripple Creek Backcountry, for expert advice. Even if you are a seasoned bootfitter, your local shop will have an intimate knowledge of all the new boots and fits on the market. We didn’t dive too deep on the fit of each boot in this guide since that’s a big topic for an abbreviated overview like this. Hit us up in the comments if you want more details on one of the models below.

Range Of Motion (ROM)

Ski-touring fanatics debate ROM’s constantly. And that’s a sign of an annoying reality – a boot’s stated Range of Motion isn’t always so, especially when you jam a foot in there. Other than weight, range of motion is what really separates bad, good, and great ski touring boots. 

Ultralight boots like the Scarpa F1 XT are basically only limited by your ankle. Cuffs on beefier boots, like the Tecnica Zero G Pro, have a shallower range of motion fore and aft. More substantial liners add some friction to the equation, too. If moving far, fast, and light is your goal, range of motion over 65° will make a big difference. 

 

The Best Ski Touring Boots of 2024

(Ordered by weight, lightest to heaviest)

line up of backcountry ski boots in order of weight, descending with La Sportiva Kilo boot in the foreground

La Sportiva Kilo

  • Weight: 1,141g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 70°
  • Forward Lean: 12° or 14°
  • Material: Grilamid Bio Based LF Carbon
  • Flex Index: 110
  • Last: 100.5
  • Price: $799

La Sportiva is really dang good at doing a lot with a little. The new Kilo is a very light boot that skis like something heftier. How hefty? It was plenty of boot to drive my 184 4FRNT Nevars, for example.

The Kilo’s are not just a buckled version of the Skorpius CR II. They land somewhere between La Sportiva’s race boots and the Skorpius on most counts. Both shell and cuff are made from Grilamid Bio Based LF Carbon, which La Sportiva claim gives them a 110 flex rating, curiously higher than the beefier feeling Skorpius CR II’s 100. What I will say is that the flex is really interesting. They feel stiff and supportive enough for light boots, but they’re also bursting with energy and liveliness like they’re spring loaded. It’s not something I’ve felt in a lightweight touring boot before. I like it.

They’ve also done an admirable job of not folding for such little boots. Yes, that’s a low bar. I’ve been doing my best to fold them on big skis, which I could do with a lot of effort on the resort. But I haven’t gone knee-to-ski in the backcountry. They’re solid such featherweights.

La Sportiva Kilo backcountry ski boots on wood floor with one boot fully articulated open

There’s a lot to like in the details. The lean lock levers are highly refined and offer two forward lean options. The buckles are all adjustable and easily replaceable with bolts instead of rivets. The mini gaiter in lieu of a tongue is robust. The FORCE equalizing z-cable lower buckle does a good job of dispersing tension. Their heel hold is impressive.

There’s an elephant in the Dolomites – The Scarpa F1 XT and La Sportiva Kilo look really, really similar. Two buckles each, no tongues, camming power straps, mini gaiters, massive range of motion, and very light weights. Which one is better? I’m currently skiing them head to head and that will be a later story.

For now what I will say is that the Kilo’s offer better heel hold and narrower, lower volume fit than the F1’s. That has a big impact on how they ski at baseline. It’s a close call, but the Kilo’s feel slightly more energetic and progressive than the F1 XT’s, though the flex is a little bit softer off the top. I’ve been able to push bigger skis around with the Kilo’s, too, but that’s mainly because they fit my feet a little bit better, especially in the heel and instep. But the F1 XT’s have the edge in torsional stiffness without a doubt. That matters when edges matter – so hardpack and ice.

Bottom line, I have yet to find a major flaw in the La Sportiva Kilo. They’re low volume lightweight rippers that can match with a bigger-than-expected spectrum of skis. They’re the lightweight boots I’m most excited about for winter 24/25 and it sounds like there’s a beefier version landing in the US next fall that I’m eager to get my mittens on. Stay tuned for a more thorough review.

 

 

Scarpa F1 XT

  • Weight: 1,145g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 72°
  • Forward Lean: 11°/13°/15° +/- 2° with spoiler
  • Material: Carbon Grilamid cuff, Grilamid fiberglass shell
  • Flex Index: 95
  • Last: 100
  • Price: $899

Hot take: dropping the BOA and the Velcro strap was the best thing that could have happened to the Scarpa F1. The F1 XT is a lightweight (1,275g in 28), low profile, two-buckle boot aimed at the light-and-fast crowd pushing lighter weight medium to small skis (>95mm underfoot). 

Other than the buckles, the F1 XT diverges from the lighter-and-stiffer F1 LT with softer Grilamid Fiberglass shells, but retains the stiffness in the cuff with Carbon Grilamid. It also sports a lightweight non-elastic Booster-style camming power strap that does wonders for fit and eliminates dead space at the shin. That gives it a friendly, yet relatively progressive character and state 95 flex, which despite being somewhat arbitrary, felt reasonable. I was able to fold them with bigger skis in hard conditions without too much difficulty. But they were supportive enough in soft snow with lighter skis. I found them precise enough for steep skiing and icy couloirs, and I think Vivian Bruchez would agree judging by his Instagram.

skier bootpacking steep slope wearing Scarpa F1 XT backcountry ski boots equipped with boot crampons

Credit: Michael Hand

The skintrack is where the F1 XTs are matched only by the La Sportiva Kilo. The range of motion is massive, a claimed 72 degrees, and it’s nearly frictionless thanks to the minimalist Intuition liner. And you don’t even need to open the top buckle and power strap to unlock the vast majority of it. 

Who is the F1 XT for? This could be a 1-boot quiver for skiers exclusively pushing the lighter, shorter, narrower end of the ski spectrum, and you’d know if this was you. But a bigger proportion of skiers will be better suited to adding the Scarpa F1 XT to the lighter spot in a 2-boot quiver for big days in the backcountry where range of motion and lighter weight matter the most. 

studio product image of La Sportiva Skorpius II backcountry ski boots on white background

La Sportiva Skorpius CR II

  • Weight: 1,195g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 68°
  • Forward Lean: 
  • Material: Pebax® Bio Based Rnew® 1100 w/ 30% Carbon Reinforcement cuff, Pebax® Bio Based Rnew® 1100 w/ 10% Carbon Reinforcement shell
  • Flex Index: 100
  • Last: 102.5
  • Price: $849

You won’t see a lot of BOA/Velcro tightened backcountry ski boots on this list so you know where I stand. The La Sportiva Skorpius CR II is here, despite the BOA and Velcro, because you get a lot of boot and capability for just 1,195g in size 27.5.

Those Italian boot tinkerers put those grams to work. The Skorpius CR IIs feel downright beefy on the downhill thanks to a confidence inspiring cuff and a plush-for-this-class moldable liner. It flexes like it means business too at a marketed 100 flex thanks to Pebax bio-based Rnew with 30% carbon infusion in the cuff, 10% in the shell.

Touring range of motion is great, too, as you’d expect from this weight class. A well-broken-in pair is only limited by your ankle, and the articulation is low friction. The swing lock mechanism is unique – the ski/walk lever spins like the hands of a clock rather than vertically like most other boots. It takes some getting used to, but it’s effective.

skiers climbing a steep slope wearing crampons on La Sportiva Skorpius II boots with skis on his back

Why does the La Sportiva Skorpius CR II get a special shoutout here despite being a few years old? Because it’s one of the only boots in the ~1.2kg weight class that can push full-sized sticks over about 100mm underfoot. 189cm Kastle TX 103’s and the wide side of DPS’s very light Carbon Pagoda Tours are in play, for example, in the right conditions. 

Skiers with wide feet and high arches rejoice – the Skorpius CR II’s 102.5mm last is accommodating, cozy, and easy to get into. Skiers with really low volume and/or narrow feet, try these on first. 

Read more about the La Sportiva Skorpius CR II on Wildsnow here.

frontal view of skier in Head Crux Pro backcountry ski boots with mountains in the background

Head Crux Pro

  • Weight: 1,354g (27.5, measured as avg. of both boots)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 65°
  • Forward Lean: 13.5° +/- 2°
  • Material: Pebax Rnew+Recycled Carbon Fibers
  • Flex Index: 130 
  • Last: 99
  • Price: $849

{Review from WS Editor Justin Park}

Head/Tyrolia took their time getting in on the backcountry hardgoods bonanza but have done it right with a well-thought-out “capsule collection” that includes three touring boots, a mid-fat 105mm touring ski, a Tyrolia touring binding, and touring pack. I’ve been testing the Head Crux Pro Boots since midwinter 2023-24 season and they’re a worthy contender for the right skier. 

When I first saw the build with an open cabrio-style construction and fabric tongue covering like a 1000-gram skimo boot claiming a 130 flex, I rolled my eyes and thought, “Yeah, right.” I was wrong. The Crux Pro are really stiff both forward-flexing and laterally thanks to a unique skeleton surrounding the Pebax cuff and a rock-solid walk-mode lock-out. They also have a tall cuff on par with alpine boots which is a relief for someone like me who hasn’t spent much time in cute lil’ skimo ankle booties and would instantly fold them and myself.

