A lot of backcountry boots may claim to combine both uphill and downhill performance, but rarely do both exist in equally excellent measure--then add the nuances of a properly shaped fit and a stan
Our test team had a chance to test the new Gea RS to see how it compared to its predecessor and testers were impressed with the step-up performance wise brought by the stiffer Grilamid Bio cuff. Strong moves to the edge were backed up by this boot's lateral stability and supportive fore-aft flex feel, and testers said that its light weight and close-to-the-foot medium fit profile kept it among the quickest in its category. In fact, it received perfect 5.00's for both Edge Power and Quickness.
Testers also gave it a perfect score for its Dynamic Balance, saying that it put them in the, well, perfect position for good skiing movements and offered a proper feeling height against the shin for strong and comfortable moves to the front of the ski. They liked the ergonomics of the cuff's long stride when released into touring mode and said the quality of movement was smooth and unhindered.
Testers remind that the Gea RS is one of few backcountry boots claiming to be a medium width that actually fits as such. It's a closely-contoured fit, meaning a little on the snug side of the 100mm marker, but generally was about what testers expected from a middle-of-the-road fit. Testers mentioned that the liner was adequately padded and warm, citing side-by-side comparisons with other BC category entries that proved the Gea's warmth.
Testers still struggle a little to avoid some sharp plastic bits when getting into the boot and the various overlaps and strap style buckles continue to confound upon first try, but after some familiarity with the system they say the minor start-up struggles are worth it for the whole up then down performance package it offers the accomplished skier.
The Maestrale line has been through a variety of iterations, ups and downs, tighters and loosers, over the years and our test team says the Maestrale RS's current iteration with its revised cuff material is the best combination yet of a good, anatomical fit matched with real ski boot descending skills and legit BC touring functionality. Testers still grumble a little bit about getting past some sharp and jumbled overlaps and straps but once in and locked down they say there are few backcountry category competitors that can match the nearly universal medium width fit and easily managed features.
According to testers, Scarpa remains one of the few brands that consistently incorporates more environmentally friendly plastics into its designs without tanking their performance potential. The new Grilamid Bio cuff proved to be strong and stable when driving big, fat skis at speed through a variety of different terrain and snow surfaces, and testers said that response time remained as good as it's ever been with the Maestrale design. They thought that the balance of medium fit, strong edging skills, quick steering reactions and functional cuff-release features and functionality kept the Maestrale RS in the top group of BC boots tested.
Some testers felt that there was an excessive amount of space in the toebox and forefoot, but for many tourers this would seem a benefit, and depending on how much toe-cappage one used during liner molding a more snug liner fit in the forward cab could be achieved pretty easily.
Stance angles were neutral and allowed for easy balance for cruising, charging or ascending, alike. Testers liked the cuff release mechanism and loved the resulting stride range of motion and smooth feel. They generally had no complaints (beyond some entry and exit consternation) except for some of the usual grousing about ladder strap style 45-degree buckles and zig-zaggy Wave Closure buckles--which was probably good news--when testers' negative comments fall on buckle design, you know the boot's gotta be pretty solid overall.
K2's maiden voyage into true Backcountry boot territory was a successful mission according to our testers who liked the Dispatch W LT for its massive and smooth range of motion in touring mode, coupled with a generous medium width fit and reliable lefts and rights on the way down. While not the most important element, testers did agree that the boot looks cool, too.
Gone are the lateral cuff adjusting elliptical spacers, which had to go to maximize the range and feel of the upper cuff's rotation when released for walking or skinning. Testers said that the lateral stance set-up felt neutral and balanced to them out of the box, so at least most skiers will have no need for lateral stance work. The fore-aft stance was upright and tall against the lower leg shaft, testers said, which they liked for low quad-burn levels and for touring but they mentioned that it took a little attention to get over the sweet spot while skiing.
