The Gist
Great anatomical fit paired with superior performance on both the ascent and descent. It handily took top honors in the women's Backcountry category.
Fit
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.
Performance
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.
Cool Features
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.
Kudos
Caveats