The 1,354-gram weight is ultralight for a downhill-oriented boot, but heavier for a skimo slipper, so it hits an interesting niche for folks that aren’t ready to sacrifice power on the down but understand what distance and speed possibilities open up when your ski/boot combo drops below 3000 grams. Even though they’re much different boots, I’d say the Crux Pro’s closest competitor is the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro (next review) which is a narrow, four-buckle ultralight charger that’s a much different boot but similar weight and use-case. 

Head Crux backcountry ski boots on Head skis on top of a snowy ridge on a sunny day with blue skies

Where the Zero G Tour Pro leans more downhill performance, the Crux Pro has a better uphill experience with faster buckle transitions and a smoother, more natural walk mode. Both boots have a similar niche, but I think the Crux Pro will appeal to skimo types looking to move into something burlier for more aggressive descents while the ZGTP will be a more natural transition for freeride touring (I think Euros call it freetouring?) types who want a lighter boot to go further in. 

I’ve seen other ski pubs call the Head Crux Pro boots “Best for Low-Volume Feet” and while they do have a narrow last (Head’s website states 97mm but I’d call it a 99), this is not a low-volume boot overall. The substantial “head room” above my fairly flat foot was immediately noticeable and while it was comfy on the uphill, my foot jarred around dangerously in the ultra-stiff shell on the down until I added my custom footbed to chew up volume and provide arch support. 

I love how fast the buckles are on transitions I was able to keep them locked open for ascending in the same position I used for descending which simplifies operations, especially if you have multiple transitions in an outing. The single foot buckle connects to a Z cable and is your only means of compressing over the foot. It works well enough but it can be hard to get on the tightest position since the buckle isn’t attached to the boot, just the cable, and requires some finesse if you want to really clamp down. I also wish they had built in a way to cinch the fit at the ankle crease where I most noticed the extra volume and looser fit. Perhaps having that single buckle closer to the ankle joint rather than over the foot would help, as in the Scarpa F1 XT and La Sportiva Kilo (both reviewed above).

 

outside view of the old and new versions of the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro boots side by side in snow with trees in the background

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro versions 1.0 and 2.0 (right)

Tecnica Zero G Pro

  • Weight: 1,369g (27.5)
  • Claimed Range of Motion:
  • Forward Lean: 14/16° adjustable
  • Material: Grilamid
  • Flex Index: 130
  • Last: 99 mm
  • Price: $899.95

 

{Review from WS Editor Justin Park}

When Tecnica debuted the Zero G line in 2016, many skiers were frothing. This writer included. Until then, it seemed like you had to choose between light skimo boots that would crumple if skied too hard and overbuilt four-buckle options that held you back on longer spring missions. I’ve skied through two aftermarket liners in the original Zero G Tour Pro which gave ~130 flex at just over 1300 grams per boot—they nailed the balance of light weight and stiffness to drive skis aggressively.

Over the past 6+ seasons in the v1.0 Zero G Tour Pros, I met lots of guides, pros, and everyday chargers in them as well. I also met lots of folks who liked the stats on the boot but couldn’t get the fit right. Part of what attracted me to it—narrow last, low-volume interior—kept other folks away. In particular, the boot pinched at the base of the toes where the foot is generally widest and I ended up DIY punching out around the pinkie toe base as I’m sure many others did. Many modded their Zero Gs by tipping the upright forward lean with an aftermarket solution from Raide and the wise ones tossed the thin included liner in the trash.

The new Zero G Tour Pro (significantly updated for the first time for the 2024-25 season) directly addresses these gripes to bring even more ZGTP users into the fold. They also shaved off around 100 grams, making the updated model even harder to beat for performance in this weight class.

two versions of the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro backcountry ski boots side by side from the rear showing the walk mode locking mechanism differences

Zero G Tour Pro 1.0 and 2.0 Lock Mechanism Side by Side

I’m overdue putting together a more in-depth review of this boot now that I’ve got around 20 days on the new model, so I’ll try to avoid dumping every stray thought I have on the ZGTP here and cut to the chase. The fit is still narrow (99 last) but should fit most feet better out of the box. That said, the CAS system allows for true bootfitting on the shell and I recommend spending the money there unless you’re lucky on fit (or comfortable doing your own). 

The liner is way more comfortable and doesn’t need immediate replacement. This is a big deal. If you spend $900 on a pair of boots like I did on my first ZGTPs, it’s a kick in the nuts to spend another $200+ on aftermarket liners to make them work.

The forward lean increase is a welcome change as well. I never got around to modding my pair and didn’t suffer that much for it. Yes, the boot was upright and I had to adjust my normally aggressive downhill stance but the Raide mod always seemed to be out of stock when I remembered to look for it and most of the time, I’m descending much more casually in the backcountry anyway. The additional 1.5 degrees still won’t be enough for some, but it helps flex the ankle and pull the toes back, letting me choose a snugger sizing. (Note: I sized down to a 27.5 from 28.0 when moving into the new edition. Tight but doable after break-in and bootfitting.)

Who is this boot for? The same people who bought it in 2017-18 to get the lightest boot they could find with something like 130 flex and four-buckle alpine feel and are ready for a new pair. Plus, a few more folks that this year’s updates will bring in. Skiers have more options in this class than when the first edition came out (scroll around this guide and you’ll see plenty), but the improvements keep the Zero G Tour Pro in the lead if you want power at the lightest weight possible and like the narrow fit.

The boot is a compromise. It won’t be light enough for some still, even at around 1300 grams, and skimo types can’t deal with four buckles with fiddly wire clasps on a transition. The downhill performance is great for the weight. Heavier boots like Scarpa’s 4-Quattro Pro ski far better with a more progressive flex, but you pay for that 200 extra grams per boot on longer tours. The Zero G Tour Pro uses a very thin and light Grilamid with lots of carbon that is stiff to the point of being rigid. I weigh 200 pounds but I could see these boots giving lighter skiers a pretty rough ride. Other ZGTP evangelists will claim there’s no downhill downside to the weight savings, but even this Tecnica homer has to admit there are better-skiing four-buckle touring boots. They’re just not this light and uphill-capable.

 

the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro boot sitting in the snow with trees in the background

Fischer didn’t skimp on liners for the Transalp Carbon Pro just to shave weight. (314g)

Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro

  • Weight: 1,422g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 80°
  • Forward Lean: 14° or 17°
  • Material: Carbonfused cuff, Pebax Rnew shell
  • Flex Index: No official flex rating, close to 120
  • Last: 100mm
  • Price: $899.95

 

Great news for skiers with low arches: Fischer’s much-loved Transalp got an upgrade for 23/24 in the Transalp Carbon Pro, a 2-buckled touring boot landing at 1,422g (27/27.5) – right between boots in the ~1kg and 1.5kg+ realms.

Most of their other characteristics land right in the middle too. Carbon-reinforced Pebax Rnew cuffs add stiffness over their predecessors, but Pebax Rnew shells keep the ride and flex enjoyable. They don’t have an official flex rating, but I’d put them close to 120. They had enough power and supportive flex to drive full-sized skis and didn’t feel like overkill on ultralight setups. 

The Transalp Carbon Pros are sleek-looking boots. The minimalist buckles and camming power strap do a lot with a little to lock your foot in and eliminate dead space in this medium- to low-volume boot. The walk mode range of motion is good, especially forward. Does it feel like 80 degrees of articulation like the marketing copy claims? Sure, without a foot in there. However, the relatively high shell behind the heel limits some rearward articulation.

demonstrating the range of motion of the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro boot by opening it at the hinge all the way back

The Transalp Carbon Pro technically has an 80-degree range of motion. but

Overall, the Transalps are solid, versatile, mid-weight backcountry ski boots. Our high-arched brethren should beware, though – these boots are very hard to get into and out of. If you’ve got lower volume, lower arched feet, that’s amazing for you. Slip your foot into a pair or check out the full review to learn more. 

I know what you’re going to ask – the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro is almost the same weight as the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, so which one skis better? The Zero Gs ski higher in the flex and more akin to alpine boots, and are stiffer when flipped into ski mode. The Transalps have a very slight edge on the skin track with a bigger range of motion and much less fiddle factor at the transition. They’re both up to the task of driving big skis, but the Transalps feel more natural on slimmer/shorter skis than the Zero G’s. 

studio product image on white background of the Scott Cosmos boots

Scott Cosmos Pro Ski Boot

  • Weight: 1,459g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 60°
  • Forward Lean: 12° or 14°
  • Material: Grilamid Mix
  • Flex Index: 130
  • Last: 103.5
  • Price: $799

My unreasonably high arches, hammertoes, and foot bones in all the wrong places mean touring comfort feels like a myth. It makes getting into and out of most touring boots a painful and drawn out affair that my ski touring partners are tired of hearing about. Slipping into Scott’s new(ish) Cosmos Pro touring boots was a big departure from basically every touring boot I’ve donned in the last five years thanks to the 3-piece Cabrio design, plush liner, and accommodating 103.5mm last. This is a straight up comfortable pair of boots and the easiest to get into on this list.

