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
The 2021/2022 Scarpa Maestrale RS was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
Testers loved this improved iteration of the Maestrale RS since the last one they tested—now following the lead of the Maestrale XT’s mold shape and design but in a softer shell and slightly less dense Intuition Pro Flex Performance liner the RS provides everything a backcountry skier is looking for in a user-friendly package, at a $100 discount off big brother XT.
Testers said the 101mm last width labeling was just as advertised—medium fit tension throughout, with a little additional relief in the toebox and forefoot. The out-of-box fit was surprisingly good, they said, but recommended full heat molding to better match the foot and leg and lock the exterior of the liner to the shell for increased precision.
This RS was a step up in performance from the last RS we tested—it’s more in line with the descent performance of the XT now, just in a slightly softer and less exact sort of way. Testers agreed there was plenty of power on tap for expert level charging through all snow conditions for all but the biggest and hardest-corest of guys. The touring range of motion was outstanding and the weight on the foot was light.
All the key features for a BC winner are in place—Vibram outsole, dual pull loop Intuition tongue liner, Grilamid Bio plant-based plastic in the cuff, straightforward Velcro power strap, a 3-position forward lean adjustment and even a Recco chip.
The 2021/2022 Scarpa Gea RS was tested in the women’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
One of testers perennial faves, the Gea RS did not disappoint again this year. Testers like the even, medium width fit that comes with no surprises but rather a functional combination of comfort and hold for both touring and descending. The Gea RS sets the women’s backcountry boot standard for a solid blend of fit and performance skills, testers said, noting that the touring mode range of motion is one of the best in class.
The 101mm last labeling worked for our test team who said it fit slightly more generously in the toebox and forefoot but otherwise had a firm mediumish grip on the foot leg throughout, mentioning zero hot spots or fit issues, even without fully molding the Intuition tongue-style liner. The cuff height and stance angles worked well for skiing and touring both, testers said.
While the goal of the BC boot is to avoid pistes, testers said that tests on firm surfaces yielded solid, stable results, and they said that the boot did an admirable job of controlling the skis through variable and difficult snow conditions.
The use of Grilamid Bio in the cuff is a carbon-footprint conscious construction method as Castor bean oil is used to produce the monomer rather than petrochemicals. Testers like the simplicity and solid feel of the XT Speed Lock hike mode switch and though it’s a little fiddly, they appreciate the minimal weight and functionality of the pulley cable lower buckle.
The 2021/2022 Lange XT3 Tour Pro was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
This is Lange’s first foray into the true Backcountry boot category, with a fully rockered Vibram ISO 9523 sole and a lightweight full-thermo EVA liner, and testers seemed a little unsure of this newcomer to the category. It was really blue, and while it had flipped its bottom buckle a different direction to try to pass amongst the granola crunchers it looked an awful lot like a four-buckle alpine boot. Then upon fit and on-snow testing there was both a surprise and a sense of relief—the surprise was that this Lange actually felt light enough to pass in the BC group and its range of motion in touring mode fit right in with the category’s best. The sense of relief was that the XT3 still skied like a 130-flex Lange.
Testers couldn’t tell if this was an open-narrow or a snug medium, but it’s a 99mm last, so it’s exactly as it should be. The seamless moccasin-style liner wraps the toes and forefoot in a cozy glove that allows the foot to expand into a comfy, balanced place on the floor of the boot—testers loved it and wanted to swap it into other Lange models. The new full-thermo liner had a tendency to crumple-down around the heel and ankle upon entry if testers didn’t use the dual liner pull loops to their advantage, and some testers found that leaving the liner on and stuffing the whole works into the shell was super easy. The Velcro tongue retainer and liner laces made for a customizable fit against the shin and through the instep that improved the instep feel for testers while touring. Testers had no fit complaints, and on a 1-5 scale for fit zones, every one was a 2 or a 3. A couple testers mentioned that the toebox felt a little more snug than they’d like for touring but this was without heat molding the liner with toe-caps, so we figure it’ll be fine.
