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
Little known fact—the Backland Carbon had a secret tryst with the Hawx Prime W and out popped the Hawx Ultra, yep it's true. How do we know Backland Carbon was the dad? He's carbon—stiff and potent. And he's light and fast, always up for a quickie—or a long tour, this one's got multi-day game if you do.
The lower boot grabs the foot in a snug wrap with some extra space in the toebox and a super snug grip on the ankles. The cuff fits a little low on the leg and tight in circumference, with a firm liner feel on the shin and calf—testers were less pumped up on the cuff fit than they were on the lower fit. The beauty of the Backland series is that while these boots utilize Grilamid and carbon fiber, they also employ Memolink, the Memory Fit additive that lets the shell get cooked in an oven for 5 minutes and be molded straight to the foot—this is a huge benefit as the super thin shell walls here can make traditional bootfitting solutions tricky.
The foot feel is incredible, testers agreed—the carbon reinforced Grilamid lower boot is stiff and responsive and has a tactile feel for the snow and ski. Testers liked the moves the Backland carbon made when using the foot to make them happen. The cuff is aggressive—stiff, low and a bit abrupt on the leg, so testers docked it some points for big power carves and the ability to drive a big ski. This is a backcountry machine, so narrower waisted rides and softer snows will make more sense here. The range of motion was insane, testers said—one of the very best of all the backcountry boots they tested.
The Free/Lock 2.0 cuff release is straightforward and cool-looking—locked on solid for skiing and totally disengaged for touring. The Cross Lace instep buckle does a good job of retaining the foot with minimalist flare. The stiff external tongue can be pulled and stowed for touring to reduce weight and free up maximum range of motion. Note that the toe and heel lugs are not compatible with step-in AT "frame" style bindings—tech bindings only for Backland.
A Krypton special, said our testers. Super light, super range of touring motion, super low on the leg, super thin liner, super up-hill oriented.
The fit in the lower is very trail-running shoe like. It’s close to the foot, light and thin, ready to go. Testers scored this as a mediumish fit with a slightly snugger heel and firm feeling boot top with a Spartan liner feel that didn't add much padding to the cuff. This boot is serious about going light and going far. Casual backcountry skiers may find this boot too ascent performance oriented.
The two-buckle closure utilizes the Ultralock 3.0 cuff buckle that closes the boot and simultaneously locks it into ski mode. Testers dug that, as they have in the past, but had a little trouble figuring out the integrated tensioning system on the lower instep buckle loop. A little practice time is required.
The range of motion and touring mode ease of movement was the best of the Backcountry boots tested. The Grilamid-powered lower had a stiff and reactive feel for the snow and was responsive to foot steering movements and quick in low edge angle transitions. Testers were less impressed with the boot's leverage and power to the edge. The Titantex (a metalized fiberglass material) cuff fit quite low on the leg and was not as transmissive of edging movements as other more descent-oriented boots in the group.
The Speed Nose toe design eliminates the toe lug, shaves weight and places the tech fitting pivot point a little closer to the foot's natural pivot point. It also makes this boot compatible only with tech bindings and also requires crampon users to employ a specific adapter.
Lightweight and ready for exploration, the Transalp TS Pro impressed testers for its convenient entry, clean closure and pleasant initial fit.
Testers gave the Transalp consistently even fit scores, but most rated it as a medium width, not a wide. A few mentioned that the ankle pockets and instep were notably snug but the consensus was that the fit wrapped the foot and lower leg well, with no glaring hot spots. Flex feel was considered to be ideally cushioned against the shin but softer in flex than claimed.
Scores fell off a bit for edge power and stability, with testers citing some collapsing flex feel and lack of lateral transmission to the ski. However, the snug fit translated into well connected steering moves and predictable transitions turn to turn.
Testers liked the Ultralon padding in the liner for better comformation with full molding and the Phatt Maxx Lite powerstrap for its broad wrap across the front of cuff.