The Cosmos Pro was an overhaul from Scott last season that Wildsnow readers in particular will appreciate. First of all, the upgrade addressed the faffery around the old liner BOA and Velcro upper strap by nixing the former and replacing the latter with a more traditional buckle. Like most other power-forward touring boots in the last few years, it got the Booster-adjacent hooked camming power strap upgrade. And of course, the evolution to sleek, black Grilamid Mix is tough to miss. The new buckle keeper springs are genuinely solid, too. Scarpa Maestrale and Fischer Transalp, take note.

On the hill, the Cosmos Pros are a smooth and comfortable ride. I can’t overstate that. It’s partly the beefy liner and partly the smooth Cabrio flex profile that Cabrio diehards will recognize. 130 flex is a stretch, but they’re definitely progressive, elastic right off the top, supportive deep into the flex, and powerful enough for big touring skis.

The claimed 60° ROM feels accurate on the skin track. Forward and rearward articulation is solid for boots in this class, but there’s some friction. The with the top buckle fully unhooked, the ROM is just slightly shallower than the new Scarpa Maestrale, but similar to the older Maestrale. Both the Maestral and the Cosmos Pro articulate slightly further than the Fischer Transalp and Tecnica Zero G, but to nobody’s surprise fall short of the F1 XT, Kilo, and Skorpius CR II.

Who is the Cosmos Pro for? Skiers looking for one boot to do it all in the backcountry, big skis or little(ish) skis, especially those with high volume or highly problematic feet. Traditional Maestrale aficionados offended by their new fit or feeling left out by other hard-to-get-into boots on this list (looking at you, Transalp and Zero G) will find a roomier, easy on, easy off friend in the Cosmos Pro with similar, or just a hair less, overall power and ROM. 

 

studio product image of the Scarpa Maestrale RS boots

Scarpa Maestrale RS

  • Weight: 1,470g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 61°
  • Forward Lean: 16° +/- 2°
  • Material: Pebax Rnew  w/ Carbon Core cuff, Grilamid Bio w/ Carbon Core shell
  • Flex Index: 130 
  • Last: 102
  • Price: $949

Scarpa’s Maestrale, the best-selling AT boot lineage of all time, got a quiet (but major) overhaul for 2023/2024 and I’ve been impressed with the upgrade, to say the least. Simply put, this is the best Maestrale yet, hands down.

It all starts with new, lower-volume Grilamid Bio shells with Carbon Core under the arches and an enhanced heel cup that vastly improves heel hold. An accommodating 102mm last should fit most feet, but the shells are distinctly lower volume than previous iterations (a much-needed upgrade). They’re also longer than previous generations, so I ended up sizing down.

On the uphills, a well-broken-in Maestrale RS boasts a sporty and low-friction 61-degree cuff range of motion when the upper buckle is completely unlatched – better than most boots in this class. When they’re snapped into ski mode and the power straps cinched down, the new Maestrale’s skis with an improved progressive flex, engaging elasticity even at slower speeds, and a refined character that the Maestrales of yore have aspired to for over a decade. No, they don’t ski like 130 flex alpine boots. But they have enough power and support to push big skis through big terrain and feel good on your feet all day.

skier turning on a steep backcountry slope with rock formations in background

This 125 flex mid-weight boot should be on the shortlist for any backcountry skier looking for a boot to drive their entire quiver of skis, including big powder boards, or one boot to do it all. Could skiers driving smaller skis (>100mm underfoot) get away with something lighter with even more range of motion? Definitely. But the new Scarpa Maestrale is a dang good backcountry ski boot for everyone else looking to balance uphill and downhill performance somewhat evenly.

Read the full review here. 

 

Other Solid Ski Touring Boots Worth Checking Out

There are a lot of boots out there, and, man, are our feet tired (and inflamed) from living in all the ones above. Fellow readers, which new boots have you most intrigued? This guide will continue to expand and evolve as boot manufacturers battle it out.

Here are a few other backcountry ski boots that we’re trying to get our hands on to test that are worth considering if you’re in the market:

Dynafit Ridge Pro

  • Weight: 1,250g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 70°
  • Forward Lean: 12°-15°
  • Material: Polyamide Composite
  • Flex Index: 120
  • Last: 101
  • Price: $899.99

The Boss, Eric “Hoji” Hjorliefson, has been on an innovation bender for the past few years. He and Dynafit just launched the 1,250g Dynafit Ridge Pro using new tech that we haven’t seen before, including a “floating tongue” that supposedly improves fit and reduces touring friction. We also hear that they’re pretty dang powerful for a boot in this weight class. If nothing else, they’re downright interesting and we’ll add them to this guide as soon as we can land a pair to test. WS Editor Justin Park tried on a pair last season but couldn’t get in the right size before they ran out of inventory.

 

Tecnica Zero G Peak

  • Weight: 990g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 75°
  • Forward Lean: 13° or 15°
  • Material: Carbon Cuff and Carbon co-injected Shell
  • Last: 99
  • Price: $949.95

A list of the best touring boots on the market would look silly without Tecnica’s very light Zero G Peak. We do not yet have a pair in hand to compare them head to head with their most obvious competitors, the Scarpa F1 XT and the La Sportiva Kilo. Fret not, you can find Lisa Van Sciver’s full review on Wildsnow.  

 

Dalbello Quantum Free

  • Weight: 1,300g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: tBD 
  • Forward Lean: TBD
  • Material: Polyamide Composite
  • Flex Index: 130
  • Last: 100
  • Price: $899.99

At a claimed 130 flex and a sporty 1300g, the Quantum Free Pro’s are the current and most “freeridy” iteration of Dalbello’s innovative X-Dual Link cuff once called a “pant eater” by Wildsnow writers. We need to get many more turns on these fierce-looking mid-weights before spilling the ink, so stay tuned on this space. In the meantime, they’re on sale at EVO for $514. 

 

Scarpa 4 Quattro Pro

  • Weight:  1555g (27)
  • Claimed Range of Motion: 
  • Forward Lean: 19° +/- 2-4°
  • Material: Pebax Rnew
  • Flex Index: 130
  • Last: 100
  • Price: $949.99

Scarpa calls the new 4 Quattro Pro the “lightest boot in its class”, but it’s the heaviest on our list. With the power and performance you get out of the lighter backcountry ski boots recommended above, it’s hard to justify the added weight for hardcore touring. The aggressively forward 4 Quattro Pro gets a nod, however, because of how well it skis. We’ve driven carving skis on-piste at the resort with this boot and weren’t disappointed. This isn’t a backcountry ski boot for epic multi-day adventures, but if you’re chasing pow on shorter laps, it might be worth hauling the extra grams of the 4 Quattro Pro to get alpine boot power. And if you’re on a boots budget and have to consider a hybrid boot, this is one of the few that keeps the weight manageable without compromising your resort skiing capabilities. We need more touring days on them to assess the uphill experience and the limitations the weight put on us going further.

Bergen Tjossem

Bergen Tjossem is a ski fanatic, conservation professional, and nature nerd based in Vail, Colorado. His life and career have centered around protecting the natural environment and public lands that raised him, but as Ed Abbey put it, “It is not enough to fight for the land; It is even more important to enjoy it.” So when he’s not working his day job, you’ll find Bergen ski touring before dawn, ice climbing in the dark, running trails until his legs fall off, skiing 13er’s with his friends, or making the world’s best pizza with his wife, Rachel. You can find him on Instagram.

www.instagram.com/bergen_of_the_mountain/
November 27, 2024 10 comments
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The Best Scarpa Maestrale RS Yet from a Quiet Overhaul

by Bergen Tjossem October 31, 2024
written by Bergen Tjossem

The launch of the completely redesigned Scarpa Maestrale family largely flew under the media radar last fall. That’s surprising given that the Maestrale has been the best-selling AT boot of all time. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t look that different? But the new iteration is a big departure from years of incremental upgrades – this is a completely new boot with a familiar silhouette.

According to Scarpa, the main goals for the redesign were to improve fit and downhill performance, which backcountry skiers know can be either harmonious or opposing goals. There’s more carbon and an entirely new shell shape, among other updates.

The Maestrale family raised me, so I had to dig in. I spent about half of last season in two different pairs of the new Maestrale RS’s, and I can say without any hesitation that these are the best Maestrale’s yet. But there are still a few tiny details that I think could be upgraded with the next iteration (or in a gear tinkerer’s garage).

Fit and Sizing

First off, the new Maestrale doesn’t fit like your old Maestrale. People always say, “try it on before you buy it” and I’m usually like, “why would I do that when I already know my size?” Well, that arrogance came back to bite me.