Testers loved the roomy-medium fit that gently matched the curvatures of the foot and leg without offering too much squeeze. Our higher volume testers loved the extra room (more than they expected from a 100 mm last), especially over the instep where they noted very high ceilings. Testers liked the soft address of the Tourfit LT liner and while they appreciated its full-thermo Ultralon molding capabilities, only one mentioned feeling a need to utilize it. Testers appreciated the dual liner pull loops, but said they felt a bit let down by the wimpy, narrow power strap.
Testers generally gave the boot highest marks for its comfortable fit and category-best touring features and skills. It skied just fine everywhere they pointed it, they said, but also mentioned that skiers seeking untracked pow stashes farther afield from the chairlift might best appreciate the Dispatch's adventurous character.
The all new K2 Dispatch Pro impressed testers with its good skiing character and (mostly) anatomical fit map for the average foot and leg. Testers were universally enthusiastic about the Dispatch's hardened outer self (i.e. the shell) which offered a great, balanced stance and a highly transmissive linkage between skier movement and ski response with crazy-good hike mode functionality. Testers were similarly universal in their skepticism surrounding the Boa Tourfit liner, which most claimed restricted entry and exit and came with tongue fit issues.
Now, ignoring those two caveats, our test team thought the Dispatch Pro was one of the better skiing and better touring BC boots they've tested in recent years. The tall-enough cuff and progressive flex feel offered a substantial amount of leverage over the ski and proper stability in rock-and-roll conditions. The Pebax shell and cuff provided a surprisingly crisp, yet damp, feel when tipping a ski on edge, testers said. They also praised the hike mode's simplicity and vast range of motion when released. Testers agreed that for a first foray into the full-rockered BC market K2 hit a homerun--well, at least a stand-up double.
The caveats were hard to ignore, however, as the Boa reel's cable length seemed short, and as such kept testers from getting the bugger on. Most testers found they needed to don the liner, snug the Boa, then enter the shell, which is fine but not always convenient for skiers and leads to excess wear and tear on a liner over time. Second, the liner tongue's out-of-box fit was neither smooth nor anatomical for many of the test team, who across the board suggested that a full temp, thermo molding session would probably sort out this issue. However, given that an out-of-box, customer purchase experience is part of the testing process, this didn't help the Dispatch's score. There's always the chance that we were testing early production liners and the likelihood that this issue will be ironed out by the Fall's buying season (no answers yet from K2 on that). Testers suggest that upon try-on, if the entry and exit isn't an issue and the shin fit is comfy, then buy it, as the rest of the Dispatch's skill set is top notch.
Testers did like the idea of the Boa liner closure in the Pro, but observed that the boot's available without it in the Dispatch LT, along with a softer 120 flex. The Pro comes with a sweet cam buckle power strap though, and testers do like those. The softest Dispatch at a 110 flex comes at $150 MSRP discount for the lightweight of body and wallet.
The Fischer Transalp Tour W is a hit with our women's test team two years running. First, they say they could run in it, if they wanted to, its range of motion in touring mode is that good. But unlike many light-enough-to-run-in BC boots we've tested over the years, the Transalp actually skis like a real ski boot, testers agree. And it skis not just like a real boot but like a real good boot--as in, it skis as well as many of the top shelf four-buckle overlap boots in the test, they said. Even after a first look at this featherweight two-buckle last year, testers were still surprised all over again with how strongly and accurately it puts skis on edge and heads down the fall line.
It has a gorgeous toebox and forefoot shape, testers reported, but some felt it ran a little short, overall (this without a full liner cook though), and while some testers felt it was a little close through the instep none felt it was out of the norm for being on the snug side of the 100 mm fit spectrum. Even without cooking the liner testers liked the creature comfort here, citing enough padding for bony spots but just barely--one tester mentioned the outside ankle pocket was a little aggressive.
Stancewise the crew loved the neutral angles all around and as proof it received a perfect score in the Dynamic Balance category. It also received perfect 5's in both Edge Power and Quickness, so this is a well-rounded downhill performance model that also tours with the best of them. Bravo Transalp!
