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
While the 2018 Scarpa Maestrale RS is the same in name, it debuts a completely new shell construction, closure system and liner. The unique Evo V-Frame cuff utilizes stiff Grilamid plastic in an open cross-membered weave to increase stiffness, shave weight and allow for moisture venting. This rigid and light framework is linked to a rock solid carbon-strand infused Grilamid lower shell via the new Speedlock Plus metal-on-metal cuff release mechanism for a highly transmissive connection between foot and leg to ski.
Testers liked the revisions on the Maestrale's shell shape and Intuition Cross Fit Pro Flex G liner. They noted that it was more open than in the past, and more in line with the stated 101 mm last width. A few testers felt the lower boot was a little boxy with some pressure at the instep and ankle pockets prior to full-thermo liner molding, which evened-up the fit a bit there. The cuff rides slightly low on the leg, so it's particularly well suited to shorter skiers and larger calves.
Testers liked the lateral connectivity with the ski, rolling edge to edge smoothly. The lateral cuff angles struck testers as slightly knock-kneed, which detuned the power to the edge for some but made for a loose and slashy style in soft snow off-piste. Testers were not as excited with the new Maestrale RS's forward flex character, which they said collapsed under heavy loads unpredictably. Combined with the lowish cuff, this diminished the boot's hard-charging potential and rendered it a better match for side to side movers. The Maestrale RS still excels in uphill battles—light weight, long and friction-free range of motion in touring mode still make this one a top choice for skin track junkies.
The new pulley-wire loop lower buckle of the Wave Closure system was a fiddle-around initially but works well and appeals to a minimalist ethos. The ratchet strap style 45-degree middle buckle will appeal or offend depending on one's preference for ratchet strap buckles, but it is functional for retaining the instep. The ISO 9523 tech-compatible rockered sole is clad with the Vibram Cayman Pro lugged outsole.
The little two-buckle that could! Testers raved (again) about the 2018 Salomon MTN Explore W for its snug all-around narrow class fit, its insanely light weight, its easy and effective touring range of motion and downhill guts beyond its rated stiffness and category. Homerun, they said (and it tied with one other boot for highest score of the entire women's test).
Evenly snug the way a 98 mm last should fit was the group think on fit tension, perhaps with a little extra breathing room for the calf at boot top. Testers liked the flex feel and amount of cushion in the tongue and felt that two buckles and a power strap did the job to close up shop around the foot and leg just fine.
Surprisingly strong and stable for a light weight 90-flex, testers said. The snug fit and lack of bulk in liner and shell translated into high agility scores and rapid fire transitions turn to turn. While this rockered and tech-compatible boot would not be a first choice for majority on-area skiing, testers said it would do just fine there.
The sleek and sideways flip switch of the Surelock cuff release mechanism is always a hit with testers for its ease of use, and they appreciate little elements like the dual liner pull loops for easier entry.
For low-volume feet attached to lighter weight guys, the 2018 Salomon MTN Explore is the ticket to longer tours and better turns. Testers dug how well this 98 mm tourer gripped the foot and lower leg for a secure connection to the sliding tool. At a 100-flex, our taller, heavier testers overpowered it a bit, but for average and smaller skiers in soft snow there was nary a complaint, with those guys calling it agile and able to rip in all conditions.
Testers said average feet will need some help from the bootfitter, especially at the forefoot—this is a true narrow fit that the low volume set will appreciate. The flex feel is soft while the tongue cushioning is a bit on the firm side, and testers thought the stance angles were dialed for getting around on skis.
The boot is light, rockered, tech-compatible and has a slick sideways release mechanism called Surelock which testers approved of. Range of motion is better rearward than forward they said, but gave its quality of movement the thumbs-up for being smooth. Downhill skiing performance was on the agile and accurate side of the spectrum, rather than heavy to the edge, and so the MTN Explore is best suited to the not-huge and those with a lighter touch on the snow. The S/Lab MTN is a bit more solid at a 110-flex.
Two lightweight buckles and a powerstrap is about the extent of it, that and a fully thermo moldable liner—cook it and go!
The 2018 Roxa RXW 1.0 is a true backcountry ascender with a minimalist design (2 buckles) and is well-suited for long approaches.
The RXW fits with a bit more forgiveness than other narrow 3-piece boots in the Roxa range (i.e. R3W), which testers appreciated for a potentially warmer touring environment, though they thought the heel pocket was particularly relaxed, which didn't impress. They noted that the tongue at boot top is a little firmer than desired.
The lower boot had a nice feel for the snow and transmitted edging movements to the ski adequately, but testers said that the cuff felt upright and soft and generally left the lower leg disconnected from communication with the ski. They did like the easy to grab oversized (and carbon reinforced) cuff release switch.
The top buckle offers Velcro strap fine-tuning. Two liner pull loops help with tugging this one on.