I started with a size 27.5 Maestrale RS. I’ve been a 27.5 Mondo in Scarpa, which break on the full size (i.e. 27.5 and 28 are in the same shell) since Maestrale Gen 1. My Scarpa F1’s and F1 XT’s, size 28, fit about perfectly without enough room to downsize. The new Maestrales, which have a 2mm longer BSL, are longer internally. I knew instantaneously that I made a mistake in sizing when I slipped my foot into a smaller 27 at Cripple Creek Backcountry.

So after about 15 days of skiing, to the annoyance of the gracious Scarpa reps that helped get me new boots to test, I had to swap for a 27. Now that I’m another ~25 tours into the new boots, the fit is dialed.

It wasn’t just me. Bootfitters at Cripple Creek and others have found that there’s a distinct size discrepancy between the new Maestrale, F1 LT/XT, and the Quattro. Folks that were on the brink of sizing down before will very likely be sizing down with the new Maestrale. And a 28 Quattro/F1 isn’t the same as a 28 Maestrale. Moral of the story? Try these things on at your local shop before committing.

Once the self-inflicted bootfitting kerfuffle was sorted, I quickly felt the impact of the new shell’s shape. The new heel cup is narrower than previous iterations, and it’s more cup-like. It does a much better job at holding the heel in place, even after the 258g Intuition Pro Flex Performance liners broke in naturally (without heat molding).

My old Maestrales are stuffed with shims underneath the liner and footbed to mitigate the heel lift. That hasn’t been the case with the new version. I did add the included 4mm full-length volume-reducing shim when I was struggling with the larger size, but once I sized down, I haven’t had to add any aftermarket adjustments to keep my heel locked in or reduce rubbing. I have yet to get a blister, even sans Leukotape. That’s a big improvement in itself.

The shell is lower volume than the previous versions, which were quite roomy and could get sloppy once the liners packed out. Width-wise they felt similar but are actually 1mm wider at an accommodating 102mm last. But again, they didn’t feel sloppy side-to-side even with average width feet.

 

The Maestrale RS buckle layout is mostly the same but with the addition of the power strap

Buckles and Straps

I skied a lot of vertical in the new Maestrale,  including a few mogul bashing days at Alta. The new Maestrale received a power boost without a doubt, and I’ve been working to tease out where that comes from. Turns out, it’s a few things.

First off, the power strap on the RS version of the boot is an automatic performance enhancer. It’s a camming power strap very similar to a Booster Strap, which most power-oriented boots are moving towards now that Booster’s patent has expired. The actual camming device is much lighter, though, at 25g apiece compared to Booster’s 54g. This isn’t completely new – the Maestrale XT, a beefier version of the boot, has had the hooked cam for a few years, but this is the first year that it has trickled down to the Maestrale RS.

The camming hook is big, meaty, and easy to hook. However, it does unhook pretty easily when it’s stuffed underneath my pant gaiter. I ended up reattaching it on about half of uphill-to-downhill transitions. I think that style works well for an alpine boot, since it typically remains tight, but I think it needs a little extra security to keep it latched given that fully loosening it is required to unlock the Maestrale’s range of motion.

The elasticity of the strap does more than just enhance power, though. Really it’s more about the fit enhancement. When it’s pulled tight, it virtually eliminates dead space between my shin and the tongue. That translates to immediate tongue engagement rather than a more on/off feeling. It helps the progressive ramp up start much earlier and allows more elasticity in that initial progression. The result? They’re more active and engaging at slower speeds before you have the momentum to really lean into the tongue.

Other than the power strap, things are pretty similar in the tightening department. The upper buckle is refreshingly simple with a beefier buckle ladder. The Instep strap, now more easily replaceable, is unchanged performance-wise. The lower Z-buckle on the shell now sports a barrel adjuster for micro-adjusting tension.

Paired with the new shell shape, the buckles and straps did an excellent job keeping my feet in place, my heels locked down, and my shins engaged. This is the upgrade that the traditionally roomy Maestrales have always needed.

 

Materials

The Maestrale hasn’t deviated away from its longstanding three piece Cabrio design. Other than a bit more power-enhancing cuff overlap, the overall design is similar to previous iterations. Materials got an upgrade, though – they have Grilamid Bio shells with Carbon Core under the arch, Pebax Rnew cuffs, also with strategically placed carbon, and Pebax tongues.

The new carbon in the shell and cuff surrounds the main pivot to add stiffness where the shell deforms deep into the boot’s flex. It’s a good addition – the boots’ flex progression feels predictable and it doesn’t fold when it’s really leveraged forward. I appreciated fewer instances of that “going over the bars” feeling.

Downhill Performance

I had a lot of fun skiing the new Maestrale RS and I threw every ski and snow condition at my disposal under the new boots. I wasn’t surprised that they skied better than previous versions – what would be the point otherwise? But I was impressed with just how much better they felt pushing bigger skis through chunky snow.

In addition to more power, there’s something about the new Maestrale that’s just “crisper” than previous versions. They feel a little more energetic, quick to engage, and torsionally stiff on edge. That’s surely a blend of better fit and a more strategic material layout.

There’s a lot of start/stop skiing in the backcountry and plenty of meadow-skipping. It felt like the new boot was more alive throughout, instead of needing a kick start to engage. The rebound felt more energetic all around even at slower speeds like you expect from a Cabrio-style boot, which wasn’t particularly pronounced in previous iterations.

With more power and a better fit, I half expected the Maestrales to feel mismatched to some of the lighter, shorter skis I’ve been testing this year – the new DPS Pagoda Tour CFLs (179cm), the Fischer Transalp 92 CTI (176cm), and the Blizzard Zero G 95 (179cm). Though I typically ski that group with lighter boots, they all actually paired nicely with the Maestrale RS, especially in challenging snow conditions given that I’m 190lbs. They’d probably feel too stiff for lighter skiers on small skis, though.

On the other end of the spectrum, they felt more than adequate, maybe even perfectly matched, to bigger touring skis like my 191cm 4FRNT Hojis, 189cm Kastle TX 103s, and DPS’s new Pagoda Tour CFL 105s.

I was quite satisfied with their power and smoother progression. Did they feel like beefy 4-buckle alpine boots? Not quite, but they’re more than powerful enough for 95% of backcountry skiers. At no point was I wishing for more boot in the backcountry even as a large person skiing fast on large skis.

Touring Performance

The Maestrale RS has never been a featherweight, and at a claimed 1,470g per boot in size 27 (my scale showed 1,467g, for the record) the new Maestrale RS isn’t a major divergence – about 20g heavier with the addition of the camming strap. For comparison, my 2-buckle Fischer Transalp Carbon pro in the same size weighed in at 1,429g.

At first I was puzzled by the new boot’s range of motion. It felt generous rearward, limited only by my ankle. But forward there was a hard, premature stop. After fiddling around with the buckles, I realized that the bail keeper slot on the upper buckle was the culprit. The rest of the ROM was unlocked once I unhooked the buckle completely. After that, I was impressed by the big range of motion compared to previous models. It’s no F1 XT, but Scarpa claims 61 degrees, and I’d say it checks out.

Even better, the range of motion feels nearly frictionless. Much more akin to boots in the ultralight realm than the Maestrales of yore. The rearward motion is more generous than some other boots in this class, including the aforementioned Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro.

With the power strap coming unhooked and the upper buckle needing to be fully unlached, transitions weren’t as smooth as I’d hoped. But the big range of motion made it worth it, in my opinion, though it would be an easy thing for Scarpa to address in the next iterations.

Ski/Walk Mechanism

The ski/walk mechanism has changed with nearly every iteration of the Maestrale and this new one is no different. Previous versions have succumbed to ice, especially after bootpacking. Compared to the previous version, the hook and bar switch places. The hook is now on the shell below the cuff and the bar is on the lever. It’s a better setup. Neither the hook nor the bar have gotten iced up even after trudging around in the snow on foot.

I did have one bizarre instance at the top of couloir where the spring refused to snap the lever down into a locked position. Even after clearing all possible ice and giving it a few good whacks with my adze, the lever simply wouldn’t finish its throw. I ski strapped it into a locked position and skied it as normal. It weirdly never happened again and I couldn’t replicate it afterwards. I reached out to Scarpa to ask if this was common, and they said it was not an issue they had heard of after a full season of production. I’ll call it a fluke.

Forward lean is adjustable 2° +/- the 16° factory setting via two screws at the base of the lever. I didn’t feel the need to make any adjustments, but angle-obsessed skiers will be glad the Maestrale retained the feature.

 

Conclusion

Haters will say the Maestrale is a “Jack of all trades, master of none,” and now I can confidently disagree. Maybe they had a point with the older versions, but that label isn’t relevant any more. The new Maestrale RS is a stellar boot – master of most. Downhill performance? Great. Fit? Much improved. Uphill and touring performance? Really good for a boot this beefy.