This is what the Fischer guy wrote for our testers' info packet about the Transalp Pro: "...gets to the heart of what downhill-oriented ski touring professionals want: outstanding stability and power transmission for demanding descents, balanced with the lowest weight and a large range of motion." Well, our testers said that for once, the marketing mumbo jumbo wasn't B.S.--in fact, they said that description hit the nail on the head for this two-time gold medalist and category winner this year.
Many of our testers had put the Transalp Pro pro through its paces at last year's test but a few mentioned they were looking forward to this year's re-test of the unchanged entry because they weren't sure if they really liked it as much as their test forms suggested last time around--i.e., maybe last year's results were a fluke. Well, nope. Those guys loved it just as much this time, and continue to be amazed at how a micro-minimalist touring machine can generate the kind of power and stability that it manages to. It's about the lightest boot our test accepts an entry for (we are not tights-wearing rando-racers by a long shot) and it has the kind of range of motion that you expect is possible but is rarely achieved in releasable cuff boots but it puts a fat ski on edge like a 130-flex four-buckle overlap boot. Really. It's surprising.
Testers continue to gripe about the entry and exit--it's a little tricky--but once it's on it's a regular boot on your foot--albeit with a massive and frictionless stride. The Double-Lock Ski Walk release mechanism is simple and bombproof, and once locked in place creates a comfortably rigid cast that's ready to drive a ski. Some of our larger testers felt that there was a little over-flexing to the front but not enough to drop its stance or fore-aft stability scores, and they mentioned that its rearward resistance was rock-solid.
Not only does the Transalp Pro (and the softer Transalp Tour) have a nice, fat power strap with a cam-lock style buckle, it comes with the testers' favorite feature-du-jour, the rip-cord pull release for that cam buckle, but wait, there's more, the power strap is also releasable with a hook grabber (kind of like the GI Joe Kung Fu grip you may remember if you're old like us) that avoids having to re-thread the webbing strap through the cam buckle. Nifty.
The 2021/2022 Scott Cosmos was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The completely rebuilt Cosmos lurked about in its half-brother Cosmos Tour’s shadow at this year’s boot test but busted out in the end as a sleeper performance model that offers backcountry skiers great bang for the buck. As with the Tour, testers liked Cosmos for its snug anatomical fit and straightforward entry and closure system. Testers said they could run it up and down any slope for reliable, comfortable performance.
Testers agreed that the Cosmos does not fit as its 103.5mm last width would suggest, though it fit slightly more relaxed than Cosmos Tour due to liner differences. They say it remains an average medium fit and they liked that, and the even more-cushioned (than Cosmos Tour) contact the full-thermo liner made with the foot and leg. They did agree that it fits a little shorter than average, so skiers in between sizes already may want to opt for the upsize for improved toe room while touring. The cuff fit flared nicely at boot top for a muscular calf and testers said the cuff’s height was ideal and its stance angles neutral.
Several of our testers simply wrote see Cosmos Tour for the performance section of the Cosmos—that’s good news for good skiers who could use an extra hundred bucks! The Cosmos line-up has a noticeably high internal ramp angle that worked well for testers who typically add a heel lift to their set-up. The Cosmos’s 110 flex did a good job of maintaining leg shaft angles while descending, offering good support in smooth terrain and soft snow. Testers noted that the side-to-side set-up was neutral and comfortable in all conditions, allowing for reliable arcs as intended on the way down. As with the Cosmos Tour, the Cosmos’s cuff release range of motion is wide and smooth of stride and tester like the simplicity and strength of the Rear Hook release mechanism.
The Cosmos sports all the BC goodies needed: rockered and lugged Vibram outsole, Dynafit certified tech inserts, dual pull loop and speed-laced full thermo tongue style liner, and two lower buckles, two upper cuff buckles plus a Velcro power strap—very real boot like, which we like.
The 2021/2022 Scott Celeste was tested in the women’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
Testers liked the welcoming attitude of the Celeste, from the accessible price to the anatomical fit that worked for the average and slightly thicker foot. This year’s revised version felt lighter on the foot and offered a slightly longer feeling stride in touring mode than in the past—and it was good to begin with! Testers thought that this was a good value solution for backcountry enthusiasts who weren’t looking for the stiffest descender on the market.