The fact that this boot dominated the performance categories of the Backcountry category was not a surprise, but testers were curious to see if Lange had managed to go down a very bad path. Nope, the XT3 Tour Pro managed to muscle its way into the BC club and ski with every bit as much power and snap as a fixed cuff RX 130. No, really, testers were impressed with the stability and torsional resistance this lightweight could manage while pressing against a fat ski at speed through a variety of different terrain and snow conditions. Some Backcountry boots fit okay and tour great but can’t ski their way out of a wet paper bag. Other BC boots reward your efforts on the descent but the fit, touring range of motion and weight make you suffer to earn it. Very few fit the human foot and leg properly, allow a long and natural stride with minimal weight and then manage to crush the downhill—this is one of those few.
A Dual Core Grilamid shell and Dual Core Lyftran polypropylene cuff are pretty cool features for a company that prides itself on the skiing power of polyurethane and polyether plastic. That the XT3 Tour Pro maintains a mono-injected design for straightforward bootfitting solutions is similarly a cool feature. All the typical backcountry stuff, like Dynafit tech inserts, a Vibram rubber rockered, lugged outsole and an EVA full-thermo liner are on board and testers found it all to be functional and fine. They liked the simple, unassuming 40mm Velcro strap for its conspicuous lack of tricky dangly bullshit. However, testers don’t understand the allure of a humped internal bootboard—Vibram they like for shock absorption, a lump in the middle of the arch doesn’t make anything rockered for better touring, it just makes it lumpy. But then again, that’s what a grinder is for and it might open a little instep height for those already high arches!
The 2021/2022 Fischer Transalp Tour W was tested in the women’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
Testers welcomed this newcomer with open arms—once they got it on! This pared-down running shoe of a ski boot won Best-of-Show for its feather weight and huge touring stride but it really made an impression on our test team once they pointed skis downhill—where was all the power coming from in this tiny package, our testers wanted to know. They also put it on the podium as one of the best-looking boots of the test.
The testers agreed that the Transalp Tour W runs a little short, lengthwise, and suggested that skiers in-between sizes plan on stepping up for more warm and comfy touring. The fit was a unanimous “snug-medium,” they said, with a slightly tighter feel over the top of the foot, so high insteps beware. Testers felt the heel and ankle hold was superb and they liked the flex feel and adequate amount of cushioning and cuff height against the leg. Getting this boot on and off takes a little figuring initially, they said, but most found the entry and exit system acceptable after that learning curve flattened out.
The boot’s light weight and humungous touring range of motion released by its Double Lock Ski Walk release mechanism made this a BC-application gold medal winner for our testers, but more shocking was how well this micro unit skied. Testers put their fatties and carvers alike onto rail with the Transalp and were rewarded with deep, stable carves and quick reaction times arc to arc. They didn’t know whether to credit the boot’s angles or Pebax Rnew shell or polyurethane cuff for the unexpected power, but they weren’t complaining about it one bit.
Testers agreed that the Quick Fix power strap was cool for its Kung-Fu gripping clasp, but also said that the circumference didn’t shrink enough to get properly tight on average to slender legs in the size 24.5 they tested. The slider buckle offers nifty mechanical advantage for cranking the cuff buckle, which testers liked, and while the weatherproof shell gusset makes entry into the boot difficult, testers liked the way it functioned for a warm and dry seal while touring with everything loosened up.
The 2021/2022 Fischer Transalp Pro was tested in the men’s Backcountry category by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.
It looks minimalistic (hell, it’s missing plastic along the Achilles tendon area!) but with an eye toward design—like a piece of anatomical sculpture. It’s technical (look at the mechanical advantage buckles) but simple in that all the elements contribute to a functional up or down. It’s the biggest surprise of our boot test this year—testers were shocked at how strongly this micro skied.