So, who’s it for? Everybody except who it isn’t for, which is a much shorter list. Skiers pushing softer skis or those narrower than ~95mm underfoot could get away with something lighter with an even bigger range of motion. Skiers blasting huge faces and dropping big cliffs, or those spending 75%+ of their time in the resort could probably bump up to something heavier with a fourth buckle. But basically everyone else, including those who want one boot to drive a diverse quiver of skis, will be well suited to the new Maestrale RS. They’re by far the best Maestrales yet.

Check current price at REI here.

Bergen Tjossem

Bergen Tjossem is a ski fanatic, conservation professional, and nature nerd based in Vail, Colorado. His life and career have centered around protecting the natural environment and public lands that raised him, but as Ed Abbey put it, “It is not enough to fight for the land; It is even more important to enjoy it.” So when he’s not working his day job, you’ll find Bergen ski touring before dawn, ice climbing in the dark, running trails until his legs fall off, skiing 13er’s with his friends, or making the world’s best pizza with his wife, Rachel. You can find him on Instagram.

www.instagram.com/bergen_of_the_mountain/
October 31, 2024 6 comments
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A Lightweight Boot to Drive Any Ski: Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro Hands-On Review

by Bergen Tjossem January 29, 2024
written by Bergen Tjossem

Fischer Transalp Carbon Boot

Snow conditions have been wild this season. I’ve wallowed through waist-deep powder, struggled through breakable crust, skied a lot of ice, sloshed around in corn, and encountered everything in between. I’ve found a reason to bring out every ski in my quiver which means a range of skis and conditions for testing touring boots.

The new 2024 carbon-cuffed Fischer Transalp Pro Ski Boots ($999.99) are poised to replace the Pebax RNew Transalp Pros that have been around for several years, but the overall chassis remains the same. Like their predecessor, the new boots are streamlined – two buckles, power straps, and integrated gaiters. There’s a lot here to like in a lightweight, aesthetic package. 

I’m not afraid to haul a little extra ski and boot uphill if and when it translates to more fun. Sure, I love ripping a bunch of laps on my super light setup, but there’s a place for big skis and big boots too. I had to double-take when I saw Fischer’s new Transalp Carbon Pro touring boots’ advertised 1,280g weight. I had assumed, given how powerful they look, that they were much heavier. Could they be enough boot to lighten my big ski setup? One boot to drive my full ski quiver? (The short answer is: yes. Read on for the long answer.)

The 1,429-gram Fischer Transalp Carbon Pros aren’t a chore to lug uphill.

 

Specs

Price: $999.99 at evo.com

Weight: 1,429g (27/27.5)

Last Width: 100mm 

Shell Material: Pebax Rnew

Cuff Material: Pebax Rnew reinforced with carbon fiber 

Power Strap: Camming power strap with quick-release

Sole: Full rubber rockered

Binding Compatibility: Tech, MNC

Range of Motion: ~80°

 

Skiing the Transalp Carbon Pro

I threw my entire arsenal of skis, as well as a few demo skis, under the Transalp Carbon Pros in nearly every snow condition over the last few months – 191cm 4FRNT Hoji’s, 189cm Kastle TX103’s, 186cm Volkl Blaze 106’s, 178cm Black Crows Orb Freebirds, and 176cm Fischer Transalp 92 CTI’s. I’m 185cm tall, 85kg for reference. 

It’s been a fun ride. I’ve been impressed by how capable the Transalps have been across that spectrum. They handled each of those skis without feeling over- or underpowered. I’ve loved the lightweight Scarpa F1 XT’s and La Sportiva Skorpius CR II’s, but frankly, they don’t have that kind of versatility. 

A simple two-buckle setup with cam-strap power strap.

The Transalp Carbon Pros aren’t what I’d consider freeride touring boots like the 1,631g La Sportiva Vanguard (28.5), nor do they ski delicately like the weight class below them. They’re right in the middle. I wasn’t itching for more support and power like I do in my Scarpa F1 XT’s with big skis in some snow conditions, nor did they inspire me to charge at my limit. 

Their 130 flex claim is generous – I’d place them in the 120 flex realm and that’s not a knock. It’s honestly a friendlier ride than most carbon boots. The cuffs are stiff given the carbon-reinforced Pebax Rnew, but the Pebax Rnew shells deform readily. They don’t fold, but they’re relatively soft off the top and ride deeper into the flex range than other carbon-cuffed boots I’ve been on. They’re decently progressive, too. I didn’t feel like I could push past the progressive ramp up in any typical skiing situations like I find myself doing from time to time on lighter boots.

My mid-width, mid-weight TX103’s were the best match for the Transalps, but I was impressed at how well they drove 112mm wide 4FRNT Hoji’s in soft snow. That helped keep the overall weight of my setup with those 2066g skis reasonable for longer days even though a heftier boot, like my La Sportiva Vanguard, adds a little more muscle behind them. On the flip side, they didn’t overpower or feel mismatched on smaller skis like the Transalp 92 CTI. 

 

Touring in the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro 

At a verified 1,429g each in the 27/27.5 size (liners plus shells, sans footbed and spoilers), the Fischer Transalp Pros weigh in just below the 1,500g mid-weight boot threshold right near Tecnica’s 1,416g Zero G Tour Pros (27.5). 

That lands them right between mid-weight touring boots like Scarpa’s 1,500g Maestrale RS’s (28) and lightweight boots like Scarpa’s 1,267g F1 XT’s (27.5) and La Sportiva’s 1,285g Skorpius CR II’s (28.5).

Fischer claims 80 degrees of cuff rotation and I confirmed it with the liner out. But unsurprisingly, that’s not exactly the case when you stuff a liner, foot, and ankle in there. On the skin track, the forward flex felt generous and I wasn’t wishing for any additional articulation, even while pushing straight up steep runs on the resort. The movement was low-friction, too. 

The rearward articulation wasn’t quite as generous. There wasn’t a hard stop, but the articulation was limited sooner than when my ankle would have maxed out. It seemed more a function of a higher shell behind my heel and lower Achilles than rotation of the actual cuff. I noticed it on long, flat sections of skin track and packed roads where I was able to take much longer strides. It never bothered me uphill or in my typical backcountry zones, which are characterized by pronounced ups and downs rather than a lot of flats, traversing, and fire roads, but it’s worth noting nonetheless. 

Apart from the awful keeper springs (more on that later), I thoroughly appreciated the fuss-free transitions. There’s no velcro to deal with, only two buckles, a satisfying ski/walk lever, and an excellent camming power strap. Simple, quick, and solid.

 

Fit and sizing

My feet are the worst. I have exceptionally high arches, small tailor’s bunions, and hammer toes, but at least they’re average width. I’ll be honest, I dread putting these boots on and taking them off. At one point, standing in a snowy parking lot trying to jam my left foot into the boot, I thought I might need to bail on the hut trip I was suiting up for. I was literally speculating if I could hike the 2.5-mile approach in my Blundstones.

The situation improved over time as the liners broke in, but my feet straight up aren’t going in there if the shells freeze. The carbon-infused cuffs are stiff. Even after rotating the cuff fully out of the way, there’s a lot of shell to get past. 

The Transalp Carbon Pro technically has an 80-degree range of motion. but

Once I get them on, I like the fit a lot. Their 100mm lasts accommodate the widest part of my forefoot and feel somewhere between a medium and low volume fit. The heel hold is excellent and this is the first pair of touring boots that I haven’t immediately added heel shims to. I have yet to get a blister – nothing about the fit feels sloppy and that’s a big win. 

Fischer didn’t skimp on liners to hit their weight target. Mine came in at 314g each without the rear spoiler (35g each) and footbed. They’re sturdy and I appreciate the dense ankle guards that protect my sensitive ankle bones. 

 

The bases of each liner are covered in a sheet of what looks like a lightweight waterproof and abrasive outsole – ostensibly for walking on snow or the floor of a hut. Would my slippers get the axe on a hut trip or winter camping? Hut trip, yes. That’s easy weight/space savings in my pack. Camping? I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to take these boots winter camping – as I alluded to before, if these shells freeze, my foot isn’t getting in.

 

Buckles

I’m a big fan of buckles over BOA on touring boots and the Transalp Carbon Pros do a lot with two simple buckles. The lower buckle utilizes an equalizing z-cable similar to Scarpa’s Maestrale and F1 XT. It does a good job of dispersing the tension over the forefoot. Because my foot wasn’t sliding around in the boot while touring, I tended to leave that buckle open while touring. I was pleasantly surprised that I die from top-of-the-arch pain when I did lock it down for skiing.

I appreciated the top buckle’s throw. It was easy to get the tightness I needed quickly and without any leverage-building yoga moves. They dispersed the tension across the cuff well, too. Combined with the cam-style power strap, the cuff closure tension is excellent. This is subjective, but I felt virtually no dead space inside the boot when locked and buckled into ski mode, and they were genuinely pain-free and comfortable.