The 2.0 moniker says it all. It’s amazing the improvements you can make doing anything the second time around and La Sportiva took advantage of its mulligan. Our testers put this most-improved boot on the Backcountry podium this year. Better fit over the midfoot and instep and stiffer plastic construction bumped-up its comfort and performance scores.
Testers slotted the Spectre 2.0 right between medium and narrow in the lower, notably snugger than the 100.5mm last width would suggest (when measured using an industry standard 26.5MP size; La Sportiva for some reason cites a 102.5 mm last width but measured on a 27.5MP). Cooking the fully moldable EZ Thermo Liner helped open the fit at typical pressure spots but it didn't produce a lot of additional room. This is a snug fitting boot.
Most testers felt the fit tension was well distributed but our guys with bony inside ankle and navicular bones squealed a bit. The cuff is set a touch upright and the liner feels firm against the shin. The fit in upper and lower means business. Entry and exit are standard for the category but testers had trouble with the tiny peg-in-hole Pegasus buckles. They ultimately proved functional and they are nifty looking but also a frustrating fiddle-cluster.
The Vertebra construction spine provides a solid backbone (get it?) and serious rearward support. Testers liked the way It drove aggressively from the front cockpit. The lower shell and tongue are fashioned from Grilamid plastic and have a strong, snappy feel underfoot and throughout the flex range. The cuff is made of weight saving Pebax. The boot is light but strong and the hike mode range of motion and actuation switch are both excellent, testers said.
The Spectre 2.0 is compatible with tech bindings, step-in AT (frame) bindings and TR2 bindings (which require a combination of low-tech toe fittings with a metal heel lug interface). There’s no lateral cuff adjuster.
A super light mountaineering boot with a convenient touring mode that could be good for rando race applications or low-angle woods exploration—testers found the RX 1.0 a little under-gunned for serious downhill performance.
This is a compact unit, fitting shorter than most in length and tighter than most 98mm boots in the toebox, testers agreed. Going up one size might be the key for all-day touring comfort, they said. The cuff fits low on the leg with a firm tongue against the shin. Testers said the flex was long and soft.
The light weight and hike mode range of motion were stellar—great for ascending, testers concurred. The low cuff height and collapsing flex made this a foot-steering machine with low horsepower for controlling skis. Long approaches, however, will not phase this one.
The oversized hike mode switch was easy to operate and availed a ton of range of movement—so testers approved. Low-tech fittings are standard Dynafit certified and the 45mm power strap is a pulley-style, set-and-close number.
Sneaky ripper—just two buckles and a 95 flex rating pounded out way more performance than expected for our test team. The fit is on the money, the hike mode is easy to use, and the touring range of motion is top-shelf. We have a winner.
Test scores were evenly distributed right down the gap between narrow and medium width fit tension, with a nod to the toebox for its extra room (if a bit boxy feeling) and a nod to the heel pocket for how tight it was (good tight). Entry and exit scores were standard for the category—ease hampered slightly by the weatherproof gusset that slows the foot's slide past the boot throat. The feel of the upper boot is balanced and snug with a smooth flex feel against the shin that testers said was meatier than 95 clicks.
This two-buckle surprised the test team with quick, precise transitions matched with burly-enough edge power and carbon-reinforced rearward support for driving big skis at speed. The Grilamid plastic lower shell and polyolefin cuff produce a lightweight system that testers said provided good feedback from the ski and snow as well as a snappy flex feel. The touring range of motion is silky and long, and testers like the easy sideways flip of the Surelock release switch.
Testers commented that the low-tech fittings dropped into their bindings easily every time, and the Ultralight CF 3D liner was pretty damn comfy right out of the box, but full molding did the trick for better matching foot shape and locking the liner to the interior of the shell.
One of the few, true standard-bearers in the lightweight Backcountry descender class—testers once again put the Maestrale RS in the top group for its strong skiing character and superior touring mode performance.