It’s a snug medium-width but with the curves in all the right places to suit the foot’s bony bits—our knobbiest testers were amazed at how closely but comfortably this fit with a minimally padded liner. The toebox is modern in its squared-off shape for adequate breathing room for all the toes while touring and while the midfoot is constructed with a modified cabrio throat the soft material over the top of the foot is cushioned enough that the buckle cable doesn’t chop the top of the foot. The fit through the instep and into the cuff is smoothly executed with a proper fit along the shin and a tall-enough feel against the leg to support real skiing movements through terrain. The entry and exit via the weatherproof gusset (or is it a gauntlet?) is not easy, period, but with a little practice and fiddling it’s worth the hassle.
This was where our test team was blown away—somehow this little bugger can put a fat ski on edge and drive it through whatever’s in its path. It was accurate in its steering capabilities and responsive to both minute and substantial edging movements. A couple of our testers put it head-to-head (left foot, right foot) against the more alpine power centric Lange XT3 Tour Pro and both testers said that if they had their eyes closed they couldn’t have known which one was which, power-wise. The touring capability was fantastic here, with the lightest feel on the foot and the longest touring range of motion in the test.
The Z-drag style bottom buckle cable is routed to exert maximum pull with minimal buckle tension and manages to not feel “strappy” across the top of the foot. The gliding top buckle fulcrum provides a little bit of smooth mechanical advantage to the closure, which testers thought was cool, though probably an unnecessary element. The G.I. Joe kung-fu grip style cam-buckle power strap clasp is not original but is an improved version and it does grip pretty damn well—enough that one of our testers couldn’t figure it out, pulled the strap all the way past the cam buckle and then had to take a knife to the strap hem stitching in order to get it back through. Oops, sorry Fischer.
Testers said the Scarpa Gea RS remains a no-compromise solution for backcountry skiers looking for uphill efficiency and energetic downhill performance without sacrificing a comfortable fit. Our tests confirmed that the cross-membered V-Frame cuff and carbon-infused Grilamid lower shell make for a light and rigid system for sending movements directly to the ski—testers called it light, responsive and fun and said that its touring range of motion and ease of cuff release are second to none.
Spacious and perhaps a bit boxier than the Gea RS of old, testers liked the toebox freedom (fits long and wide there) for a little more blood flow and warmth while touring. They mentioned that the ankle pockets were a little aggressive prior to thermo-forming the Intuition Cross Fit Pro Flex Performance women's specific liner (which they liked for its light weight and high moldability). Testers also said that the feel on the shin was pretty firm before molding but that it improved substantially.
One tester said: "Dominates the ski from tip to tail!" Another called it a solid touring boot with great dynamic balance. Uphill tests yielded similarly positive commentary regarding ease of use of the metal-to-metal hike mode mechanism and long-travel, friction-free touring range of motion. For good skiing women who want as easy an up as possible but don't want to back off on aggressive skiing, the Gea RS should be on their short list.
The Wave Closure System was a little tricky to figure out on initial trials, but the wire loop and pulley arrangement on the lower buckle functions well at feather weight. Testers like the minimalist power strap with its integrated finger pull loop. They also like the hot pink buckles.
Our testers love this current version of the Maestrale family for its real boot feel matched with real backcountry touring resume. It goes on in a more predictable way than in the past, with the three piece design coming together without an octopus tentacled strap wrestling match, and then the fit works—contoured and comfy but firm against the foot and lower leg. Testers said it’s fit in the lower and upper are right inline with what one expects from a modern medium width. The flex feel may be the XT’s best element as testers said the tallish cuff drove big skis with authority.
Perfectly mediumish is what one tester said of the XT--anatomically matched to the curves of the foot testers thought the lower boot fit was superior to predecessor Maestrale RS's more boxy feel--and with a nice transition through the instep and into the cuff. The cuff feel is properly flared for the average sized calf and tall enough to feel supportive against the lower leg. Testers loved the legit 130 flex feel but said that the shin is also ideally cushioned for off-piste bashing all day long, even if you're lapping the chairlift.
Testers said this is the best skiing Maestrale so far and essentially crosses over into the more alpine freeride category boots in terms of descending power but without losing its lightweight touring roots. The two cuff buckles and fat cam lock power strap give the boot lower leg leverage over big, fat skis and the boot remained torsionally strong at high edge angles and at high speeds. The burly Speed Lock XT cuff release mechanism makes a strong connection between cuff and shell with zero rearward sponginess but when released still avails Maestrale-style massive range of motion.
