Gone are the days of ski boots that crush your feet and make walking a pain. Now manufacturers offer high-performance models in a range of lasts so that even wide-footed rippers can enjoy both comfort and power. And an increasing number of resort boots offer walk modes that let you loosen the cuff for short tours in the backcountry (and easy striding through parking lots). The bottom line: boots are dramatically more wearable for skiers of every stripe, from freeriders to carving purists. Here are the best of this winter.
Rossignol Alltrack 130 GW ($700)
With a 102-millimeter last and 50 degrees of cuff range in walk mode, the Alltrack 130 GW accommodates wide-footed shralpers and gives average feet some wiggle room. The 130-flex shell is stiff enough for speedsters yet progressive enough to absorb jump landings and cruddy snow. When it came time for apr猫s, testers appreciated the high-traction GripWalk soles. 4 lbs, 24.5鈥31.5
Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S GW ($850)
Designers updated this 130-flex boot by beefing up the polyurethane shell, adding an extra band of plastic around the ankle to reinforce the cuff and improve lateral stiffness and all-around power. But thanks to Atomic鈥檚 proprietary plastic, which is strong even in thin doses, the boot is still a featherweight: the additional plastic plumped this boot鈥檚 weight to only four pounds鈥攋ust 4.6 ounces more鈥攚hich is still light enough that testers never felt taxed during boot-packs to far-flung powder stashes. The resulting oomph let testers bust crud and hold an edge on hardpack. The 98-millimeter last and low overall volume provide a race-tight fit for narrow feet.聽4 lbs, 24.5鈥30.5
Dalbello Panterra 120 ($650)
Air-addicted male testers raved about this boot鈥檚 progressive flex, which softened landings and absorbed the bumps and shocks of mogul fields and pillow lines (female testers found similar bliss in Dalbello鈥檚 115-flex Chakra Elevate, $950). Credit the three-piece cabrio shell, which provides better fore-aft sensitivity than most of the overlap designs we tested. Meanwhile, the liner boasts a new neoprene toe cap that makes this season鈥檚 Panterra warmer than before, and a low-volume, well-padded heel pocket locks you in and improves stability. The verdict, according to one tester: 鈥淚t鈥檚 wicked fun in featured terrain.鈥 4.4 lbs, 24.5鈥30.5
Tecnica Cochise 130 DYN GW ($900)
Designers tweaked this boot鈥檚 99-millimeter last to better mimic the shape of the foot, which bolsters fit and reduces weight by 10 to 15 percent depending on size. A new walk mechanism puts a longer lever shaft in the spine for better lateral power and edge control, and an improved hinge reduces friction for easier touring. (Range of 颅motion is 50 颅degrees.) Rippers agreed: this resort boot rages on hardpack and puts no brakes on speed. 4 lbs, 22.5鈥30.5
Head Formula RS 130 ($875)
Inserting a second bolt into the spine morphs this boot from 130-flex to 140鈥攑lenty stiff to satisfy an ex-racer who also praised the low-volume, foot-hugging fit. (It has a 颅98-millimeter last.) But Head tweaked this time-tested recipe by expanding the toe box to afford digits better circulation and sensitivity. 鈥淚 can pressure my toes individually, as opposed to them turning into one big frozen mass,鈥 said one tester. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting more power over the inside edge and feathering the ski more off-trail.鈥 4.5 lbs, 25鈥30.5
Nordica Speedmachine 3 130 S ($850)
This burly, 130-flex boot is all about power. A honeycomb structure made of extra-rigid polyurethane stiffens the shell and trims weight, for a good balance of agility and charge. The 100-millimeter last and insulated liner lend comfort. Both liner and shell can be customized by boot fitters using infrared light, which doesn鈥檛 degrade plastics or foam the way heat can. 4.3 lbs, 24鈥31