The Gist
Our test team's long wait for a successor to the QST line has come to a welcome end with the arrival of the new Shift Pro family--with a bootified take on the exceedingly popular Shift binding, the Shift Pro 130 AT sits at the top of the heap as a legit Freeride assault vehicle. Built off the tester-favored S/Pro medium width lower shell, the Shift Pro returns to a lightweight four-buckle overlap platform and combines a polyamide lower shell and Xecarb (carbon and glass hybrid) composite Coreframe insert with a polyolefin cuff to create a crisp, transmissive boot. Testers said it's just padded enough by its pre-shaped and seamless liner to be comfy without bulk.
The Fit
Testers say that the list of fit improvements over the QST is long--a more true medium width fit overall is the takeaway, with a broader fit along the lateral side of the foot and a taller fit through the instep, which along with more compliant material there made for much better entry and exit. The Shift Pro is light on the foot, thanks to thin shell wall construction with polyamide and polyolefin plastics. The flex feel is firm against the shin but progressive, testers report, and they liked the overall fit when the cuff was released as well. The fit over the top of the foot is even and open enough for good circulation by way of the My Custom Fit 3D seamless liner.
Performance
The testers who were able to get the Shift Pro 130 on snow this year said that the lower boot feel is damp and stable, a la the S/Pro medium width alpine boot it's modeled after and the cuff's snappy flex feel made for agile transitions turn to turn without feeling jittery.
Cool Features
The Surelock cuff release mechanism remains a tester favorite and the touring range of motion it enables in addition to the rolling stride of GripWalk soles and light weight make this a real contender for more extended off-area missions. Testers like the 45mm Sense Claw cam buckle power strap on the 130--Velcro power straps are found on the other Shift Pro boots in the line.