The XT's carbon fiber injected Grilamid web frame creates a stiff but light chassis in the lower boot and paired with a Grilamid cuff and Pebax tongue the XT's coolest feature is its nearly ideal blend of power, agility and light weight in a long-range tourer. The cam lock power strap is also loaded with energy, Booster elastomer style, which testers dug. The cuff's forward lean angle can be tweaked 2-degrees in either direction but testers liked its just slightly upright feel in the stock position.
Back with a cool new look for this season the Zero G Tour Scout W continues to impress our testers with its legitimate backcountry resume (Dynafit certified tech fittings, Vibram soles, lightweight magnesium buckles, full thermo lace-up liner, metal-to-metal external double-hook cuff release, Recco chip) and the fact that it still fits and skis like a real boot. Testers say it’s virtually as strong as top-end women’s Cochise but at a fraction of the weight and with huge touring range of motion--this is their no-brainer go-to for women looking for a true BC trekker that can more than handle on-area assaults.
Testers have always given the Zero G's lower boot evenly narrow-mediumish scores, which is just about what you should expect from a 99 mm last. They loved the glove-like initial fit, wrapping all the right curves of the foot, instep and lower leg shaft. They said the Light Fit liner was soft enough for a comfy initial fit but still firm enough for containment, not spongy like many full-thermo liners. They did mention some shearing of the liner within the shell, which should be improved after thermo-molding the liner to better seat into the shell's interior.
Testers have had zero complaints about the Zero G's on-snow acumen. They have ripped pow, crushed crud, even arced groomers. Skinny skis, fat skis alike, all smiles. Uphill performance was similarly aces, with good range of motion scores and unanimous praise for the revised, simple metal-on-metal Double Blocking cuff release mechanism.
The Zero G line-up features the Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) shell, which is dimpled in common trouble zones to make heat stretching easier, more defined and better lasting. The Zero G range comes with Dynafit-certified tech fittings and rockered ISO 9523 soles (A.T. or tech bindings required). Lightweight lasso-style bail buckles do the trick for simple closure and weight reduction.
The graphically updated Zero G Tour Pro remains both a true backcountry boot and a lightweight freeride boot, testers say. Certainly it's a legit BC tourer, all Dynafit certified low-tech'd with a lightweight Grilamid plastic lower boot, a similarly weight and stiffness conscious carbon strand and Grilamid hybrid cuff filled with an ultra light lace-up liner, but testers say it rips almost as hard on the descent as beefier brother Cochise. Pretty sweet for the guy who wants all the backcountry kit but won’t actually stray far from the lift—or the cardiovascular crusher who actually knows how to ski once he’s gotten to the top. Either way we still call this one a winner!
Testers have always given the Zero G's lower boot evenly narrow-mediumish scores, which is just about what you should expect from a 99 mm last. They loved the glove-like initial fit, wrapping all the right curves of the foot, instep and lower leg shaft. They said the Light Fit liner was soft enough for a comfy initial fit but still firm enough for containment, not spongy like many full-thermo liners. They did mention some shearing of the liner within the shell, which should be improved after thermo-molding the liner to better seat into the shell's interior.
Testers have had zero complaints about the Zero G's on-snow acumen. They ripped pow, crushed crud, even arced groomers. Skinny skis, fat skis alike, all smiles. Uphill performance was similarly aces, with good range of motion scores and unanimous praise for the revised, simple metal-on-metal Double Blocking cuff release mechanism.
As with the Cochise Pro 130 and Cochise 120, the Zero G line-up features the Custom Adaptive Shape (C.A.S.) shell, which is dimpled in common trouble zones to make heat stretching easier, more defined and better lasting. The Zero G range comes with Dynafit-certified tech fittings and rockered ISO 9523 soles (A.T. or tech bindings required). Lightweight lasso-style bail buckles do the trick for simple closure and weight reduction.