The upper buckles do not have any kind of micro-adjustability, however, nor are there additional holes to move the buckle’s bale section and ladder section farther apart on the cuff. That hasn’t proven to be an issue for me yet, but I’m nearly maxed out. If the liners pack out much more I may drill an additional hole in the cuff. Thankfully the boots do come with velcro spoiler pads that eat up some additional volume and change the angle slightly. Skiers with particularly narrow calves and ankles should take note. 

An annoyance caused by protruding spring ends, ripe for aftermarket engineering.

Out of the box, I liked the wire keeper on the upper buckle (bright green). It did not, however, continue to impress me. The spring mechanism at the joint, which allows you to open and close the keeper, has metal ends that snag on my pants every time I lower the inner gaiters over them (see photo below). The snag pulls them out of their tracks and it’s not the easiest thing to put back in by hand without pliers. It’s a relatively small issue, but I’ll probably end up removing the springs entirely and engineering a better solution in classic Wildsnow fashion.

 

 

Ski/Walk Mechanism

The ski/walk mechanism is simple and well-executed. The Transalp relies on a vertical spring-loaded lever mounted to the rear of the cuff that hooks to a bar on the rear of the shell. What is unique is the hook’s spring-loaded locking mechanism that grabs and locks around the bar. It can only be released by pulling the short nylon tab mounted at the bottom of the lever. 

The hook’s spring loaded locking mechanism that grabs and locks around the bar.

The lever also integrates a flippable chip to adjust the forward lean between 16° and 13°. The whole mechanism has been rock solid so far and has not developed any play. I haven’t had any issues with snow buildup around the bar either. And as you’d expect from any touring boot, it has never opened erroneously. 

 

Final Thoughts

Maybe it’s what I should have assumed given the impressive weight, materials, and buckle layout, but the Fischer Transalp Pros don’t fall neatly into a pre-established weight class. In terms of both weight and power, they’re right between ~1-1.2kg boots like the Scarpa F1 XT and La Sportiva Skorpius CR II and 1.5 kg+ boots like Scarpas’ Maestrale RS and Dynafit’s Radical Pro.

Unlike lighter boots, they paired well with all the skis in my quiver. I wasn’t left wanting more, especially with skis in the 95-105mm width range. They also didn’t feel like overkill when paired with my narrow and lightweight Fischer Transalp 92 CTI’s.

Aside from the minor buckle-keeper issue, my only real gripe with these boots is how challenging they are to get into with high arches like mine. If you’ve got low-profile feet that can get in and out of these boots easily, I’m jealous, because these are solid, lightweight all-rounders that can drive most backcountry skis and thrive in most conditions. 

Buy the Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro Boots at Evo.com

 

Bergen Tjossem

Bergen Tjossem is a ski fanatic, conservation professional, and nature nerd based in Vail, Colorado. His life and career have centered around protecting the natural environment and public lands that raised him, but as Ed Abbey put it, “It is not enough to fight for the land; It is even more important to enjoy it.” So when he’s not working his day job, you’ll find Bergen ski touring before dawn, ice climbing in the dark, running trails until his legs fall off, skiing 13er’s with his friends, or making the world’s best pizza with his wife, Rachel. You can find him on Instagram.

www.instagram.com/bergen_of_the_mountain/
January 29, 2024 9 comments
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R&D Interview: La Sportiva Skorpius CR II

by The Editors Of Wildsnow March 17, 2023
written by The Editors Of Wildsnow

A flagship ski boot in the La Sportiva line, the Skorpius CR II is touted to offer performance for demanding ascents and descents. Wild Snow reviewed the boot earlier this winter. In this article, we connect with the Director of R&D at La Sportiva, Matteo Jellici, for a deeper look at the design and tech of the boot.

Skorpius CR II

WildSnow: What market segment of backcountry skier is the Skorpius CR II aimed at?

Matteo Jellici: The Skorpius is aimed at the devout advanced backcountry skier that wants a lighter product for bigger days in the mountains that can still deliver downhill performance for mid-waisted skis. This skier can sacrifice a little stiffness for lighter weight and an amazing ROM for more comfort when ticking lots of vert.

This is the second edition of the Skorpius. How long was the R&D and prototyping process?

Typically a new ski boot takes about 3 years for the full cycle of development, starting with the design brief and all the way to delivery of the product in stores. With a revamp of a boot like the Skorpius CR II we are able to drop a year off of the development cycle.

Matteo Jellici, director of R&D at La Sportiva

Matteo Jellici, director of R&D at La Sportiva

What specific changes were made from the original Skorpius?

We added the BOA closure system, redesigned the tongue of the boot, and we added more thickness and comfort to the liner for better downhill performance and comfort.

Can you describe the general prototyping and design process for a boot like the Skorpius?

We have seen a leap in recent years with 3D printing technology. The cycle has sped up dramatically. It all starts with a design brief and a design process. That culminates with a 3D design and then you start mold development. In general, there are about 3-4 iterations of mold design and test cycles.

3D printers now allow the development of a boot that can be fit-tested many times before executing mold development. Mold development is very expensive so you want to be as close to perfect as possible. With 3D printing, we can do some light testing but not full stress testing. Real plastic is needed for that.

When designing ski boots, how many versions do you develop before the final mold?

There are usually about 10-15 various prototypes that are tested before the final molds are produced.

Boa closures added to the updated Skorpius boot

The Skorpius is a boot we often think of as a 1kg+ class ski boot. Can you tell us where it stands in the La Sportiva line?

It is solidly in the middle of our line. We have race-focused products in the Stratos Series and the Racetron. The Skorpius sits directly in the middle and is a lighter-weight ski touring boot that can still drive a mid-waisted ski. The Vega and the Vanguard are on the heavier more downhill-oriented end of the line.

La Sportiva Skorpius CR II Specs

  • Weight: 1190g. 1/2 pair (size 26.5)
  • Sizes: 23-31.5 +1/2
  • Fitting Compatibility: Tech
  • Angles: 12° – 14° – 16°
  • Range: 68°
  • LAST: 101

Several companies have a version of 1kg+ boots that have a carbon cuff. Why does La Sportiva not use a pure carbon cuff in this model?

The carbon-reinforced cuff of the Skorpius is very similar in stiffness to comparable boots from other companies. The Solar and Stellar are essentially the same boot with a plastic cuff.

Thanks for the details, Matteo! We’ll see you out there on the snow.

–This interview was sponsored by La Sportiva. Learn more about the La Sportiva Skorpius CR II at the link.

The Editors Of Wildsnow

While most of the WildSnow backcountry skiing blog posts are best attributed to a single author, some work well as done by the group.

wildsnow.com
March 17, 2023 6 comments
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For the Love of Carbon: Dynafit’s Blacklight Ski Boot

by Jason Albert February 13, 2023
written by Jason Albert
The carbon-cuffed Dynafit Blacklight

Dynafit’s Blacklight weighs sub 1200g in a 27/27.5 shell and with a carbon cuff, skis stiff.

The glossy carbon weave is attractive. When carbon is employed, we pay a premium for lightness and stiffness: Dynafit’s Blacklight ski boot doubles up with real-world stiffness and is a high-functioning boot for any mountain mission.

 

Practically speaking, there is no other way to test and review a boot than jumping right into it with the walking, scrambling, cramponing, skinning, and skiing.

Dynafit markets the Blacklight as a speed touring boot: and it is that. What that means is this is not a freeriding boot (read high cuff, meh range of motion, and four buckles) but a worthy boot you’d wear on long missions to drive a ski in the 95mm width range and under. In short, it is a stiff boot, built on an almost identical chassis and liner system to the softer yet capable Dynafit TLT X. Our Blacklight first look spent some time discerning the differences in flex between the two models.

Not just for Skiing: the Walkabout

I’m hoping where you live, you can access a trailhead for touring without walking much this time of year. Slapping skins on skis from the start is ideal. For this time of year, mid-February, I’ve rambled enough in the Dynafit Blacklights to know they are up to the task of step after step after step up a trail to snowline. The claimed range of motion is ~60 degrees. Know that the liner build and friction experienced when walking is walk-friendly. My time heading into ski with @cascadeconnections on the west flank of Mt. Jefferson ground truthed this. Like the TLT X, if you are looking for a spring skiing boot for missions with significant approaches, intermittent climbing, or scrambling, you’ll be in good hands (feet?) with this boot.

Oregon’s snow year, at least from the catalog of images posted on social media and elsewhere, has not been as deep or photogenic as other mountain ranges. Locally, the high pressure and warming temps have made for some firm skiing and firm approaches that are not so typical this time of year. But the best skiing is where you find it, which most of the time is close to home.

Buckle arm.

Noted here in red is the buckle arm disconnected from the power strap hook/clasp.

Ultra Lock system.

To note here, as the buckle arm is unclasped, the buckle and ultra lock system can rotate slightly and ease from walk to “almost” ski mode. I experienced this several times while using crampons.

