The Best Alpine Touring Ski Boots of 2016
Top performers for the ups and the downs
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Enjoyable skiing comes down to happy feet. From the odd skin up the resort to multi-day tours, these six boots have got you covered.
Tecnica Cochise Pro 130
Best For: Occasional Missions
The Cochise Pro 130 carries over the interchangeable tech- and DIN-compatible soles of last year’s model but gets an upgraded liner. It remains a leader in the AT market, but due to its weight, it isn’t ideal for big-mileage days. That said, if you put a premium on going downhill fast, it can’t be beat. 8.9 lbs
Price $840
Scott Sports Superguide Carbon
Best For: Long Tours
To build this boot, Scott started with its Cosmos II, then added carbon to the lower shell for a lighter ride and better control on descents. It also embedded Gore-Tex into parts of the liner—which one tester called “plush but supportive”—to keep moisture off the skin. 6.2 lbs
Price $1,000
Salomon MTN Lab
Best For: Randonee Racing
Designers of the MTN Lab had uphill in mind, incorporating numerous touring-friendly features like a lightweight shell, a high-traction sole, and 47 degrees of motion in an easy-to-activate walk mode. But this boot can charge, too, with a carbon spine, 120 flex, and the same snug, 98-millimeter last you’ll find in Salomon’s high-performance alpine-racing models. 7 lbs
Price $950
Dynafit Winter Guide GTX
Best For: Living in Your Boots
Aside from a burlier top strap, the shell is identical to Dynafit’s budget-friendly Neo PX, with a wide last, 18 degrees of forward lean, and three buckles, the top of which activates the 60-degree walk mode. But it’s the inside that counts: the liner pairs perforations with Gore-Tex for breathability and waterproofness. 6.8 lbs
Price $700
Lange XT 130
Best For: Big Lines
The XT 130 is back, with an overhauled walk mode that uses a full-metal locking mechanism for ripping downhill. But while testers agreed that the boot now skis like its alpine cousins, the new system doesn’t improve walkability, despite the company’s claims. Still, it’ll get you to après in record time. 8.9 lbs
Price $850
Scarpa Freedom RS
Best For: Doing It All
The new Freedom RS is like the old Freedom SL but with a few key updates, including a stiffer cuff for better control and 130 flex for powerful skiers. Add four buckles and a booster strap, and you’ve got “a boot capable of driving any ski,” as one very impressed tester put it. 8.8 lbs
Price $829