Entry and exit are the Maestrale's Achilles heel—just busting the sideways-hinged external tongue out from under the buckle straps feels like cracking Dungeness crab and always seems like things are on the verge of breakage. But they don't break, and testers cram their feet in, getting a little crab claw snap on the top of the foot on the way past the boot's cabrio throat. Once in and on, testers like the close wrap around the foot—much narrower feeling than a 101mm last prior to cooking the liner, they said, but still good. The toebox and lateral side of the foot offer slightly more room to spread than the rest of the lower boot. The Axial Alpine cuff closure wraps the leg in a snug tube, with an initially firm feel at the top of the tongue against the shin that relaxed with some wear time or liner molding.
The Maestrale is slightly under-edged, stance-wise, giving it a loose schmeary feel underfoot that lends to easy steering moves at slower speeds, but once the edge angle spools up there's plenty of edge power there, testers said. They also mention that the elliptical lateral cuff adjustment made for an easy increase in inside edge power once tweaked. The flex feel is slightly softer than billed, testers thought, but they liked the smooth and progressive loading of power to the ski throughout the flex range. The tongue is made of Pebax, the upper cuff and lower boot both are made of polyamide, which is like Grilamid without the capital G brand name—a lightweight and snappy combination. The touring mode switch is simple and intuitive and when released the cuff glides like butter fore and aft in a long and ergonomic swing.
Testers liked the Intuition Pro Flex RS liner and said that full molding, with toecaps and pre-padding for bony prominences yielded a more medium-width fit tension—lace eyelets and double pull loops on the liner are nice add-ons. The grab-hole at the end of the power strap did not go unnoticed—good for hooking a finger through to crank the closure.
For skiers who expect a ski boot to fit the human foot and leg regardless of its backcountry acumen. Testers said the Superguide Carbon GTX had the best off-the-rack fit of all our backcountry boots.
The typical backcountry boot fit profile is low cuff height, edgy against the shin, boxy lower full of hot-spots, especially over the top of the foot. There’s none of that here. This boot hugs the foot with an anatomically contoured wrap that mirrors the curves of the foot with just enough padding to protect the bony bits from hard plastic contact.
The heel and ankle are snug, the toebox and forefoot just relaxed enough for warmth and tingle-free touring. Testers say the wide box mark of 103.5mm is way off; it fits more like a typical 100mm medium. The upper is luxurious with a cushioned and well-shaped shin fit. It supports the leg higher up than most backcountry boots with an alpine-like cuff feel. The flex is progressive but slightly softer than advertised, testers said.
For all the creature comfort and fit favors bestowed by the Superguide, you'd expect a trade-off of increased weight but it mixes with the best of the lightweights. The weight-shaving Grilamid lower has carbon fiber inlaid side panels. It teams with a Grilamid upper cuff to create a stiff and snappy feel for the snow and allow for powerful edge work. Testers called it smooth, predictable and clean. It scribed round, solid arcs on all terrain. Lightning quick it was not, testers said. The cushioned comfort muted a fire-wire connection to the skis.
The top Buckle Power Strap is a bit of a fiddle, but functions fine once properly adjusted. Testers liked the closure at boot top it provided. The hike mode range of motion is vast and effortless, both backward and forward. It’s easily activated using the simple up/down toggle. The tech inserts are Dynafit-certified and the fully thermo-moldable liner utilizes Gore-Tex for additional water resistance and breathability. It needs that kind of goody booty at $1000 but testers said you indeed get a premium product.
To pick it up and try it on you would never think that the TLT6 Performance would tip a fat ski on edge,
much less hammer it at speed through chunkified mung or slice off carving arcs on boiler plate. But that
is exactly what our testers discovered it would do. A lot of "surprised," and "shocked," verbage on their
test forms, again this year. Much of the TLT6's strength is owed to its combination of materials and cuff
design—the Pebax and Carbon fiber reinforced upper cuff is mated to the stiff Grilamid lower boot via a
hinged rear cuff spoiler that sits between the cuff and liner. This additional piece serves to bolster the
boot' s lateral and torsional rigidity and also adds a low-friction gliding component when the cuff is
released for skinning or hiking.