Cramponing up firm snow and surfaces coming close to an approximation of ice is a breeze in the Blacklight. There is, however, one thing to watch for. The main powerstrap is a time-tested system that incorporates a buckle throw to secure the boot’s upper cuff and switch the boot in and out of ski/walk mode. What makes the throw system work is a hook fixed to the powerstrap side (see photo) that locks/clasps the buckle arm.

While cramponing, I loosen the power strap and secondary mini-powerstrap to ensure a maximum range of motion and minimal friction. I did notice several times while ascending when the boot suddenly experienced a limited range of motion. An unforeseen change underfoot when in crampons cab be unsettling. This all caught my attention.

In these instances, I found the buckle arm had unhooked from the power strap’s clasp. This allowed the ski/walk mechanism to nudge into ski mode. The accidental near lock-out only happened on the left boot and was remedied by tensioning the main power strap’s velcro and reconnecting the buckle arm to the clasp. In the future, when using crampons, I’ll position the main power strap’s velcro a bit tighter than I might otherwise to prevent this.

I know the debate between buckles and BOA (and BOA-related systems) rages on. Let it rage. I can comfortably snug the forefoot to eliminate heel lift and still be comfortable walking and skinning in this boot for hours. Read that as no blisters or discomfort from rubbing. This includes no discomfort after fully dunking my left boot in Mill Creek after I slipped off an icy rock. The Blacklight passed the 5k of soaking wet sock and liner skinning test.

One last comment on skinning/walking in this boot relates to fit and blister prevention. There was some back-and-forth after the first look relating to heel fit. Let’s assume we have some general similarities about our heels and some differences too. I’d say the heel fit skews to those with slightly wider heels (and I mean slightly). I don’t get discernible heel lift when skinning or walking in the Blacklights. But as one does with a boot lower, one can gently tighten the boot lower to secure the forefoot and mitigate heel lift in walk mode.

I know the debate between buckles and BOA (and BOA-related systems) rages on. Let it rage. I can comfortably snug the forefoot to eliminate heel lift and still be comfortable walking and skinning in this boot for hours. Read that as no blisters or discomfort from rubbing. This includes no discomfort after fully dunking my left boot in Mill Creek after I slipped off an icy rock. The Blacklight passed the 5k of soaking wet sock and liner skinning test.

Twistfit- Dynafit Blacklight

The lower shell of the Blacklight features a Twistfit closure that is similar to a BOA closure. Internally, as you tighten the Twistfit, a cable is tightened that secures a semi-rigid plastic fitting over the forefoot. This is an effective and secure retention system.

We uphill here at WildSnow. Meaning that roughly 90 percent of the day, you’re not using an anti-gravity assist machine; you are going uphill using your own power. Which, to most of us, is part of the attraction. But so, too, is the descent.

Last winter, when inquiring about the Dynafit Blacklight, I asked someone who had been in many boots what they thought. And their general feedback was the Blacklight was not much stiffer than the TLT X, which features a fiberglass-infused plastic cuff.

My experience does not align with this at all. The Blacklight’s carbon cuff (which is beautifully crafted) makes this a stiff skiing speed touring boot. Stiffer than the TLT X? For me, that’s a hard yes.

I’ve used the Blacklight and the TLT X in the full spectrum of conditions. And in softer snow, I kept returning to the question of who needs a boot this stiff for driving a ski I’d want to use with this boot. Again, I prefer a boot in the 1kg class of boots to drive skinnier and lighter skis. (In the lightest of powder, I might bump this boot up to use with a bigger and wider ski.)

At 5’10” and 160 pounds and vacillating between aggressive skiing and cruisy turns, I could easily find my flex sweet spot with the softer TLT X. But, on this recent Mt. Jefferson mission, I did find myself in some steep, firm, exposed, and frankly unnerving snow.

The Blacklight’s carbon-induced stiffness was very much to my liking. And further down the face when the snow softened a bit, making for most excellent soft-landing jump turns, I knew then why the extra stiffness was desired: the Blacklights are precise and predictable. (The stiff skiing Blizzard Zero G 95s underfoot were a perfect ski pairing too.)

The Dynafit Blacklight illustrates a well engineered interface between the Grilamid lower shell and carbon cuff. What you can expect is great tourability and excellent stiffness while descending.

The Dynafit Blacklight illustrates a well engineered interface between the Grilamid lower shell and carbon cuff. What you can expect is great tourability and excellent stiffness while descending.

 

Who is this Boot For?

The simple answer to the above prompt is this: this boot is for those looking for a light and stiff boot. The carbon cuff does translate into real-world stiffness. The Blacklight is not as progressive flexing as the TLT X, nor is it a brick wall. With the type of power I employ to push and carve a lighter and shorter ski, I’m certainly in the middle of desiring a softer flex like the TLT X and a stiffer boot like the Blacklight.

I’ve had the good fortune of trying different boots in diverse mountain settings. In isolation, either boot, the TLT X or the Blacklight, could work great for me. I used the TLT X on a big traverse last spring and loved it. But tasting the sweet stiffness of the Blacklight’s carbon cuff in higher consequence terrain will have me reach for this boot more frequently in the spring, particularly when the sharp and pointy tools are present for the ascent, as I might be finding firm terrain on the descent.

One thing I’d change, and this is a very small detail, I like the option of running a lace on my liners: lace eyelets would be nice, but that’s being picky.

Back to the question of who this boot is for. If choosing between a TLT X and this boot (let’s assume you have narrowed down the fit to these boots), the Blacklight is flat-out stiffer. The boot lowers differ slightly. The Blacklight has a carbon-infused Grilamid lower compared to the TLT X’s straight-up Grilamid. I do not experience more torsional stiffness in the Blacklight’s lower than the TLT X. When you lean forward and transfer energy to your skis, that’s where you’ll notice the difference.

Let’s answer the question, though. For super-aggressive skiers, you will likely over-flex the TLT X, which you can experience with a simple carpet test. You know who you are. The Blacklight will have your back.

 

The Blacklight Stats

Weight: Blacklight 27.0/27.5 shell w/27.0 liner stock footbed + optional mini-powerstrap: 1118g. For comparison, weight TLT X 27.0/27.5 shell w/27.0 liner stock footbed + optional mini-powerstrap: 1118g
Optional mini-power strap weight: 19g
Lower shell construction: Carbon-infused grilamid
Cuff: Carbon fiber
Boot spoiler: The white on the boot’s rear — Grilamid
Forward Lean: adjustable 15° or 18°
Sole: Pomoca
Liner: Dynafitter 5 (so far, no heat molding necessary)
Price: $899.95

Shop for the Dynafit Blacklight Boot.

Jason Albert

Jason Albert comes to WildSnow from Bend, Oregon. After growing up on the East Coast, he migrated from Montana to Colorado and settled in Oregon. Simple pleasures are quiet and long days touring. His gray hair might stem from his first Grand Traverse in 2000 when rented leather boots and 210cm skis were not the speed weapons he had hoped for. Jason survived the transition from free-heel kool-aid drinker to faster and lighter (think AT), and safer, are better.

February 13, 2023 7 comments
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The 120m Flex Scarpa 4-Quattro SL Review

by Jason Albert February 7, 2023
written by Jason Albert
Scarpa 4-Quattro SL

The Scarpa 4-Quattro SL, a four buckle boot that skis true to it’s 120 Flex.

Scarpa’s 4-Quattro boots feature a Grip Walk sole, making this an option for those riding lifts or questing in the backcountry. The off-piste reality may convince you this is your power touring boot. The Scarpa 4-Quattro SL can tour and most certainly ski.

 

Scarpa 4-Quattro SL Specs

Size tested: 27
Last (claimed): 100mm in the 27
Weight Verified: 1432g (a bit lighter than a 27.5 Fischer Transalp Pro) and a few paper clips lighter than a Scarpa Maestrale.
Shell/Cuff Material: Pebax R-New® Shell with an over-injected Carbon Grilamid® LFT insert
Sole: Presa Ski-01/GripWalk Tour
Liner: Intuition/heat moldable
ROM: 61-degrees
Flex rating (claimed): 120
Forward Lean: 17 +/-2
Model: The Quattro also comes in an XT model, rated 130 flex.
Price: The SL is $699, and the XTs cost $799.

Read the Scarpa 4-Quattro SL First Look.

We’ll spend a little time up top on the crossover attributes of the Scarpa 4-Quattro SL. This is a stiff boot. The four buckles and a rigid Carbon Grilamid shell are the telltale signs. And if you are riding lifts with the 4-Quattro SL and are dangling planks secured to your boot with a Grip Walk alpine binding (GripWalk is ISO 23223 certified), you’ll be good to go. These boots are also compatible with slightly lighter bindings like Salomon Shifts and Marker Kingpins.

For the time being, and foreseeable future, we’ll be skinning and descending with this relatively light 1432g 120 flex boot without a chairlift assist. And for our purposes, because we like lean when it can be lean, the 4-Quattro SLs are clicked into lighter tech bindings ranging from 180g to 300g.