The Celeste isn’t as wide as its blown-out-of proportion last width numbers would suggest, but testers put it on the roomy side of medium-width boots and said that its anatomical and easy-going fit was one of its best qualities—you’ll note the perfect score in the Anatomical Fit and Initial Feel category. Testers felt that the flex was about right at a stated 100-flex, but said that it folded a bit under situations of high fore-aft force.
Testers liked the Celeste best on smooth creamy surfaces where its less-aggressive transmission could go with the flow—and that’s the point of a tour anyway, right? If not, testers suggested stepping up to the Celeste Tour’s slightly beefier 110. Testers really liked the ease of use of the Celeste while hiking and skinning, saying it was one of the best of the rest when it came to convenience and function—it’s other perfect score. Testers noted that the fairly high boot board ramp had them pitched forward onto the balls of their feet.
Dual pull loops on a tongue style, full-thermo liner made getting it on and off a snap, and the 12-14 degree forward lean adjustment is a useful feature to get the fore-aft sweet spot dialed.
The 2021/2022 Scott Celeste Tour was tested in the women’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The Celeste Tour was our test team’s preferred women’s backcountry boot from Scott for its ideal flex feel and a roomy-medium fit throughout the lower boot and cuff. They liked that it handled what they threw at it on the down without complaint and strode out like it meant business in touring mode. At a slightly stiffer 110 flex and a firmer PWR Lite High liner, testers said it edged out its softer sis Celeste in performance and would be worth the extra C-note for more aggressive skiers.
Testers put the fit in the lower and upper to the wide side of the medium class—so not too far off of its wide ride last width indicator, and surprisingly testers said it ran slightly more roomy than the softer Celeste due to the differing liners. They liked the cuff’s fore-aft positioning and said that side to side it was neutral as could be. They did note that the internal ramp angle felt a bit steeper than average, which worked for those who preferred a fat heel lift typically.
At the 110 flex testers felt solid through variable terrain without over-flexing the cuff and they felt that the lateral and torsional capability of the boot was on target for backcountry applications. They loved the touring range of motion and ease of use in and out of cuff-release mode.
Dual pull loops on a tongue style, full-thermo liner made getting it on and off a snap, and the 12-14 degree forward lean adjustment is a useful feature to get the fore-aft sweet spot dialed.
The 2021/2022 Scott Freeguide Carbon was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
With the catchy name evolution of the former Superguide to the all new Freeguide Carbon testers were hopeful that it came with more than new badging, and they were not disappointed. Testers thought the Freeguide was the best of the Scott family entries at this year’s test and one of the better BC boots we’ve tested in years for its well-rounded blend of fit and performance, both up and down. Testers say it’s a tricky one to get on but well worth the effort.
All the Scott boots fit more snug than their alleged last widths which makes one wonder if they aren’t measuring a 27 rather than 26 standard reference size. Testers liked the evenly snug fit but said it fit more in line with other 99mm lasted boots with an average fit zone score of 2.4 out of 5 (1 race, 2 narrow, 3 medium, 4 wide, 5 rental bucket). That said, they felt it was a little shorter than most and so some testers sized up, which put them right into a more roomy medium 101mm as its designed, so keep an up-size in mind if you’re indecisive between sizes. None of this is to say testers didn’t love the fit—they did, especially after full liner molding, which evened out the aggressive ankle pockets that came with the out-of-box fit.
While our test team have become not-fans of pulley-style Velcro buckle-power-strap combination closure systems they said this one works, and in conjunction with the Boa liner lacing system produced a comfy clamp on the lower leg for serious ski tipping leverage. Testers liked the relaxed stance angles that allowed for maximum touring efficiency but without locking them straight out of a dynamic position when needed on descent. The carbon powered shell provided a crisp feel underfoot, that paired with a Grilamid and carbon upper boot managed to avoid feeling twitchy, testers said. Cuff rotation was in line with the best of the category and the boot feels light on the foot without feeling flimsy.