The all new 2018 Roxa R3 110 Ti I.R. is the little half-brother of the R3 130 Ti I.R.. What changes here is a lower flex rating and the use of a polyurethane upper cuff rather than Grilamid, which is still used in the lower boot here. We tested the R3 110 Ti I.R. in the Backcountry category and the R3 130 Ti I.R. in the On-Off Area group, but both have rockered GripWalk soles and are tech-binding compatible, so they are virtually interchangeable in terms of application, outside the differences noted above.
Testers slotted this 99 mm last right where it belongs amongst other narrows, but found it particularly tight over the instep and against the navicular. A liner molding session would probably relax those areas, testers thought. The calf was a bit relaxed at boot top, which they appreciated. As with the R3 130 Ti I.R., testers mentioned a firm feel at boot top against the shin. Low-volume instep folks will love the fit here, which they can lock down even more using the 45-degree middle instep buckle.
Testers felt the 110 flex here was on target—they thought the polyurethane cuff might have had something to do with that. They didn't have the same too-soft, too-long flex complaints here as they did with the Grilamid-cuffed R3 130 Ti I.R.. They still found the stance a bit upright which caused some backseat driving, but they mentioned hoping the full liner cook would allow the shin to seat more deeply into the front of the tongue and put them more in the driver's seat.
Testers again put the 2018 K2 Pinnacle Pro in the group of best-skiing backcountry boots for its ability to drive a big, fat ski at speed and for its lightweight Pebax construction. Is it a lightweight All-Mountain boot with a hike mode or a Backcountry boot that skis like an alpine ride? Go either way, testers say—it does it well in both realms.
Testers say this year's revised PrecisionFit Tour Light liner has nicely opened up some room in the toebox and forefoot, and while it improved last year's tight fit on the navicular somewhat, that area remains more snug than expected for testers. Testers with large calf muscles liked the amount of available space (with the spoiler in) and said that this is a great option for that cyclist-calf guy looking for a comfortable BC boot. Similar to last year, testers again found the heel pocket to be quite snug.
The Pebax lower shell and cuff construction makes for a lightweight ride and a snappy one. The resilience of Pebax created a lot of rebound energy and quick returns to center, testers said—sometimes to a fault, with a couple testers mentioning they had to work to keep a bridle on the horsepower. Lateral moves were solid and strong, they agreed, claiming that the Pinnacle Pro generated progenitor-Pinnacle-level power to the edge at a fraction of the weight. This fact, combined with the Syncro Interlock's long-travel touring range of motion makes the Pro the go-to for good skiers who are serious about going up, too.
Testers say it's nice to find a functional upper cuff adjustment on a backcountry boot (often lacking) and they said that the new liner's articulated area seemed to improve the quality of movement when the cuff was released. As always, testers dig the ease of the Syncro Interlock's release toggle. The Pinnacle Pro (like the other Pinnacles) is tech binding compatible and rockered Vibram soles are available as an extra.
The 2018 Fischer Transalp Thermoshape fits and feels good, said testers, who also liked its touring range of motion, light (enough) weight and convenience of use. They found its descent performance a bit lacking.
The Transalp Thermoshape's out-of-box fit was right on the money for a 102 mm last, testers said. Plenty of room in the lower boot and calf, with a soft feeling flex against the leg and an adequately cushioned liner tongue. They liked the fit while touring as well.
Fischer's materials don't specify the Transalp Thermoshape's flex index but testers said it was very soft—our guess at 90 is probably still a little high. Testers felt the weak forward support and occasionally collapsing flex feel made it difficult to control the ski's shovel and they felt stability on edge was hampered as well. They suggested this one is best for light weight skiers and long tours on low-angle slopes.
The lace-up Ultralon padded liner was a tester favorite here. Original Dynafit tech inserts used here as well.
The 2018 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 pretty well blew doors off the backcountry category competition and both fit as well and skied as well, as most of the other boots in the test, regardless of category—according to our very unimpressed testers. Uh, that last part was a joke.
Tight, evenly tight. Sorta like: Bond, James Bond. That's how this boot fits—like a tailored dinner jacket with a suppressed Walther PPK in the inside chest pocket. Sophisticated but badass—Spartan and connected to the shell, yet well-shaped and ergonomic, the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 hit the fit-bullseye for testers right between minimalist and humanist. This little, narrow featherweight actually fits like a real boot. This, of course, according to our very unimpressed test team.
We like Grilamid. Here you'll find it in both the lower shell and upper cuff. It's heat-stretchable like polyurethane, and when it's done right it skis pretty damn similar—meaning, strong and stable, predictable. Sometimes it can be twitchy, but here we'll just call it quick. A resiliant, energetic flex feel (testers said). A snappy return to center in between turns (testers said). It was strong and undeterred through a variety of mank and mung (testers said). This boot skied almost as well as the pinned cuff Hawx Ultra 130, and we think toured as well as the Atomic Backland. Maybe the core, on-area, off-area guy really doesn't need two boots. Wow, what a concept.
