La Sportiva Spectre just might be the coolest ski boot ever made in the more beefy persuasion. They call it the “lightest 4 buckle.” This unboxed retail pair of 2013/14 version weighs 1,439 grams (50.7 ounces) per size 27 boot — 6 grams less than the catalog weight! Amazing considering that one of the top 3-buckle boots on the market weighs in at 1,300 grams, and another brand’s top 4-buckle offering comes in at more than 1,500 grams. Check out some photos. We’ll be testing these boots and filing a true review after we’ve had them on snow for awhile.
The object at hand. Lots of Grilamid plastic, carbon reinforced, super stiff. Beef aside, we particularly like the elegant buckles. They're light and fold in a way that'll prevent catching on terrain features or your other boot.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Louis Dawson has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain. He published his memoir, Avalanche Dreams: A Memoir of Skiing, Climbing, and Life in 2024.
