Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 130

Model Year
2024-2025
Category
All-Mountain Freeride
Last Width
98
Flex Index
130
Price (MSRP)
$950.00USD

The new and narrow Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 130 is a feature-rich powerhouse according to our test team who were split on the purple, but of a single mind on how strong on edge and quick in transition these performed on the downhill. The fit favored low volume feet and average to muscular calves, according to our testers who couldn't find a weak link in its performance chain mail.

The lower shell's polyurethane construction and close wrapping fit (secured by a BOA cable and reel system) helped power accurate steering moves and quick direction changes, yet maintained a damp and stable feel underfoot that testers liked. They said it's tight the way a narrow should be from toes to heel, with a little extra emphasis on the tightness over the top of the foot--which testers said moderated after some wear time. They liked the BOA closure, especially given that the foot was already held closely, and a few commended the graphic tightness meter at the shell overlap for identifying the boot's level of reel crankage. Testers were intrigued by the floating ExoBelt cable attachment at the throat of the boot, which allowed the cable anchor point to travel slightly and seat where maximum pull into the boot's 45-degree (throat) was achieved.

The upper cuff is an interesting mix of polyolefin plastic and recycled flecks of Pex plumbing pipe (those bits are responsible for the speckled appearance of the cuff). Testers liked the response it offered to lateral movements, tipping the skis on edge without delay or give and held them there without fail through a variety of terrain and snow surfaces. The rigid but lightweight FreeSpine bar links upper to lower and is released for walking or touring by flipping the sideways SureLock lever--testers liked the solid connection offered by this paired technology, and that was before they learned that Salomon revised it further after our test concluded to eradicate some persistent free play in the cuff at the top of its flex range. Testers also liked the easy release of the SureLock switch and said the walking and skinning range of motion is more than adequate for the hard charger looking for a tour-capable boot that won't disappoint on the descent.

The skiing part was where the Shift Alpha shined for our test team, especially in clean, lateral edging movements where the cuff and lower shell worked together to drive the ski edge with power and precision. Several testers were bothered by the boot's flex feel, which some characterized as abrupt on the lower shin and also disconnected from the shin at boot top, allowing for a "spilling out of the top" sensation. Testers tried to crank the 50mm Energyzer up-hooking cam-locking power strap to gain a better connection between tongue and shin while others suggested a full-temp liner cook might solve the issue for them.

The solidly lugged, permanently bonded GripWalk outsole offered a more-direct linkage of foot to ski, by minimizing extra bulk and potential movement in a trade-off for replaceability, and testers were mostly fine with that. They were mostly fine with the purple, as well, especially when they heard it was actually ultra violet--which is way cooler.

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
22.5-29.5
Hike Mode 
Yes
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Narrow
Also in this Collection 
120, 110
Special Sizes 
22.5 and smaller
Cantology Compatible 
No
Total Avg Score 
4.50
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
PU/polyolefin+Pex
Anatomical Fit and Initial Feel 
4.50
Dynamic Balance 
4.67
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
4.50
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.17
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.67
Tech Compatible 
Yes

Kudos

  • “I thought the walk mechanism and Freespine tech was pretty neat--very nice switch and lock feel.” -- Andrew Orlich
  • “Well-contoured narrow fit--stellar, right out of the box. Unique instep anchor for BOA cable. Put me in the right position from the first turn. Balance and well-designed flex lend themselves to liveliness--firing on all cylinders. Warmth and ease of use are hallmarks of this boot.” -- Bob Gleason
  • “Strong edge control and quick. Feature rich with powerhouse performance.” -- Charlie Bradley
  • “So many features!” -- Scott Blackwell
  • “The fit over the top of the foot gets better the longer you wear it.” -- Kevin Gabriel
  • “Pretty clean closure from the buckle system--the Exobelt gliding flexible BOA pulley point at the boot's 45 is pretty cool, though I can't tell that it really does much other than look like a nifty doodad. The Shift Alpha is a great skiing boot and has a super stance set-up. It's strong to the edge and really reactive to steering inputs.” -- Mark Elling
  • “It has love it or hate it styling--I dig. I enjoyed the low volume fit of the boot. It's a solid option for anyone looking for a LV Freeride boot. ” -- Michael Sawiel

Caveats

  • “Some men will shy away from purple.” -- Bob Gleason
  • “Had an inconsistent fit across the top of the foot and very open in the upper cuff--felt disconnected from the fit and feel of the lower shell.” -- Charlie Bradley
  • “I'll write some comments once I'm done twisting, twisting, twisting, twisting...this knob. The tongue bites at the bottom of my shin and yet the top of the cuff is floppy loose.” -- Scott Blackwell
  • “The weird contact points that make me think Salomon may have found a fossilized pair of feet from the stone ages to shape this last.” -- Jim Schaffner
  • “The biggest issue I have is with the tongue. The fit on the lower leg is not very well-wrapped--it feels very flat against the shin and it also spills out away from the leg shaft at the top of the cuff. My first task, if it were mine, would be a full-temp liner cook and buckle the cuff pretty snug while molding. ” -- Mark Elling

This boot available at...

Wethersfield, CT
Costa Mesa, CA
Newton, MA
Plymouth, MI

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