It's got rockered, lugged soles and is tech-compatible, like the rest of the group. It forgoes lateral cuff adjustments for the sake of solid, touring pivot points, which sometimes is an alignment demerit, but the Memory Fit oven-cook customization feature can help the knock-kneed and bowlegged while addressing general fit improvements—win, win!
Super light and agile—testers said the RX 1.0 W is a great mountaineering boot for long approaches and hut missions with easy-going downhills.
Testers called it a roomy-narrow, with a hot-spot over the top of the foot that relaxed with some wear time. The tongue is well-cushioned against the leg and combined with a very soft flex feel for long-travel ankle flexion.
The stance is upright and the fore-aft power is subdued, testers said. They found it able in quick lateral moves but lacking in support both fore and aft when things got underway at speed or in demanding terrain. The touring mode range of motion is vast and smooth, they said, great for the up.
The Quick Carbon hike-ski mode switch is over-sized and easy to operate with gloves on, which testers enjoyed. The two-buckle closure is simple but still took some fiddling with the Velcro pulley-buckle at the top to get closure cinched down just right.
Light and low profile. Testers liked the immediate feedback and quick shuttles in and out of turns. A huge range of motion in touring mode made this a top pick for skiers serious about putting skin to ski, even if they might roll in-bounds too.
It's a 98mm last and on-target for that volume foot and leg, testers said. The out of box fit was snuggest in the toebox and forefoot, with a few peak pressure points here and there. Post full-molding, tester feedback was evenly distributed between narrow and medium width, right where they wanted to be for comfortable touring and a secure downhill experience.
Testers said the cuff was slightly more upright than category average and sits low on the leg. Great for pow and corn skiing but perhaps a little lacking in torque for on-piste hammering. The flex was dead-on at the rated 90.
Quick, agile, and responsive with a light feel underfoot in short turns. Testers said this was not a grunty power boot; it exhibits a fine touch for managing varied snow conditions. It certainly held its own without collapsing under duress.
Testers dug the Surelock sideways-flipping hike mode switch and the dual pull loops on the CF 3D liner. As with all Salomons, Oversized Pivot cuff attachment points are about transmission of energy, not lateral cuff adjustment.
Tricky to put on but worth the effort. Lightning quick attacks on descent and featherweight climbing capabilities. Testers put the Gea RS on the podium in the Backcountry group for its winning combination of functional elements.
Don't be fooled by the 101mm rating; the Gea RS fits snug, like a narrow class boot. Testers recommended immediate molding of the Intuition Pro Flex RS Women's liner in order to even out some of the peak pressure points at the forefoot, navicular bone and instep.
The entry and exit had testers cussing while they cracked-open the sideways-hinged external tongue and pried buckle straps out of the way. There was also a little pinch on the instep for a few as their foot makes it past the boot throat. Once buckled, however, the closure was super secure. Testers liked the heel hold and the grip on the lower leg shaft. They said it was slightly lower on the leg than others and had an edgy-firm feel at the top of the cuff that relaxed after some hill time.
A polyamide shell and cuff and Pebax tongue combine to create a strong, light and snappy feel on snow. This thin shell wall and stiff construction made for close-to-foot snow feel and rapid direction changes without any flex flubber; testers were impressed with how well the boot held up when pounded.
The 45-degree ratchet strap instep buckle works wonders for retention and heel hold but will also help remind you why you don't snowboard. The presence of a functional and easily attuned lateral cuff adjuster will be appreciated by those who need to tweak their stance alignment.
Great anatomical fit paired with superior performance on both the ascent and descent. It handily took top honors in the women's Backcountry category.
Though it’s marked as a 103.5mm last, it fit more like a 98mm. Testers didn't mind; they liked the snug but even fit throughout the lower and the slightly relaxed shape in the toebox and forefoot. There were no hotspots in the well-padded yet squish-free liner, they said.
After giving the PWR Lite High thermo liner a good cook-and-mold, testers reported a nicely distributed snug-medium fit. The upper cuff impressed our crew. It’s has just-right height (no tib-fib fracture feel) and an even, progressive flex feel that testers described as a bit softer than the claimed 120.
Easy-peasy on all terrain and snow surfaces with a long-ranging and easily activated touring mode. The Celeste II received the best scores in the group for its ease of handling and stable predictability turn-to-turn. It requires no technique adjustments for the down; just point and go. Testers said that the stance is slightly upright but not backseat, making for a sustainable all-day starting position with a soft-enough flex to effectively manage the front of the ski.
Testers liked the Vibram sole's grip for walking and said the Dynafit-certified tech inserts found their home every time without hassle. The Ergo micro-adjustable buckles are lightweight but straightforward to use. Some testers liked the internal liner lacing system, while others found it a little bothersome for entry/exit and quick closure.