Our testers were immediately drawn to the good looks and technical appearance of the new 2019 La Sportiva Shadow. They found the stiffer flexing successor to the predecessor Sparkle 2.0 to be a top-shelf hiker-skinner and that it packed some punch with its upright and spring-loaded flex feel. They found that the fit improved greatly with liner molding but said that the heel remained a bit roomier than expected for secure skiing and skinning.
The toebox and forefoot is noticeably roomy, testers agreed, and they felt that while liner molding evened the fit elsewhere in the lower boot, they wished that the heel pocket was a little more aggressive—so generally a fit they said favored the thicker-footed tourer. The closure system was difficult to figure out, they said, but they agreed that the final result was a good lock-down and release for transitions between skiing and skinning.
They said that the hiking and touring mode was one of the category best, appreciating the ease of the release switch and the comfortable and long-feeling stride it enabled. They also liked how the Shadow skied, but several mentioned that the upright and stiff cuff put them a bit on their heels and they suggested that perhaps a little additional heel lift or rear spoiler shim might help.
The design of the Pegasus Plus buckle system has elevated boot closure to an art form, but testers agreed that it is overly complicated and virtually impossible to manage with gloves on.
The 2019 Synchro updates its predecessor Spectre 2.0 with a bump up in stiffness to a stout (and testers said legit) 125 flex and a revised, hinged Double Power tongue construction. Testers say that while it's slightly heavier and more burly, its touring range of motion and quality of movement remains top of class. The fit requires full thermo liner molding to even out the peaks and valleys, testers said, and the new Pegasus Plus buckles elevate closure to performance art (but tricky).
Prior to full liner molding testers were unimpressed with the disjointed fit of the lower boot—loose in the toebox and forefoot, tight over the midfoot, loose in the heel, sharp against the shin. All of these fit problems were moderated by proper liner molding. The flex feel is very strong, testers said, if still a bit firm against the shin. They liked the extra room in the toebox for touring warmth and sensation. Testers warn that the aggressively tight and flat feeling inside ankle pocket (or lack thereof) that was characteristic of the Spectre remains problematic in the Synchro.
Testers said that the uphill game of the Synchro was second to none in the Backcountry group tested. They liked the simple release actuation and felt that the touring motion was ergonomic, smooth and long-ranging. They were less impressed with the way the Synchro descended, finding it inconsistent to the edge and generally disconnected from the feel of the ski.
We didn't think that the La Sportiva buckle system could get any cooler looking or more difficult to deal with, but they succeeded on both counts! While testers love the aesthetic of the Pegasus Plus buckles they unanimously found them difficult to deal with.
The 2019 Scott Superguide Carbon remains one of our test team's favorite backcountry boots, returning this year with a previously revised cuff release mechanism that's stronger, easier to operate and that offers a more friction-free touring range-of-motion. Testers approved yet again! They also said that the Superguide is one of few backcountry boots to truly fit the foot and lower leg the way a ski boot should—snug but comfortable, hugging the anatomical topography of the body. Well done.
Scott calls the Superguide a 103.5 mm last—because they measure the 27 rather than the standard 26. So don't be fooled, this ain't wide, it's a medium with a nice anatomical fit that matches the curves of the foot. Given the category (in which the fit isn't held to as high a standard as alpine boots, apparently) this boot's fit is legendary! Testers like the plush but not too squishy liner feel and especially remark on the tall-enough, cushioned tongue and a progressive flex feel—just like a real boot!
For a blend of creature comfort, downhill performance and uphill functionality, look no further. The ease of use for touring was superior before Scott renovated the Superguide's release mode—now it's even better, stronger and smoother. Dynafit-certified tech inserts have rectified the Garmont tech debacles of old, and the cuff's range of travel in hike mode matches any of the slimmed-down rando-race buckets out there. But this one skis, thanks to a Grilamid lower with carbon fiber inlays and a carbon upper cuff—pimp daddy plastics!
The Cosmos III shares the same bomb-proof Rear Hook Walk System cuff release, and testers liked its simplicity and highly effective function for full release for touring and full lock-down for solid skiing.