Testers agreed again this year that the cuff height was a little too low to match the fore-aft leverage of
some of the others in the category like the Dynafit Radical CR, but considering that this featherweight is
geared much more for uphill fanatics on long tours the styling makes sense and testers felt the boot
performed at a much higher level than expected for the target athlete. While testers noted that the low
cuff felt stiff and aggressive upon initial try-on, it was smooth and progressive once they were locked in
and skiing.
Yes, the sole length is very short (297mm for a size 27.5), made possible by a very thin shell wall and the
fact that the toe lug is minimal, requiring the use of tech-bindings only. Testers also felt the internal fit
dimension was short, relative alpine boots of the same size—many of the test team mentioned needing
to go up a size if they were to make the boot their own, so as with many of the AT models we tested,
this may be a good one to try-on, not buy online.
Great Scott! Really, this is a great Scott.
Not every backcountry model we tested had a long and natural-feeling touring range of motion but this one surely did, testers said. They also liked the boot’s light weight and simple, easy-to-use hike mode switch. But what made it stand out above others in the category was simply how well it skied—damp, strong and dependable, they said, handling all terrain, all snow and all speeds without a hitch.
The re-tuned Grilamid shell construction is strong and paired with a new, stiffer dual-material Powerlite external tongue. That’s backed-up by four buckle/powerstrap closure for bomb-proof descent performance.
Testers applauded the fit. It’s a no hot-spots, no surprises, well-distributed wrap that slots somewhere between medium and wide fit tension. There’s a roomy toebox and a touch more height through the instep for improved blood flow and comfort. It’s great for high-arch/instep and bony feet. The new mesh interior thermomoldable liner was a hit with testers. They liked the comfy initial fit and were most appreciative of the improved wicking action during the test's sweat phase.
The Maestrale RS ascended to the top of the heap this year with some evolutionary improvements that adds power and convenience to an already well-balanced, impressive backcountry performer. Testers liked the teaming of Scarpa’s new Mirage Pro hike mode's design simplicity with a bombproof, easy-to-use connection coupling upper and lower. They also liked that the stiffer cuff connection was paired with a burly powerstrap. That created a solid-feeling flex and better fit match along the shin.
While testers most liked the Maestrale's precise transmission of energy to the ski during downhill operations and its huge and un-restricted touring range of motion, they also noted minor improvements that pumped up convenience scores. Things like oversized buckles for gloves-on adjustments and the powerstrap's cutaway grab-loop made for easy readjustment on the fly.
As with many Backcountry entries, testers said the Maestrale RS fits a bit snugger through the forefoot than its 101mm rating would suggest, and remains snug through the instep. Medium- to lower-volume foot types will be most happy here.
Be aware that Scarpa's shell sizing scheme uniquely breaks on the half-size. For example, the 26.5 and 27.0 share the same shell and boot sole length. So if you think this is your boot, visit one of our ABB Scarpa dealers to ensure you're getting in the right size.
Salomon possesses a corporate parts bin loaded with winning technology. So to fulfill this backcountry design Quest, it took what works for so many Alpine skiers—its 100mm Pro series lower boot shape—and fashioned it from lighter polyolefin plastic.
It teamed the featherweight lower with a releasable, one-buckle Quest-style upper cuff. It loaded a fully thermoformable liner inside and bolted on a set of tech-compatible Walk Soles Plus toe and heel modules below.
Testers ranged far and wide at Mt. Bachelor and savored this new Salomon recipe, finding it fit comfortably and cruised reliably everywhere.
While the Quest TR's 110 flex was a notch softer that most of its Backcountry group competitors, the upright cuff angle and 50mm powerstrap gave it the horsepower to turn solid descent scores. Testers said it had an active, precise-steering feel from edge-to-edge. That made for confident off-piste exploration through a variety of snow conditions.
The highly-defined, pre-molded thermo liner impressed our testers with its snug, anatomically-sculpted ankle pockets that provided firm rearfoot control while leaving the rest of the medium-wide last relaxed enough for all-day skiing or hiking.
Testers said the TR's touring range of motion fell a little short of the category toppers but noted that it was functional, adequate and easy to access.