Not every boot is for every skier. For every attribute of the 4-Quattro SL that makes this a perfect boot for one ski tourer, another claiming that the same feature is a deal breaker will come along. First, let’s tackle the most divisive aspect of the 4-Quattro SL: fit.

Scarpa 4-Quattro SL

A fresh 4-Quattro SL with it’s notable reduced volume forefoot.

Fit

The boots have a low instep, a claimed 100mm last, a forefoot trending towards lower volume, and a slim but not too narrow ankle. Getting my foot into the boot is a non-issue when I loosen all four buckles and the power strap, open the shell up slightly and insert the foot (I wear a lightweight ski sock). I don an EZ-Fit ankle bootie with some boots I wear to prevent hot spots or suck up some volume. So far, in the 4-Quattro SL, I’m not finding the need. With the lowest buckle secured semi-loosely combined with the boot’s low instep, and solid heel hold, there’s no heel movement when skinning.

I’m usually 27.0 / 27.5 in boots, and depending on the model, I use a 27 or 27.5 liner. This boot is a 26.5/27 shell with a 27 liner. I can not go smaller; my toes barely braise the front. It is a performance fit for me in length and width (from the instep through to the toes). I expect some potential 4-Quattro SL and XT users will go back and forth between shell sizes/liners before they zero in on what works.

As is the case with Scarpa, the boot comes stock with a high-quality heat moldable Intuition liner. The upper cuff and tongue are loaded with dense and relatively rigid foam to help support the stiff nature of the shell’s cuff and plastic tongue.

Liner comparison.

The 4-Quattro SL liner on the left with the Tecnica ZG Tour Pro liner on the right. The foam throughout the Scarpa liner’s cuff is noticeably more dense (to the touch) than the Tecnica liner. Yet, both boots do ski legitimately stiff with the Scarpa a claimed 120 flex and the ZG Tour Pro a 130 flex.

If you scroll through the comments over the years at WildSnow regarding boots and fit, you’ll see that sometimes the digital citizenry skews towards a “what have you done for me lately” attitude regarding boots. I once complained to a friend that the sleeve length in an outdoor company’s new apparel ran too long. And his reply was rhetorically spot on, “according to who? You mean your specific arm length?”

The 4-Quattro SL will not fit everyone. However, some portions of the fit are average, like calf volume (they fit my calf without reducing the volume around the cuff, and I’ve got skinny calves), and some dimensions, as noted, run on the low-volume side.

The last ounce to squeeze out on fit is that as I have the boot slotted into my rotation as a wintertime boot when I drive a longer and wider ski, which is all winter— the snug fit works. My foot swells on longer tours as temps warm, especially when pummeled by a stronger Sun. I’d likely need to size up if this were my spring boot.

Ok, one more drop to squeeze…the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro gets a lot of love. And it should — great skiing, passable walking and climbing, and legit four-buckle power. From a fit perspective, the Quatro SL (or XT…that review comes later this season) and the ZG Tour Pros are markedly different. I can make both boots work with stock liners, but given an average foot, you likely will find yourself looking for slightly more space with the 4-Quattro SL and possibly reducing volume in the ZG Tour Pro. But, these boots are two different solutions to the same problem: how to build an effective uphilling boot that provides optimum performance on the descents.

Scarp[a 4-Quattro SL next to the Tecnica ZG Tour Pro.

The 4-Quattro SL (left) posed next to the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro. Looking down into the cuffs, the 4-Quattro SL gains some its stiffness via the alpine overlap cuff (like the ZG Tour), yet the Scarpa boots employs a long plastic tongue as part of the build.

Descending

This will be a short section. The 4-Quattro SL, at a rated 120 flex, is a legit 120 flex (and maybe more) with its alpine overlap design. Literally, buckle up, tighten the power strap, flip the ski/walk lever down, stomp the heel, and you should be ready to charge. I can imagine few pure backcountry skiers, or freeridey tourers, feeling underpowered with the 4-Quattro SL…and if you suspect you might be, go a flex rating higher with 4-Quattro XT.

I prefer a bit more forward lean in my boots. For example, with the ZG Tour Pro, the forward lean is 12-13 degrees. I’ve added a velcro spoiler to bump me forward a bit in the ZG. The 4-Quattro SL comes with a 17 (+/- 2) degree forward lean, which might seem aggressive to some. I like the 15-17 degree sweet spot.

If you are a 50/50 skier, with half your time in bounds, this boot can be a one-boot option. But, in spring, with skinnier and lighter skis, I’d say anything under 95mm, you’ll have a bunch of horsepower to drive the ski, but maybe too much.

 

The Ascent

Let’s assume you’ve left the chairlift far behind. The 4-Quattro SL is going to be well-liked on the ups. For what you get with the downhill performance, you’re not sacrificing much skinning in this boot. The range of motion is a claimed 61 degrees. Of those 61 degrees, you get slightly more of that range moving back than forward. And the friction one might expect with a beefier boot and a rigid-tongued liner, as we see with the 4-Quattro SL, feels relatively free. Although this is not a 1000g touring boot, the cuff rotation is surprisingly fluid. Like I noted in my first look, on steeper skin tracks, I’m reaching for a higher riser more frequently with the 4-Quattro SL due to its more limited range of motion compared to the speed touring boots I often use.

The reality of my anecdotal observations is that many of the folks I ski with (or see skiing) opt for more downhill-oriented boots in winter. In other words, there’s a premium placed on great downhill performance and a willingness to sacrifice a bit of touring prowess for that benefit. In the 4-Quattro SL, what you are giving up is not much — especially if you drive bigger skis. These are touring boots. In my view, they just so happen to be compatible with binding options you’d use at the resort. If you are a 100 percent human-powered skier, and the boots fit well, you’ll likely not be disappointed while skinning.

Grip Walk sole- Scarpa 4-Quattro SL

Bottom view of the 4-Quattro SL with the Grip Walk sole. Under the toe is a lugless and flat region.

Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro sole.

For comparison, the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, does not have a Grip Walk sole.

However, walking in the Grip Walk sole has a different feel than walking in a boot with a more traditional tech boot sole. For example, the ZG Tour Pro rolls onto the forefoot when walking (it’s a slightly rockered sole), whereas the 4-Quattro SL seems to pivot onto the forefoot as if tipping a small fulcrum. This is likely due to the small platform under the Grip Walk toe, which is lugless.

The Grip Walk sole might not be a biggie if you use the 4-Quattro SL to boot up steep snow-filled chutes in winter and spring. In this case, I assume you are kick-stepping and weighting the boot’s toe in softish snow, which can support body weight. I’d want crampons on in steep and slippery situations where you must step on and pivot up on the toe. But, to be fair, in most slippery situations, I’m in crampons anyhow, Grip Walk sole or not.

Regarding scrambling in the 4-Quattro SL’s Grip Walk soles, I can see issues if you cannot habituate yourself to the slightly different sensation underfoot when walking. If this is your single go-to boot, that is something to consider. If this is still your go-to boot and you never scramble on rocks, then out of sight, out of mind.

 

In many ways the Scarpa 4-Quattro SL comes in as a near complete package. I would like to see a ratcheted cam type power strap, it comes stock with a velcro power strap.

Power strap Tecnica ZG Tour Pro.

The new ratcheted cam style power strap on the Zero G Tour Pro is a power move when it comes to helping stiffen the upper and locking in place.

Transitions

Expect the usual with four buckles, a power strap to loosen, and a ski/walk lever to flip up. It won’t be ski-mo fast, but it’s not too time-consuming. The buckles are easy to use, as is the powerstrap.

I would make one change — I like a cam/ratchet system to secure/loosen powerstraps on beefier boots. The win here goes to the 2023 ZG Tour Pro power strap IMHO. The 4-Quattro SL’s velcro powerstrap system is fine but could be slightly improved with a cam tensioning system and a quick release on the cam unit, as seen on the Fischer Transalp Pro.

Closing Thoughts

If you had asked me five years ago if I would ever use a four-buckle boot in the backcountry, the answer would have been an unequivocal no. But times change. I may be older and slightly slower, but I, too, am marginally wiser. A four-buckle touring boot can offer superior control. Scarpa’s 4-Quattro SL is fierce on the downhills. The uphills, with the 1432g weight (stock liner and insole) and range of motion, are not a hindrance, despite the boot shining more on the down than on the up.

In choosing a stiff boot, like any boot, it will come down to fit. I do like that Scarpa is likely trying to appeal to the crossover market but developed boots in the 4-Quattro series that can be a stand-alone backcountry power boot.

Jason Albert

Jason Albert comes to WildSnow from Bend, Oregon. After growing up on the East Coast, he migrated from Montana to Colorado and settled in Oregon. Simple pleasures are quiet and long days touring. His gray hair might stem from his first Grand Traverse in 2000 when rented leather boots and 210cm skis were not the speed weapons he had hoped for. Jason survived the transition from free-heel kool-aid drinker to faster and lighter (think AT), and safer, are better.

February 7, 2023 25 comments
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