These backcountry-focused boots balance weight and power for a smooth climb up and stable ride down. Lightweight yet stable, they might not be a one-quiver boot but they come close.
SALOMON MTN LAB
$950 – salomon.com
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 10 oz.
SIZES: 24.5-29.5
LAST WIDTH (mm): 98
“Much stiffer in the cuff than one may imagine, considering there’s just one buckle up there. Great ergonomics—the buckles couldn’t be any easier to operate. The overall fit seemed true to size, but it was a little narrow in the forefoot.”
—Mark Rosenberg | Salt Lake City, Utah
5 ft. 8 in. | 165 lbs.
SCOTT CELESTE II
$800 – scott-sports.com
WEIGHT: 5 lbs. 5 oz.
SIZES: 23-27.5
LAST WIDTH: 103.5
“Near-perfect cuff height and forward-lean angle with a perfect 10 for ski-to-snow feel and walk function. I’d wear these from hut trip to happy hour and all points in between. The tall cuff height and forward lean allow pairing with bigger, all-mountain boards with minimal compromise of downhill power for uphill comfort.”
—Marla Bailey | Steamboat Springs, Colo.
5 ft. 8 in. | 118 lbs.
SCARPA MAESTRALE RS
$729 – scarpa.com
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 14 oz.
SIZES: 24.5-32, 33
LAST WIDTH: 101
“A lively, versatile boot that is great for long days in the backcountry as well as for charging hard. The walk mode is exceptional—there is a good range of motion in the cuff with minimal friction. These boots have the capacity to accommodate many different shapes of feet and legs.”
—Henry Yu | Breckenridge, Colo.
5 ft. 10 in. | 170 lbs.
DYNAFIT KHION CARBON
$900 – dynafit.com
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 11 oz.
SIZES: 25-30
LAST WIDTH (mm): 102
“Once again, Dynafit is resetting the bar on touring performance. Incredible weight-to-performance ratio. Kooky yet effective buckles, good liner feel and toe-box room, and the best fit from a Dynafit shell thus far.”
—Jason Layh | Lake Tahoe, Calif.
6 ft. | 180 lbs.
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