The Boa liner lace system was a hit with testers once they realized it was their friend for entry and exit (hint: release the reel and pull out all the slack for entry and exit—duh, right?). It’s no-slippage closure on the inner boot was good for skiing and skinning alike they said. Testers liked the simple vector-pull style lower buckle and just two other closure clasps for a straight-up and functional lock-down.
The 2021/2022 Scott Cosmos Tour was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
The completely rebuilt Cosmos Tour was a welcome sight at this year’s boot test as it has always been a solid performer in the Backcountry category and this year was no different for testers who like its snug anatomical fit and straightforward entry and closure system. Testers said they could count on the Cosmos Tour in and out of the skin track for reliable, comfortable performance.
Testers agreed that the Cosmos Tour does not fit as its 103.5mm last width would suggest. They say it remains a snug medium fit and they had no problem with that, and they liked the cushioned contact the full-thermo liner made with the foot and leg. They did agree that it fits a little shorter than average, so skiers in between sizes already may want to opt for the upsize for improved toe room while touring. The cuff fit flared nicely at boot top for a muscular calf and testers said the cuff’s height was ideal and its stance angles neutral.
The Cosmos line-up has a noticeably high internal ramp angle that worked well for testers who typically add a heel lift to their set-up. The Cosmos Tour’s 120 flex did a good job of maintaining leg shaft angles while descending, offering good support in smooth terrain and soft snow. Testers noted that the side-to-side set-up was neutral and comfortable in all conditions, allowing for reliable arcs as intended on the way down. As with the Cosmos, the Cosmos Tour’s cuff release range of motion is wide and smooth of stride and tester like the simplicity and strength of the Rear Hook release mechanism.
The Cosmos Tour sports all the BC goodies needed: rockered and lugged Vibram outsole, Dynafit certified tech inserts, dual pull loop and speed-laced full thermo tongue style liner, and two lower buckles, two upper cuff buckles plus a Velcro power strap—very real boot like, which we like.
The 2021/2022 Scarpa Maestrale XT was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
When asking testers to describe the Maestrale XT in as few words as possible, we got several different answers that all said something like: fits right, skis strong. When looking at where the XT received its highest test scores, they were tied for high score in both the anatomical fit and edge power categories. While the XT’s light weight and touring range of motion are top shelf, it’s not a shock that our descent-centric group of bootfitter testers love this boot—they say it fits like a boot should and skis like a boot should, and all that functional uphill stuff is icing on the cake.
While the Maestrale XT and Maestrale RS share the same plastic housing, the liners are slightly different. The Intuition-built Pro Flex Ride liner is slightly stiffer and denser than that of the RS and so the XT has a slightly more snug fit throughout and firmer feel against the foot and leg. Testers placed its pre-molding fit tension more in line with other 98-99mm lasts, but said that after molding it occupied a well-shaped place on the snug side of the medium width group. Testers note that the boot cuff’s height and stance angles are right on the money for strong, balanced skiing and they liked that the fit remained consistent while skinning and walking as well.
The XT is strong to the edge, but not to the point of locking the ski into a hard carve when not desired. Testers said the fine tuning was there, as was the quickness of response in tight spots, but they were most impressed with how much stability and power was transferred to the ski edge at high speeds and on hard snow. While the intent may not be to ride the chair often with this boot, it would handle anything area skiing might throw at it so long as the tech binding of choice was up to the task. For hard-charging or heavier and taller skiers looking for a true BC boot that rips, this is the one—it crushes its little bro Maestrale RS at the top end of skiing performance requirements.
We think it’s a cool feature that Scarpa succeeds in producing a plant-based plastic that actually skis well (Grilamid Bio and Pebax Rnew are both derived from Castor bean oil rather than petrochemicals) and it’s also cool that a Recco chip is integrated into the boots we tested (Maestrale and Gea boots). We also like that there are two legit buckles plus a cam-lock power strap on the XT’s cuff—thank you Scarpa!
